Leavitt is bringing down USF football

[cee]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/19/are-usf-assistants-trying-get-away-leavitt/sports-colleges-bulls/

Just like Jonny Boy, I think it's time to fire Jim. Get rid of the egos in Tampa and let's get someone who can recruit the State of Florida (HIGH SCHOOL kids, not JUCO's or kids with criminal records) and win conference titles (not to mention, beat Rutgers, who has owned us and beaten us like a red-headed stepchild)

[nensey_zy]

yawn. You really don't get it do you.
Who's Ryne Giddens then? What about B.J. Daniels?

Leavitt is a coach who is bringing this team on it's way up. Granted he's had help, but every great coach has a great staff.

This team is being built to win conference titles in the very near future.

[Alpha Alpha 408]

yawn. You really don't get it do you.
Who's Ryne Giddens then? What about B.J. Daniels?

Leavitt is a coach who is bringing this team on it's way up. Granted he's had help, but every great coach has a great staff.

This team is being built to win conference titles in the very near future.

You're missing the point.

The OP (and the writer of the article) have a very valid point. Heck...you even admitted it yourself: "...every great coach has a great staff."

It's one thing to lose coaches. Hell...I'm a 'Canes fan...I know all about losing coaches. It's another thing entirely to lose them to the USB's and the Iowa States of the world.

These coaches he's losing are making latteral moves. And that's not a good sign. It's one thing for a USF coach to "upgrade" to a school like UF or Texas or Oklahoma...it's another thing ENTIRELY to lose them to B.F.E. Iowa.

EDIT: One other point: He is coaching a BCS conference team and has been for 12 years now. There is no "very near future". He isn't recruiting from South Dakota...he is recruiting from Florida...and his academic restrictions aren't exactly as "strict" as you find at most schools. He has access to the "talent".

[BuccaneerBonzai]

He has done remarkable things with the team. If they fire him, then USF is a lot dummer than people think.

[razorboy]

EDIT: One other point: He is coaching a BCS conference team and has been for 12 years now.

Really? He has? Wow. :rolleyes:

[BucsFanatic101]

eh, this dude has a point, while leavitt has gotten us to the national stage, and gotten us into the top ten in rankings, he just can't make that final leap. As buc fans we're all well aware of this situation. But, to say leavitt's not recruiting well enough> dude are you serious? have you not seen this years recruits? we actually won battles with the top 3 in the state for a couple of guys we recruiting for next year.

[lilhef]

No way. You are way...way off. USF was overrated for part of two years, and then reality hit. That being said, Leavitt has done a tremendous job in building the program. This year's recruiting class was the best ever. Getting rid of him would set us (my alma mater) back years.

[nensey_zy]

You're missing the point.

The OP (and the writer of the article) have a very valid point. Heck...you even admitted it yourself: "...every great coach has a great staff."

It's one thing to lose coaches. Hell...I'm a 'Canes fan...I know all about losing coaches. It's another thing entirely to lose them to the USB's and the Iowa States of the world.

These coaches he's losing are making latteral moves. And that's not a good sign. It's one thing for a USF coach to "upgrade" to a school like UF or Texas or Oklahoma...it's another thing ENTIRELY to lose them to B.F.E. Iowa.

EDIT: One other point: He is coaching a BCS conference team and has been for 12 years now. There is no "very near future". He isn't recruiting from South Dakota...he is recruiting from Florida...and his academic restrictions aren't exactly as "strict" as you find at most schools. He has access to the "talent".

USF has only been in the BCS since 2005. Keep that straight, Alpha.

On another note, where was Gregory being interviewed again? Maybe a place about two hours north of Tampa, maybe? I believe it's called University of Florida, AKA UF. As for Wally Burnham, you're half right. Why would Burnham leave a good situation here for Iowa State? I do believe that Burnham really wanted an opportunity to coach somewhere else, but the lateral move is a fair point.

That said, I think Leavitt will get good replacements for both, so I suppose we can employ a wait and see approach there.

[BuccaneerBonzai]

eh, this dude has a point, while leavitt has gotten us to the national stage, and gotten us into the top ten in rankings, he just can't make that final leap. As buc fans we're all well aware of this situation. But, to say leavitt's not recruiting well enough> dude are you serious? have you not seen this years recruits? we actually won battles with the top 3 in the state for a couple of guys we recruiting for next year.

How do you know he cannot make that final leap? This is the first year that he's had any real recruiting power to build a great team. Up until now, he made a good team out of okay players.

[Legacy]

The author of that article obviously didn't watch USF's games. Their offense put up a lot of yards against the cupcakes they played, but when it came to performing against the upper-tier Big East teams, the Bulls struggled. I fault Gregory with that, since he apparently designed a one-dimensional offense and couldn't (or wouldn't) adapt to what opposing defenses were doing. I'm glad he's gone.

And stop beating around the bush with Mike Ford! He's the best damn running back on the team, yet he only gets a couple of carries a game! That's absolutely unacceptable.

[dawgland]

correct me if i'm wrong... but to go down, don't you have to be up first?

[TBBucs007]

correct me if i'm wrong... but to go down, don't you have to be up first?

Nope! The Lions have never been up and they keep going down farther and farther lol

[jbucs13]

He has done remarkable things with the team. If they fire him, then USF is a lot dummer than people think.

^^^^^^

[politicalmike]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/19/are-usf-assistants-trying-get-away-leavitt/sports-colleges-bulls/

Just like Jonny Boy, I think it's time to fire Jim. Get rid of the egos in Tampa and let's get someone who can recruit the State of Florida (HIGH SCHOOL kids, not JUCO's or kids with criminal records) and win conference titles (not to mention, beat Rutgers, who has owned us and beaten us like a red-headed stepchild)

lol, can't recruit? I guess you didn't see where ESPN had the Bulls class for this year ranked at #25.

[Cobra Boy]

The author of that article obviously didn't watch USF's games. Their offense put up a lot of yards against the cupcakes they played, but when it came to performing against the upper-tier Big East teams, the Bulls struggled. I fault Gregory with that, since he apparently designed a one-dimensional offense and couldn't (or wouldn't) adapt to what opposing defenses were doing. I'm glad he's gone.Word...

IMO, the USF has been running a "gimmick" offense. I like the QB OK, but Tim Tebow he ain't...

[TroyRfla]

The author of that article obviously didn't watch USF's games. Their offense put up a lot of yards against the cupcakes they played, but when it came to performing against the upper-tier Big East teams, the Bulls struggled. I fault Gregory with that, since he apparently designed a one-dimensional offense and couldn't (or wouldn't) adapt to what opposing defenses were doing. I'm glad he's gone.

And stop beating around the bush with Mike Ford! He's the best damn running back on the team, yet he only gets a couple of carries a game! That's absolutely unacceptable.

I agree 100% with you. I watched Ford Play here in Sarasota and Have watched his college career also he is a beast when given the chances. IMO the problem with USF has been trying to let Grothie be the superstar.

[nensey_zy]

Word...

IMO, the USF has been running a "gimmick" offense. I like the QB OK, but Tim Tebow he ain't...

College offenses are gimmicky offenses, I think it's the norm now, rather than the exception.

Florida's offense is no less gimmicky, to be certain, it's just that we've had weapons, and Gregory couldn't figure out how to use them.
You've got two great backs in Taylor and Ford (when they were in the game at full strength, USF's offense was pretty dangerous), we had one of the Big East's best and most reliable TEs in Cedric Hill, we have the speedy, dangerous, Jessie Hester in the slot all year long, and Gregory can't figure out how to use them? It was ridiculous.
Let's not forget we had a huge target in Carlton Mitchell and a guy who caught everythign that came his way in A.J. Love.

[Apollo]

I attend the University of Central Florida and let me tell you something, we would give up critical organs to have a coach one third as good as Leavitt! He has crushed us for the last 3 years on the field and for many others on the recruiting trail.

O'Leary is close to being fired here at UCF; not to mention being a witness in the eventual trial that he contributed to a athletes death (and rumors are rampant the 2nd player hospitalized was also in a situation O'Leary created) and lied about it. Outside of Kevin Smith's heroic season, UCF has been an disaster under O'Leary.

Leavitt may have had two down years, but look at what he has created next to his contemporaries. Leach at TT and Kelly at UC are the only two coaches I can think of this decade that can compare with Leavitt on completely changing a program from nothing to something. I'll take that at UCF anyday.

[nensey_zy]

I attend the University of Central Florida and let me tell you something, we would give up critical organs to have a coach one third as good as Leavitt! He has crushed us for the last 3 years on the field and for many others on the recruiting trail.

O'Leary is close to being fired here at UCF; not to mention being a witness in the eventual trial that he contributed to a athletes death (and rumors are rampant the 2nd player hospitalized was also in a situation O'Leary created) and lied about it. Outside of Kevin Smith's heroic season, UCF has been an disaster under O'Leary.

Leavitt may have had two down years, but look at what he has created next to his contemporaries. Leach at TT and Kelly at UC are the only two coaches I can think of this decade that can compare with Leavitt on completely changing a program from nothing to something. I'll take that at UCF anyday.

I appreciate that statement.

I was half hoping Leavitt would agree to another game with UCF so we didn't have to play two FCS teams. It would be better than Charleston Southern, to be sure.

[Ruger7mmmag]

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/feb/19/are-usf-assistants-trying-get-away-leavitt/sports-colleges-bulls/

Just like Jonny Boy, I think it's time to fire Jim. Get rid of the egos in Tampa and let's get someone who can recruit the State of Florida (HIGH SCHOOL kids, not JUCO's or kids with criminal records) and win conference titles (not to mention, beat Rutgers, who has owned us and beaten us like a red-headed stepchild)

:lol:

Gregory we all wanted gone anyway. Burnham left bc CJL wouldn't let him hire his son, Iowa state would and who wouldn't do anything to help advance their son's career. And Douglas? The DBs were the sole reason we lost the games we did last year as all the 4th Quarter drives teams beat us with all had one thing in common, no defense against the long ball.

Lastly, folks forget Burnham was unemployed prior to being hired at USF, not exactly a hot ticket item. The guys being interviewed now have much more upside than he did when he was brought on.

USF will be fine as we can't help but get better on the field with recruiting classes like the one we just signed.

[Ruger7mmmag]

I appreciate that statement.

I was half hoping Leavitt would agree to another game with UCF so we didn't have to play two FCS teams. It would be better than Charleston Southern, to be sure.

I was hoping for UCF as well over another scrub team.

[Apollo]

I appreciate that statement.

I was half hoping Leavitt would agree to another game with UCF so we didn't have to play two FCS teams. It would be better than Charleston Southern, to be sure.

I want that game with USF on the schedule every year. Even though UCF isn't making it competitive, I think this would make a nice regional rivalry that could grow into a fun series. Will it ever be Florida St.-Florida? heck no, but it would be fun considering the recruit battles and regional animosities that develop as a result of rivalry games.

That being said, UCF's only "rival" appears to be Marshall and that is sickening to me :( . If O'Leary is there much longer, the Bright House Stadium is going to be the Empty Lights Coliseum.

[Ruger7mmmag]

I want that game with USF on the schedule every year. Even though UCF isn't making it competitive, I think this would make a nice regional rivalry that could grow into a fun series. Will it ever be Florida St.-Florida? heck no, but it would be fun considering the recruit battles and regional animosities that develop as a result of rivalry games.

That being said, UCF's only "rival" appears to be Marshall and that is sickening to me :( . If O'Leary is there much longer, the Bright House Stadium is going to be the Empty Lights Coliseum.

There's too much animosity between UCF and USF not to play the game in my opinion as long as the Big East doesn't add another member to fix this scheduling nightmare. Especially in today's economy, big paydays for both and cheap travel expenses. Would be even more of a fun thing if it was scheduled for Homecoming every year...

[politicalmike]

I was hoping for UCF as well over another scrub team.

But UCF IS a scrub team

[Apollo]

But UCF IS a scrub team

Right now we are, but when we get rid of O'Leary we can put this nightmare behind us and really start to make a run at being the #4 team in the state!

[nensey_zy]

I want that game with USF on the schedule every year. Even though UCF isn't making it competitive, I think this would make a nice regional rivalry that could grow into a fun series. Will it ever be Florida St.-Florida? heck no, but it would be fun considering the recruit battles and regional animosities that develop as a result of rivalry games.

That being said, UCF's only "rival" appears to be Marshall and that is sickening to me :( . If O'Leary is there much longer, the Bright House Stadium is going to be the Empty Lights Coliseum.

It would only become a fun series, and a competitive series, if UCF could win a game or two against USF.
USF has them beat right now because we have the win factor to beat you in recruiting, at least for a couple of years, and if USF's profile continues to rise by beating bigger name teams, then the top players we were competing with UCF for will be much more likely to come to USF.

UCF wins, and the battle reopens.

[Ruger7mmmag]

It would only become a fun series, and a competitive series, if UCF could win a game or two against USF.
USF has them beat right now because we have the win factor to beat you in recruiting, at least for a couple of years, and if USF's profile continues to rise by beating bigger name teams, then the top players we were competing with UCF for will be much more likely to come to USF.

UCF wins, and the battle reopens.

I have no problem beating UCF year after year and them never winning one. Because with them, we could be 20-0 and they would talk the same as if the series was .500! lol

[nensey_zy]

I have no problem beating UCF year after year and them never winning one. Because with them, we could be 20-0 and they would talk the same as if the series was .500! lol

Although averages would say that they would probably win one in that time, that would of course be no problem with me.

[ZenoZone]

eh, this dude has a point, while leavitt has gotten us to the national stage, and gotten us into the top ten in rankings, he just can't make that final leap.
Being ranked in the top 10 in September isn't the same thing as being a top 10 team.

It's the ranking at the end of the season that really means anything.