Jim Leavitt Factor....

[NewEnglandBull]

4 minutes ago, Apis Bull said:

Nostalgia is a wonderful thing.  Ever remember a food that you loved as a kid (for me it was Coco Puffs) and go back and eat it as an adult and realize that it wasn't that great to begin with, you just didn't know any better?

I love what xCJL did for USF and I'll always remember the big wins he had, but his conference record wasn't very good and the mid-season collapses were painful.

I'd like to see an up and coming P5 coordinator come in.  With that said, if USF were to re-hire Leavitt (unlikely), I would support him and hope that he's learned from his other stops.

It’s my opinion you will get your wish here. Simply put there is much more to choose from and they will fit the financial requirements of the program. If they should leave n a few years that means we would have won. It is interesting that the last three hires were head coaches at other programs though.

[Triple B]

6 hours ago, BullyPulpit said:

All of those saying that they would increase their support if Leavitt was rehired need to call the Bulls Club and share that with their contact. That level of grassroots support coupled with Gonzmart wanting Leavitt back might be enough to make a difference. 

 

18 minutes ago, CousinRicky said:

This is an excellent idea except I would write to VPofA MK.  Not that CJL is my first choice but I know of people who withdrew their financial support when he was fired.

I guess it's just me but I find this horribly sad and maybe a good indicator of why we may never get to Contributory level of even our conference brethren until those people wake up to what it takes to be an upper level football program. It's certainly within their right to place their love for CJL above their love for USF and wanting it to succeed but they are a prime example of one of the hindrances our ADs have been facing. As much as what Jim meant to the the football program, there's no way he should be placed above it ....

[NewEnglandBull]

6 minutes ago, Triple B said:

 

I guess it's just me but I find this horribly sad and maybe a good indicator of why we may never get to Contributory level of even our conference brethren until those people wake up to what it takes to be an upper level football program. It's certainly within their right to place their love for CJL above their love for USF and wanting it to succeed but they are a prime example of one of the hindrances our ADs have been facing. As much as what Jim meant to the the football program, there's no way he should be placed above it ....

Makes me wonder if these people are actually alumni? Another factor could be they are looking to be the leader or trying for a power grab. But I agree with you it is pretty sad. 

[bullsbucsfan426]

Leavitt as a DC at Oregon and Colorado was decent but not excellent. He allowed about 20 PPG over two years at Oregon (with the caveat that the defense looked a lot better in key games in 2016), but he allowed 26 PPG over two years at Oregon (and yes, I know they were rebuilding). I'm wondering if that is a key factor in him not getting another HC opportunity just yet. I do need to point out that Oregon let him go after 2018, he did not leave on his own terms. 

Would he succeed at USF? I think he would, but it would be an uphill climb for two years. The damage to the program right now is pretty bad and Leavitt is not going to be able to fix everything in one off-season. I have already written off the game against UCF next year, and for Leavitt that would suck as they finally have the "Leavitt doughnut" off their back. I also question his ability to get good coordinators. Towards the end of the Leavitt Era, he was having to replace coordinators regularly, and he would need to have good coordinators. You may almost want to keep Kerwin Bell if Leavitt comes back because then there's some stability on the coaching staff. Shaun King absolutely needs to stay, he coached Flowers and Flowers was fantastic, he's coached the RBs, and it seems like we've just churned out good RBs year over year (even Sands wasn't bad this year, and Joiner and Ford go without saying-at least when Ford got on the field). 

That said, watching the engagement on Twitter, the massive enthusiasm from past players, fans, and alumni about a potential Leavitt return-it could very well be worth it. Rehiring Leavitt would provide a huge shot in the arm to USF's community engagement. and you know that he will do the work to rebuild the program-I have to believe he is still passionate about USF football. I had a conversation with Michael Kelly earlier this year at a basketball game-Leavitt carried the torch for this program tirelessly. He went to every Rotary, Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce event in the Tampa Bay area. He pounded the ground for this program to try and get fan support. He's still 62 and if he plays his cards right he could be here another 12-15 years, it's not uncommon for coaches to coach into their 70s if they're successful. He would also have something here that we never had in his first go around here-a stable conference with clear opponents. He would not have to try and face the Big East with C-USA recruits again. You bring Leavitt back, then you have Matt Grothe and so many others pounding the ground. Flowers, Mack, and Rodney Adams have all expressed some desire to be engaged with USF and that would happen under Leavitt. Selvie and JPP could be involved as well, and also Kawika Mitchell and Stephen Nicholas, these guys would all be ambassadors for the program. I would also point out here that we would all but seal up Immokalee, where D'Earnest Johnson's high school for the foreseeable future as Louis Gachette is head coach there. 

 

[Orlando Bull]

30 minutes ago, Triple B said:

 

I guess it's just me but I find this horribly sad and maybe a good indicator of why we may never get to Contributory level of even our conference brethren until those people wake up to what it takes to be an upper level football program. It's certainly within their right to place their love for CJL above their love for USF and wanting it to succeed but they are a prime example of one of the hindrances our ADs have been facing. As much as what Jim meant to the the football program, there's no way he should be placed above it ....

It may also have to do with the WAY he was let go... there are many (myself included) that think that USF did not treat him with the respect he deserved for all he did here. It felt like a little bit of a divorce where dad cheats on mom... of course, he's your dad, so, you love him, but, you decide to spend your holidays with Mom. If they split just because they couldn't get along, it would be different, but, because of what he did, it broke a little trust, maybe it can be rebuilt over time, but, he's been running around with some pretty low quality women since your mom and hasn't made amends with her, so, the trust hasn't been restored.

I agree, USF is bigger than Leavitt, but, they were better together. At the very least, USF owes him some respect for what he built. I don't think he'll ever come back, but, I'd like to see the new administration coming to the table and acknowledging how important he is/was to this program. Start to build the trust back up with the fan base that chose his side in the divorce.

[Orlando Bull]

1 minute ago, bullsbucsfan426 said:

Leavitt as a DC at Oregon and Colorado was decent but not excellent. He allowed about 20 PPG over two years at Oregon (with the caveat that the defense looked a lot better in key games in 2016), but he allowed 26 PPG over two years at Oregon (and yes, I know they were rebuilding). I'm wondering if that is a key factor in him not getting another HC opportunity just yet. I do need to point out that Oregon let him go after 2018, he did not leave on his own terms. 

Would he succeed at USF? I think he would, but it would be an uphill climb for two years. The damage to the program right now is pretty bad and Leavitt is not going to be able to fix everything in one off-season. I have already written off the game against UCF next year, and for Leavitt that would suck as they finally have the "Leavitt doughnut" off their back. I also question his ability to get good coordinators. Towards the end of the Leavitt Era, he was having to replace coordinators regularly, and he would need to have good coordinators. You may almost want to keep Kerwin Bell if Leavitt comes back because then there's some stability on the coaching staff. Shaun King absolutely needs to stay, he coached Flowers and Flowers was fantastic, he's coached the RBs, and it seems like we've just churned out good RBs year over year (even Sands wasn't bad this year, and Joiner and Ford go without saying-at least when Ford got on the field). 

That said, watching the engagement on Twitter, the massive enthusiasm from past players, fans, and alumni about a potential Leavitt return-it could very well be worth it. Rehiring Leavitt would provide a huge shot in the arm to USF's community engagement. and you know that he will do the work to rebuild the program-I have to believe he is still passionate about USF football. I had a conversation with Michael Kelly earlier this year at a basketball game-Leavitt carried the torch for this program tirelessly. He went to every Rotary, Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce event in the Tampa Bay area. He pounded the ground for this program to try and get fan support. He's still 62 and if he plays his cards right he could be here another 12-15 years, it's not uncommon for coaches to coach into their 70s if they're successful. He would also have something here that we never had in his first go around here-a stable conference with clear opponents. He would not have to try and face the Big East with C-USA recruits again. You bring Leavitt back, then you have Matt Grothe and so many others pounding the ground. Flowers, Mack, and Rodney Adams have all expressed some desire to be engaged with USF and that would happen under Leavitt. Selvie and JPP could be involved as well, and also Kawika Mitchell and Stephen Nicholas, these guys would all be ambassadors for the program. I would also point out here that we would all but seal up Immokalee, where D'Earnest Johnson's high school for the foreseeable future as Louis Gachette is head coach there. 

 

The coordinator thing is valid, however, Leavitt was extremely handcuffed with assistant coaches salaries. I couldn't find the exact figures, but, when Holtz was hired, he got ALOT more money for assistant coaches than Leavitt had. I think that has remained pretty constant since CJL has been gone. He didn't have money to get good coordinators. I don't necessarily know that was can pay great money today, but, I bet it's better than what he had to work with.

[Bull94]

14 minutes ago, bullsbucsfan426 said:

Leavitt as a DC at Oregon and Colorado was decent but not excellent. He allowed about 20 PPG over two years at Oregon (with the caveat that the defense looked a lot better in key games in 2016), but he allowed 26 PPG over two years at Oregon (and yes, I know they were rebuilding). I'm wondering if that is a key factor in him not getting another HC opportunity just yet. I do need to point out that Oregon let him go after 2018, he did not leave on his own terms. 

Would he succeed at USF? I think he would, but it would be an uphill climb for two years. The damage to the program right now is pretty bad and Leavitt is not going to be able to fix everything in one off-season. I have already written off the game against UCF next year, and for Leavitt that would suck as they finally have the "Leavitt doughnut" off their back. I also question his ability to get good coordinators. Towards the end of the Leavitt Era, he was having to replace coordinators regularly, and he would need to have good coordinators. You may almost want to keep Kerwin Bell if Leavitt comes back because then there's some stability on the coaching staff. Shaun King absolutely needs to stay, he coached Flowers and Flowers was fantastic, he's coached the RBs, and it seems like we've just churned out good RBs year over year (even Sands wasn't bad this year, and Joiner and Ford go without saying-at least when Ford got on the field). 

That said, watching the engagement on Twitter, the massive enthusiasm from past players, fans, and alumni about a potential Leavitt return-it could very well be worth it. Rehiring Leavitt would provide a huge shot in the arm to USF's community engagement. and you know that he will do the work to rebuild the program-I have to believe he is still passionate about USF football. I had a conversation with Michael Kelly earlier this year at a basketball game-Leavitt carried the torch for this program tirelessly. He went to every Rotary, Kiwanis, and Chamber of Commerce event in the Tampa Bay area. He pounded the ground for this program to try and get fan support. He's still 62 and if he plays his cards right he could be here another 12-15 years, it's not uncommon for coaches to coach into their 70s if they're successful. He would also have something here that we never had in his first go around here-a stable conference with clear opponents. He would not have to try and face the Big East with C-USA recruits again. You bring Leavitt back, then you have Matt Grothe and so many others pounding the ground. Flowers, Mack, and Rodney Adams have all expressed some desire to be engaged with USF and that would happen under Leavitt. Selvie and JPP could be involved as well, and also Kawika Mitchell and Stephen Nicholas, these guys would all be ambassadors for the program. I would also point out here that we would all but seal up Immokalee, where D'Earnest Johnson's high school for the foreseeable future as Louis Gachette is head coach there. 

 

I'm probably misremembering but didn't Grothe help oust Leavitt?

Flowers, Mack and Rodney Adams have probably never met Leavitt. I'm sure they wouldn't care less.

[bullsbucsfan426]

3 minutes ago, Bull94 said:

I'm probably misremembering but didn't Grothe help oust Leavitt?

Flowers, Mack and Rodney Adams have probably never met Leavitt. I'm sure they wouldn't care less.

I don't recall seeing Grothe playing a role in Leavitt being gone. Perhaps I missed it. 

Flowers and Adams have both begged USF to get them involved with the program. Flowers has been publicly tagging Kelly on his twitter posts asking for a meeting with him and Rodney Adams is interesting in coaching the WRs (although I suspect that if he wants to coach, they would get him involved as a GA or similar first). Flowers actually had a post out there where he tagged Kelly, Mack, and Grothe, and Adams. Grothe was all over it. 

[NewEnglandBull]

Just now, bullsbucsfan426 said:

I don't recall seeing Grothe playing a role in Leavitt being gone. Perhaps I missed it. 

Flowers and Adams have both begged USF to get them involved with the program. Flowers has been publicly tagging Kelly on his twitter posts asking for a meeting with him and Rodney Adams is interesting in coaching the WRs (although I suspect that if he wants to coach, they would get him involved as a GA or similar first). Flowers actually had a post out there where he tagged Kelly, Mack, and Grothe, and Adams. Grothe was all over it. 

Adams said he wants to coach the WRs.

[bullsbucsfan426]

2 minutes ago, NewEnglandBull said:

Adams said he wants to coach the WRs.

Perhaps my verbiage was wrong, but I was stating that. I have seen the same tweets you have.