Get behind the Jeff Scott hire

[NewEnglandBull]

Five things to know about Jeff Scott, expected to be named USF football coach

The Florida native’s coaching career at Clemson definitely outshined his playing one.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clemson offensive coordinator Jeff Scott during a game against Florida State on Oct. 12. [ JACOB KUPFERMAN | ZUMAPRESS.com]

By Joey Knight

Published 38 minutes ago

Updated 30 minutes ago

Any time now, we expect proverbial plumes of smoke to rise from the Selmon Center, signaling that USF formally has hired Clemson co-offensive coordinator Jeff Scott as the school’s fifth football coach. But to tide you over until then, here are a few more notes/nuggets on this 38-year-old Florida native:

• Scott and his wife, Sara, both attended Clemson. They have a 4-year-old daughter, Savannah.

• Scott graduated from Hammond Academy, a pre-K through 12 college prep school in Columbia, S.C., before arriving at Clemson. He lettered three seasons (2000-02) as a wide receiver and special teams player (mainly a kick holder) for the Tigers. He totaled three receptions in his Clemson career, according to sports-reference.com.

RELATED: Tampa Bay pipeline fuels Clemson Tigers' rise

• Like Clemson boss Dabo Swinney, Scott’s open about his Christian faith. His Twitter bio features a Bible verse, and he has spoken about seeking spiritual direction regarding his coaching future.

“I’m a man of faith and so I’ve been able to look at my entire life, not just my career, and I’ve been able to see how the Lord has a plan and he’ll speak and he’ll let me know when’s the right time,” Scott told the Charleston (S.C.) Post and Courier two seasons ago when discussing his future.

• His younger brother, John, is a trauma surgeon in Seattle who once started a flag football team in Rwanda while performing trauma research in that east African nation.

• He was born in Arcadia, from where his father, Brad, hails. Brad Scott briefly coached at Arcadia’s DeSoto High. The longest continuous prep football rivalry in Florida? DeSoto vs. Hardee County High.

---

•  

 

[Ron Lighthall]

Lose one to the ACC (Memphis). Get one from ACC... Scary (good) pick and message sent to rest of AAC...

[Boomer]

2 hours ago, Roger "Toro" Smith said:

New member here and while I've visited and read the board for a long time, and have seen what I call "TheBullspen Grumpy Old Men",  I'm still shocked at some of the negativity around Jeff Scott. If you look around the Twitterverse and fansites, this guy is at the onset, a great hire. Clemson insiders and fans alike are lauding this hire for us if it is indeed what unfolds. 

For everyone pining for Leavitt, stop and go get some help. You all sound like jilted lovers who just can't seem to get over that first love. As a kid, going to USF games, I was in awe of The Jim and how he built this program. His passion on the sidelines is what made me fall in love with USF Football and later attend and graduate from USF. As much as we'd all like to dream of this triumphant return and applaud his 8-9 win seasons, it wasn't going to happen. That ship has sailed and the sooner we as fanbase move on, the better. 

My point is, lets get behind the new leader. All we can do as fans is show the new HC that we're ready to support.

And for anyone trashing the fact that Scott has never been a HC, so what?! A lot of coaches who came into programs and found abundant success had never been HC's before. It's a silly way of measuring what you think will be his future success. The guy is coming from a 1st class program, mentored by a FL football family and groomed under Dabo, recruits FL, AND is an offensive-minded coach. LOL, the guy literally checks all the boxes.

Also of note, you know this guy wants to make a mark and I'd be willing to bet he won't be outworked when it comes to shmoozing donors and injecting life into this program we all love.

Thanks for having me. Go Bulls! 

The vast majority of posters supporting CJL are simply professing that he's the best hire at this time in their opinion - not that we'll hate or not "get behind" any other coach.  They are all still following the team and if they haven't gotten behind all the new coaches by now, they wouldn't still be here.

As far as the "jilted lovers" comparison, remember that a jilted lover is someone who was dumped.  We weren't dumped by CJL.  Imagine your parents telling your girlfriend to go away and you weren't allowed to date her anymore.  And over the next nine years, the three gals they've since set you up with have turned out to either be total losers, left you for a better guy, and all wasted a lot of your money.  Would you not at least be a little skeptical of their judgment?

But I am grumpy at times.  And yes, mid-50's is probably old to you, so I'll wear that one.

[Bull Matrix]

Just now, Ron Lighthall said:

Lose one to the ACC (Memphis). Get one from ACC... Scary (good) pick and message sent to rest of AAC...

We shall see. It will take some time imo. USF is a mess rn

[BrassBulls12]

9 minutes ago, NewEnglandBull said:

The longest continuous prep football rivalry in Florida? DeSoto vs. Hardee County High.

Oddly enough, he was a head coach for both schools (Brad that is). Not sure anyone else can say that. 

Edited December 9, 2019 by BrassBulls12

[Brad]

1 hour ago, Roger "Toro" Smith said:

HAHA fair enough. I guess I was just excited to put on my first post. I've witnessed people get picked apart on here so wanted to make sure I was clear in my thoughts.

Roger, I appreciate you joining and coming out of the gate with a thoughtful post. Hope to see many more!

[hedgehogfrenzy]

I’m surprised that we were able to pull Jeff. I didn’t think this job was attractive enough to get someone from one of the top 4 programs in the country and one that reportedly has one of the best cultures in CF today.  Hiring an up and coming coordinator is the strategy that has generically worked for C. and other programs in the conference  

The big concern is that he hasn’t called plays.

The problem with CJL is that I can’t tell if he’s relevant anymore. I know that the circumstances around his dismissal were messed up...the kid in the middle of it is dead and his Dad had some major issues.  I was there for those huge CJL games and I’ll never forget them.  But it feels like the expectation is that he would come here and stay here and be great. .  I don’t know if USF will ever be able to get that coach until there is an actual possibility a non P5 team could win an NC. 

An NC is practically impossible in the current system. 

[Brad]

2 minutes ago, hedgehogfrenzy said:

Hiring an up and coming coordinator is the strategy that has generically worked for C. and other programs in the conference  

This is the one statement/assumption I’m not there with yet.  Central Florida had success with Scott Frost.  He’s gone and Heupel in year two has underperformed.  My concerns for stepping stone schools is - can success be maintained on the 3 years and out model if you are constantly rebuilding staffs and recruits?  We will see, maybe.  It seems to be an inefficient and costly model, but it may be the only one as long as we are in the AAC...although if we can’t make it attractive for a coach to stay, it will occur if we were fortunate enough to find ourselves in the P5

[hedgehogfrenzy]

2 minutes ago, Brad said:

He’s gone and Heupel in year two has underperformed.

Fair. It’s too early for Heupel.   I was also thinking Norvell, Fickell as well. Though Fickell doesn’t have a championship yet. 

[Rocky Style]

He's going to need a hell of an assistant coach to win our bowl game!