Jim Leavitt

[Orlando Bull]

Someone has to do it. While I know there will be naysayers out there, this is the right hire. Forget about wins and losses, seems to not have been at the forefront for quite a while now, Leavitt is still the heartbeat of this program. He is the guy that built it. Just because a child emancipates from their parents doesn't mean the parent stops loving them.

Pros

- Still has ties to the bay area

- Fans and boosters alike would rejoice

- The guy can spot talent, coach with passion, and get the most out of his players.

- How many defensive minded coaches are out there? How many guys in the transfer portal would love to come play for a guy that actually knows defense instead of trying to win every game 52-48.

Cons

- Who cares... I'll give you a hint... outside of this board, maybe 19 other people on earth care about this program. Leavitt can change that.

If I am VPMK, I am doing some back door deal with CJL, 2 years, come back, help raise money for the stadium, then... if you're not successful (bowl in year 2), retire and get a huge ceremony when the stadium opens. Those of us who have been around a while have lived through some hot garbage, I would be thrilled to watch a CJL coached team come out and get 2 wins per year. I could feel some sense of pride in that.

He's not too old, he wouldn't turn it down, don't make excuses, make the call. 

[Dave_Glaser]

Stop, please. You and others are just setting yourselves up for disappointment.

[Bull Matrix]

Well said! Bring back Leavitt!

[Brad]

I think it's the right plan.  I thought MK would have picked up on that element three years ago.  Hopefully, we take a long approach on this and put together a plan to turbo-boost the present and connect to a plan for the future.  Leavitt gets more positives from fans on the Twitter than any USF Football coach, player or admin.  He's much loved and respected.  Not by everyone, but very many.  To deny this or neglect the opportunity (again) would be heartbreaking. 

[Bull Matrix]

1 minute ago, Brad said:

I think it's the right plan.  I thought MK would have picked up on that element three years ago.  Hopefully, we take a long approach on this and put together a plan to turbo-boost the present and connect to a plan for the future.  Leavitt gets more positives from fans on the Twitter than any USF Football coach, player or admin.  He's much loved and respected.  Not by everyone, but very many.  To deny this or neglect the opportunity (again) would be heartbreaking. 

Leavitt has made USF football. 

[olafberserker]

I don't hate the idea, but something tells me that even if he was hired we would end up disappointed

[Dave_Glaser]

8 minutes ago, Brad said:

I think it's the right plan.  I thought MK would have picked up on that element three years ago.  Hopefully, we take a long approach on this and put together a plan to turbo-boost the present and connect to a plan for the future.  Leavitt gets more positives from fans on the Twitter than any USF Football coach, player or admin.  He's much loved and respected.  Not by everyone, but very many.  To deny this or neglect the opportunity (again) would be heartbreaking. 

I would applaud Jim’s return. It ain’t happening. Get ready for heartbreak. Everyone who wants to blame Judy Genshaft for the original firing should consider this: The woman is one of the university’s top 3-4 donors. Gonna risk that to bring Jim back?

Edited November 7, 2022 by Dave_Glaser

[Brad]

I have pointed it out a few times since his termination and USF's decision to pay him off.  Arizona State and Frank Kush came back together, although Kush was used mostly for fundraising.  It's not crazy to consider. 

I was reading old emails from 2010.  One from a Bulls Club contact that clearly stated most of the big time donors were disapporinted and angry at the way USF handled it and in firing Leavitt.  It was also mentioned recently that it was the reason the Outback boys said screw USF.  It would be nice to undo the self-inflicted damage from 2010...it's been long enough.  Once we fix that self-inflicted wound, we can work on the dozen others.

[Rocky Style]

7 minutes ago, Brad said:

I think it's the right plan.  I thought MK would have picked up on that element three years ago.  Hopefully, we take a long approach on this and put together a plan to turbo-boost the present and connect to a plan for the future.  Leavitt gets more positives from fans on the Twitter than any USF Football coach, player or admin.  He's much loved and respected.  Not by everyone, but very many.  To deny this or neglect the opportunity (again) would be heartbreaking. 

The fact that we didn't back then and then makes me think we won't now, but hey.

Just now, Brad said:

I have pointed it out a few times since his termination and USF's decision to pay him off.  Arizona State and Frank Kush came back together, although Kush was used mostly for fundraising.  It's not crazy to consider. 

I was reading old emails from 2010.  One from a Bulls Club contact that clearly stated most of the big time donors were disapporinted and angry at the way USF handled it and in firing Leavitt.  It was also mentioned recently that it was the reason the Outback boys said screw USF.  It would be nice to undo the self-inflicted damage from 2010...it's been long enough.  Once we fix that self-inflicted wound, we can work on the dozen others.

I wish this were the case.  It can bring closure to this giant bummer.

[Orlando Bull]

7 minutes ago, Dave_Glaser said:

Stop, please. You and others are just setting yourselves up for disappointment.

I'm sorry, do you not think that the people on this board can handle some "disappointment"... it's all we have known for years, we can handle it. But in all honesty, it shouldn't be a pipe dream. It makes perfect sense. If you want to get some donors and help fund a stadium, that is the play. Most likely it turns out in winning games, but there would be a retirement agreement in my plan with CJL if he can't get it back on track. A retirement plan that lets him go out with dignity and a place on the USF mantle.

Everything else is a crapshoot at best and a Jeff Scott level disaster at worst.