Lakeland Ledger on CJL

[TyBull]

article from www.theledger.com

Published Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

USF's 'Happy' Coach Focuses on the Present

By Pat Zier

Ledger Correspondent

South Florida coach Jim Leavitt watches the scoreboard during the first half of his team's game against Louisville on November 18. Leavitt has led his Bulls to an 8-4 record this season. (ED REINKE/The Associated Press)

TAMPA

Jim Leavitt is quick to tell you why he likes coaching football at the University of South Florida. The head coach will tell you about the town, the school and the program. The one thing he won't tell you, though, is whether he'll be coaching the Bulls next year. ``I'm glad my name is being mentioned in connection with these other jobs,'' Leavitt said Tuesday as his 8-4 Bulls awaited an invitation to the PapaJohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., where they will play 7-5 East Carolina on Dec. 23.

``It means we're winning. It says something about our program. But people know how much I love it here. I feel fortunate to be here. I love this team. They've accomplished a lot. This has happened before. My focus is here.''

Leavitt's job status became a subject of discussion after the Bulls played perhaps the best game in their brief history Saturday, beating then seventh-ranked West Virginia, 24-10.

With Larry Coker out at Miami, and Alabama's firing of Mike Shula on Monday, Leavitt has emerged as a candidate for both jobs, although he has not formally talked with either school. Alabama also courted Leavitt before Shula was hired, but Leavitt opted to stay with USF.

Last year, with Kansas State in hot pursuit, Leavitt signed a seven-year, $7 million contract with South Florida that runs through 2012. The contract has a buyout that requires Leavitt to pay USF $500,000 if he leaves in 2006 or 2007. From 2008-2011, the buyout is $400,000.

Leavitt turned down a six-year, $9 million deal from Kansas State to re-sign with South Florida, so it's unclear what it would take to pry him loose.

``This is the best job in the country, why would I leave?'' Leavitt asked.

Still, he won't say he'll absolutely be coaching the Bulls in 2007.

``If I say that, then 10 years from now if I leave you'll bring that up,'' Leavitt said. "Heck, they might not want me here 10 years from now. I wear on people. They get tired of me.

``Right now, I'm concentrating on three things, recruiting, a bowl game and building a dining hall. I've been on people about that. I don't like it that our players have to go all over to eat. We need a dining hall. Not just for the football team, for the whole athletic department.''

In fact, Leavitt may be playing the job card to get that dining hall.

``A lot of people have a hard time understanding him, but for (the players), it's not hard,'' said Bulls' quarterback Matt Grothe of Lake Gibson. ``He's not going anywhere.''

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20061129&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=611290444&SectionCat=&Template=printart

[Don Toro]

article from www.theledger.com

The one thing he won't tell you, though, is whether he'll be coaching the Bulls next year.

Ok, how much clearer can it be, "You got the best job in the country, why would you be interested in anything else?"

[Guest]

article from www.theledger.com

The one thing he won't tell you, though, is whether he'll be coaching the Bulls next year.

Ok, how much clearer can it be, "You got the best job in the country, why would you be interested in anything else?"

"I will be coaching at USF next year."

That would be clearer.  That is why reporters keep asking -- he won't say specifically that he will be back next year.

[aly20xx]

^ right...

[MikeG]

In fact, Leavitt may be playing the job card to get that dining hall.

OK-- they take this info straight from the press conference then FAIL to write what he said immediately after that-- that he doesn't have any leverage or is trying to use this situation as leverage.

That is shoddy reporting and purposely ignoring what the man said to serve the purpose of some outrageous theory that CJL has a hidden agenda. AND-- if he is doing that and we get a dining hall out of it-- SO WHAT? He cares about this program more than his own personal advancement.

[windbane]

leavitt is making $500,000 less a year than he would have made going to k-state.  give the man a dining hall.