USF Gains On the Big Boys

[ChiTownBull]

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070209/COLUMNISTS0613/702090406/1002/SPORTS

USF Gains On the Big Boys

TAMPA

They're still off in the distance. If you're in Gainesville, Tallahassee or Miami, you can't see them yet, but you're probably starting to feel the ground shake. The University of South Florida is on its way. It's a controlled stampede. It's still in the process of gaining momentum, and if you're a Gator, Seminole or Hurricane, you likely don't have to worry yet. But the time is coming, and one of these days, somebody's gonna get gored.

This is a Bulls team with, as they say, the right stuff. A team that is out of the corral and isn't about to go back in. This is a team which is rapidly approaching a point where it will be able to line up against any foe - including Florida, Florida State and Miami - and believe it has a chance to win.

It is a team which has come of age much more rapidly than anyone would have thought, a team that, after just 10 years, has a chance to establish itself on the national scene.

Bulls Head Coach Jim Leavitt has never said that, but after recruiting what could be a breakout class after last year's breakout season, Leavitt, who can be almost somber when assessing his team's ability and chances of winning during the season, was downright estatic on National Signing Day.

It's different at South Florida now, and even Leavitt can't downplay it.

And this isn't just a bunch of bull, either.

Fact: While ranking recruiting classes is ridiculous - it means about as much as winning a spring training baseball game - if you want to use that as a gauge, consider this:

Of the top 100 high school prospects in the state as ranked by Rivals.Com, a national recruiting service, Florida signed 17. Florida State and Miami each signed eight. South Florida signed seven.

The Bulls are beginning to move in on the state's big three.

And Leavitt must be given most of the credit for this. For one thing, you don't win without talent, and Leavitt is a master recruiter. It's his favorite part of the job. But it doesn't matter how good a recruiter you are if you don't have something of substance to sell, and now, Leavitt has that.

"I never felt like we didn't have a chance with a kid," Leavitt said, referring to players being recruited by Florida, FSU and Miami as well as South Florida. "But it is different. Before, you could talk to a kid, but you'd be out of the picture quicker.

"Now the kids are listening. Now, we're a viable option, and I think it will only get stronger in the next two, three years. I don't really know how to say this, but when you go in a school, it's just a different feeling when you walk down the halls now. You're treated just like Florida, or Florida State, or Miami, and I felt that."

So, they better get used to the ground shaking up in Gainesville and Tallahassee and down in Miami, because it isn't going to stop The Bulls are coming. You better be ready to get out of the way.

Patrick Zier is a sports correspondent for The Ledger. He can be reached at sports@theledger.com.

[BullsWinBucsWin]

Is it just me or do we get better press from the Lakeland paper than we get from our own hometown papers???  It seems that they always have positive things to say about our program, which is good since there seems to be alot of high school talent in that area.

[Mama_Bull]

Very nice article.  Love it.  Another year or so we will have name recognition.  

Enjoyed reading about JL and the job he does.

[usfgrad84]

Geez. I thought I sold the program wherever I go.  Sign this guy up for our PR director.

[Jihme]

awesome!

[Brad]

...Leavitt is a master recruiter.

[HarveyGlass]

Great article.

[Jewbull]

I love it, can football start next week, I cant wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lakelandkid]

Lakeland is quickly becoming a USF hotbed.  While the Gators are clearly the most popular option in town, it wouldn't be a stretch to say USF is now #2.  You can't go anywhere in town without seeing USF plates or people wearing USF gear.  I teach at a local high school and many of the kids wear USF t-shirts.

[Mama_Bull]

Lakeland is quickly becoming a USF hotbed.  While the Gators are clearly the most popular option in town, it wouldn't be a stretch to say USF is now #2.  You can't go anywhere in town without seeing USF plates or people wearing USF gear.  I teach at a local high school and many of the kids wear USF t-shirts.

That is totally awesome.    Lakeland has as good a batch of potential USF athletes as any town in the State of Florida..........maybe even better (example:  MATT GROTHE).