Fox Sports Fan Blog: Top 10 Best Coaches in College Football Today

[Ricky the Bull]

....and former powers Florida State and Miami don't quite have those kinds of hopes.

Love it

[slowdown]

laughABLE

he is getting credit for 10 year body of work

but if  ron zook was here usf would be a top 10 probram by  now

no basis for the last comment.  apples to oranges lad.  zook hasn't had to build dining halls, offices, facilities, and fan bases.  he's just had to recruit and coach and he's only done real well at one of those.  

[Orlando Bull]

I'll give you the first trick play against RU as being out coached. He and the team adjusted for the second one, Murph was in position, he just didn't make the play. That's not the coach's fault.

Who, 12 year ago would you have selected to take this team to where it is today? Stoops maybe...Zook was mentioned, but both of those guys probably came with a high price tag that USF couldn't afford. Also, both would have left for Bama before we could even think about asking them not to.

CJL has always done more with less, he has grown along with his program. Sure, he has made mistakes, sure, there were games he could have done things different. In the end though, if he wins the conference, if he wins a BCS game, if we play for a national championship, you will hear his name right up there with Bowden as a guy who gave a nothing program (non-existent program) everything.

[CousinRicky]

Sheet. Does this mean smazza is wrong about CJL??????

FLAME ON!  :-*

Smazza is neither right or wrong yet.  Even the article says:

In a few years, this guy may well rank as #1.  Time will tell. 

Jim has all of the pieces coming into play. He's shown he can out coach a lot of guys already, but USF hasn't had the depth of talent as a lot of other teams.  If Jim can hold up when expected to win every game with superior talent and win every game then we'll be like UM in the late 80s and 90s.  There are no signs that we shouldn't be.

But it's also not a given.  We'll see how it goes.  Smazza just thinks our recruiting should be ahead of where it is (maybe it should be).  If it doesn't get to the level Smazza expects (as we all should) Leavitt will never be the number one guy.

Some examples please? 

Huh?  WVU.  Auburn.  Louisville.  Bowling Green 2002.  Do you follow USF?

Just because you win a game doesn't mean you outcoached the other team.  I could bring up Oregon, Rutgers, UConn and Cinci and say we were outcoached, which may have been the case at Rutgers and Oregon.  Still don't think you've convinced me.

[Cardo4]

laughABLE

he is getting credit for 10 year body of work

but if  ron zook was here usf would be a top 10 probram by  now

Please tell me you are not serious.

[USF-PMR]

College Football Preview 2008 : 10 Best Coaches in College Football Today

Anticipation getting the better of 'ya right now?  Me as well.  (Nice grammar, eh?).

Either way, the College Football season kickoff is a mere 9 days away.  Only a weekend and some change.

To stir the pot before the season starts, I'll partake in a list of my most respected coaches in all the land of College Football.  Question my list, differ amongst yourselves, even get angry if you want, here it is:

...

9.  Jim Leavitt:  South Florida:  Consider this.  South Florida did not have a football program in 1996.  In 1997 they ushered in football with their still reigning head coach, Jim Leavitt.  After 4 seasons as a Division I-AA also-ran, the Bulls became a Divsion I-A football team.

From a start up program in 1997 till now, Mr. Leavitt owns a 79-47 record.  That is absolutely unbelievable for a program that was not even playing football in 1996.  Now entering his 12th season as head coach of the Bulls, Mr. Leavitt is staring at a team that has some serious considerations of contending for the National Title.  That is almost sarcastic in that fact that in-state schools, and former powers Florida State and Miami don't quite have those kinds of hopes.   Since joining the Big East, the Bulls own a 24-14 record.  They were supposed to fold under the immense pressure of playing in a BCS conference.  Quite simply, they haven't.  Not only have they not 'folded', they are in place to make a serious run at being conference champions, and yes, even National Champions.  I almost feel ashmamed at ranking this incredible story and coaching job so low.  In a few years, this guy may well rank as #1.  Time will tell. 

Link...

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And an interesting comment from SunDevil75: "I have loved the South Florida story (and Leavitt) for the past couple of years."

First - tell this guy it is UnBULLieveable.  Next he is right on with a #1 ranking very soon.  National Champions and BE champs here we come.