Fired is such a harsh term. When someone is “fired” from a job, it sounds as though they were a bad employee or unsuccessful given the task they had at hand. While in many cases this is true, there are several instances where people are fired (or “let go” as some may say) who did everything they were asked to do at their jobs – and then some.
So don’t take this the wrong way, but I think Jim Leavitt should be fired. Not because he hasn’t done a fabulous job at USF, because let’s face it, he has. To think that USF’s football program has only been in Division 1A for 9 years and already we expect them to be ranked somewhere in the top 25 year-after-year is an amazing accomplishment. But there are coaches who are great at getting a team to the proverbial hump and then there are coaches who are great at getting a team over this same hump. I believe that Leavitt is more of the former and here are a few reasons why:
1. USF is in Florida. I know, I know…no crap Einstein. But we aren’t talking about a middle-tier school in Poedunk, Montana. This is Florida, home to the greatest talent pool of high school football players that exists in this country. There are tons of 3-star (and sometimes even 4-star) football players throughout Florida that barely get a sniff from the Big 3 schools in the State. And USF has done a really good job of attracting these players along with other talented kids from across the Southeast. But that’s the problem. USF has done such a great job recruiting, especially in Florida that they now have better athletes than Cincinnati. USF has better athletes than Rutgers, and TCU, and Utah, and BYU, and Boise State. So why aren’t they having the success that these schools have had over the past few years? If you ask me, it’s coaching.
2. USF is in the Big East. If there is a BCS conference that is ripe for the taking it is certainly the Big Least. Remember back in the day when Miami and Virginia Tech were in the Big East? Did you ever hear the word Rutgers uttered on College Gameday? No, because they were a team that Miami and VT would schedule for homecoming in order to guarantee themselves a “W.” And now all of a sudden they are one of the best in the country? Ok maybe not this year, but you get what I am trying to say. The only reason why these teams are good is because teams like USF have let them become good. USF should be the class of the Big East! It should be USF, Pittsburgh and possibly West Virginia battling it out each year for the BCS birth. Heck, the least that USF could do is be fighting for the Big East title come November – something we have yet to see them do. So why hasn’t USF been able to win the Big East (or even finish 2nd) given the relative lack of competition there has been in this conference as of late? If you ask me, it’s coaching.
3. USF has had its chances. How can a team be so good for the first 5-6 weeks of a season and so darn bad for the last 5-6 weeks? It just doesn’t make sense to me. Overall, Leavitt is 66-37 as a Division 1A head coach. That’s a 64% winning percentage. Not too shabby. But let’s look at this a little further. Since USF joined the Big East, they have had a record of 23-7 (77%) in the first 6 games of each regular season and 13-12 (52%) in the final games of each regular season. I know that the competition gets harder as the year goes on, but that is a huge discrepancy. And it seems to me like once USF loses one, the snowball effect begins to take over and they lose 3-4 more within a span of a few weeks. And we aren’t talking about losses to all top 25 teams. We are talking about losses to many teams that USF has no business losing to. So how can a team that looks so promising at the beginning of the year fall flat on its face towards the end of the year? If you ask me, it’s coaching.
4. Jim Leavitt is too emotional. I understand that you want to have a coach with fire in his belly. I get it. But when you have a coach whose emotions go up and down like call girl, I don’t think that’s good for a team. If you ever watched Bobby Bowden is his prime, or Joe Paterno, or Urban Meyer, or Pete Carroll on the sideline, they actually show very little emotion during a game considering all that is going on. A group of 18-22 year olds needs someone to lead them that doesn’t get too excited when things are going great and doesn’t get too depressed when things are going bad. Jim Leavitt is not this guy! Leavitt wears his emotion on his visor – much like Steve Spurrier used to do at Florida. So what’s the difference between an emotional Leavitt and an emotional Spurrier trying to lead a team to victory? If you ask me, it’s coaching.
Living in Tampa for many years, there is one coach that is beloved in the area more than any other…that coach is Tony Dungy. But at some point fans realized that Dungy wasn’t going to get the Bucs to the promise land. He certainly tried and he certainly got them further than anyone might have anticipated, but he just couldn’t get them that prized ring. Well time has come for the USF fans to realize the same is true of Leavitt. He’s a great guy, a fun guy to watch, and a guy you love to cheer for. He has done more for the USF program over the last 13 years than probably any one coach has done for a college program during that same time period. But he just can’t get them where the players and USF fans want and need the program to go. So if USF fans want to feel what it’s like to play that big, important game in November. Or win the Big East Championship. Or go to a BCS bowl game. Or be in the national championship hunt. It’s all right there – closer than one might think. But if you ask me the first thing that must be changed in order for the Bulls to reach these epic milestones, the answer is simple. To me, it’s coaching!
16 comments:
Wow, as a bulls fan, this is borderline heresy.
You don't think becuase we have 3 other big name schools in the state that take most of the talent have something to do with it?
We just beat Florida State, that means Leavitt will get more time to amp up the program to the next level. We are definetely headed in the right direction, HOWEVER, I do aggree we should be the top tier team in the Big East and I don't have a good answer as to why we are not.
When Willy first sent me this article, I thought the same thing Blowndaytona, but then I had to say to myself, his points make a lot of sense.
I definitely agree that having the big 3 take talent has something to do with it, but look at the talent USF still gets. Some of the loses are unexplainable. This is a team that shouldn't go through 3-game losing streaks given its schedule. I've always blamed part of it on offensive identity. What's is USF's? The offense has been vastly different from season-to-season and even from game-to-game. I'm never completely sure what offense the Bulls are trying to run.
As for the FSU win, that was great and truly one of the top moments in USF football history. BUT, since then hasn't FSU been exposed as a fairly bad team? I'm not trying to take away from beating the Noles. But the wins over Kansas and Auburn the past few years were actually bigger because those were better teams.
There's a part of me that doesn't want to see Leavitt go, but there was also a part of me that didn't want to see Dungy go. But the thing I keep going back to is like you said, why is USF not a top team in the Big East? I can't answer that. It's not because they do have the talent to be. Something else just happens at the middle of every season.
This decision might be made for us sometime soon because building the program or not, 8-4 won't do it forever. I think the next 5 games (4 + the bowl game) will largely shape Leavitt's future with the team. 4-1 with a loss to Miami is what should happen and will have USF believing they're headed in the right direction. 3-2 with a loss to Miami and maybe Rutgers or in a bowl game and we're not to the "make a coaching change" moment just yet. But 2-3 (which let's not kid ourselves could happen...fingers crossed it doesn't) and this becomes a very valid discussion.
I don't think losing to Miami is a given. They have been overrated this entire season. We got about a 50/50 chance of winning that game and I think our boys are going to show up to play. Think about the number of our players that are going to holding a grudge for teams like FSU and the U.
We shall see. This article is really making me think about the future of this program.
I don't think it's a given either. I just think losing to Miami wouldn't be a kick to the stomach game. Losing to UConn would be a "WHAT?!?" game this year. Losing to Miami wouldn't be that way. Not to say USF can't beat them. Just one of those games that I wouldn't be surprised if Miami wins.
Objectively, you haven't said a single thing that isn't correct. Subjectively is where the issues come in. This isn't just ANY coach. It's the one who birthed this program from his loins. And for that reason, he gets the benefit of the doubt and winning seasons--even mediocre winning seasons--will likely keep him at USF. I can't say I agree with firing him, but I wouldn't hold on quite as tightly as we have, like giving him a raise because we're afraid someone else may snatch him away. And when the contract is up (and I think it's renewed until 20umptymillion right now) I"d give it a good long hard look before renewing.
Watching this game, I'm starting to wonder if Leavitt is going to be given as much time as some people think. Players are forgetting to block, forgetting to tackle, flat out forgetting they are on a football field it seems. We're about to head into the 4th quarter and there aren't any positives out of this one.
Watching this game has negated, for me, my previous post.
I can't even blame this game on the most hated Rutgers coaches.
Pah!
I Hate...err...
Ah hell here we go again.
I don't know if Leavitt read my post, thought I had a made a valid point, and wanted to prove me absolutely right...but, he certainly did.
Look, this one loss is not the reason he should be fired. At least not the sole reason. But it's the tradition of him losing late in the season that is. This game against Rutgers was absolutely abysmal. How can a team go from looking so bad against Pitt to so good in a 30-19 beat-down of WVU to so bad two weeks later in a drubbing at Rutgers? Like I said in my original post, this team plays like their coach acts. Up one second, down the next second. You just can't coach or play that way and succeed consistently in college football.
And it wasn't like they lost a close one. They got manhandled in every aspect of the game. You are a top 25 team in the nation! Play like it for god's sake! The O-Line could not block a sole and they have Michael Vick Jr. at QB now. What I mean by that is they have a QB that is a lot more confident in his legs than his arm. So unless a WR is running downfield with his arm in the air within 2 seconds of the ball being snapped, he immediately looks to take off running. That works fairly well when you are up by two TDs and have the defense on their heels. But when you are losing by 4 TDs and the defense knows you aren't going to take a chance downfield, that feeds right into their game plan.
And lastly, I think there comes a point when all the yelling and screaming that a coach does goes in one ear and out the other. It happened to the Tampa Bay Lighting when they had Torts as their coach. He would yell and scream and for a few years it worked. Then after a while the players had heard it all before and simply didn't care anymore. That's where the Bulls are now with Leavitt. Erin Andrews said that some of the players after halftime told her they had never heard Leavitt as fired up as he during his halftime speech. How did that work out for ya Jimmy? Not very well considering you came out in the second half and somehow managed to look worse than you did in the first half!
Enough is enough. I am not saying Leavitt WILL be fired, because you know what Curtis, you are probably right in that he has "earned" more time. What I am saying is that he SHOULD be fired. Bobby Bowden has earned more time too, but that's not what's best for his team either!
I read something funny on Twitter during the game last night..."If it were a stat, B.J. Daniels would lead the nation in individual time of possession." That couldn't be more true.
ive been going to usf games since day one, and losses like last night are an embarrassment to the university and the fans. Look, Leavitt did start the program, but damn it, he didnt start the program with mediocrity in mind. And that's what this program is heading towards. Now yes, another problem is that we dont pay our assistants enough to keep good coaching talent...aka Canales. I mean, the offense has no direction what so ever except to have BJ run around and be the whole offense. That works in high school, not D1 football. but still, last nights lost was unnacceptable on every level. The reason I think its time for Leavitt to go is that the FUNDAMENTALS of the game are not being taught. How can you win a game if you cant make a block? There is a coach out there who I think would be a great replacement...he has florida ties...his specialty is defense, which is USF's strength...he is long overdue for a head coaching job and I along with many others feel like he would be an awesome head coach. Anyone wanna take a guess?
Just heard that Memphis has supposedly narrowed their search list down to 5 and Charlie Strong isn't on it. I wouldn't be surprised if a change was made at USF if Strong was considered. However, that change won't be made for at least another season I don't think. Maybe longer depending on what direction USF goes.
I saw Charlie Strong coach the defense up here at USC and he is the real deal. The team, USF, needs more discipline, more level-headedness and buy gosh they need to get a running back going so to take the pressure off the QB and the defense! Get Charlie Strong for head coach!! Move to the nest level!
Glad you brought up South Carolina James. I, for one, wouldn't be surprised if Strong gets a shot at the Gamecocks' job when Spurrier hangs it up. I know the Ol' Ball Coach said he's coming back, but how much longer do we all really think he'll keep at it? Could Strong be the replacement in a couple of years?
Just wanted to point out that USF is not a top 25 team. Why? Because of your coach! Stop complaining about being the third best team and not getting the best talent in Florida. UF wasn't anything until Spurrier showed up in 90 and BUILT the Gators we know today. You guys keep going 5-0 for the past three years and get national attention, then you embarrass yourselves nationally and our state. Leavitt is too silly and inconsistent and it rubs of on his players. Everyone thinks he is just being creative when they are winning, but his inconsistency shows his style does not work for a D1 school. Maybe it would work in high school but to be a top 25 team you need a more serious coach that can last all season without losing it (his mind). Leavitt has more mood swings than a crack-head. Get rid of him and start from scratch, again. It's the only way, you guys proved you can beat good teams but you’re too inconsistent and that is a direct reflection of the coaches NOT the players. Oh yeah, I would say you are the fourth best team in Florida in response to an earlier post, beating FSU at their lowest in years does not prove anything. You should at least win your conference once before comparing yourselves to national title winners. Get rid of your coach.
Check out all the Leavitt truth at www.jimleavittmustgo.com
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