[JK37]

I know it was mentioned off-topic in another thread, but the Jim Leavitt stuff at USF apparently still has legs, thanks to an internal investigation, and yet another disgruntled wide receiver jawing off to investigators and the media:

http://www.tampabay.com/sports/college/ ... 063652.ece#

My take: Erskin had an axe to grind, and jumped at the chance to go after Leavitt when his teammate came to him for advice. Obviously the victim wanted it to die, but this kid wouldn't let it.

That said, Leavitt is a little crazy (but that's all coaches, really).

[LUconn]

My take is that these kids deserve it. But coaches need to just start cutting these kids instead of letting them loaf around and push their buttons.

[4everfsu]

USF will be looking for a new HC. Levitt is damaged good as far as recruiting

[JK37]

USF will be looking for a new HC. Levitt is damaged good as far as recruiting

How do you know?

[4everfsu]

I told you

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4807719

[Hold My Own]

Players are soft

[4everfsu]

Players are soft

Nope coaches are stupid.

[JK37]

Players are soft

Nope coaches are stupid.

Some are.

Leavitt's always been passionate, and most coaches have HUGE ego's. What he did at USF lends itself to both. Still no excuse for him to lose control.

It seems enough people wanted to prove that, contrary to his opinion, he is NOT the most powerful person in his building.

[4everfsu]

I just heard on ESPN sportscenter not only is the HC at USF fired but so is the entire staff

[4everfsu]

Latest update about the HC from the Tampa Tribune. Looks like Leavitt got caught in a lie and cover up trying to have players and asst coaches lie also.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jan/08 ... ges-bulls/


http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jan/08 ... -colleges/

[PAmedic]

I don't disagree that today's athletes may have a different mindset (read: entitlement), HOW-EVUH: it is crazy to me that most comments on this situation (as well as the one at Tech) gravitate toward the "this sucks, he was a great coach, we won tons of games, fire the AD and shoot that kid and his parents" genre.

I seriously cannot fathom that line of thinking. Maybe when those "fans" have kids of their own, they'll understand.

[uncafan]

Looks like I might have been wrong on this one. Genuinely liked Leavitt and the things he'd done there...Obviously have some family ties at USF -- but sounds like he got caught up and made a mistake, and then obviously in trying to cover it up made things worse. Still hope its not as bad as it seems....but... looks like the right decision was made.

Will definitely be interesting to see who they bring in. He built that into a pretty nice program and while its not quite a top tear program -- the right guy there and USF could continue to compete with Cinci & Pitt for Big East titles every year, perhaps even jump ahead and become the dominant program in that conference.

[PAmedic]

cue the "Danny Rocco is leaving for USF" hysteria










/tongue in cheek you morons

[4everfsu]

Looks like I might have been wrong on this one. Genuinely liked Leavitt and the things he'd done there...Obviously have some family ties at USF -- but sounds like he got caught up and made a mistake, and then obviously in trying to cover it up made things worse. Still hope its not as bad as it seems....but... looks like the right decision was made.

Will definitely be interesting to see who they bring in. He built that into a pretty nice program and while its not quite a top tear program -- the right guy there and USF could continue to compete with Cinci & Pitt for Big East titles every year, perhaps even jump ahead and become the dominant program in that conference.

Leavitt made $800K a year, if they(USF) is trying to get a big name coach then USF will have to up the contract money. I don't see them doing that as they do not have the money, etc or want to spend it.
I was born in Tampa and seen USF start from the very beginning. The school started in the 1950s and got their first intercollegiate sports programs in the 1970s I believe. Their first USF president did not believe in college sports at all. BTW USF has an ugly campus

[JK37]

the right guy there and USF could continue to compete with West Virginia, Cinci & Pitt for Big East titles every year

FIFY

And it appears I was mistaken on this one as well. I was never a fan, but this wreaked of a kid's fable when he and his father went back on their words. Now that it appears the school's investigation revealed Leavitt colluded with the family and his coaches to cover it up, this is even worse.

Somewhere I read rumored Tuberville for this. Thatd be a nice hire.

[4everfsu]

Lawyers want Leavitt reinstated at USF


http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4815717

And now the player has gotten himself a lawyer. Me, I think the kid needs to be kicked off the team for lying in the investigation just like the coach did.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jan/10 ... ges-bulls/

[PAmedic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4815717

The attorneys released a statement Friday of behalf of the coach, saying the dismissal "is contrary to the terms of his contract" and violates Leavitt's constitutional rights.

still looking for that part about unalienable right to coach a NCAA division I football program. hmmm... must not be in the right spot.

[uncafan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4815717

The attorneys released a statement Friday of behalf of the coach, saying the dismissal "is contrary to the terms of his contract" and violates Leavitt's constitutional rights.

still looking for that part about unalienable right to coach a NCAA division I football program. hmmm... must not be in the right spot.

well if you watched the press conference he is re-iterating that he never struck the player or any player. I guess? He grabbed him, but never hit him...and its not like he's suing for damages or money. He's trying to get his job back -- not sure we've really seen a situation like this before...

[Sly Fox]

Sure seems eerily similar to Lubbock.

[PAmedic]

UNCA: I did watch the presser. The constitution guarantees civil liberties along the lines of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom from official oppression (read: GOVERNMENTAL oppression)

you don't have a constitutional guarantee to your job. Not coaching football, not running Enron, and not flipping burgers.

you may be awarded unemployment compensation thru arbitration if its found you were fired without cause, but - more often than not- unless your employer blatently fired you because you are a minority, female, elderly, or gay- they have the right to do so. Contracts are another issue, but if an investigation was done, and revealed some cause, that's going to be an uphill battle.

My take: this is all about the benjamins.

[uncafan]

UNCA: I did watch the presser. The constitution guarantees civil liberties along the lines of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom from official oppression (read: GOVERNMENTAL oppression)

you don't have a constitutional guarantee to your job. Not coaching football, not running Enron, and not flipping burgers.

you may be awarded unemployment compensation thru arbitration if its found you were fired without cause, but - more often than not- unless your employer blatently fired you because you are a minority, female, elderly, or gay- they have the right to do so. Contracts are another issue, but if an investigation was done, and revealed some cause, that's going to be an uphill battle.

My take: this is all about the benjamins.

Well here's the catch. Generally the courts shy away from anything NCAA related. If there was a private school he doesn't have a leg to stand on. But USF is a state school, and therefore (legally) the school's administration must act (in many ways) like a government.

Now we can get into an argument about civil liberties and what the constitution actually says vs. who it is interpreted etc. But....blah. The truth is (whether you like it or not) there is a lot of precedent for this type of action from State school employees. Now to my knowledge I can't recall a high profile (or any) football coach threatening a lawsuit like this, but, because it is a state school there are a lot of things that wouldn't be in play with a private school.

As for the constitutional element its impossible to say whether he has an argument without knowing what they are going to argue. There are a lot of ways you *could* make the argument -- i mean, literally dozens of ways. Your employer does have the *right* to fire you without cause... but that's not what happened here. 1) They claim they have cause 2) they are alleging harassment and assault 3) I'm already tired of talking about the logistics

This whole thing is a mess an unless USF cuts a huge check he's not going anywhere soon (assuming your right and its about the money). If he really does want to coach this could be going on for several months. And my feeling is he does. Otherwise, why not ask for a check and agree to resign when the initial allegations came out?

[TDDance234]

UNCA: I did watch the presser. The constitution guarantees civil liberties along the lines of freedom of speech, freedom of the press and freedom from official oppression (read: GOVERNMENTAL oppression)

you don't have a constitutional guarantee to your job. Not coaching football, not running Enron, and not flipping burgers.

you may be awarded unemployment compensation thru arbitration if its found you were fired without cause, but - more often than not- unless your employer blatently fired you because you are a minority, female, elderly, or gay- they have the right to do so. Contracts are another issue, but if an investigation was done, and revealed some cause, that's going to be an uphill battle.

My take: this is all about the benjamins.

Of course it is.

I think it's obvious they didn't want him as coach and wanted to move on. They found an opportunity AND they don't have to pay his salary? It's an easy out.

[olldflame]

I don't care what he says, I don't believe for one minute this is about him really wanting his job back. It's not like working on an assembally line, where the union could get you put back on and you go back to work like nothing happened. It would be ridiculous.

This whole thing is about the "with/without cause" clause in the contract, and how much he will get paid to go away. Not saying he is right, but If I were him I would fight it too.