Sophomore Joel Miller, who played high school football at Wharton high school, said he was grabbed by the throat in the locker room at halftime of the Bulls' game with Louisville in November.
The Bulls went 8-5 this season, capping off the year with a win in the International Bowl last week, the program's second straight bowl win.
In 13 seasons at USF, Leavitt went 95-57, led USF to a total of five bowls appearances and three bowl wins. Leavitt was in the second season of a seven-year, $12.6 million contract.
Leavitt confirmed his dismissal to The Associated Press, telling the AP he was "disappointed" and the allegation was "absolutely false."
Letter from USF president Judy Genshaft
8 January 2010
An Open Letter to the USF Community and Alumni
From: Judy Genshaft, President
I want to take a moment to thank Jim Leavitt, USF's founding football coach. As a native of St. Petersburg, Jim Leavitt was enthusiastic and successful in launching USF football from start-up to national achievement. He worked hard to run a successful program for 14 years and many USF athletes went on to greater heights.
Sadly, at the end of his tenure at USF, Coach Leavitt committed serious violations of our standards of conduct. A thorough, fair and professional review conducted by internal and external reviewers over the past three weeks led the university to decide that USF should now seek a new head coach.
If he broke the rules then he deserves it...beats being accused of assault...
Bigger question is, why?
A penalty was called against the kid on special teams, was pivotal in the game I think.
Doesn't justify "striking a student"; however, it super jock was smarting off to the coach, maybe he needed a little addtitude adjustment? (just stirring the pot)
...
The Wharton kid was actually a walk on, not a pampered blue chipper. Pretty good kid from what I have heard. Regardless, it is never warranted. There are a million better ways to hold a player accountable for their game conduct and performance.
Sounds like a real f**k up alright
Multi million dollar career ending F-up. Gonna be tough to recover fromt this and get trust back. Especially after denying it and trying to cover it up, I doubt anyone will consider him at all. As soon as the story broke he should have confessed, might have been able to salvage a career, but not now.
...
Polygraph my boy:thumbsup: IF you're clean then sue the pants off Driveshaft, I mean genshaft...
Kid's story was backed up by other players, assistant coaches and non-support staff who witnessed the incident. Not the first time Leavitt had struck a player for F-ing up in a football game. Don't be surprised to hear more stories like this come out now that players know their scholarships are safe.
Wonder "who" did the review?
I have not seen enough evidence to say he did it yet. I know that the player himself, and the father of the player both have recanted and changed their story several times in the media. I hope Leavitt is right in this case he sues the friggin pants off USF. I think it's more of a money issue just like it was for Leach over at Texas Tech. Both were in the start of new very high contracts. Leach was fired one day before an $800,000 dollar bonus was to hit his bank account. Fire the expensive guy and hire a new guy at less money. It's the business motto of alot of very large companies.
Suspicious indeed. :ack2:
I can understand the frustration, but as you said, regardless, it never justifies violence against a team member.A penalty was called against the kid on special teams, was pivotal in the game I think.
.The Wharton kid was actually a walk on, not a pampered blue chipper. Pretty good kid from what I have heard. Regardless, it is never warranted. There are a million better ways to hold a player accountable for their game conduct and performance
Multi million dollar career ending F-up. Gonna be tough to recover fromt this and get trust back. Especially after denying it and trying to cover it up, I doubt anyone will consider him at all. As soon as the story broke he should have confessed, might have been able to salvage a career, but not now.
Kid's story was backed up by other players, assistant coaches and non-support staff who witnessed the incident. Not the first time Leavitt had struck a player for F-ing up in a football game. Don't be surprised to hear more stories like this come out now that players know their scholarships are safe.
Each major college has a compliance staff I believe that have prior investigative experience and answer to the school president, independent of the athletic office. Again all the witnesses came forth and stories were consistent.
Didn't rocket mention something about some inconsistencies or withdrawls in the statements? Does the president and this coach have a history? Answering to the president seems like a problem in itself. Seems like I'd want the accountable to some entity )state or PD) outside the university (I know the PD is "part of" the university, but the pres. has no authority over them.
Hopefully, the investigative staff have a decent investigative background. Screw something like this up and:NoNo:
Second D-1 coach to go down for misconduct/mistreatment of players in a month.
Not a good pattern. Maybe they need some of our "human diversity & conflict resolution courses....the touchy feely, feel good chit:lmao:
Time for these guys to wake up and remember what coaching is about.
It's a game. Some of these coaches (like the numskull from UF) take it too personally
"Excellence is not obtained through fear and intimidation, but rather inspiration and preperation."
Are you suggesting that someone should "earn" respect rather than "demand" it?:rofl1:
That has always been the foundation of MY coaching philosophy.
Not a coach, but it's the way I always tried to approach policing when I could. I agree:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Cheers
I've seen and heard my share of "good kids" with smart mouths. I've also seen and heard my share of "hood rats" that were as polite as the day is long. Blue Chipper or from the hood...doesn't matter. I was actually being somewhat sarcastic with the "attitude adjustment" comment. Sorry if it came across differently.
In the interest of discussion, here's another opinion: Yet another example of wimphood in our ever growing nanny society.
Any of us "old schoolers" who previously played contact sports, or gone thru military boot camp, have experienced motivational "thumps", "slaps", "punches", etc. We realized at the time that it was nothing personal from the coach or DI, but was just a part of our development into better athletes or military men.
Any good coach will tell his athletes that successful participation in the sport is a prelude to success in life...there are some hard knocks and disappointments along the way.
Military training is preparation for war and combat, not training for boy scouts.
Even the kid's father said (at first) that the incident was greatly exaggerated. I know that many believe that this mode of thinking no longer applies today, but our infatuation with political correctness has allowed this to be totally blown out of proportion...JMO.
In the interest of discussion, here's another opinion: Yet another example of wimphood in our ever growing nanny society.
Any of us "old schoolers" who previously played contact sports, or gone thru military boot camp, have experienced motivational "thumps", "slaps", "punches", etc. We realized at the time that it was nothing personal from the coach or DI, but was just a part of our development into better athletes or military men.
Any good coach will tell his athletes that successful participation in the sport is a prelude to success in life...there are some hard knocks and disappointments along the way.
Military training is preparation for war and combat, not training for boy scouts.
Even the kid's father said (at first) that the incident was greatly exaggerated. I know that many believe that this mode of thinking no longer applies today, but our infatuation with political correctness has allowed this to be totally blown out of proportion...JMO.
Well put:thumbsup:
Oh how times have changed:yesnod::nonod:
AP News story said:By The Associated Press
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) -- A Navy SEAL accused in the mistreatment of an Iraqi detainee will be tried in a U.S. military court in Iraq.
A military judge in Virginia on Monday set the court-martial of Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Keefe for April 6 at Camp Victory, site of the alleged abuse.
Keefe and another SEAL are accused of trying to cover up after a third SEAL allegedly punched an Iraqi suspected in a 2004 ambush that killed four U.S. security contractors.
Prosecutors said they would not bring the detainee to Norfolk to testify. The judge ruled Keefe has the right to face his accuser and moved his trial. Keefe is from Yorktown, Va.
The three SEALs have received an outpouring of public support, including the backing of several members of Congress.