Jim Leavitt Investigation

[CaliMeanGreen]

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/322375-jim-leavitt-struck-player-lied-and-interfered-investigation-concludes

The internal-external investigation conducted by the University of South Florida documents that per witnesses, Jim Leavitt did indeed grab player Joel Miller by the throat and hit him twice at halftime of the Louisville game last November.

In addition, the report said that Leavitt lied about it to the investigators and also interfered with the investigation.

Here are excerpts from the cover letter that was presented to Leavitt on Friday morning when he was notified that he was terminated from his position as head football coach at USF:

"As is presented in more detail in the report it was alleged that you inappropriately grabbed the throat and slapped the face of a student athlete. The report concluded that this allegation was accurate based on independently corroborated statements of persons found to be in the best position to observe your conduct. The disparity in authority and power between you as head coach and the student athlete makes your conduct more serious.

"Your repeated denials of this conduct are noted, however, as indicated in the report, your description of your conduct toward the student athlete in question was consistently uncorroborated by credible witnesses, and in fact contradicted by a number of credible witnesses found to be in the best position to observe your conduct. USF is forced to conclude that your statements to the reviewers are not credible given the consistent lack of corroboration and frequent contradictions between your version of the events in question and those of credible witnesses. USF's conclusion as to the credibility of the statements you made to the reviewers makes your conduct all the more serious."

The final sentence of the letter to Leavitt reads:

"This is an unfortunate outcome reached after a thorough and fair review, careful consideration of that review and direct consultation with President Genshaft."

It was signed by Doug Woolard, the USF Athletic Director.

In the report itself, there is the testimony of one of the eyewitnesses, a USF player, referred to as "Student Athlete B."

It reads:

"Student Athlete B described the event quite differently. His locker was located on a wall that was perpendicular to the wall on which Student Athlete A's locker was located. From his vantage point, he was able to see the entire encounter. Student Athlete B related that Student Athlete A was looking up at Leavitt as he came toward him (walking very fast) and that Leavitt grabbed Student Athlete A by his throat using his right hand and then struck Student Athlete A's head twice with an open hand. Student Athlete B told the reviewers that he knew he had witnessed a crime and knew what he saw was wrong. He indicated he felt betrayed and that the values and standards that had been taught to them had been violated. Student Athlete B also report to the reviewers that he hasn't been able to eat or sleep due to the stress of what he witnessed (which he categorized as an "assault"). Student Athlete B was very much affected by the encounter, so much so that in the week which followed he absented himself from his position meeting and went to Leavitt's office. Student Athlete B told Leavitt that he saw what happened and needed to hear directly from the Coach. He related that Leavitt responded to his question about the incident by saying that he "wasn't wrong" and that he grabbed Student Athlete A by the shoulder pads and said only "good, positive things" to Student Athlete A. Student Athlete B also says that Leavitt said he was "fighting for (his) job." Student Athlete B also said that Leavitt told him, "you of all people (Student Athlete . You're the last person I would have thought would have come and questioned me." Student Athlete B related that the event was the topic of much discussion in the locker room and that other players told Student Athlete B that they had also seen it. He also indicated that "they felt threatened. Felt they could be next."

The report confirms what Fanhouse writer Brett McMurphy revealed in his Dec. 14 story.

Leavitt had continually denied all the reports in that story.

The investigation confirms it.

It's done.

It happened.

Jim Leavitt, in plains terms, assaulted one of his players.

And he lied about it and attempted to interfer with the investigation.

Leavitt is gone as of Friday and USF will seek to heal itself from this final sad chapter of his coaching tenure.

[TheTastyGreek]

Wow... You know it's a dogfight for this job when someone in the Canales family is linking to Bleacher Report articles to take down another candidate.

Does this mean Canales isn't interested in a reunion with Leavitt?

[VideoEagle]

Wow... You know it's a dogfight for this job when someone in the Canales family is linking to Bleacher Report articles to take down another candidate.

Does this mean Canales isn't interested in a reunion with Leavitt?

Does having a negative article in the "Bleacher Report" actually hurt anyone's reputation?

[Green Dozer]

Just think what he will do to some of our guys after some of their personal foul calls.

[Green Mean]

Wow... You know it's a dogfight for this job when someone in the Canales family is linking to Bleacher Report articles to take down another candidate.

Does this mean Canales isn't interested in a reunion with Leavitt?

uh oh, uh oh, uuhhh ooohhh!

[TheTastyGreek]

Does having a negative article in the "Bleacher Report" actually hurt anyone's reputation?

The author?

The concept of written communication and archiving?

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I tend to believe Leavitt hit the kid. But...it still think some college out there will give him another shot.

[VideoEagle]

The author?

The concept of written communication and archiving?

I'll grant you both of those!

[TheTastyGreek]

I tend to believe Leavitt hit the kid. But...it still think some college out there will give him another shot.

Yup. And I wouldn't have a problem with it being us, either.

Leavitt, Mangino, Leach... They'll all get second chances somewhere. And I don't think any school that offers it to them is going to regret the decision.

[GrandGreen]

If history means anything, NT is not going to be scared away by a little fisticuffs between a player and hc.

If there is any mutual interest between Leavitt and NT then this alleged event should be investigated and NT satisfied that it is not a pertinent issue. The contract could specify immediate dismissal without compensation if something similar ever occurs. I don't see a major risk if NT does necessary due diligence.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Of course, if it was my kid Leavitt hit, there'd be problems for him totally outside the realm of whatever the school did. Yeah...I'm talking about a meeting with The Knuckle Brothers.

[MizzouTigers]

This so called report was a sham. I challenge anyone that has been in management or even an attorney to read it and they will agree it is a very slip-shod and poorly written "report." There was no investigation, there was an inquisition conducted by Sandy Lovins a USF employee aided by an attorney that specializes in management side employment issues. All they did was interview 29 of the 60 people that were in the room and chose to believe the disgruntled players that said what they wanted to hear while ignoring and deeming not credible a Florida State Trooper, several players, the strength coach and a parent/volunteer coach.

It was a screw job from the very beginning because Doug Woolard wanted to fire "The Father of USF Football" and not pay him one dime as well as flagrantly breaching his contract.

[MizzouTigers]

Wow... You know it's a dogfight for this job when someone in the Canales family is linking to Bleacher Report articles to take down another candidate.

Does this mean Canales isn't interested in a reunion with Leavitt?

Are you serious? Is this poster really someone in the Canales Family?

[Censored by Laurie]

Are you serious? Is this poster really someone in the Canales Family?

Or his agent. Or both. Or neither.

Shouldn't you be prepping a sign for Gameday or something? I think you should bring a life-sized, inflatable Arthur Johnson and post it up right behind Lee Corso.

[UNT90]

Are you serious? Is this poster really someone in the Canales Family?

We must be the most interactive college football fan board in the nation.

I don't know if that is necessarily a good thing.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

Okay...I'm a non-practicing attorney. And, I knew even before law schools that both sides can have anyone submit affidavits. I'm sure that's what has happened here.

And, again, Mizzou...if you went to school with Leavitt or have some special in with him, just have him call Rick. Should be easy. You seem to know him.

We already know from you that he's willing to forgo his lawsuit to come here. That he's just waiting for the phone call and he'll come. I mean, for all we know...YOU ARE HIM!

[TheTastyGreek]

I think that there was actually a second throat grabber in that locker room. Possibly loitering around on the grassy bench.

Leavitt was a patsy and that report was a sham. How could he hold his clipboard, draw on the whiteboard, AND throat grab that kid? I, for one, do not believe in the "magic chokehold" theory.

Leavitt was a scapegoat. Plain and simple.

[MizzouTigers]

Or his agent. Or both. Or neither.

Shouldn't you be prepping a sign for Gameday or something? I think you should bring a life-sized, inflatable Arthur Johnson and post it up right behind Lee Corso.

I'm going to miss the game because I'm flying to Ft Lauderdale tomorrow and going on two back to back 7 days cruises to the Western and Eastern Caribbean.

I'm afraid I'm going to miss some really good events.

[Censored by Laurie]

I think that there was actually a second throat grabber in that locker room. Possibly loitering around on the grassy bench.

Leavitt was a patsy and that report was a sham. How could he hold his clipboard, draw on the whiteboard, AND throat grab that kid? I, for one, do not believe in the "magic chokehold" theory.

Leavitt was a scapegoat. Plain and simple.

Based on the angle of the hand-marks left on the kid's throat I'd say the choker had to be at least 6'5". My money's on Josh Kroenke.

[Green Lantern]

Okay...I'm a non-practicing attorney.

Woah...let's get a look at that contract. Naming rights?

[TheTastyGreek]

Based on the angle of the hand-marks left on the kid's throat I'd say the choker had to be at least 6'5". My money's on Josh Kroenke.

Leavitt is right handed.

But that kid's head snapped back and to the left. Back, and to the LEFT. It couldn't have been Leavitt.

Were there any Cuban players in that USF locker room? How about Italians?

[MizzouTigers]

Okay...I'm a non-practicing attorney. And, I knew even before law schools that both sides can have anyone submit affidavits. I'm sure that's what has happened here.

And, again, Mizzou...if you went to school with Leavitt or have some special in with him, just have him call Rick. Should be easy. You seem to know him.

We already know from you that he's willing to forgo his lawsuit to come here. That he's just waiting for the phone call and he'll come. I mean, for all we know...YOU ARE HIM!

Whoa, whoa, whoa there big fella...

He's not going to forego his lawsuit. Leavitt wants his name cleared first and foremost.

That tells me right there if you were an attorney you would not be worth your salt. The lawsuit will go on and if he prevails USF will have to pay the difference of his salary between his contract and what UNT would pay him unless they reach a sizable settlement.

Let's suffice to say Leavitt is on RV's radar screen, so it's you and the rest of your alumni is who need to be calling and emailing RV, not me.

Edited October 22, 2010 by MizzouTigers

[cdizzle86]

I think that there was actually a second throat grabber in that locker room. Possibly loitering around on the grassy bench.

Leavitt was a patsy and that report was a sham. How could he hold his clipboard, draw on the whiteboard, AND throat grab that kid? I, for one, do not believe in the "magic chokehold" theory.

Leavitt was a scapegoat. Plain and simple.

Not to mention the angle at which he supposedly choked the player is not even possible. Scholars say that Leavitt was standing on the right side of said player, but yet the pictures indicate player was attacked from the left.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

I already broke down his contract a couple of nights ago.

He's in suit to collect a little over $7 million versus what would otherwise be a payout in the neighborhood of $60k.

If he was terminated without cause, he has to seek similar football employment. It doesn't appear that he's done so in 2010, so I'd say USF would be off the hook for 2010 if they were to be have terminated him without cause.

I just want MizzouTiger to give some bona fides with the information he claims to have.

[TheTastyGreek]

Not to mention the angle at which he supposedly choked the player is not even possible. Scholars say that Leavitt was standing on the right side of said player, but yet the pictures indicate player was attacked from the left.

All this is just keeping us guessing, like some parlor game. Prevents us from asking the most important question, why? Why was that kid grabbed by the throat and slammed into the locker? Who benefited? Who has the power to cover it up? Who?