Jim Leavitt On What The Usf Team Meant To Him

[gangrene]

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid35214809001?bctid=61291033001

Leavitt wants to be reinstated to job at South Florida - USA Today

January 11, 2010

For those of you questioning Leavitt's relationship with his team/players or how this incident may impact his future recruiting efforts, please read the story and watch the video.

[EagleMBA]

That is a man we would be lucky to have as our coach.

[akriesman]

I have no doubt that Jim Leavitt could be the man to finally put NT on the map. Is he really interested ? If so, will our BOR be able to overlook the allegations ?

My guess is that there is a little bit of truth to both sides of the Leavitt story. I honestly believe that Leavitt thinks he is innocent. He probably did get a little rough with the player, but never to the point of the allegations.

I WANT this man as our next head coach.

[gangrene]

I have no doubt that Jim Leavitt could be the man to finally put NT on the map. Is he really interested ?

Are you asking if it's true that he's expressed interest in UNT or if he's really interested in the job?

It's been reported in two different places (Vito's blog and footballscoop.com) that reliable "sources" have confirmed that Leavitt has expressed interest in the UNT HC position. What's still unknown is if contact has been made between Leavitt and a person representing UNT. As for his level of interest, I don't see how anyone can really know the answer to that until the two parties have had a chance to discuss specifics.

[FirefightnRick]

Leavitt wants USF job back, says incident was 'misreported', Jan 11, 2010.

A news conference at Florin Roebig Law Firm on Alderman Road drew so many media members, two men in orange vests parked cars in the grass lot behind the parking lot.

Roebig said Leavitt is contesting his firing on a number of fronts, including the veracity of the allegation against him and the university's refusal to grant him a pre-termination hearing because of "emergency circumstances."

"We have learned that the emergency circumstances are recruiting efforts," Roebig said. "These are not emergency circumstances. This is a legal, contractual and fairness issue."

National Signing Day, on which high school students make binding written commitments to college programs, is Feb. 3.

USF spokesman Michael Hoad said in a statement the school stands by its review and believes thinks the reviewers, internal and external, were "fair, thorough and professional in finding that the coach crossed a line in terms of his conduct."

Leavitt's post-termination meeting was originally scheduled for Monday at 3 p.m., but Leavitt's attorneys asked for a delay. The meeting will be held Wednesday, according to Hoad.

What became clear Monday is that Leavitt won't give up easily.

Roebig attacked the USF investigation that resulted in Leavitt's firing, saying that even if the conclusions can be accepted, the "greater weight" of the evidence supports Leavitt.

"The majority of the witnesses reveal that this episode is not as it has been portrayed to be," he said. "Some of those witnesses include a Florida state trooper. It includes (strength) coach (Ron) McKeefery, who is said to be standing three feet away, and others, who have said this is not as it's portrayed."

Highway patrolman Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Benny Perez was on security detail during the game in question. In the report, Perez is paraphrased as saying he recalled Leavitt grabbing someone by the collar or jersey but not recalling which player it was.

McKeefery is quoted in the report as saying he saw Leavitt grab Miller by the chin to speak to him. McKeefery goes on to say Leavitt popped Miller's shoulder pads twice and grabbed his jersey.

Roebig also noted that the two principals in the alleged incident, Leavitt and Miller, both said it didn't happen.

Miller's teammates and his high school coach said Miller told them soon after the incident that Leavitt grabbed and struck him. Miller denied to investigators and an ESPN reporter that anything improper happened. However, his family hired high-profile attorney lawyer Barry Cohen over the weekend, and Cohen claims said Miller was only protecting Leavitt to save his job.

There are considerable financial ramifications at stake. Because Leavitt was fired for cause, USF only owes him only one-twelfth of his 2010 salary of $800,000, or $66,667.

If Leavitt's firing was without cause, he would be due 75 percent of the remainder of a seven-year, $12.6 million extension that went into effect in 2008, or about $7 million.

Again, non of those whose stories agreed with the coach were included in the school's investigation. How can that be?

Rick

[Rudy]

WE. NEED. THIS. COACH.

I would gladly pitch in my own money to help bring him here. Who else is in?