Questions about Jim Leavitt
Several posters in the MGoFish thread have speculated that our next DC could be Jim Leavitt. Having not really followed USF at all, I know virtually nothing about him other than the unfortunate "incident" that led to his departure. So, my question for those more knowledgeable (Magnus, Alum96, Space Coyote, etc.) is this: putting aside his incident, which is pretty well discussed all over the web, what is the story with Leavitt? Is he considered a good talent developer? Schemer? Recruiter (which I think is critical for a DC)?
Thanks for any info.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
Well, he did take a program that didn't exist before he got there to #1 in the country. And coached on the spectaular niners defenses when Harbaugh was there. The "incident" is my only reservation -- but's a big one.
EDIT: It was #2 in the country. My bad. Still pretty okay, in my book.
EDIT2: And to those obsessed with stopping the spread-n-shred at all costs, he beat RR's 2007 nuclear Fiesta-bowl-winning team 21-13.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
When I was googling him, I, too, was pretty impressed that he took a program from formation to highly ranged in such a short time.
But, that incident troubles me, as well. However, I will say that aside from that one incident, I haven't seen anything else that leads me to believe that the guy has major charactor flaws or is slimy.
December 15th, 2015 at 4:12 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 8:16 PM ^
Leavitt turned USF from a fledgling program into one that beat people he had no business beating. A Florida State Trooper contradicted the charges that were used as an excuse to fire Leavitt without paying him.
Basically, Leavitt was a victim of his own success. He got them to #2 in the country for a week. When he had a bad year, Donna Shalala wannabe Judy Genshaft decied that he wouldn't be the coach to get USF to the "next level." So, she fired him.
How has that worked out for USF? I would love to see Leavitt take the DC job.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:32 AM ^
seems to be the number that all of Rich Rod's "high powered" attacks settle against opposition with a pulse.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:40 AM ^
I suppose the Oklahoma and Georgia teams that offense bombed in BCS bowls for 48 and 38, respectively, were retreads?
*I promise I'm not trying to raise RR arguments. Just saying Leavitt is impressive for stopping that WVU offense. Almost no one else could.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^
if RRs offenses scored more than 13 points against them, logic would dictate that they were in deed retreads.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:49 AM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
Also Meyer's teams play defense.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:46 PM ^
I think you're missing a key element in coaching the spread offense, and it goes for defending it as well (and speaks to our DC search):
Urban players > RR players
December 15th, 2015 at 6:22 PM ^
ThatEscalatedQuickly.gif
December 15th, 2015 at 3:03 PM ^
amirite?
December 15th, 2015 at 11:51 AM ^
Just in case you're not:
December 15th, 2015 at 12:00 PM ^
I was joking. I know his offenses at WVU performed well at times. My commentary was more having to do with his teams here. It seems like we scored 13 points in multiple ass beatings. Thats all(s) I'm saying.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:05 PM ^
put up 37 points against Utah this year. Our offense didn't.
In fact, they put up a ton of points this year against defenses good and bad. The problem, as is usually the case with him, is that his defense sucked ass.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:48 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 4:51 PM ^
Arizona did lose their best defensive player at the beginning of the season, and were then riddled with injuries on the defensive side of the ball throughout the season.
Our defense didn't do too well after we lost one of our best defensive players (Glasgow). It's hard to perform well when injuries cripple you. I do think Casteel is a pretty solid DC. Not a silver bullett, but also not shit.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:16 PM ^
Yeah, and they put up a whopping THREE on Washington. His offenses do do pretty well and his defenses do him absolutely no favors but his offenses seem to have that one game a year where they just completely shit the bed (2007 13 vs USF and 9 vs a 3-8 Pitt).
December 15th, 2015 at 2:49 PM ^
our defense was great (three shutouts) until it wasn't. Just saying, college football is weird. It's insane to think that an offense or defense is going to be perfect in everygame.
December 15th, 2015 at 3:36 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 4:56 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 12:44 PM ^
I see what you did there - Logic Circle...
If (preselect conclusion), then, therefore (conclusion verified)
Einstein would be so proud, Samuel Beckett too!
December 15th, 2015 at 6:24 PM ^
Bring back Rich Rod!!!
(/s --> as if needed)
December 15th, 2015 at 12:47 PM ^
I'm going to add to the Leavitt hype. In 2002 USF beat Bowling Green 29-7. Why does that matter? Jim Leavitt was the HC of USF and Urban Meyer was the HC of BG. It was the lowest point total for the Falcons all year for a team that went 9-3.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:12 PM ^
I guess your'e not just a shooter after all
December 15th, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^
Leavitt was actually 2-1 against Rich Rod's WVU teams, and both wins came during seasons in which WVU posted double-digit wins. When Rich Rod left WVU (ahem), Leavitt made a flippant remark about how much he would miss RR.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:26 AM ^
when RR was hired at UM, Tressell went down to USF to pick Leavitt's brain about how to defend RR's spread offense. In RR's last two years at WVU, the Mountaineers went 22-4. Two of those losses were to USF and both times WVU's offense, which was a well oiled machine at that ime, was held under 20 pts. I'm hoping this means Harbaugh isn't taking the OSU beating lightly.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:31 AM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 15th, 2015 at 11:35 AM ^
If he can stop / slow OSU, hire the man.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:35 PM ^
TING!
If he really needs to choke people he can have at go at Meyer in the handshake line after the game. I can live with that compromise.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:41 PM ^
for that job too.
December 15th, 2015 at 1:12 PM ^
I'm in. I'll do it pro bono. Where do I sign?
December 15th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
If there is a ring, I just threw my hat in it. I'd one up you and pay $500 to grab him by the throat and haymaker his ass.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:52 PM ^
Misunderstood the job posting. The job involves Leavitt choking you, not you choking Meyer.
Or maybe you're just kinky bastards and understood exactly what I was saying.
December 15th, 2015 at 3:57 PM ^
Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it. Just kidding. Just kidding. Just kidding.
Sorry. I just get a little excited at the thought of choking Meyer...or punching Meyer in the face...or dong-punching Meyer...or kicking Meyer in the stomach...or...
December 15th, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
I voted for Jabrill for Hornung like 25 times (for all the good it did!)
We have got to change the rules of this blog so we can upvote a post as many times as we want too - like yours M-Dog!
Mods?
December 15th, 2015 at 11:48 AM ^
That is correct.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
hurt for one of those games though?
December 15th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
White was hurt when they lost to Pitt in 2007, and it cost WVU a shot at the BCS title game.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:20 PM ^
That loss also opened the door for LSU to sneak into the BCS title game, which made it difficult for Les Miles to leave and take the Michigan job, which opened the door for Rich Rod take it instead. So Pat White's broken thumb was the butterfly wing that disrupted the space-time continuum and ultimately altered the history of Michigan Football.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:19 PM ^
Patt White was hurt against Pitt in 2007 but that's no excuse to lose to a 3-8 team at home.
December 15th, 2015 at 3:54 PM ^
Great post and input...but there is no way Harbaugh is taking that ass kicking lightly...not a chance.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
Doesn't a 3-4 require a lot of linebackers?
December 15th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
It requires the same amount of linebackers that we used this past year, because we moved weakside ends to outside linebacker (i.e. Ojemudia, Marshall).
December 15th, 2015 at 11:30 AM ^
See: every other post in the "3-4" guru thread.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:28 AM ^
I don't think it's what posters are trying to do, but I hate calling it an "incident" because it minimizes the severity of his actions. At the same time, as an alum, I wouldn't have an issue with the hire. It's in the past, and everyone has exercised bad judgment and made stupid mistakes in life. Second chances are fine for many issues. It just means the person will be on a shorter leash.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:34 AM ^
Dale did the exact same thing and he lead Hickory to the 19-somthing-or-rather State Championship AFTER Barbary Hershey called him on it. I think we will be just fine with Leavitt.
December 15th, 2015 at 12:38 PM ^
I would photoshop Jabrill in a Jimmy Chitwood jersey so fast right now.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^
