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 4:19 PM ^
Except he was never actually charged for assault and battery, and never sued either. In fact, he was the one doing the suing - for wrongful termination - and while he didn't technically legally "win", he did get a rather handsome $2.75 million settlement from USF for it to be over and done with, which certainly sounds like a win in layman's terms.
December 15th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
Ummm... you'll notice my post started with:
"If..."
There was a reason for that.
December 15th, 2015 at 6:55 PM ^
for early termination of his contract.
So USF saved over $4M by going this route. Seems like a back room deal to split the difference, with a bit of guilt on each party.
With the gag rule, we'll never know the whole truth and Leavitt will never be able to clear his reputation.
December 15th, 2015 at 1:48 PM ^
As a native Kansan, I remember him well and we always thought of him as the "HC in waiting" at Kansas State until he started the USF program. He can recruit, build, and coach..... His greatest asset is he IMPROVES players and his players do not make mistakes. He was the Co-DC with Bob Stoops before Stoops left for Florida. Leavitt was a HUGE part of the success of the program when they started finishing in the top ten in the polls
December 15th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
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December 15th, 2015 at 1:50 PM ^
..moreso than the "incident" itself.
People make mistakes in the heat of the moment, but the ongoing lies and attempt to get others to support those lies during an investigation is a conscious, intentional act. Not sure that is in eeping with M standards.
Not to mention.....can he recruit at the level we want effectively if other teams can point out that our DC has grabbed layers by the throat and slapped them in the past?
Look at any waivering recruit at the moment and imagine them and their parents getting an earful about Leavitt's history and I can see tht being a real tipping point. As a parent, I wouldn't necessarily be concerned about him actually physicaly harming my kid, but would very much be concerned with the general approach of someone that had done that in the past...and tried to cover it up. Has he done this elsewhere and was just more succesful n keeping it under wraps?
I'm not going to make any big stink about it if he is hired (mostly because no one would care if I did), after all Harbaugh uber alles, but eyebrows will be raised and he will be scrutinized for it forever.
December 15th, 2015 at 1:55 PM ^
I mean, Greg Schiano forced everyone in Tampa Bay to get MRSA, so we can fight fire with fire against Ohio State.
December 15th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
equals fistfight.
December 16th, 2015 at 11:58 AM ^
instructed his players to dive at the opposition's knees on a kneel-down.......he IS a stellar individual and his players love him.
December 15th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^
get past some of the posters judging someone when they have no idea what actually happened. Here is exactly what we know "he put his hands on a student athlete" the word "child" is being over used, the student athlete was not a "child". I'm sure some of these "he shouldn't have hit that kid people" are the same ones who spank their children for being disrespectful or not following the rules, just saying. Maybe some of you smoke cigs/cigars and drink in front of your kids...? I would never do that, but I'm not going to have you fired or not hired at a job because of it, I'm just not going to hang around you. Maybe he was cussing the coach out from the back of the locker room and told him to go "F himself", I have no idea, neither do any of you.
Now, let's get to the one thing nobody on MGoBlog has ever done...lie about something and then attempted to hide it. Sure as an adult male one would think you would never need to lie about anything if you are a real "man". I would agree, although at times in my adult life, I have struggled with being honest. I'm not excusing or condoning his behavior by any means, but sometimes the mind doesn't always think rationally when you are just trying to save your job or your own butt. Again, I'm not advocating for liars, I can just see why he would lie, if in fact he ACTUALLY did lie about it. None of which we have any verifiable PROOF of, so there's that.
So in closing, stop with all this "Johnny Do-Gooder" nonsense and cut the guy some slack. I'm sure he has learned from this and moved on with his life, we should all do the same. A lot us do things or have done things that would reflect poorly on the University, if you aren't going to use the same stick to judge yourself, don't use it on somebody else.
TL;DR
December 15th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^
that have a beer in front of their kids? What a sad and lonely life that sounds like.
Upvoted anyway because I agreed with most of your post.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:34 PM ^
"Wow dad you must be REALLY thirsty!!!"
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December 15th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^
that was a bit of hyperbole. I do hang around with people that smoke and drink in front of their kids. I realize upon reading that it makes me sound lame, I rarely drink, which has made the past few season (save this one) pretty difficult to sit through. I was just trying to make a point that lots of people are judging this guy and might do some things that others find intolerable and wouldnt care. I just didn't express it good enough.
December 16th, 2015 at 11:46 AM ^
from the investigation.
I'll save you the time and paraphrase here:
We talked to the victim and this is what they aaid hppened, which is not all what you said happened. Every credible witness we talked to verified the version that was put forth by the victim and substantiates their telling of events and we therefore do not consider you a credible witness to the events.
Shorter version: "You're not tlling the truth."
December 15th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
He probably went nuts and either choked the kid or did something out of bounds. Smoke-Fire. That being said, and while its inexcusable, he lost his job and was punished for it already.
We live in an era where 1 mistake gets overblown and the PC / social media shamers want to feel better about themselves by calling others out. Imagine if that piece of shit Bobby Knight was coaching in todays era.
If he is inappropriate with 1 player at UM, he will be out, I trust Harbaugh on that. Kids need to be disciplined and to be pushed, but not punished or hurt. This fine line can't be crossed.
December 15th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
I don't know much about the incident that got him fired at USF, and I'm not a defensive schematic expert. But I remember that when Leavitt was at USF, if I noticed a USF game was on, I would usually watch it, because they were a really fun team to watch. Having no connection to the school or the area, I always rooted for them just because I liked watching them.
I'd be very happy with the hire if this happens. The guy was an excellent head coach, probably top 20 or even top 10 in his time, so to get him as an assistant would be a deal. The choking incident is a black mark, but as long as the university looks at the details and feels confident it won't be repeated in any way, I think that's some baggage we can tolerate.
December 15th, 2015 at 3:42 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 4:02 PM ^
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December 15th, 2015 at 4:34 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 4:39 PM ^
Leavitt abusing all of his white privelege and not allowing a for a "safe zone" for his player.
December 15th, 2015 at 5:30 PM ^
December 15th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
These threads are just a continual reminder that I apparently have nothing in common with most football fans beyond enjoying the game itself. Ick.
December 15th, 2015 at 11:10 PM ^
this is what I think.
Harbaugh can suggest hiring Leavitt but ultimately, given the PR blowback that could result from this hire, this is a Hackett or maybe even a Schlissel decision.
Leavitt will never be a HC again, so this hire culd have risks for Harbaugh as well and the University.
I say hire Leavitt.