Report: USF Coach Jim Leavitt Struck Player In Face During Locker Room Incident. Dec 14, 2009 - If Mark Mangino got fired for poking a kid in the chest and yelling at a few parking attendants, then Jim Leavitt is doomed, doomed, doomed. According to AOL's Brett McMurphy, the University of South Florida football coach grabbed special teams walk-on Paul Miller by the throat and then struck him twice in the face during the halftime of the Bulls' November 21st game against Louisville. The story is being confirmed by other anonymous sources, who say their afraid to come out for fear of invoking the wrath of Leavitt and other USF officials. Miller isn't commenting any further, but according to these sources his attempt to talk to the coach about the incident produced this chilling anecdote: Two days after the incident, Miller told his father, teammates and staff members he went to Leavitt's office to discuss the incident. Instead, Miller left feeling disrespected, threatened and intimidated, according to his teammates. "Coach I want to talk to you about what happened," Joel told Leavitt on Nov. 23. "Before you say anything," said Leavitt, according to what Miller told others in USF's program and his father, "just know I am the most powerful man in this building." More to come, but if that is true the most powerful man in the building might be experiencing a voltage shortage shortly. http://www.sbnation.com/2009/12/14/1200305/jim-leavitt-struck-player-usf-football
Well Bobby Knight got away with it for a long time.. With a 7 - 5 record though this might doom him as opposed to if he had a great record.
Way to be a real badass and start beating on some poor, intimidated walk-on, rather than a bigger stronger guy. Rule #1, pick your battles wisely. CHECK.
for whatever its worth, it looks like the player is backtracking a bit. so who knows how this turns out. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4743807 Miller refused comment to FanHouse on Sunday night. "I'd rather not speak about it right now," Miller said. "There are a lot of things going on. I have no comment about this situation." Paul Miller backtracked on his comment when contacted by the St. Petersburg Times. "I stand behind the university and coach Leavitt 100 percent. I truly believe there was no malicious intent to hit anyone. He grabbed his shoulder pad, but it was like a motivational thing," the father told the newspaper. "After talking with Joel, he was satisfied there was not a slap, not at all."
His 7-5 record this season has nothing of relevance to the issue. The fact is Leavitt BUILT this team from nothing. If there's any way the university can prevent a PR nightmare this guy stays. Step 1 is have the player "support" the coach. If he does get fired I bet Charlie Strong must be a bit frustrated. Kevin Sumlin would be contacted for sure.
