Leavitt Suing South Florida

((HT: WTVT-TV Tampa))

Former USF head football coach Jim Leavitt has filed a lawsuit against the school according to a news release by Leavitt's attorney- Wil Florin.

In the suit, Leavitt claims the school "illegally" fired him. He says he was terminated because of "hearsay allegations."

The lawsuit comes less than two weeks after the player Leavitt is accused of assaulting, Joel Miller, issued a statement saying he did not plan on suing the former coach. Miller says he “told the truth because it was the right thing to do, not to make money.”

Florin’s release continues: “This announcement was made despite USF’s actual knowledge that Coach Leavitts account was supported by law enforcement, a coach and several players.”

Here's coverage from WTSP-TV in Tampa...
Kathryn Bursch got to do a live shot outside...


Here's a copy of Leavitt's complaint...

Miller Wants Apology From Leavitt

((HT: Bay News 9 Tampa))

Former South Florida head football coach Jim Leavitt had his press conference last week.

It was USF player Joel Miller's turn today... in the office of his lawyer, Barry Cohen.

"It's about principle," Cohen said. "Don't look in the mirror every morning and see a coward who didn't have the guts to man up just like you've been telling Joel since he's been 12-years-old."

Miller has given Leavitt ten days to deliver his apology- heartfelt or otherwise, the HQ isn't sure which Miller will accept... Leavitt's attorneys have told Miller the legal version of "perch and rotate."

Here's some of Miller and Cohen's presser form earlier today in Tampa...
Thanks to our friends at BayNews 9...

Leavitt Wants His Job Back... He's "Gonna Fight For It, Y'all..."

((HT: WTVT-TV Tampa))

Jim Leavitt wants his job back... because he loves his players...
Don't all coaches...???

He doesn't want any lost wages... he just wants his job back...

Leavitt said today that he did not strike a player- linked to sophomore Joel Miller- during this year's Louisville game where it is claimed Leavitt grabbed Miller by the throat and slapped him. A letter from Leavitt's attorney, Thomas D. Roebig Jr., said that the firing violated the terms of Leavitt's contract and his state and federal constitutional rights.

Sure... we'll bite...

Roebig also claims that Leavitt was denied a pre-termination meeting, which he was "legally entitled to..."

Here's Jim Leavitt during his presser, thanks to our friends at MyFoxTampa...


Leavitt says the allegations were "misreported."
The HQ thinks Leavitt misremembered since Miller and his family have hired their own high-falooting attorney...

Another USF Player Lines Up Against Leavitt

((HT: WDAE AM 620 Tampa))

Colby Erskin was thinking of leaving USF's football program anyway since he was a senior...or he might apply for a 6th year of eligibility because of all his knee problems...

But if what Erskin says is true, then head coach Jim Leavitt is in deep BS...
Pardon the pun...

First, an article by Brett McMurphy on Fanhouse.com came out Wednesday detailing Erskin's thoughts. He wasn't around when Leavitt allegedly slapped Joel Miller. But Erskin claims Miller came to him seeking advice on what to do...

"Joel told me that coach Leavitt was in his face and yelling at him for getting a penalty on a special teams play," Erskin said. "He said that Coach asked him a question about the play and Joel said he was hesitant to answer. Coach asked him the question a second time and Joel still didn't answer, so Leavitt grabbed him with one hand around Joel's neck and he slapped him twice with the other."

Leavitt, according to Erskin and his father, has retaliated- once by even putting all of Colby Erskin's belongings in the trash.

Erskin, has since gone on the offensive- appearing on the Steve Duemig show on WDAE-AM in Tampa...

It's a 20-minute interview, but it's an interesting listen...

The HQ maintains that Leavitt will get the same fate as both Mark Mangino and Mike Leach, but not until they can have enough evidence to blow the only coach USF has ever known completely out of the water...

Did Leavitt Strike One Of His Own...???

((HT: WTSP-TV))

Okay... we have another possible incident where a coach has delivered shenanigans to a player... And what is it with coaches from the state of Florida and their players in the first place...???

In an article by FanHouse.com's Brett McMurphy, Paul Miller, the father of sophomore Joel Miller, contends Leavitt grabbed his son by the throat, then popped him twice in the face. The incident supposedly happened during halftime of the USF/Louisville game November 21.

Five witnesses confirmed the story to Fanhouse.

According to the five witnesses -- USF players and staff members -- Leavitt was pacing in the Raymond James Stadium locker room at halftime when he walked about 10 feet to the locker where Miller was sitting without his helmet. Leavitt then grabbed Miller by the throat and hit him twice in the face with his hand.

"You do something like that [on the street], you put them in jail," Paul Miller, Joel's father and a former Tampa police officer, told FanHouse. "Somewhere [Leavitt] crossed the line."

"I was thinking 'am I really seeing this?' " a player said. "I've never felt wronged by [Leavitt], he's done nothing but help me, but when I witnessed that, I was like 'this is bull----.'

WTSP-TV/10Connects Dave Wirth has his report and Leavitt's retort...


Leavitt emphatically denies the whole thing...
The irony of the matter is that all the apologizing and reporting came one day after Mark Mangino got into trouble on the KU campus. Leavitt and Mangino have been on the same staffs before...

Paul Miller, mysteriously or not, recanted his statement when interviewed by the St. Pete Times newspaper and Greg Auman...

"I stand behind the university and Coach Leavitt 100 percent,'' Paul Miller said. "I truly believe there was no malicious intent to hit anyone. He grabbed his shoulder pad, but it was like a motivational thing. After talking with Joel, he was satisfied there was not a slap, not at all.''

Uh huh... like those of us at OSG HQ said...
"Shenanigans" of the highest order...