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USF Coach Slams Remarks On Academic Standards

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 2, 2007

TAMPA – University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt vehemently disagreed with a quote from Alabama coach Nick Saban that claims USF's quick success is because the Bulls have lesser academic standards than other programs.

"It's not right [what Saban said], we've done what we've done because we've worked extremely hard," Leavitt said to reporters after today's weekly news conference.

In today's Birmingham News, Saban was quoted saying:

"The distribution of players is not the same for everybody. There's a significant amount of players who don't qualify [at some schools] and they end up being pretty good players at some other schools. I think there are six guys starting on South Florida's defense who probably could have gone to Florida or Florida State but Florida and Florida State couldn't take them. And if you do a good job of recruiting that way ..."

Leavitt disputed Saban's statement.

"Of 110 players, we have two nonqualifiers, one starts, one doesn't," Leavitt said. "The Big East doesn't allow nonqualifiers. For a guy to make a mistake like that is not right.

"I'm not down on [Saban]. Whoever gave him that information needs to correct it. Certainly this person [Birmingham News reporter Ray Melick], what right does he have to write an article without verifying all the facts. This is why I get disturbed sometimes, because now this article goes out.

"It's an absolute wrong to do that."

USF senior Mike Jenkins disagreed with Saban's statement, even noting Saban offered Jenkins a full scholarship to LSU when Jenkins was a senior at Bradenton Southeast High School.

Ironically, USF freshman running backs Jamar Taylor and Mike Ford both initially signed with Alabama. Taylor enrolled at Alabama in January and was the Tide's leading rusher in the spring game, but transferred to USF over the summer to be closer to his family.

Ford signed with Alabama out of Sarasota High School but did not qualify. He went to a prep school before coming to USF in January.

As far as Saturday's game at Florida Atlantic (3-2) – the Bulls' first since moving up to No. 6 in the AP rankings – Leavitt said the Bulls (4-0) must play their best.

"Florida Atlantic, I have a great respect for Coach [Howard] Schnellenberger," Leavitt said. "He's one of the greatest coaches in NCAA football. They have an awfully talented football team. It's a very difficult challenge."

While the Bulls take a two-week break from Big East play, Leavitt said despite USF's win against West Virginia in Friday's Big East opener, the race is still wide open.

"The Big East is wide open," Leavitt said. "Anyone can win it. I don't say that because it sounds good, it's because it's true."

Reporter Brett McMurphy can be reached at (813) 259-7928 or bmcmurphy@tampatrib.com

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