Review is needed in wake of accusations

The University of South Florida is on the clock. Everyone is watching and waiting to see what it does next.

What it needs to do next is conduct an investigation.

Jim Leavitt, the only head football coach USF has ever known, has been accused, in a story on AOL FanHouse, of grabbing one of his own players by the throat and striking him in the face at halftime of last month's Louisville game.

The story, written by former Tampa Tribune employee Brett McMurphy, used named sources, as well as unnamed sources, including five in the USF football program, to detail Leavitt's alleged treatment of sophomore Joel Miller, a walk-on from Wharton High School.

Miller refused comment on the AOL report. However, the story did quote Miller's father, Paul, a former police officer: "You do something like that (on the street), you put them in jail. Somewhere (Leavitt) crossed the line."

But Monday, Paul Miller rebutted the AOL story, saying his words had been twisted, that his quote was in response to a hypothetical question, that his son wasn't attacked in the manner described by FanHouse - and that he is 100 percent behind Leavitt.

USF's head coach denied any wrongdoing.

"It's untrue," Leavitt said. "It's false. I want to get the truth out there."

Then there's this from Michael Hoad, USF vice president for communications:

"The University of South Florida is aware of the story and will review the matter promptly. We're committed to ensuring due process for everyone involved. To ensure fairness, the university doesn't comment during a review."

This isn't the end of this story.

There should be a real review.

There should be a real review because the charges leveled are that serious. Throw in the comments from Miller's football coach at Wharton High, who told FanHouse that Joel Miller told him he was afraid to go to the USF administration because he might not be able to play football.

There needs to be a real investigation here.

There are coaches, bigger names, longer legends, who have been fired for doing what Leavitt is accused of doing. Earlier this month, Kansas football coach Mark Mangino resigned amid an investigation into his treatment of his players.

It's hard to imagine something more serious than a coach bullying his players. It's hard to imagine why any university would want such a coach, or why any parent would send their son to such a university.

USF needs to conduct a thorough investigation. Maybe it should be conducted by USF athletic director Doug Woolard, maybe not. Maybe it should be someone in the university, but outside the department.

Me? I'd call in every player or coach who was in that locker room at halftime of the Louisville game, one by one. I'd make them describe what they saw - to tell the truth, with no fear of retribution. That's what I would do.

Jim Leavitt says it's all a lie. That said, he should have nothing to fear if people look under his program's hood. The truth always sets you free.

It's time to clear up this and that about USF football, once and for all.

Beginning today.