Hall of Fame, But With an Asterisk: USF’s Complicated Jim Leavitt Decision

Let’s summarize USF’s decision to proceed with Jim Leavitt’s induction into its Athletics Hall of Fame.

Yes, he’ll still be enshrined in the Hall.

No, he won’t attend the induction ceremony next month. New CEO of Athletics Rob Higgins announced that he and Leavitt had “candid and productive conversations” leading to the conclusion that it would be best for all involved if Leavitt stayed away.

The official reason was that USF didn’t want Leavitt’s presence to overshadow the other inductees, which it would have done.

Bottom line: Leavitt will be in the Hall, but he will enter by the side door. His name won’t be mentioned at the ceremony. This action seems to be USF’s way of saying it hopes no one will notice the guy who isn’t there.

It’s the equivalent of putting an asterisk by his name.

There was no easy way out for USF after Leavitt was arrested last month on misdemeanor charges of simple battery and domestic battery, and felony grand theft during a dispute with a former girlfriend.

The charges were dropped, but it’s not like that made everything OK – especially considering his history.

Every USF fan knows Leavitt’s story. He was the Bulls’ first football coach and built a program that successfully competed with some of the top teams in the country. He was tough, volcanic, and sometimes erratic.

He lost his job in 2010 after allegations that he grabbed walk-on player Joel Miller by the throat and slapped him twice during halftime of a game in 2009.

Leavitt denied it.

USF investigated and concluded that not only had Leavitt done those things, but he also tried to cover it up.

In most cases, that would be an automatic disqualifier for an honor such as the Hall of Fame. But USF decided that enough time had passed and Leavitt deserved to be recognized for his contributions.

That did not sit well with Miller’s family, then or now.

“Why would they care if (his presence) was a distraction if that’s their candidate?” Miller’s mom, Kathy, said in a brief phone interview with Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times. “This is absolutely disgusting. I am appalled. I can’t even believe it. I’m really upset right now.”

Leavitt’s supporters – and there are many of them – will forever believe his firing was not justified. They say that even if he did what was alleged, that’s just football.

No, it wasn’t. Leavitt deserved to be fired.

The university could have – and should have – simply reversed itself on the decision to put him in the Hall.

Instead, USF chose this messy option.

Leavitt won’t be at the ceremony, but his absence will still speak loudly.