Let’s say this up front: The University of South Florida has no choice but to rescind founding football coach Jim Leavitt’s selection to the Bulls’ Athletic Hall of Fame.
He is due to be enshrined on October 2 after a vote by the Hall of Fame committee earlier this year to place Leavitt in that most honored place.
That was controversial enough, since Leavitt was fired in 2010 after an investigation concluded he struck Joel Miller, a player on the team, at halftime during a game. The report also said Leavitt lied about it and tried to cover it up.
But, OK, the logic went. Maybe enough time had passed, and Leavitt’s contributions in leading the football program from trailers to a brief stay at No. 2 in the country in a few short years deserved the honor.
However, now Leavitt faces charges of misdemeanor battery and felony grand theft after an argument with his former girlfriend at a St. Petersburg apartment complex.
According to the police report, Leavitt is accused of grabbing the woman as she tried to walk away from and taking a Louis Vuitton purse, clutch, and wallet, worth between $5,000-$10,000.
That got Leavitt charged with domestic battery and grand theft.
Even if the charges against him are reduced or dismissed, there seems little doubt that Leavitt once again put himself into a position where things were destined to go sour – and that’s a problem.
A second misdemeanor charge involved an exchange between Leavitt and another man. Leavitt is accused of shoving that man on his chest.
Police had witnesses corroborate those events.
Given all that, what would it say about USF if the school goes through with Leavitt’s induction, especially given his history? The protections he is entitled to in the legal system don't apply when it comes to holding him up to everyone as a shining example of what a representative of USF should be.
Leavitt still has supporters among the legion of USF fans. Some of them even campaigned to hire Leavitt when the Bulls were considering potential candidates in late 2022 to replace Jeff Scott as the head football coach.
Some of those supporters may look at this incident and wonder why this is a big deal.
Here’s why.
Football coaches love to say the game teaches players discipline. It helps them develop skills for life through teamwork, shared effort, and staying cool under pressure.
It teaches skills that extend beyond the locker room. And respect for women is at the top of that list.
Respect.
For.
Women.
It is also supposed to teach self-control.
From the look of things, Leavitt ran out of timeouts on that last issue. That’s strike two, and since this isn’t baseball, he’s out.