Report: S. Fla. coach Leavitt hit player
December 14, 2009
TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—The University of South Florida plans to look into a reportthat football coach Jim Leavitt struck one of his players in the face duringhalftime of a game last month.
Citing the player’s father, high school coach and five USF players who werenot identified, AOL FanHouse reported Monday that Leavitt grabbed Joel Miller bythe throat and hit him in the face twice because he was upset about a mistakethe sophomore walk-on made on special teams.
FanHouse said the incident occurred at halftime of the Bulls’ game againstLouisville on Nov. 21.
“The University of South Florida is aware of the story and will review thematter promptly,” USF vice president communications Michael Hoad said in astatement released by the school. “We’re committed to ensuring due process foreveryone involved. To ensure fairness, the university doesn’t comment during areview.”
Leavitt did not immediately return a telephone message left by TheAssociated Press.
However, Leavitt, the only USF football coach in school history, told theSt. Petersburg Times the accusations were false.
“I’m appalled at it. It’s absolutely not true,” Leavitt told thenewspaper. “It’s so far out there. I’m very disappointed something like thiswould be written.”
The player’s father, Paul Miller, told FanHouse: “You do something likethat (on the street) you put them in jail. Somewhere (Leavitt) crossed theline.”
Paul Miller backtracked on his comment when contacted by the Times.
“I stand behind the university and coach Leavitt 100 percent. I trulybelieve there as no malicious intent to hit anyone. He grabbed his shoulder pad,but it was like a motivational thing,” the father told the newspaper. “Aftertalking with Joel, he was satisfied there was not a slap, not at all.”
Show your friends — and the nation — you know your college football. Sign up to play College Bowl Pickem!