Dear Jim Leavitt,
You don’t know me. We met once briefly. But I was essentially a kid. A sophomore at USF and you took a picture with my roommate and I during a basketball game on campus.
In a weird way you played a large role in my life. As a kid who loved college football, I applied to USF solely because of the energy around the football program. I’d never been to Tampa and never heard of USF until I saw them drop Auburn fans’ jaws on the floor of their own stadium. Jessie Hester in the front corner. Such an amazing moment. This wasn’t the Florida Gators, it was something different. It was 12 years removed from being an office in a trailer and it left a Jordan-Hare stadium in complete shock. I fell for USF. I applied. I was accepted. Met my lifelong friends and my wife. I got two degrees. And the rest is history. But without what you built, much of that would be different for me and surely not accented in green and gold.
But back to you and what you built.
USF Football has had thousands of people play a role in its existence from the ticket takers, to the players, to the university administrators. Of those thousands there are two names in the category of legend. You and the great Lee Roy Selmon. Everything USF Football ever does will live in the shadow of those two names.
You were the force that moved USF from a trailer to the AP Poll. From grass fields to leading a team into Tallahassee and dethroning Bobby Bowden and an NFL first round quarterback.
What a day that was. What a time to be a USF fan.
It feels like it’s been a hundred years.
Sadly, since then due to a myriad of factors USF has managed to take what you built and totaled it. I don’t say that lightly, but everyone knows it. 4-26 in the last three seasons. No conference championships. Only a spark for two years which I don’t mean to devalue, but it was gone before we knew it. From BCS baby to bottom dwelling and being left behind. After you left… we botched it.
That brings us to now. I have twitter. I see your posts. You’re back in the Bay being a family man. Seemingly riding off into the sunset. I love that for you.
But I need you to know one thing. You’re welcome back any time you want. I don’t speak for the university or the Athletics department although I’ve heard some type of olive branch has been put out. I don’t know. What I do know is you still matter to the most important people… the ones who show up each week to watch the Bulls. Some of whom have been doing it since you first led them out.
USF is entering a new era of college football. NIL. Realignment. A stadium. An expanded playoff. A new coach to take on those challenges who could probably use your guidance. I don’t know what you want from USF (the school or athletics department.) Maybe that bridge is just too burnt. Maybe it’s the headset or nothing. Again, I don’t know. I respect where you’re at either way because I understand why. But we, the fans, want you back. If that means a role in the Selmon Center, coming to a fundraiser every so often, or just catching you with a USF polo on taking a picture with a fan and his college roommate at a USF game - it matters.
This program has been cursed since that unceremonious split which I’m not here to comment on. What I’m here to say is… you’re a legend in this town… but you need soul search on what that means to you. You don’t owe us anything. I get that. But if you want to help us out. If you want help fix what they broke… If you want to run with the Bulls again… If you want to be that legend…
The time is now.
Sincerely,
Bull Disclosure
This says it all, he’s the one that put thrill in football & made us all life long USF die hard. Sam Barrington is back around, maybe he can bring him home too in some form. That would bring the people & thrill back! He deserves it!💚💛
Please please please make this happen!!