Recruit Green: 'I'm going to wait for USF'

USF coach Jim Leavitt said the faculty committee which reviews potential student-athletes would not allow him to sign Palm Beach Gardens offensive lineman Justin Green, who had accepted a scholarship offer three weeks ago to play for the Bulls.

"The committee told me I could not sign him," Leavitt said Wednesday. "I'm hoping after a little bit of time there's some reconsideration. I was mandated that I could not sign him."

Green, rated a three-star recruit by Scout.com, said he was surprised to learn of the decision Tuesday but did not sign elsewhere Wednesday. He said he hopes to find a way to play for the Bulls.

"I'm going to wait for USF," said Green, who said he is currently making up a math class from last fall that he hopes might improve his academic status enough to allow USF to sign him later this spring.

Comments

[Dave W]

How romantic...

Big guy, possibly big problems academically. I'm glad the committee is flexing some muscle. If he makes it past them, I will be confident that he is a good addition to the team. After seeing the gousfbulls.com video of Estenor, Green would allow Estenor to play DT, where I think he would best fit as Richard Clebert II.

[Gary]

I'm all for this academic review committee but if they are going to be blocking scholarship's then they need to make sure that the word comes down a little earlier than two days before signing day. They leave our coaches in a bad position and it can cause some hard feelings with HS coaches.

[BullsFan]

What about Tay Odoms and Khy Thorton? When are they going to sign? What are the chances they sign with USF? Also, great pickup with Jackson, but do you think he will play OT/OG or DT at USF?

[JoeB]

I heard both Estenor and Jackson are penciled in for the Defensive side of the ball. Surprised me a bit, but I like it for our depth next season.

[Mike]

I know CJL had nothing to do with this, probably embarrassed for us if anything. But...

Leading this kid on then yanking his schollie is VERY unprofessional at the least.

Especially at the last minute, limiting his opportunity to go elsewhere. You wouldn't get away with this crap in the real world for long.

This kid should have his attorney contact this 'committee' and put 'em in a headlock.

[Terry Lucas]

The fact that the kid would still hold out for USF inspite of his academic problems and the last second shanigans that this "academic advisory board" pulled makes me want him to get his act together even more. This board has all the makings of the Bob Huggins situation in Cinci all over again. The academic side wants to flex their muscle... unfortunately they are too pig headed to realize 65,000 loyal fans and alum that donate will gather to watch the football team play. When is th last time you saw 65,000 USF groupies gather for anything non-sports related? The kid has loyalty... and that is the loyalty that will eventually make USF the talk of the town. Hang in there Justin and pass that class!

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Maybe CJL should grow some brains on this issue and take a look at the kids grades..

All this talk about looking like an idiot is stupid. USF is saying "we can't allow a kid in who doesn't meet the minimum standards"

Seems like a decent assesment to me.

I am starting to understand what Saban was saying last fall. Its obvious the school reacted.

Remember the line "USF has 7 or 8 kids that Alabama would never let in"

Seems to be some truth to that line.

[G.A.]

JoeB, you're right on Estenor and Jackson, both as d-tackles.

[Stephen Blackehart]

Well, you can't have it both ways. Either you stop complaining about the academic quality and eligibility problems of the recruited players, or you stop complaining about the academic process. There's nothing wrong with the timing, except for the embarassment. I'm sure that report cards for the last semester only came out within the last month, and it takes that long for them to be forwarded to the university and reviewed. It'd be nice if they could've let the kid know even a week sooner, but we're talking about a state institution here...the epitomy of bureaucracy.

As far as Saban, we all know he's an idiot and a liar. Alabama's been one of the worst examples of a sports-first football college for over 110 years. It's only recently that many of their athletes even bothered showing up to class, and that's only since the NCAA sanctions in 2001. I knew a lot of their football players in the 80s and 90s, and they were all nice guys, but half of them could barely read or write.

[zippytheopinhead]

Jatavious Jackson - signed LOI with FSU last year but did not meet eligibilty requirements and therefore did not enroll. He worked on his academics and became eligible but signed with USF this year. Oh, the irony!!

[Mike Lakeland]

I agree, Terry. I want Green on this team more than ever.

[BullBard]

I am also impressed with Green's decision to work harder and meet the required academic standards. Hopefully, this talented kid does follow through with his intention, succeeds and becomes a part of USF Football.

I also hope USF Athletics continues to attract even more talent in all sports to provide a stronger impetus for greater alumni and student support.

GO BULLS!

[cg]

Embarrassment would be if Leavitt was able to sign him and in two years the public finds out he had papers written for him by athletic department members or have tests taken by tutors.

This committee is important, and their methods are as good as they can be. I thought alot of you fans wanted to be snobs about the integrity of USF players versus other schools.

If so, this is a good step. Good luck to Green.

[J]

Oh Ari, its time to break your man crush on Saban. He was pissed because Ford said no thanks to Bama and came to USF. Ford COULD have enrolled at Bama if he wanted to. How much do you wanna bet that I can point out numerous players at Bama that WOULD NOT qualify at USF. If Green had not decided to stick it out, he would have gone to USC or Ole Miss AND GOTTEN IT!!!

[Adam]

How many of Saban's class will need some exceptions to get into Bama. Do you really think their standards are that high.

cg, you're making assumptions that there would be issues with this kid if he had gotten in.

CJL is graduating a great % of players that come here. Other than Moffit-gate, there have been no allegations of cheating by our athletes. Just because FSU does it, doesn't mean that our guys do it too. USF needs to do what works for USF. We shouldn't react to other scandals by assuming that we are going to have them to. I think CJL does a great job of keeping his guys focused.

All of our players were eligible to travel with the team to the bowl after last semester. No reason to start cracking down until the issues arise.

[Rob]

Ari, you siding with Saban says it all. You never have been a Bulls fan and you never will be. Just do us all a favor and change your name back to Cee!

[Ken]

I think he's going to be fine--sounds determined, and that's what it takes to succeed in anything, including academics. I predict he will play for USF.

[John H]

USF opposed football for upteen years so the focus could be on academics. Now the politics of academics has raised it's head in this faculty oversight committee. I'm only for this type of committee if all public universities in the state have to abide by the same standards. Do they? Otherwise, it won't be a level playing field. We then might wind up being another team like Stanford with great minds on the field, but who cares.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Did anyone read Adam's comments above???

Come on Greg-- take a look good buddy.

"CJL is graduating a great % of players that come here"

-- Not true at all. In fact the stats say the exact opposite. USF is close to losing scholarships because the graduation rate is pathetic.
--

Greg knows in his heart of hearts why this committee was formed. He won't put it in print, but he knows.

Somebody at USF tipped off the top lever admins about reports of cheating in the program via the moffit allegations and USF took a look at the accusations envolving graduation rates and players being admitted into the university with sub-par resumes and took action

Greg Auman knows that is what happened. Anyone with a clear view from the top knows that is what happens.

Judy Genshaft is getting paid 700k a year and she isn't going to allow that football program to protray the Univesrity of South Florida as a school that admits everyone.

Lets give a few more building blocks that eventually led to this move.

1. Bianci's column in the Sentinel

2. The Moffit Story and his wifes accusations

3. The heads up from the NCAA about graduation rates.

4. The drug suspensions of Ponton and Josh Jumlmiste

5. The parking boot deal.

---

Genshaft is raining in the boys via the Provost.

Even a blind man can see the sun every once in a while.

Greg -- grew a pair and call the boys out on the deal.

You know something is up with the "review board."

4.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

If anyone thinks that this "review board" was just created because they thought it was "good idea" is living in lolly land.

Something happened. Discussions were had. Moves were made. Genshaft made a move.

No doubt.

You want to hear the Hinkelberger's view.

It was the Provost going to Genshaft and saying "you better get control of this deal before CJL starts taking over the ship. If he goes out and wins a title and then you start steppign on his toes, it will look bad, you better trim the rose bush now before it gets to big."

I'll bet anyone big dollars for all the naysayers.

Genshaft stepped in.

[Dave W]

Dr. Wilcox, the Provost, was instrumental in fixing the Memphis and Houston academic scandals. He knows what he is doing, and I think this move is pre-empting a problem. Our A.P.R. is in trouble, and many players are in fact not on track to graduate. In fact, did any notice that at a basketball game last year when the did the GPA awards, only 7 of 100+ football players were over 3.0? We have problems; 11 of 18 of our last football players to enroll were special admits. The general student body is less than 1% special admit.

So this may have cost us a good player. It is far better to lose one player and be able to give his scholarship to someone more qualified than to face the scholarship revocations bound to come with a falling A.P.R.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

Dave... I always knew you were a smart guy who saw through the non-sense.

good job buddy. Nice to see you don't rock the green and gold glasses all the time.

[Stephen Blackehart]

Ari,
You make an interesting assertion about the academics of our student athletes. I'd actually be interested in seeing the stats you talk about. Is there any way to see something like that [percentage of athletes on track to graduate, etc.] so we can judge where USF is, especially relative to the rest of the NCAA? Greg?

I am also curious about the timing of all this, and the ultimate purpose (beyond simple due diligence). Committee or no, no one is ever going to confuse USF with Stanford (or Duke, or any of the Ivies). Just not going to happen.

[G.A.]

There's a fundamental difference between saying half the football players aren't on track to graduate and saying that half the students who enter USF as scholarship football players don't wind up graduating from USF. Neither is admirable, don't get me wrong, but they're two different statements. Maintaining eligibility requires not only a GPA but progress toward a degree, in terms of credit hours toward a major.

USF officials said this week that as a university, if you're using the 2000 cohort (kids who started at USF in 2000) that less than half of the overall students who came to USF will graduate from USF. USF believes the school has made significant progress academically in recent years, such that the percentage using the current freshmen (in five years) will be significantly improved.

A large portion of USF's APR problems are on the retention end, with players transferring out. Until the 2004-05 school year is out of the four-year window the APR uses, USF will have a lower score because a high number -- I believe it was 22 scholarship players -- left USF that season. The Bulls are just this fall getting back to a full 85 scholarships as a result of the unusual amount of transfers from players who were recruited to Conference USA and transferred out as the level of play and talent on roster surpassed them.

[Rob]

Yeah, what Greg said!