Leavitt wants Gators to come to Tampa

TAMPA – In past years, the talk of the Florida Sports Writers Association’s College Football Media Days was Central Florida coach George O’Leary lobbying to USF and coach Jim Leavitt to continue playing their rivalry game every year.

Now, as the Bulls and Knights prepare to meet for the fourth and final time in Orlando on Sept. 6, Leavitt is the one publicly lobbying, asking Florida to come to Tampa and take on USF at Raymond James Stadium.

"Florida won’t come in here to Tampa," said Leavitt, whose team is scheduled to play the Gators in Gainesville in 2010 and 2015. "We haven’t been able to get that done. Before, I could understand why, because we were averaging probably 32 or 34,000. Now we’re selling out Raymond James."

Starting in 2009, USF will play Miami every year for five years, and Leavitt would like to see similar deals with Florida and Florida State, saying that his program shouldn’t be considered part of the state’s "Big Three" until they’ve beaten one of them.

"The Swamp, I’m sure that’s an exciting place to play. I haven’t been there," he said. "I’d love to see that happen in Tampa, too. We’ll see if that happens."

USF isn’t scheduled to play UCF again after this season, and Leavitt said his concern is playing too many state teams each season because of the high emotions those games bring.

-- Bethune-Cookman coach Alvin Wyatt said he expects former USF defensive end Josh Smiley to start for the Wildcats at inside linebacker this fall.

"If he can't go at middle linebacker, he'll start at defensive end," Wyatt said. "He's going to start for us somewhere. We can't afford to have a kid like that just sitting and waiting around. He'll be just like (former USF linebackers) Josh Balloon and Ronnie McCullough."

Wyatt said former USF cornerbacks Antwane and Antonio Cox will start at cornerbacks, giving him three former Bulls starting on defense.

-- Roster note: Linebacker Josh Soto, a linebacker at USF for two seasons, has transferred to Florida International. Soto, who did not play while at USF, will sit out the 2008 season and should have two years of eligibility with the Panthers.

Comments

[Taurean]

We pose the risk of overstretching ourselves by trying to pull in every Florida team.

I've always a USF-Miami series is ideal because it is a natural rivalry that is in-state between teams who often compete for recruits. There's rivalry potential there.

Florida is an SEC team with a highly established program. We could play them, but why? Florida State should be completely out of the question because they are an ACC team that already has a loaded conference schedule.

If we're looking elsewhere for a Florida opponent, why not FAU? Or even, dare I say, UCF? Those are teams with whom we can craft a series instead of trying to utilize another team's prestige.

We could seriously overstretch ourselves by seeking out series with every Florida school.

[Taurean]

We pose the risk of overstretching ourselves by trying to pull in every Florida team.

I've always a USF-Miami series is ideal because it is a natural rivalry that is in-state between teams who often compete for recruits. There's rivalry potential there.

Florida is an SEC team with a highly established program. We could play them, but why? Florida State should be completely out of the question because they are an ACC team that already has a loaded conference schedule.

If we're looking elsewhere for a Florida opponent, why not FAU? Or even, dare I say, UCF? Those are teams with whom we can craft a series instead of trying to utilize another team's prestige.

We could seriously overstretch ourselves by seeking out series with every Florida school.

[Eddie]

Ron,
It has nothing to do with what you are stating. We have shown we can consistanly win. We do fill the stands now. Rebuild what?
Florida doesn't play anyone on the road outside of conf. That is the only reason. None of what you mentioned!

[Ron]

I doubt any of the power programs will agree to a Home and Home with USF at this time. Until we show that we can consistantly win, rebuild and fill the stands we have to pay our dues.

[Bull Alumni]

Leavitt is actually using brilliant psychology here to switch the annual Media Debate about USF-UCF to discussion of USF-Florida.

However, Bulls fans who say the Gators keep pushing back the series dates are wrong. It is USF who asked to move the dates back in order to move in some other attractive D-I games. Granted, if Florida had agreed to come to Tampa, perhaps those dates wouldn't be pushed back. But, it was indeed USF who asked for the delay.

Greg should be able to verify this.

[ld]

UF did not push the scheduled game with USF back, USF did. Be careful what you ask for. Just ask UCF. I believe UF did USF a favor scheuling those games. They were under no obligation to do so.

[Bobby Bowden]

Dadgummit....I say, dadgummit!

All you whippersnappers who are badmouthin my dadgum program best watch it. I'm gunna' be all ovuh you like white on dadgum rice...like green on dadgum grass!!

Beatin' your dadgum boys in Tampa would be as easy as herding dadgum chickens!

DADGUMMIT!!

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I think it would be much cooler to play a Northeast or West Coast power like USC or Ohio State.

USC seems like they will play anyone anytime - any place.

They have Ohio State on the schedule this year and next. Before that it was Ark. Before that it was Texas.

Or how about playing someone like Nebraska. Maybe even UCLA.

Screw FSU. They aren't even good.

Why not Alabama. Now that would be a great football game.

[Joe]

But with a new AD and HC, and an attractive deal from USF to play in Tampa, they might reconsider. Right now, they are marketing season ticket packages to TCC students to sell tickets. After a couple more 6-6 seasons (and the economy) it will probably get worse.

[DELdaBULL]

FSU has stated they will never schedule us.

[Joe]

Financially, FSU would seem more likely than UF. UF can fill the Swamp by playing the Citadel or Gainesville High while FSU is struggling to sell season tickets. Maybe, once Bobby steps down and Jimbo takes over, we can get a deal with FSU.

[Ari Hinkelberger]

I agree - a 2-1 with FSU would be fine with me - just so we could whooop the crap out of them.

FSU's football program is in bad shape. Their defense is awful (lost 35-0 to wake at home). They haven't had a QB since Weinke.

FSU is not a very good team at this point in time.

[Jim]

Thanks Greg for the insight. UF will not play us because of money and Alumni like to be in the swamp. In Tampa they would be a second class citizen even though they would have a boat load of fans at the game and eating out of the trash cans around the stadium.

FSU will not play us because it is not to their advantage. Leavitt can keep the rhetorick up and keep giving them coaches. I think they should play us for taking or D-Line coach.

[USF95]

If I remember correctly the buyout for both games is really low (less than $50M). I would press them until 2009 and bail on both games at that last minute unless they agree to one game in Tampa. A 2 for 1 with 2 in Gainesville and 1 in Tampa. We could get that from USC or Ohio State or Texas or Oklahoma so why not Florida.

[Kyle]

Terry, I love your fire, but comparing Mike Ford to Percy Harvin at this point is a bit outlandish.

[USF95]

I would love to see a return game to Tampa but it's highly unlikely. UF refuses to play Miami other than a few times a decade. The only non-conference game UF continues to play annually is FSU and they would prefer if they never play Miami. UF likes to play at least three non-conference home games a year so giving USF a home and home would really throw that off. You probably won't see UF play Miami again for another 10 years after their series is over after next year. I think we should cancel our games with UF unless they agree to one game in Tampa. That's a 2 for 1 with us. We deserve at least that. We should certainly not fullfill the currently scheduled 0 for 2 deal in 2010 and 2015. That's completely unfair.

[Mike Lakeland]

I think Leavitt is barking up the wrong tree - We've already got UF and UM on the schedule. He needs to lobby for FSU!

I know this may incite some rage, but I would have no problem with Leavitt taking a 2-for-1 with FSU to get them on the immediate schedule. It won't happen, I know...

[J]

here yet, not hear yet. sorry about that.

[J]

Terry, you are right that people in Tampa need to wake up, but it's not me. Go look in the mirror. I am as big of a USF fan as you will find and I hate the Gators with a passion, but I also have to be realistic.

I believe that we are in process of building one of the next national superpowers. But that's just it, we are in process of becoming a superpower. UF already is a national superpower.

You mention that it took UF 70+ years to win a national championship. I hear your point and I don't think it will take us near that long, but the fact is they won a national title two years ago, we just got ranked for the first time last year. There will come a day when our program is on par with, maybe even ahead of theirs, but that day isn't hear yet. You're living in the future.

[Terry Lucas]

Wake up J... How can someone say UF is better than us? Their history says they are better because they have two National Championships... but it only took them 70+ years to win one. If I recall... we did beat the same Auburn team last season that they lost to. That was our one common head-to-head opponent. Oh yeah... they played Auburn at the Swamp. Didn't we beat Auburn at Jordan-Hare.

I find it hard to believe there is that much of a difference between our programs right now. They have a Heist(man) winner - should have gone to McFadden. We have the consumate playmaker in Grothe. They have Percy Harvin... We counter with Mike Ford. Different backs... but, you'll see. And finally... our talent on defense is way better than the defense UF currently is placing on the field.

People need to wake up in Tampa... Leavitt has been building this for a long time. For those still exhibiting a complex when it comes to the other three schools... get over it. We are here to stay. Utilizing "we're so young" when we lose, needs to be removed from your mindset. Demand excellence from Leavitt and hold him accountable... he demands it from his players wouldn't expect anything less. We are on the cusp of greatness... that is reality.

[DELdaBULL]

Good points Ari. We got on the schedule when we were 1AA and UF thought it would be a cupcake win. Then we started getting good and they started pushing the game back.

[Joe]

Revenue would be a huge factor in UF giving up a home game to come to Tampa. Would it take a split of the gate $$ to make it happen? What about merchandise sales, concessions, etc.?

[Ari Hinkelberger]

If we win the Big East and play in a couple of BCS games they will play us, but until then, they have little to gain by putting us on the schedule.

Its a miracle that we got the two games we did.

[J]

Hopefully it happens, but doubt it will. UF probably looks at coming to Tampa similarly to how we look at going to Orlando. Beat them in the Swamp when we go there and then they'll come to RayJay.

Can't blame Leavitt for trying though. Maybe he'll be successful in that and FSU will follow suit. I can at least understand UF's resistance, they're still ahead of us as a program. We've been better than FSU for a couple of years now.

[Tom]

The gates should come to tampa.

[DELdaBULL]

I too would love to see the Gators playing USF in Ray Jay