Good Move, USF

Posted Jan 15, 2010 by Tom McEwen

Updated Jan 15, 2010 at 01:35 AM

It now looks as if the University of South Florida, after a series of front-room, back-room, screen door-room meetings, has come up with the right answer to solving the nervous negotiations ongoing out at their school so much in the national news these days.

The Bulls appear poised to hire a bright, young prospect to coach their growing football program. The hiree is Skip Holtz, 45, successful son of exceptional coach Lou Holtz, formerly of Notre Dame and now an ESPN commentator. Holtz was a wise coach and has been a wiser man in this new role of commentating. He also appears to have kept his son on track until the right kind of job turned up he could help him land.

When Jim Leavitt did whatever he did to turn off the USF hiring committee, into the fray jumped personable Skip Holtz, for the longest time the head coach at East Carolina. He won there and established himself as a leader. Lord knows, he has a sage on whom to lean in his dad, who lives in Orlando.

For a time, it appeared Leavitt may have a shot at the job of replacing himself. Along the way, he was plagued by commentary that did not support, apparently, the background as the head coach he had wanted to get across. There was a time when Leavitt could have had the head job at Alabama, but then chose to stay at USF, the repeated choice of this native St. Pete resident.

Then events developed that may have swung the pendulum in the direction of young Holtz, who apparently is squeaky clean, as squeaky clean can be. Holtz Jr., has a solid background for this position and no baggage with which I am familiar. He has won and he can win again.

No, this is not an easy choice. Jim Leavitt has always wanted this job at USF and none other. He has won there and could win again. However, along the way, in recent days, revelations involving Leavitt turned the search committee in another direction. One of the interesting asides in this is that young Holtz is, so far as I know, a relatively new candidate for the job. Thoughts among the alumni known here seemed to favor the hiring of Holtz.

What an opportunity he has. He is now with the second-largest state university in Florida, with a program that is booming and has recruited well in recent years. His conference is the Big East, a major league made up by big-time universities. They all committed to the big-time status and the only way the program cannot succeed is by stepping on its own foot.

They play in big cities and big-time stadiums and have emerged as a major university playing in the modern stadium that Raymond James Stadium has come to be.

Also, and important here, is that South Florida has established a sound recruiting base. It is a winner there and will continue to be. All players love to play in big-time sold-out stadiums, such as Raymond James.

This is a great opportunity for young Holtz and his dad, and USF President July Genshaft. She has previously anointed the program as a prize object of her affection and I see no chance of that romance waning.

Let’s see; Skip Holtz, Head Football Coach, University of South Florida, Tampa Bay has a ring to it, doesn’t it?