You know a football program has really arrived when fans start grumbling about the head coach, and that is beginning to happen at USF. Tribune blog buddy Brett McMurphy generated a large response to his blog about the state of the Bulls following consecutive losses at Louisville and Cincinnati.

Here’s 2 cents more on that subject.

While I believe Jim Leavitt has generally done an outstanding job of building a program from the ground up and becoming a recognized name on the national scene, this Bulls season has been a flop to this point and that comes back on the head coach. The Bulls didn’t handle success well last season after rising to No. 2 in the nation, particularly in a meltdown at Rutgers (USF’s next opponent) in which Leavitt seemed paralyzed by the moment. He has become a total control freak as well, which doesn’t make him different from most college coaches but does leave him holding the bag when things go sour.

The Bulls’ play actually reflects Leavitt’s personality - intense, high-energy, capable of great moments, but also erratic and out of control.

USF should be way better this season and that’s on Leavitt. The Bulls returned 17 starters from a year ago, including quarterback Matt Grothe. The Big East is about as weak as it ever will be and the Bulls were about as loaded as they ever will be. If fans are upset, well, they should be.

Once you establish that you have the ability to play on the big stage, as USF did, people won’t be happy with anything less. Just as Phil Fulmer or Tommy Tuberville (who is feeling the heat at Auburn despite long-term success there). That doesn’t mean that Leavitt will suffer Fulmer’s fate, of course, nor should he. It does mean that fans are a fickle lot with high expectations and short memories.

RAYS RUMORS: The New York Post is reporting the Mets have interest in the Rays’ pitching. Depending which story you read, they’re either looking at Edwin Jackson or, to expand things a bit, Jackson and Andy Sonnanstine.

I make this safe prediction: This won’t be the last time we hear that “Team X” is focused on trading for pitching from the Rays. The general belief is that Jackson is the one most likely to be moved, if the Rays make a move, and he would be attractive - a 14-game winner with a power arm. He’ll also be expensive, as would Sonnanstine.