Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/23  at  07:20 AM

John, you are a disgusting young punk to say you coached JB, and to put him down like that. You NEVER coached him and to say those things is an outright lie. EVERY coach JB ever had has said they wish they had an entire team of players with his enthusiasm for the game. No-one and I mean no-one has ever put JB down as a team mate and leader. He was captain of his AAU team, highschool team, and USF not because he was a cancer, but because he is a leader and someone to look up to. That didn’t change one day because he decided EC sucks. Because EC sucks he became a stronger leader and stood up for his principles. That is not a cancer, that is a man of integrity you moron.

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/22  at  11:56 PM

finally, even though Bretts article touched on some of the events of EC’s failures in the last few years, he couldn’t touch more than just the surface of the problems. EC deserves and has no loyalty or respect from the current crop of players no matter what is said. They DO NOT WANT TO JEPORDIZE THEIR PLAYING TIME! They saw first hand what Cardieri will do. He is a vindictive, sad little man. The nepostism will continue, Nick and Joel WILL PLAY and now so will little Boggs. Regardless of who has more talent in front of them. And you know as well as I do John that they are without a doubt, the three least talented players (I use the term players loosely) on the squad.

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/22  at  11:47 PM

and furthermore John, JB was not alone in this. He was encouraged to go forth by Casey Hudspeth, Joey Angelberger, Kris Howell, Yuri Higgins, Brad Karns, Ty Pryor, and Nelson North. Not to mention various parents and fans. The trouble was when push came to shove and they saw the tremendous retribution against JB after the Hawaii trip, they all clammed up. Nelson promised JB he would stand behind him and he dissapeared quicker than David Copperfield. He promised that if EC didn’t get fired last year he would help JB transfer, in short he failed JB misserably. More....

Posted by  mark bellotti, tennessee on 05/22  at  11:39 PM

I’ve stayed out of this for a couple of days, but John you’ve dragged me back in. For you to love EC so much that you would call JB a cancer in defense of EC’s failures is really sad. You were one who JB looked up to, you supported him for his work ethics when he didn’t get playing time his freshman year. You praised his character, his perseverence, his skills and his leadership. I know this because I heard it first hand, and now you portray him differently to show support of EC? I have now lost respect for you to young man, I guess you have only shown your true colors. More....

Posted by  Jim Wingert, Clearwater, FL on 05/22  at  10:02 PM

Mr.Vigue,You have to know as well as everyone else that knows anything about the kid, that Bellotti is not only NOT a"cancer"but instead the purest definition of a leader there is.I understand you want to stay loyal to a coach that probably did help you in some way,but do keep an open mind about how he may have changed due to his sons being a part of the equation.This issue is obviously causing problems.The respect that Cardieri has lost bc he obviously plays favorites won’t disappear w/the arrival of a stadium.I’m a USF fan and want to see them win,&they need a coach not a DAD who plays favorites over team success,& who then destroys a team captain bc he had the nerve to stand up for the team.

Posted by  john vigue, clearwater, fl on 05/22  at  09:52 PM

Jim,Im sorry I dont know who you are and am going to try not be disrespectful, but do you know what a cancer is?Its someone that brings others down and underminds authority. I did coach JB and he is one of the hardest working players I have ever had, that has nothing to do with him being a cancer or not.He thinks he doesn’t have to listen to authority and is above the game.He may not have started as one, but like any cancer, it can develop and it sure did with him.It is not unusual for many players to leave programs they don’t like and move on, but for JB to air dirty laundry breaks cardinal rule number 1, what happends in the locker room stays in the locker room.He’s gone because he should be gone,along with all the other disbelievers.

Posted by  Jim Wingert, Clearwater, FL on 05/22  at  09:37 PM

Mr.Vigue,I loved watching you play for USF.But you of all people have to admit that what Cardieri did to his own team captain(threatened him,as explained in the article)simply bc he was trying to help another player-that player just so happened to be the coaches son-was completely out of line.If nothing else you must agree w/that.If you were Cardieri would you have done that to your team captain who was acting as the leader of your team(not a “cancer”),& if you were Bellotti or another player would you not lose some respect for your coach who you know did such a thing bc of his kid?You are a baseball man(who I’m sure “loved"&not"hated" Bellotti as you say)you should know that there is at least something to question about Cardieri.

Posted by  John Vigue, Clearwater, FL on 05/22  at  08:58 PM

Like I said in my previous email, beeing on scholar ship is like a job, there are no guarantees.  So if you get fired, are you gonn a run around and bad mouth the guy who gave you an opportunity in the first place, no, well not 98% of us because we have integrity.  We know when it is time to just move on. 
You speak of humiliation and being yelled out infront of the team.  Well that is what it is all aobut.  Grow up and take it like a man.  I am sure Jeremy was so sweet and innocent when he told Nick to stop that ball, yeah right.  I know JB and he is far from that.  So don’t sit here and put your son on a pedistol cause he doesn’t belong there.

Posted by  John Vigue, Clearwater, FL on 05/22  at  08:53 PM

After reading all these comments, let’s sum this up. People think Cardieri has become a bad coach, lost respect from players, isn’t loyal, and should be fired.  Those who know him and have played for him seem to disagree.  It’s weird that the unhappiness of one players has now become into EC’s inability to coach. I know and have coach Mr. Belotti and can say from first hand experience you either love him or hate him, regardless EC and him did not fit..

Posted by  Jim Wingert, Clearwater, FL on 05/22  at  08:46 PM

Mr.Vigue,I’ve seen you play&coach.I know you coached Bellotti in high school.As explained in my earlier post I’ve been around the game a long time.Why,if Bellotti was such a cancer would he be known by players,coaches (Cardieri,probably even you),fans,parents,scouts as the hardest working kid who is the definition of a leader.If he was a cancer,then why would such a “great” coach like Cardieri make him TeamCaptain,which I’m almost positive is voted on by the players?Would the players vote for a“cancer”as their captain?Also,if college is a one year contract,and Bellotti is an alleged cancer,why then did he keep getting a scholarship?I think we can establish that Bellotti was no such thing as a cancer,quite the opposite in fact.

Posted by  GV, Tampa on 05/22  at  03:50 PM

Mr. Martin sir, you are a joke. No one is saying Cardieri has made all the right moves. if you understood College Athletics, why do you think the University of Florida can go anywhere and recruit athletes? Why do you think USF has not been able to host a Regional in the past after a successful season? Daah Funds/Stadium! Get a clue Mr. Martin!

Posted by  John Vigue, Clearwater, FL on 05/22  at  11:37 AM

I can’t wait to sit and reply to all this. Mr. Martin, who the hell are you? A baseball guru no doubt, who are you telling to get a clue? You are backing a kid that was a problem, a cancer to the team and program.  Of course EC is going to ask him to leave the team, who wants someone like that playing for them.  College sports is a business, a 1 year renewable contract.  Jeremy was a cancer he needed to get rid of to try and right the ship.  Funny there were no incidents to report from this year or any other.
To be continued…

Posted by  Larry Stevens, Tampa on 05/22  at  11:07 AM

Mr. Richtberg,

If you are saying that selling roster spots is an appropriate thing to do then I say you are absolutely wrong. You believe this is OK yet act surprised when other players on the team might feel like he is playing favorites. Maybe the USF program should just hold an auction and give its starting spots to the highest bidder. To me, that goes against everything college athletics stands for. What good is having more money if you put an inferior product on the field because of it? And talk about screwing with team chemistry. What happens when Wade questions why his son isn’t playing? You have already sold him a roster spot, now will you have to guarantee him playing time. That whole situation stinks!

Posted by  Jim Martin, Tampa, FL on 05/22  at  10:32 AM

GV...If you really were a USF fan you would be as frustrated as all the others as to where Cardieri has taken this program in 21 years:NOWHERE!!He has completely lost control,respect,etc.And no matter what childish remarks you throw out at Mr. Bellotti or myself,you still have yet to make one good point to prove to anyone otherwise.Everyone comes at you with explicit FACTS of why Cardieri should be gone..all you, Mr. Richtberg and his sidekick have been able to do to the people who present these FACTS and want to change the program for the better is insult them and say that they are just being too negative.There is a big difference between being negative and being critical,between being positive and just down right complacent w/the problem.

Posted by  David Richtberg, Tampa, Fl on 05/22  at  10:02 AM

Mr. Stevens,

Is it possible that the Boggs move was a financial one for the program?  Seeing as how the major fund raiser for the program is a yearly golf outing and it made a substantial amount more this year then in years past.  Is that worth a scholly for his son Brett?  I would say it is.

Posted by  David Richtberg, Tampa, Fl on 05/22  at  09:36 AM

Well obviously the posters can’t read, because Keith very clearly said that was brought to you by him via my name as he wrote it at my house. 

Anyway, I can’t wait to watch USF pull it off, and I can’t wait for all the negativity turn to shock and awe when you see the show of support that will be there not only for the Bulls but for Cardieri!

Posted by  GV, Tampa on 05/22  at  08:24 AM

Mr. Martin, you must be a very frustrated individual. Did you play past T-Ball? Are you Mr. Belloti’s step brother? Get a life. Watch the Bulls win the Tournament this week!

Posted by  Jim Martin, Tampa, FL on 05/21  at  08:41 PM

Once again Mr. Richtberg fails to make one intelligent comment in his rambling.Did you even read the article?Bellotti was not being singled out b/c he failed at being a team captain.It states specifically that Bellotti put his arm around Nick Cardieri and was trying to tell him how to actually play baseball the right way(ie help a teamate)when daddy Cardieri came over screaming b/c he did not want everyone to know how bad his son actually is.In no way was this a captain being singled out b/c he failed,but instead a player acting as the definition of a team captain and getting threatened to be “jacked up”(read the article)by his own coach.Do you actually think that it was just a coincidence that Cardieri’s son was in the middle of it.

Posted by  Larry Stevens, Tampa on 05/21  at  11:43 AM

I certainly am not questioning Cardieri’s desire to win or ability to coach baseball. I know he has tremendous knowledge of the game and wants to win as bad as anyone else. I just think at some point as the head coach of the program you have to be held accountable for either not bringing in enough talent or bringing in the wrong type of kids. He has complete control over who comes in to this program and therefore has to take responsibility for what takes place on the field. I know he can’t play for them but he can decide who he brings in and who he plays. He is playing the hand he dealt himself, not the hand someone else is dealing him. I am sure it is not easy but he is not up to it then it is time for some fresh blood.

Posted by  Larry Stevens, Tampa on 05/21  at  11:40 AM

I certainly am not questioning Cardieri’s desire to win or ability to coach baseball. I know he has tremendous knowledge of the game and wants to win as bad as anyone else. I just think at some point as the head coach of the program you have to be held accountable for either not brining in enough talent or brining in the wrong type of kids. He has complete control over who comes in to this program and therefore has to take responsibility for what takes place on the field. I know he can’t play for them but he can decide who he brings in and who he plays. He is playing the hand he dealt himself, not the hand someone else is dealing him. I am sure it is not easy but he is not up to it then it is time for some fresh blood.

Posted by  Larry Stevens, Tampa on 05/21  at  11:08 AM

There is a world of talent outside of the state of Florida which can be accessed rather easily through minimal effort (i.e. video, referrals, camps). Cardieri is such a nice guy that I think that affects his recruiting. Courier, Boggs, Welke, his sons and others have big names by but know means where good enough to get scholarships to this program. When your program is already at a disadvantage because of your facilities you can’t afford to give roster spots away to your fishing buddies son. There are reasons these guys were not recruited by anyone else. Don’t you think if Wade Boggs son had any talent he would have been drafted or at a big name school? I think there are just to many favors being handed out.

Posted by  Larry Stevens, Tampa on 05/21  at  11:07 AM

There is a world of talent outside of the state of Florida which can be accessed rather easily through minimal effort (i.e. video, referrals, camps). Cardieri is such a nice guy that I think that affects his recruiting. Courier, Boggs, Welke, his sons and others have big names by but know means where good enough to get scholarships to this program. When your program is already at a disadvantage because of your facilities you can’t afford to give roster spots away to your fishing buddies son. There are reasons these guys were not recruited by anyone else. Don’t you think if Wade Boggs son had any talent he would have been drafted or at a big name school? I think there are just to many favors being handed out.

Posted by  Larry Stevens, Tampa on 05/21  at  11:00 AM

Keith, you are to be congratulated on your development and successful career. In a way you are illustrating my point about EC’s recruiting strategy. Every coach will take a chance here and there. My problem is that Cardieri lately has more of those marginal type players then legitimate Division 1 talent. He seems to be OK with recruiting lesser talent from the local area then putting in his time recruiting on the road.

Posted by  GV, Tampa on 05/21  at  09:23 AM

By the way Mr. Martin, you are the Stupid one! The Program will rebound with Coach Cardieri. It always has! You must be a Hater, not a Winner I can sense it!

Posted by  GV, Tampa on 05/21  at  09:18 AM

Mr. Martin,
First of all I do not have time like you to be clonning people. I am a Professional, and I do not support people like you that support clonning pessimistic people like Mr. Bellotti.
By the way, whether you like it or not USF won 2 out of 3 in at West Virginia. EC can handle the pressure! By the way Mr. Martin are you also on that weekend softball team?