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Peyton denies being kicked off Bulls

The former receiver says he asked to transfer due to a number of issues.

By IZZY GOULD
Published February 8, 2006

TAMPA - Johnny Peyton expressed a desire to transfer from USF months before the team announced his dismissal Monday.

The former Pasco star had grown frustrated with what he felt was inadequate playing time, his exclusion from the Bulls' first bowl game and a non-speaking relationship with USF coach Jim Leavitt.

Symbolic of Peyton's turbulent two years, there were conflicting accounts what happened.

The Bulls distributed a press release Monday stating Peyton had been "dismissed from the team for violating team policy," and offered no further comment.

Peyton had his say Tuesday.

In a meeting two weeks ago with Leavitt and USF athletic director Doug Woolard, Peyton said he was presented with two options.

"They told me I either need to stay or leave, and I chose to transfer," he said. "I read in the paper they made it seem like I was just kicked off the team. ... It's crazy because it was my decision.

"This whole year has been frustration for me."

Peyton's sophomore season began with him being held out of practice Aug. 23 for what Leavitt described then as "off-field stuff."

Peyton said he had been suspended one week for an "on-campus altercation."

The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder led the Bulls in receiving yards as a freshman and expected more playing time. He did not start this season.

Peyton's most productive game came Sept. 3 in the opener at Penn State. Two of his four catches were touchdowns in the 23-13 loss.

"I played eight plays the whole game and I scored the only two touchdowns," Peyton said. "I didn't see the ball the next four games."

Peyton's frustration mounted, averaging less than two catches in the next four games.

Then he caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown in a 27-7 loss at Miami.

But after just one catch for 7 yards in a 31-17 loss at Pittsburgh on Oct. 15, Peyton was seething. He contacted Pasco coach Dale Caparaso the next week to seek assistance with a transfer.

"I don't think he was pleased with the playing time," Caparaso said. "I don't know what contributed to him not being happy. ... It's hard for me to speak about Johnny when I don't know all the facts. I just know he came to me at one point and talked to me about helping him get into another school.

"I'd say if that's the case he wasn't real happy."

Peyton's last game was USF's 28-13 loss to West Virginia on Dec. 3. He left late with a sprained right ankle, but felt he could recover in time for the Meineke Car Care Bowl.

"(Leavitt) told me he was going to take me on the bowl game if I could run on my ankle," Peyton said. " ... Every time I did try to go or I did go on my ankle they would pull me from practice and tell me to stop. Tuesday morning before the bowl game ... he had a doctor tell me that I wasn't going on the trip."

Peyton's sophomore campaign ended with 17 catches for 188 yards. His three touchdown catches led the Bulls.

Peyton hasn't worked out with the Bulls since his meeting with Leavitt and Woolard.

He wants to finish the semester at USF and sit with his mother to map out a transfer plan to a Division I school where NCAA rules would likely force him to redshirt.

He hasn't ruled out Division II, where he could play next fall.

"The whole while I was here I was never really happy," Peyton said. "At the same time I thought I could put up with it for four years, get my education and try to make it to the league or whatever was possible. Along that road, as you can see, through playing time and all that, me and Jim Leavitt, we had a few differing view points where we didn't get along, misunderstandings basically. Everything happens for a reason. I wasn't happy here. I didn't get too much PT (playing time).

"I ain't sad at all."

Contact Izzy Gould at 813 909-4612 or sportsjournalist@gmail.com

[Last modified February 8, 2006, 01:15:22]