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Colleges
Bulls react to Saban's shot
By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Published October 3, 2007
TAMPA - USF is the talk of college football, and in some cases the words aren't kind.
Alabama coach Nick Saban took a shot at the Bulls Tuesday in the Birmingham News, suggesting that they admit players who don't qualify in other programs.
"The distribution of players is not the same for everybody," he told the News. "There's a significant amount of players who don't qualify (at some schools) and they end up being pretty good players at some other schools. I think there are six guys starting on South Florida's defense who probably could have gone to Florida or Florida State but Florida and Florida State couldn't take them. And if you do a good job of recruiting that way ..."
USF coach Jim Leavitt and his players defended the program. Leavitt said only two Bulls were non-qualifiers to play as a freshman and both are on track to graduate.
"For a guy to make a statement like that is ... not right," he said. "It's a knock on our program."
Senior cornerback Mike Jenkins found Saban's statement ironic because Jenkins had spurned a scholarship offer from the coach, then at LSU.
"I was a SuperPrep All-American (recruit) coming out of high school. I picked USF because I wanted to pick USF," Jenkins said. "I could have gone to the Floridas, the Florida States, the Alabamas, the LSUs. (Saban) offered me a scholarship (at LSU). I didn't go there. He offered me a full scholarship and I picked USF. So I disagree with that."
Senior center Nick Capogna said Saban's comments are insulting to all USF players, on offense or defense.
"Where's he getting that research off? Did he open up our records?" Capogna said. "It's a shot at me. I don't know if I can play at Florida State, but it says I'm not academically smart enough to play at another school. It's disrespectful. He's entitled to his opinion. I got a good SAT score, had a good GPA in high school. If he wants to look at transcripts, I'll give him mine gladly."
Jenkins said he's noticed more criticism of USF since the Bulls jumped into the national rankings.
"That's just coaches talking," he said. "I don't know if he said these exact words, but (FSU) Coach (Bobby) Bowden said he'd be surprised if we hold onto the No. 6 ranking. That's their opinion. Coach Leavitt's doing a heck of a job right now."
For the record, Bowden said he'd be "amazed."
[Last modified October 3, 2007, 00:20:34]
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Comments on this article
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by Joe
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12/31/07 07:36 AM
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I bet a lot of people in here talking about how great USF is feel really really really dumb right now.
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by Crimson
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12/01/07 03:14 PM
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Be very careful what players you let comment. A few maybe telling some tales. I know if LSU was caling on me I would not be going to USF. Think about it.
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by Josh
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10/10/07 02:16 PM
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USF does have it unfair! If the NCAA had just overlooked all of Alabama's blatant cheating and recruiting violations over the past 2 decades they'd probably be ranked in the top 10 as well. Come on USF, shape up!
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by Gary
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10/07/07 02:18 PM
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The uproar over this statement is ridiculous. Saban was answering a question in which a reporter mentioned USF and Rutgers by name. Saban's answer was not untrue. Mike Ford couldn't qualify academically at Alabama, now he's skipping classes at USF.
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by Gregg
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10/06/07 06:26 AM
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Mr. Auman-learn def. of ironic. Others-Saban referred to conferences that allow partial qualifiers, not every player in them. Leavitt's non-qual comments confused issue. Intentional? We believe what we want to. Nothing else matters. Right?
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by Tom
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10/05/07 04:00 PM
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Saban is a moron!! I don't really see why he even went there. Shouldn't he be spending more time watching game film, its not like Bama is really a threat to anyone this year, except maybe, maybe Vandy.
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by Michael
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10/05/07 02:37 PM
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Advice to Saban: Engage brain before opening mouth.
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by Rob
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10/05/07 11:03 AM
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Saban's dead-on right. USF is a school for anyone to attend who can't go to a top-notch college. This isn't just about football, it's about academics and USF is nothing more than Temple Terrace Technical College for the idiotic and retarded.
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by Jenny
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10/05/07 09:30 AM
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Deke, your dreaming, check out the last poll, that's the one that counts.
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by Tim
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10/05/07 09:29 AM
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What is the graduation rate for Leavitt? Put it out there and prove Saban wrong, or will it?
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by tom
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10/05/07 06:49 AM
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Bill and Brian sound like some sore losing Bama fans. Keep your 4 million a year man who will never win anything at Alabama and we will keep Leavitt who actually cares for his players and community.
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by Shawn
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10/04/07 07:10 PM
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Did this Bama coach actually say, basically, that these Bulls are not smart enough to qualify.. but they are smart enough to outsmart those that are? How does that work? Football is not solely athleticism.
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by Bryan
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10/04/07 12:46 PM
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Don't let any comments bother you guys (USF players). You just keep doing what your doing, and you'll prove to the nation that you belong in the top 10, and that Leavitt is one hell of a coach. GO BULLS!!!!!
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by Michael
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10/04/07 10:53 AM
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I'm not a Bull's fan (they beat my Auburn tigers),but they've worked their way up and earned their success. Coach Saban showed what kind of class he has (none), and shot his mouth off without making sure his brain was loaded. good luck bulls!
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by Mary
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10/04/07 10:18 AM
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I am a Gator fan all the way and live in the Tampa Bay area. I am extremely proud to have another Florida football program doing so well. I will cheer for the Bulls every time (until they play Florida!)
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by keith
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10/04/07 09:49 AM
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I would really be curious what the graduation rate is for Alabama football. I tend to think it would be rather low.
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by Bill
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10/04/07 09:47 AM
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It's actually a Fact! Saban is probably most bitter about Mike Ford though. He had been a commitment for 3 years to Bama, but couldn't qualify academically...to play football...at BAMA!
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by Brian
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10/04/07 09:46 AM
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Another good ob of the media spinning the comments, the comments were made about the Big East in general and other teams that are not called USF. As noted the world doesn't revolve around USF after two quality wins, unlike the local media wants it to
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by John
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10/04/07 09:32 AM
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Saint Bowden and Saban talk like losers!
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by Tim
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10/04/07 09:00 AM
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Hats off to the South Florida Bulls. What an amazing climb from no program to a top 10 national ranking. I saw the game against WVU, there were 80,000 screaming fans! Looks like a big time college football program to me! Saban is just jealous!
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by Mike
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10/04/07 08:44 AM
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The fact of the whole matter is not what you allow in, it's what you graduate. Let's unearth Nick Saban's graduation rate. For now we can only hope that he will scurry back under his rock.
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by jim
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10/04/07 07:31 AM
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The man is a jerk. He is rude to people and co-workers and he thinks of nothing else but himself. Oh yeah Leavitt turned down the Alabama job to stay here. If not you would still be in Miami getting your butt kicked! How many games have Alabama Lost
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by Soman
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10/03/07 11:40 PM
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AL overpaid and spent $4M/year on Saban (a bandaid) when Leavitt turned AL down for $1M/year to stay at USF. Saban is obviously not worth the money and he's taking out his frustation on a classy guy like Jim Leavitt that would have had AL @ #6 now.
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by Andy
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10/03/07 11:04 PM
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The statements came from a person who has no moral credibility and talks out of both sides of his mouth, take them with a pound of salt, unfotunately the good people of Alabama are stuck with him.
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by Richard
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10/03/07 09:58 PM
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Nick Saban is a joke. How can he open his mouth when all he does is jump ships every year. USF is an awesome program and school and can't wait till I transfer to USF. Saban needs to worry about his own team. They've dropped two in a row! GO BULLS
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by Bobbie
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10/03/07 09:41 PM
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Classy! Coaches talking down about other schools. Aren't we glad USF won't stoop to that level! And he will continue to have a winning team. Go BULLS!
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by bob
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10/03/07 09:21 PM
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I am sure that is why Saban went to Bama, becuase of their stellar academic history...he is a miserable guy, great when he wins, but when things don't go his way, he quits the Dolphins and slinks back to the SEC, lets hope the Bulls get a shot at him
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by VOR
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10/03/07 09:09 PM
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His argument makes no sense.
It would be true if USF got 5 STAR talent and Alabama got 2 STAR talent.
The opposite is true.
Leavitt just takes his "dumb" 2 STAR talent and turns them into WINNERS while Saban turns his "smart" 5 STARS into LOSERS!
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by DON
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10/03/07 07:13 PM
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SABAN WOULDN'T SAY IT IF IT WASN'T SO. SHOULD BE CHECKED INTO.NOT FAIR TO OTHER TEAMS.
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by Tom
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10/03/07 07:06 PM
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Sabans jealous.My wife is from Alabama.Go Tigers.At least there coach has respect for the BULL'S.
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by LOLerskates
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10/03/07 07:03 PM
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what a sore loser.
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by Deke
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10/03/07 06:42 PM
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Saban and Bowden's comments come from two D1 powers--from the twentieth century. Problem is, we're in the 21st century now and there are new powers in D1 Football. USF, Cincinnati, Rutgers, Boise St., have all replaced the Alabamas and FSUs. Go USF!
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by Robert
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10/03/07 06:17 PM
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For Saban, ignorance is bliss.
I am drinking the USF Kool-Aid. They look TOUGH!
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by Justin
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10/03/07 05:00 PM
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Funny how the story didn't mention Mike Ford. He tried to come to Bama twice, but couldn't qualify. He does play for USF.
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by Bandwagon
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10/03/07 04:54 PM
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Please BULLS just SHUT UP and WIN GAMES!!! That and ONLY that will shut up those coaches and other naysayers mouths.
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