Leavitt blazes to 5.72 40 dash

One thing is clear, South Florida coach Jim Leavitt is a man of his word. Leavitt promised to run a time 40-yard dash in a challenge race against the student body. Leavitt, who is 52, put up a very respectable 5.72. He predicted a 5.9. He's faster than he thought.

Still, word is 21 out of 22 students beat his time and will receive "Faster than Coach Leavitt" T-shirts. I'm confident I could beat 5.27. Phil-shy could be another story. Maybe that will make a nice summer event. Phil-shy training for his first 40-yarder ... ever.

An 'Eye and an 'Eer has a history of showing Leavitt little to no respect. Today, we have to give it to him. This is a nice springtime marketing ploy and the old man ran a nifty 40.

Podcast: Episode 25

Now for some questions. If the NCAA really makes Florida State vacate a number of victories because of the latest scandal is this the beginning of the end for Bobby Bowden? Is there anyone more exciting for college football right now than Lane Kiffin at Tennessee? Do we really need spring football games? What was UT-San Antonio thinking when it hired Larry Coker? These are just a few of the topics that Phil and Tom discuss this week on their College Football Podcast.

Who's left to fire?

This is total speculation, but South Florida coach Jim Leavitt doesn't seem like a great boss. That might explain the mass exodus of assistant coaches over the past two weeks from the Bulls' program.

On Thursday, it was defensive backs coach Troy Douglas who made 3-for-3 in coaching losses after he resigned Wednesday to take the same job under Butch Davis at North Carolina. Other recent defections were defensive coordinator Wally Burnham and offensive coordinator Greg Gregory.

Remember how pissed Leavitt was when Gregory was looking to leave for the University of Florida? He's probably running around the Bulls football facilities yelling at everyone today.

Little advice Jim. Maybe you should dial it down a notch and show a touch of compassion.

We hardly knew ye

Robert Marve, another all-everything quarterback coming out of high school, may be done at the University Miami. It's been rumored that Marve, from Tampa, was transferring to South Florida.

On Thursday, he told the Associated Press that he won't be playing in the Emerald Bowl on Dec. 27 when the Hurricanes (7-5) play California (8-4) because he violated "team academic rules." That's a nice way of saying he didn't go to class.

Marve's career was derailed when he was seriously hurt in a car accident before his first practice. After sitting out last season, Marve earned the starting job over true freshman Jacory Harris. However, Randy Shannon may not be that upset to see Marve fade away as Harris performed better this season and he may have favored him over Marve next fall.

While Marve started the final 11 games, Harris played in all 12 games. Marve completed nearly 55 percent of his passes for 1,293 yards and nine touchdowns. Harris, who threw about 50 fewer passes, completed 61 percent for 1,001 yards and 10 scores.

While I've been a big Marve fan, he didn't show signs of improving at all this season. Harris, on the other hand, got better each week and played like a champion. This is the best scenario for Miami.

It could also work out well for Marve if he truly goes to USF, where he could sit out next season as Matt Grothe plays his final season as the Bulls quarterback. Not the storybook career Marve was looking for, but there's still time for a few good chapters.

Leavitt alone

You can always tell a coach who is feeling the pressure of the job or realizes he's done a crappy job of coaching. Some media members in Central Florida said South Florida coach Jim Leavitt was just having some fun and going over the top for emphasis. Looks like a guy trying to deflect attention to his poor performance this year.

Hey coach, you're not paid to be a comedian.

Observations from Saturday's Games (Nov. 15)

Don't tell me the Big 12 is better than the SEC. Watch Florida for a quarter, or Alabama play defense and it's clear where the best talent is in 2008. Saturday's lame schedule proved to be a pretty good day. Here are some observations from Saturday's action:

1. Heckuva a team. The Florida Gators have amazing talent. I'm still trying to figure out how they lost to Ole Miss at home. With the Ol' Ball Coach returning for just the second time at South Carolina, the Gators put a good ol' fashioned butt-whipping on the Gamecocks, 56-6. That's impressive considering, South Carolina had won six of seven and its defense ranked third in the nation. That defense held strong for a little while, but Spurrier's inept offense put them in so many holes it was impossible to compete with the Gators.

2. Wacky ACC. Where do you start? North Carolina State is like the Pittsburgh Pirates in September. The games don't mean much, but you can play a spoiler role. The Wolfpack did just that with a win over Wake Forest. Then there is Maryland. One week after getting manhandled by Virginia Tech, the Terps squeak by ACC favorite North Carolina 17-15. And right now Florida State is losing to Boston College at home.

3. USF Bulls(hit). Would someone tell South Florida that the season is 12 games, not six. After reaching the lofty status as a Top 10 team earlier this season, Jim Leavitt's boys have imploded again. Don't tell me Rutgers is that good. I picked the upset, but the Scarlet Knights pummeled USF 49-16 in Tampa.

4. Reality check for Tommy. Doesn't it look like Auburn's Tommy Tuberville is coaching like a guy who knows he's about to be fired? He got a little whiny on Saturday as his Tigers fell to Georgia 17-13 (which is also sad that UGA is so inept on offense). So who tops Auburn's wish list right now?

5. Rose Bowl rematch? If Oregon State gets two more wins it could happen. If Penn State downs Michigan State next week it could happen also. If those two possibilities happen, the Beavers and Nittany Lions will play in the Rose Bowl -- an unlikely rematch. In the first meeting Penn State rolled 45-14 in State College. This odd rematch remains alive because Oregon State defeated Cal 34-21 Saturday, while PSU rolled past Indiana 34-7.

6. First 8-loss season. Hey Michigan, you're just one week away from your first 9-loss season. Think Ryan Mallett could have helped a little this season?

7. Not your father's A&M. Remember when Texas A&M was a legitimate Top 10 team and when the Aggies played Texas it was usually a good game and A&M could be favored? Mike Sherman's first year in College Station has been a disaster and nothing makes that point any clearer than a 41-21 loss to Baylor.

8. Best backfield? Maybe many of you would choose Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin. But Ohio State's Beanie Wells and Terrelle Pryor are as good as any tandem in the country right now. The Buckeye duo combined for more than 250 rushing yards and two scores in a 30-20 victory at Illinois.

9. Bayou trouble. Not watching the game, but it seems every Score Update on Troy at LSU is another score by the Trojans. Last check it was 31-10 in the third quarter.

10. Better than expected. All week and all day everyone kept talking about the weak slate of football games today. Of course, there weren't the great matchups of ranked teams that we'd like to see. Just look at the primetime game of Boston College and Florida State. But it was still a great day of games. Stop complaining and just enjoy each week.

Coaching carnage

College football has entered a new era. Four head coaches (and at least one high profile coordinator) have been fired during the season.

With the firing of Ron Prince today, Kansas State officially joined the coaching carousel. The Wildcats also entered the daily rumor mill. The hot target? South Florida's Jim Leavitt, who coached under program architect Bill Snyder. Leavitt hasn't officially denied interest in the position. Instead, he was quoted in the St. Petersburg Times as saying, "You guys know this (South Florida) is my heart and soul. I'm very fortunate to be here. I think it's the best job in the country."

Leavitt to K-State makes so much more sense than many of the other rumors surrounding Tennessee, Clemson and Washington right now. Leavitt built the Bulls from the ground up, but he's taken this program as far as he can get it. He's probably ready for the new challenge on a much bigger stage. Only reason to stay is the better athletes available in Florida.

So the only thing left to figure out? Who's next? Syracuse may announce Greg Robinson's fate real soon, but don't be surprised if they don't wait until after the final game. Auburn's Tommy Tuberville could get an early exit as well if the Tigers can't get two more victories in 2008.

Clearly, some of these coaches needed to go. But other schools could take a lesson from Ball State. Coach Brady Hoke had a miserable first three years (10-24) before the Cardinals finally turned it around starting in Year 4. Since 2006, Hoke's teams have gone 21-13 (which includes an apparent victory tonight against Northern Illinois) -- thanks Nate Davis.

Patience can pay off. Unfortunately no one at the big time programs are willing to wait.