TAMPA, Fla. — South Florida fired football coach Jim Leavitt on Friday after a school investigation concluded he grabbed one of his players by the throat, slapped him in the face and then lied about it.
“Coach Leavitt committed a serious violation of our standards of conduct regarding treatment of students,” university president Judy Genshaft said, adding that a national search for a replacement will be begin immediately.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Leavitt, the only coach in the program’s 13-year history. “The allegations as reported are absolutely false. I’m going to respond in time.”
Leavitt, who was 95-57 and had just completed the second season of a seven-year, $12.6 million contract, told investigators he never struck Joel Miller and that he was trying to lift the spirits of the sophomore, who was “down” when he grabbed the player’s shoulder pads during halftime of a game against Louisville on Nov. 21.
• Receiver Damian Williams and tailback Joe McKnight of Southern California, Texas safety Earl Thomas and Georgia Tech receiver Demaryius Thomas announced they are forgoing their remaining college eligibility to enter the NFL draft, but Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett said he is returning to the Razorbacks.
Four Wizards fined for gun antics
WASHINGTON — Randy Foye, Andray Blatche, JaVale McGee and Nick Young of the Washington Wizards have been fined $10,000 apiece by the team for their lighthearted participation when Gilbert Arenas pointed his index fingers at teammates as if he were firing guns during an on-court huddle before Tuesday night’s game at Philadelphia. Arenas is being investigated by federal and local authorities for bringing guns to the Verizon Center.
Glover builds three-stroke lead
KAPALUA, Hawaii — U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover parlayed a big stretch of birdies into an 8-under-par 65 for a 131 total and three- shot lead in the SBS Championship.
John Rollins played bogey-free in a round of 66 and was three shots behind at 134, followed by a group at 11-under 135 that included defending champion Geoff Ogilvy (66) and former CSU standout Martin Laird (68).
Footnotes.
Right-hander Brett Myers and the Houston Astros have reached a preliminary agreement on a one-year contract that guarantees him $5 million.
• Center fielder Franklin Gutierrez and the Seattle Mariners finalized a $20.5 million, four-year contract that avoided salary arbitration.
• Outfielder Scott Podsednik agreed to a $1.75 million, one-year deal with the Kansas City Royals.
• Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl dismissed forward Tyler Smith from the team a week after the two-time all-Southeastern Conference player’s arrest with three other players on misdemeanor gun and drug charges.
• Andy Roddick said he won’t play Davis Cup in 2010.
• After six weeks of contentious negotiations failed to produce a compromise on Floyd Mayweather Jr.‘s insistence on stringent drug testing for the bout, Manny Pacquiao has made plans to fight welterweight Joshua Clottey in mid- March.
The Associated Press
