South Florida coach Jim Leavitt openly admits that he really doesn't know what to expect from Alabama when they face each other Saturday at Legion Field in Birmingham.
Alabama officials don't have the same problem.
While Alabama coach Mike Shula has kept a lid on his offensive strategy for his first game as a head coach, Alabama knows all about Leavitt and his Bulls.
After Dennis Franchione bolted for Texas A&M last year, Crimson Tide Athletics Director Mal Moore flew to Tampa, Fla., in December to talk to Leavitt about the job.
Both sides described the talks as casual, and Leavitt signed a $2.8 million contract extension with South Florida two days later, after which South Florida President Judy Genshaft gloated, ``Eat your heart out, Alabama.''
Moore's hiring of Mike Price wound up stinging much more than Genshaft's retort.
Price was fired for his off-the-field conduct before coaching a game for Alabama, prompting Shula's hiring in May less than four months before the season opener.
With so little time to get acquainted with his team, Shula closed practices, shrouding his offense in mystery. So far, that strategy seems to be working.
``Getting ready for Alabama is a little bit difficult because, with coach Shula coming in, we don't know exactly what offensively they are going to do,'' Leavitt said. ``You can only guess at things and try to do the best you can preparing.''
Leavitt, on the other hand, has his stamp all over the South Florida program. He's built the program from the ground up, amassing a 44-22 record since the Bulls began play in 1997, including a 9-2 mark last year.
Leavitt has been reluctant to address his history with Alabama. When he signed his contract extension, the Tampa native said the idea of working in his hometown far outweighed the millions more he would have made in Tuscaloosa.
``I spent 18 years away from my home,'' he said. ``I told people from the beginning that this job is priceless. A lot of people in life never have an opportunity to come home and do what they love to do. That is extremely powerful.''
Moore wasn't the only one to take notice of Leavitt's success in South Florida. Shula became familiar with the program while spending the last two years just down the road in Miami, as an assistant with the Dolphins.
``What they've done in six years I was down there when they started the program it's unbelievable in my opinion,'' Shula said. ``They are built on speed. They do a great job on defense.''
Translation: The Tide is much more familiar with the Bulls than vice versa.
Being as cryptic as possible, Shula said he plans on capitalizing on the skills of his massive offensive line and quarterback Brodie Croyle.
``We're going to spread the ball around,'' Shula said.
That doesn't help Leavitt much.
``We will try to adjust on the run, so to speak, as we can and go from there,'' he said.
One thing both coaches have in common is an eagerness to get the season started.
For Leavitt, Saturday's game will mark the beginning of the Bulls' first season as a member of Conference USA.
``Everybody in the country is probably the same way right now,'' Leavitt said. ``They are tired of two-a-days, they are tired of hitting each other. It's time to start the season, just to see what kind of team you have because nobody really knows.''
For Shula, it will bring to an end a tumultuous offseason filled with media questions and harried preparation for the Bulls.
``We are excited that it's here,'' Shula said of the opener. ``We've been through a summer and a fall practice that none of us will forget.''
Wednesday
May 14th, 2025
1:07AM
