SB Nation Tampa Bay's Jamie DeVriend explores the suddenly complicated relationship between the Big Guava and its new NFL coach, who owned the local college collective during his time with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Not only did Greg Schiano beat the South Florida Bulls five times in USF's first seven Big East years, he also broke out some of the longest-distance billboard warfare in recruiting history:
Before USF even joined the Big East, Rutgers planted a billboard along I-4 in Tampa wishing everyone a merry Christmas from Rutgers football, featuring all of the Florida high school talent Schiano and his assistants had plucked out of the state. It didn't have much of an effect on fans, but it drove former USF coach Jim Leavitt crazy and, along with some other things, made him irrationally zealous to beat Rutgers. That instantly gave Schiano the edge over him, because Leavitt was less effective as a coach when he was wound up and emotional.
Just wait 'til the Bucs play the Jets at some point!
For more on the Bucs, visit SB Nation Tampa Bay and Bucs Nation. For more USF, head to Voodoo Five. And SB Nation Tampa Bay!
There are 0 Comments. Add Yours.
Shortcuts to mastering the comment thread. Use wisely.
C - Next Comment
X - Mark as Read
R - Reply
Z - Mark Read & Next
Shift + C - Previous
Shift + A - Mark All Read
Comment Settings
Live comment alert: Hide it!
Comments for this post are closed.