Source: Masiello says improper paper work might have caused problems

Is Masiello a victim of paper work?
Steve Masiello believed he earned his degree from the University of Kentucky and may have completed the necessary course work, but it was submitted improperly, according to the New York Post.
Masiello accepted an offer to coach the USF basketball team earlier this week after three years as the head coach at Manhattan College.
USF rescinded the agreement after it said it learned he did not graduate from the University of Kentucky as it states on his resume.
The New York Post reported Thursday afternoon that according to an unnamed source connected with Manhattan College Masiello believed he graduated; that his predicament stemmed from paperwork involving two online classes and an independent study course, which he failed to properly submit as a senior.
Masiello never resigned from Manhattan and is now on administrative leave while he completes the process of reviewing his degree status. The school is expected to make a decision on his status soon.USF said Wednesday it was moving on in its search for another coach.  

 

Eric Dungy at USF should be a recruiting boost

USF head football coach Willie Taggart should get a nice boost to recruiting with Eric Dungy expected to enroll at the school.
The wide receiver from Oregon has one year of eligibility remaining. However he is scheduled to graduate in four years and would be eligible immediately.
The son of legendary coach Tony Dungy, Eric's presence is sure to create a lot of interest in the program if only because of his dad's well known connections to the NFL and what he did as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts and Tampa Bay Bucs.
Eric and his dad visited the USF campus on Wednesday. Tony Dungy still lives in Tampa and has a good friendship with the Bucs new head coach Lovie Smith.

Palmetto's Rhodes; Southeast's Mays selected for FACA All-Star hoops game

Palmetto High’s Jarrid Rhodes and Bevin Mays from girls state champion Southeast have been selected to represent the area in the Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star basketball game Saturday at Indian River College in Ft. Pierce.

They will represent FACA District 16, which is comprised of schools from Manatee and Sarasota County. Nick Havener from Riverview is also representing the district.

A four year starter, Mays was a vital cog in sparking Southeast to the Class 5A State title and a 31-1 record. Rhodes was the leading scorer on a Palmetto team that reached the 7A-Region 3 final.

Mays averaged 11.8 points, 3.2 steals, 3.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game. She topped the Seminoles from the free throw line shooting a team high 76 percent from the charity stripe while dropping in a team leading 116 foul shots.

Rhodes led the Tigers in scoring averaging 14.8 points per game. The 6-7 swingman displayed an uncanny range from beyond the arc for a big man converting 33 percent of his attempts from 3-point land.

DeAngela Mathis, another four year starter and top scorer for Southeast during her four year career, was named the MVP of her White team in last week’s Florida Association of Basketball Coaches Association FABC all star game. She scored 17 points, had four assists and six rebounds in her team’s 83-81 victory.

Mathis played against her Southeast teammate Kewshana Robinson, who had four points and six rebounds.

Southeast head coach John Harder said Mathis received inquiries from at least six college coaches after the game. She has not signed a scholarship yet and is looking to play at Division I school.

The girls game Saturday begins at 11 am and the boys follow.

USF football team looking bigger and tougher

USF spring football is underway and the first thing you notice about the 2014 Bulls is size.


The offensive line is bigger and stronger looking more suited to carry out Willie Taggart's style of
offense.


The average weight of he returning starters on the offensive line is 310 compared to 297 last season. Much of that is due to their hard work and a conditioning program set up by strength coach Hans Straub.


“We’re putting in a lot more time after our workouts.  I know me and about five guys are doing an hour after every workout every day,” said senior center Austin Reiter of Lakewood Ranch who gained 13 pounds in offseason conditioning to get up to 286.


The new size comes with a new attitude says USF head coach Willie Taggart, the former Manatee High quarterback great and All-American at Western Kentucky.


“It’s been a different attitude with our guys and watching them,” Taggart said. “Out of 79 guys we had go through workouts and our winter conditioning we had 66 make every last one of them. It’s huge, big-time, and it says a lot about our football team.”


“We need people movers out there, big strong guys to move people out of the way so we can run the football and we can protect."