USF trustee frustrated with Skip Holtz and football program
When John Ramil talks, the University of South Florida listens. Ramil, a USF graduate and the CEO of TECO Energy, a Tampa-based utilities company, holds a highly influential role as the chairman of the university's board of trustees.
So when Ramil spoke out about the state of the USF football program on Saturday, shortly after the Bulls lost a conference game to Temple, it brought even greater focus upon Skip Holtz's tenuous job security at the halfway point of his third season with the program.
In an email sent to the chief of staff of USF president Judy Genshaft and obtained by the Tampa Bay Times through a public records request, Ramil said that USF's 37-28 loss to the Owls was "disgusting and unacceptable."
"We have major problems with our football program," wrote Ramil.
The remarks, made public on Thursday, came three days before USF athletic director Doug Woolard issued a vote of confidence for Holtz and his staff amid the team's 2-4 start.
"I know Skip, his staff and the players are working diligently to get that next win and to find sustained success," said Woolard. "Certainly, the results, in terms of wins and losses to date, are disappointing to everyone involved with our program – the coaches, players, athletic administration and our passionate fans."
"We are going to provide all the support possible for our football program, including employment contracts that reflect our commitment to success… As has been our practice in the past, we will evaluate the status of each or our 19 programs at the conclusion of their respective seasons. We'll identify where we are as a football program at that time and continue to build from there."
Reached for comment on Thursday by the Tampa Bay Times, Ramil remained frustrated by USF's "pretty complete loss" to Temple.
"I don't coach football. I don't know what the answers are," he told the Times' Greg Auman. "This Saturday was a pretty complete loss, with all three parts of the team failing in critical points. I don't know that it was a tipping point, but a time for me to say my piece as a fan."
Despite his continued frustration, Ramil did seem willing to support the university's vote of confidence. "Right now, given everything in balance, while I wasn't happy after the game, I think I should be patient. I think we all should be patient," Ramil said to the Times. "I think Doug Woolard's plan to work on things we can during the season and assess at the end is the right thing to do."
Given the events of this past week, from the loss to Temple to the vote of confidence to Ramil's released email, it's seems clear that the Bulls must show some form of progress over the second half to cement Holtz's position within the program.
After going 8-5 in 2010, his first year with the program, Holtz has a 7-11 mark since the start of the 2011 season. Since opening last fall with four straight wins, USF has lost 11 of 14 overall and 9 of its last 10 conference games.
The natives are growing restless. And at 2-4, with road games against Louisville and Cincinnati still to come, only a midseason turnaround will prevent the university from making a difficult winter decision: Should Holtz stay or should he go?