USF Athletics

USF Football Is One Big Family in Scott Era

June 26, 2020

By TOM ZEBOLD
USF Senior Writer

TAMPA, JUNE 26, 2020 –  One of the key objectives in Jeff Scott's mission of building a championship culture at USF is creating a comfortable environment where every Bull can grow and be great in.

"I think it's important that our guys feel like they're a part of a family unit right here on campus and within the walls of our football complex," Scott said. "I want them to look forward to coming to spend time with their teammates and their coaches."

Scott also sees USF as a special place for his coaching staff's own family members and the hard-working Bulls who laid a strong foundation for the program in previous seasons. All of this is part of Scott's vision for the Bulls to become "United from Start to Finish" in the promising new era for the program.

"Everything he does has just been tremendous in terms of creating a culture that's welcoming to everybody," offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. said. "It makes everybody feel comfortable."

Scott's intentions were apparent right away when he began assembling a staff that's bonded well since everyone arrived in the Bay.

New Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Trumain Carroll, who has a young son named "Deuce," was Scott's first hire. Carroll and his wife, Jarne, were celebrating their seventh wedding anniversary during a trip to Tampa for an in-person meeting with the Bulls' new head coach.

"It wasn't just about interviewing me. He was interviewing my family, which is the first time that it ever happened in my entire professional career," Carroll said. "A lot of people talk about family, but when you do something like that, it lets you know that it's genuine and it's real."

After the staff was completed, Scott continued to make the loved ones of program members feel really important and connected to what the Bulls are building.

Throughout the offseason, wives and children of the youngest staff in The American started forming new friendships on campus.

Once spring ball rolled around, Scott walked out to the field with his daughter, Savannah, in his arms to welcome all the families back to the Morsani Practice Complex.

"One of Scott's deals is he wants us coaches to be able to bring our families to practice," said cornerbacks coach/recruiting coordinator Jules Montinar. "He wants an atmosphere where my 7-year-old son can come to practice and we're not worried about coaches acting a fool and throwing improper language." 

USF's new family atmosphere extends beyond the facility and fields of play as well.

"Whenever we're allowed to do it, I think it's important that our players get a chance to go to their coaches' homes and see their coaches as husbands and fathers, and not just know them on the practice field or game field as a coach," Scott said. "I think that's important."

For offensive line coach/assistant head coach Allen Mogridge, a father to three daughters, it means the world for his players to see the life he's created outside of football.

"The reality is there's so much more to us (coaches). When we tear it down, we show these kids, this can be you. You can have this," he said. "It doesn't matter how much money you make. It doesn't matter what your background was. It doesn't matter where you went to college. You can be a loving husband. You can be a father. You can make the right decisions and be a good daddy."

Coaches now in charge of guiding Bulls through their college football journey were very eager to be a part of a truly special experience at USF.

Wide receivers coach Xavier Dye – a former Clemson player/coach who has known Scott for 13 years, left a very good job with the Mountaineers for the opportunity to reunite with his mentor in Tampa.

"I knew what type of guy he was, the husband, the person he was. It was pretty much a no-brainer," Dye said. "Nothing against West Virginia at all, but Jeff, a lot of people will see here soon that he's a guy you want to be with in the long haul."

Players of USF's past have been realizing that since Scott's introductory press conference in December. Original team members and standouts from following years received a message that's reverberated throughout the growing USF Football Alumni Group.

"Really, I just want to lock arms with you and I want you to know from Day One that our doors are open to you," Scott said. "We welcome you back. You're welcome to come to any practices because this is your football program."

That's proven to be much more than just new coach speak. One shining example was when Scott and his entire staff got to know even more former players during a special luncheon for them at Bulls headquarters on National Signing Day.

"They were so embracing," said Amarri Jackson, a standout USF receiver from 2005-07. "They want to really know you. They're handing you their cards, giving you their cell phone numbers."

Even throughout the COVID-19 crisis, Scott has kept building relationships with Bulls alumni through virtual meetings that build big-picture momentum for the future.

"One of his main points that he made in building the program, he wants this to be a kid friendly and alumni friendly environment to win a championship," said Jarriett Buie, a Bulls defensive end from 2006-08. "He thinks if we all come together, then we can win that championship."

His first game with USF hasn't been played yet, but Scott has already started to combine all the essential ingredients needed for hearty program success. 

"That's what matters to me – being surrounded by great people who have great morals and values that align with yourself. That's what we have here," said defensive line coach Da'Quan Bowers, a former Tampa Bay Buccaneer and Clemson standout. "It's a great family atmosphere and I'm excited for what the future has for South Florida football."
 
About USF Football
The USF football program first took the field in 1997 and completed its 23^rd season (20^th at the FBS level) in 2019. The Bulls have posted 15 winning seasons, earned 14 All-America selections and 29 first-team all-conference selections and has seen 30 players selected in the NFL Draft. USF has made 10 bowl games appearances (going 6-4 in those games) and posted a program record six straight appearances from 2005-2010. The Bulls most recently made four straight bowl appearances from 2015-18 and posted back-to-back 10-win seasons in 2016 and 2017, logging a program-record 11-2 mark in 2016 while finishing both seasons ranked in the Top 25. USF spent a program record 20 straight weeks ranked in the Top 25 during the 2016 and 2017 seasons and reached as high as No. 2 in the national rankings during the 2007 season.
                                                                                
Follow @USFFootball on Twitter for all the latest information concerning the USF Football program.