Job Security?

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With the recent removal of Jim Tressel as Ohio State’s head coach, I’m reminded of just how difficult the profession of coaching can be. Not only is it difficult but it can be very volatile. As I survey the landscape of big time college football, success becomes the anchor that destroys so many college coaches.

The question is, which came first the chicken or the egg? Did these programs start winning first or did the boosters and alumni get involved with players first to kick start the success of it.  That’s a question that will never be answered. All I know is that most programs go on a 10 to 15 year run and the wheels seem to fall off and then they have to start over. They either get hit with NCAA sanctions or the coach gets fired because the level of expectation is too high.

Programs win in phases. The USC Trojans owned the 1970’s and were nonexistent in the 1980’s because of the power of UCLA at the time. Just like during the ‘90’s Michigan were the beast of the Big Ten until Ohio State took over at the turn of the century. Now the Wolverines will get back on top. The OU Sooners completely disappeared in the ‘90’s  after Switzer was ran out of town and when Stoops took over in ’99 they came back to prominence. Nobody wins forever!

Don’t even try to tell me anything about Joe Paterno because he should’ve been fired years ago. No one at Penn State has had the nerve to pull the trigger because he’s been there so long. Yes, he built the program but they’ve been mediocre for way too long.  I hated to see Bobby Bowden go at Florida State but it was time. Now the Seminoles will be back in the discussion for the next 10 to 12 years. Starting with knocking off  top ranked Oklahoma on September 17. 

Solich goes from Nebraska to Ohio?

How many guys have we seen get shown the door way too early? Frank Solich gets fired a year after going to the national title game and winning 9 games in his final year at Nebraska. Lloyd Carr won 9 games in his final year and was forced to retire from Michigan. Fan expectation goes through the roof and success is a beast that no one can seem to tackle.

Guys like Tressel, Carroll and Switzer and were victims of their success because boosters and alumni just seemed just take over their programs. Yeah, they didn’t do much to get rid of them but it’s the monster that the success created. Everybody see’s it but the high from it is too intoxicating to walk away from.

Along with winning come the fame and the power that drives the monster out of control. Top 10 finishes, BCS bowl appearances that pay $17 million, 10 win seasons create an atmosphere that most can’t handle especially the man in charge, the head coach.

It seems like the dream job that so many people covet but don’t understand that it can get away from you very easily. When you’re in charge of one the most powerful revenue streams in the state it’s suffocating.  So by the time that you realize it, you’re looking for another job.

How can a guy be the man that everybody respects and loves one minute and be the heel of the state the next. That’s the nature of the business. No loyalty at all. It’s like Janet Jackson’s, “What have you done for me lately?” The coach finds a way to win 9 to 10 games a year, get to the BCS and help every one else makes money on the ancillary products. Lose one extra game or let the program get out of control just a bit and then he’s fired.  “See ya wouldn’t want to be ya!”

Who’s up next?

Holla At Ya Boy!

Jay Graves
 Twitter: @jaygravesreport