To leave or not to Leave

The Coaching Industry is a funny one , Its definately a industry or Job in which most of the guys motto is Look out for no. 1. You take a guy like Lane Kiffin , now no doubt he upgraded jobs, going from Tennessee to USC definate upgrade. The fact remains though pretty much one year ago exactly we were watching Lane accept the Volunteers Job. He made some improvements but how does 7-6 in the SEC land you the one of I'd say top 5 jobs in the Nation. Well he was there during the Heyday and it doesnt help that his Dad Monte is one of the best defensive minds to maybe ever coach football!.
I personally like Lane he reminds me alot of a young Steve Spurrier or Urban Meyer when he was coming up a few years ago. I know he hasnt proved much as a Head Coach but the guy has to have some talent or inginuity as a coach. Maybe he is just a guy who obviously knows how to sell himself to people because at the age of 34 he has been an Offensvie Coordinator for USC and now the head coach of the Oakland Raiders , Tennessee Volunteeers , and USC Trojans now. The guy has to have something pretty special. The fact still remains you can make an argument he has no loyalty he is just out for the paycheck.I think his heart has always been at USC or he wouldnt have gone back to a school facing NCAA sanctions , when he already had a great job at the Univeristy of Tennessee.
There is alot to be said for a guy like Gary Patterson who is a fantastic coach and seems to be content where he is , granted TCU is a good job , but its a mid major a small private school . But Gary has turned them into a legitimate Top 10 program year in year out. Gary has had the opportunity to interview for jobs such as Kansas St , Notre Dame , Tennessee but turns them all down to stay at TCU. Now apparently Gary has a pretty sweet situation for himself in Fort Worth. But i mean really can u really stay at TCU when one of the big dogs come calling? Apparently Gary values loyalty more than others.
There are guys out there lIke Will Muschamp who has a contract in hand to make 1 million dollars to be the defensive coordinator and head coach in waiting for the University of Texas. Now im biast because Im a UT Fan but i love the fact that he wants to stay cause i think he will make a fantatstic head coach one day. Here is a guy smart enough to realize that he may be in line to take 1 of the top 3 jobs in the country in 5 years where he will be the head coach in his early 40's . He turned down a chance to interview for Notre Dame and turned down a 3 million dollar a year offer from the Volunteers. He may do it out of loyalty but is smart enough to know that he is in position to have a fantastic job.
That brings me finally to Mike Riley , he is the head coach at Oregon St a good job- not a great job but they love him and he apparently loves it there. USC came calling and he signed an extension for 9 more years through 2019! I guess the man knows where he is and loves it and is happy to stay. I applaud him for that , i dont know that i could personally do that but hey i think that is really cool of riley.
The Coaching buisness is something i felt like i woudl be a part of for a long time and still have a want to possibly do it sometime , but its a buisness where you definately have to be willing to do a few things 1. look out for yourself. 2. be prepared to pick up and move at a moments notice. 3.Watch youre back if youre not winning games left and right be prepared to be looking for work. Because of those things , it has turned into an extremely lucrative buisness, Mack Brown makes 5 mil a year , Lane Kiffin who has not even been successful as a head coach yet makes 3.5 , Pete Carroll who has been successful at the college level makes 7 mil a year now as a pro head coach. I guess when it all comes down to it what means more to you being loyal and turning a job into youre dream job, or looking out for yourself getting that next big paycheck and hoping for success! There are guys that do it both ways and are successful in both. Which one would you be?

A Legend Retires

A coaching legened retired today Bobby Bowden called it quits. The Coaching game is a funny one , You have Guys like Bowden and Joe Paterno who basically have to be forced out , or they will Die on the sidelines if you let em. Then there are guys like Bill Cowher and Tony Dungy who walk away from the game in there coaching prime ater reaching the pinnacle. This is a career path i sought for a while and still have some desire to. For me it is the closest thing you can do to if you are either not physically able or talented enough to continue to compete in sports. I love the thought of trying to out strategize and out call the guy across the sideline from you. I never had any desires to coach in the NFL , to be a top College Coach like Bowden would have been enough for me. I have alot of respect for a guy like Bowden he took a school that was horrbile in FSU and turned them into a national power.
Bowden spent 34 seasons at FSU and had one losing season! It was his first in 1976 , so he went 33 straight season finishing 500. or better. He finished in the top 5 of the AP Poll for 14 consecutive seasons. On top of that he won numerous conference titles and Two National Championships. Bobby also was a molder of men. He sent numerous kids into the NFL for very successful careers. You could make a case that Bobby should have retired a few years ago and you know what , you may be right. But when youre Bobby bowden a College Football and a Coaching Icon you should get to retire when you want to retire. I just hope that is what this is , and he wasnt told retire or were gonna fire you. So long Bobby , College football will go on but you definately made youre mark in it.