College coaches all about themselves, not the kids
“It’s all about the kids.”
I love it when college football and basketball coaches say that right after they make a move that’s all about themselves. That’s what Paul Chryst did when he officially became Pitt’s most recent former football coach Wednesday night.
At the press conference to introduce him as Wisconsin’s new coach, Chryst talked about how hard it was to leave Pitt after only three years as head coach: “It was also hard because of the players at the University of Pittsburgh, and that’s why we do this.”
Why “we” do what?
Sign meaningless contracts and make meaningless promises to young men, who make potentially life-changing decisions based on your promises?
Paul Chryst took his dream job and the prevailing notion is that nobody should blame him. Many of his Pitt players supported him on Twitter immediately after the move became official.
Okay, let’s give him that. You can always be forgiven for taking your dream job when it’s offered to you, but could we be spared the “It’s about the kids,” or the “We’re in this for the players” routine?
Paul Chryst is in it for himself. If it really were all about the players, he would still be Pitt’s coach. It’s about Paul Chyrst taking his dream job. If the players feel abandoned or cheated, or if the athletic director, who gave you your first head coaching job, is fired because of your decision to leave, too bad.
Chryst isn’t the first college head football coach to walk away from his players or his commitments to better himself. It’s done so often that a coach is rarely criticized for it if the job is seen as a step up for him — or, of course a dream job.
How much criticism do you think he received from the Wisconsin media?
College football coaches, many of whom are guilty of exploiting kids, who have no chance of succeeding academically, as they squeeze as many eligible seasons as they can get out of them (See the University of North Carolina.), are in it for themselves.
If they cared about the kids and living up to their commitments, they might be willing to sign contracts that actually mean something. You know, the way the national letter of intent players are required to sign, means something.
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Pitt athletic director Steve Pederson had to go as soon as Chryst announced he was taking the Wisconsin job if for no other reason than to spare him the agony of trying to keep a straight face while introducing his next coaching hire.
Pederson did a lot of good things for Pitt athletics, but if he proved anything, it’s that he just doesn’t know how to hire and when to fire a football coach.
As of right now, the guy who’s in charge of hiring the next coach is on loan from the pharmaceutical school.
Other than that, things are looking up for Pitt football. Meanwhile, don’t you dare forget about all those national championships, all but one of which was won at least 77 years ago.
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I hosted the Panther Hotline on WTAE Radio during Jackie Sherrill’s tenure as Pitt’s head coach. I spent 80 or 90 percent of the time defending him from callers who thought Pitt should get rid of him. His record during that time was 33-3.
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If you’re wondering why the San Diego Padres seem to have suddenly become players in the big money free agent market, the $1 billion local TV contract that included a $200 million signing bonus might have something to do with it. It takes the Pirates 10 years to make $200 million from their deal.
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Johnny Manziel may end up being a colossal bust, but it’s ridiculous to give up on him after one game. Here are Eli Manning’s passer ratings for his first four starts: 45.1, 16.9, 60.9, 0.0. He threw one touchdown pass with six interceptions and the Giants were 0-4. In his fourth start he was 4-18 for 27 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. His passer rating for his seven starts was 55.4 with 48% completions. His record as a starter was 1-6.
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I used to think the best part about Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown’s game was after the catch. Now I think his catching ability is even better. He’s as good as both Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
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The catch that Brown made on the sideline last week against Atlanta was one of the best in Steelers’ history.
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Lots of passing and receiving statistics are inflated because of the way the game is being officiated now, but wins are wins and no starting quarterback has won more games in his first three seasons than Russell Wilson of Seattle. He has 34. Matt Ryan and Dan Marino each had 33. Not bad for a guy who’s obviously too small at 5-11.