The College Football Belt

Here I am in Upstate New York finding myself thinking of greener grass. Maybe it’s the recent ‘heat wave’ of sorts – back-to-back 60 degree days in January (hard to argue with Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Truth’) – that’s got me considering the yard work.

Of course it’s not the literal grass I ponder, rather the figurative ‘greener grass’ that college coaches seek.

Is the grass any greener on the other side?

USC coach Pete Carroll has involved himself in week-long discussions with Atlanta Falcon owner, Arthur Blank, about the vacant position with his NFL team. Carroll would have to give up the sun of Southern California where he has a record of 76-14 and two national championships in seven seasons to return to the NFL where he was 34-33 in stints with the Jets and Patriots.

Sounds crazy but I’d hate to see Carroll go. He would leave behind a full stable of recruits, and his successor would more than likely do fine, but there is a chance that whoever moves in, might struggle. I enjoy the battles between USC and Notre Dame. Further, I would like to see an Uncle Charlie-led team beat Carroll’s Trojans.

Carroll’s discussions are the result of a position vacated by Bobby Petrino.

Petrino makes it a full-time job checking out the grass on the other side.

After thirteen miserable games Petrino walked away from a $24 million dollar contract with the Falcons to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks – this after four years in which Petrino finished every season interviewing for new jobs. All the while telling his then-present employer, Louisville, he was staying put.

Before the end of his first season with the Cardinals (2003), Petrino secretly interviewed with the Auburn Tigers for their job. Thing is Tommy Tubberville, Petrino’s former boss, was still the head coach at Auburn. After the shenanigans were uncovered, Petrino apologized and rationalized his behavior as a mistake of inexperience.

Undaunted, Petrino finished ’04 at the helm in Louisville before he got the itch to move again. He interviewed at Notre Dame, Florida, and Mississippi. Then he pledged himself once again to Louisville. Scratch that, he interviewed at LSU, didn’t get the job, and recommitted to Louisville.

The following season Petrino interviewed with the Oakland Raiders – then decided to stay with Louisville.

For those keeping track at home – that’s six interviews for the globe-trotting Petrino. Geez, I wish I had his frequent-flyer miles. Crazy thing is – Petrino, age forty-six, has four school-age children. Guess those kids are learning resiliency.

After signing a ten-year, $25 million contract with Louisville, Petrino waited a few months before bolting to the NFL. We all know how the situation unfolded in Atlanta. Now Petrino has settled in Hog country.

If you are an Arkansas recruit do you trust that this guy is gonna stay around long enough to make a difference? Maybe the coach doesn’t matter anymore. Maybe these kids choose a school based on possibility of playing time and national exposure – can’t say as I blame them.

Petrino is not the only coach looking for greener grass.

After nine seasons June Jones will take his run-and-shoot from the tropic breezes of Hawaii to SMU. Citing an unacceptable recruiting budget and scheduling troubles brought on by extensive travel, Jones decided to take on the task of bringing the Mustangs back to prominence. SMU received the death penalty back in the ‘80s. I mentioned their recent academic efforts in a column earlier this week. Hopefully Jones can align on-the-field success with classroom success.

Rich Rodriguez also recently made a move. The West Virginia alum decided after seven seasons to take his show on the road to Ann Arbor.

Butch Davis, Wake Forest’s Jim Grobe, Clemson’s Tommy Bowden, Tubberville, and even Nick Saban have been mentioned as having interest in some of the available jobs. Davis’s interest comes after one year at Chapel Hill.

What are these guys searching for? As stated above Petrino had a ten-year, $25,000,000 contract at Louisville. Carroll is making two million a year. Davis just finished the first of a seven-year contract that pays him over a million a year with plenty of incentives and bonuses.

The only move that seems to make sense is the one by Jones. His contract was up later this year and had not been renewed. He will double his earnings by moving to SMU.

Wasn’t there once a time when coaches became synonymous with a school? Schembechler roamed the sidelines in Ann Arbor. Hayes was in Columbus. Switzer ran the Wish Bone at Oklahoma. Bryant and the Crimson Tide. Paterno in Happy Valley. Eddie Robinson and Grambling.

When new jobs opened, assistant coaches applied and started their own career.

Is the recent coaching carousel good for the sport?

Anyone taken the time to figure out how many coaching changes have occurred in D1A football since Paterno took over the Nittany Lions?

Someone should tell these coaches that the grass is always greener, but ya still gotta mow it.