The Friday Five: Programs on the Brink
by Jack Bonden
Love of Sports Correspondent
The Friday Five is feeling concern for some college football fanbases.
College football has always been a cruel sport. In the early days, it was the physical cruelty of the game — limited rules, even more comically limited padding, and a seemingly limitless escalation in the ferocity of the players almost led President Theodore Roosevelt to outlaw the game (bully for cricket, I say!).
Modern college football has a whole different kind of cruelty going on. The cruelty comes from the clash of two trends: increased pressure for programs to succeed, and decreased tools (scholarship limits, less autonomy within the university, etc.) for achieving that success.
In short, more pressure plus fewer tools to achieve that success equals a much, much harder environment in which to succeed. Add that all of this is based on putting teenagers and other young adults under extreme physical and mental pressure, and it’s not hard to see that there is a certain cruelty built into the system.
So, if a program goes through a bit of adversity, and makes a couple of poor decisions along the way, particularly with the head coach, it can be exceptionally difficult for that program to regain solid footing. Consider the case of the once mighty Crimson Tide, Hegemon of the South for a few decades. Coach Gene Stallings wins a national championship in 1992, but has a series of clashes with his new AD, Bob Bockrath, which results in Stallings’s retirement. In the meantime, boosters who aren’t even officially part of the university take it upon themselves to step into the leadership void created by the Mike DuBose regime. DuBose bottoms out, Dennis Franchione steps in, the NCAA also steps in (though in more of a hobnail boot stomping kind of way), Franchione bails out, Mike Price tunes in, gets turned on, and is dropped out, leading finally to the genial but ultimately overmatched Mike Shula era.
So, in the final tally, it didn’t take much — two poor personnel decisions (Bockrath, DuBose), one moral lapse (Price) and a small group of people without official affiliation to the university (rogue boosters) — to bring the seemingly indestructible program to the brink of destruction.
Clearly, Alabama’s an extreme case, and there’s no way I’d wish this kind of trouble on any program. But here’s a look at five programs that could be facing a precipice of their own in the coming years:
1. Iowa Hawkeyes
Though the previous sentence reads “in the coming years,” feel free to substitute “coming months” for Iowa. Though details are still hazy, it appears that the athletic department’s recent handling of an alleged rape is disturbingly incompetent at the least. At the worst, it could reach shameful coverup status. (The details of this case are too voluminous for this space: check here and here for more details on the story.)
With dissatisfaction already brewing over the seemingly endless parade of discipline problems in the Ferentz regime, the university may be forced to do something about it, and not at a convenient time, like, say, mid-December. And if the scandal unfolds in the direction it appears to be heading right now, some of the athletic and school administration could be part of the damage.
Take all of this, and add it to what is likely to be a bad football team, and it is not a recipe for stability. Despite the fact that his contract runs until 2012, Ferentz is looking more and more like a lame duck. Iowa may lose its taste for throwing big money at the dream of being a big-time football program. The Ferentz era may irradiate Iowa City to the point that bright, capable young coaches and talented players choose to stay away for a while.
2. Louisville Cardinals
The best word to describe the Louisville program over the last year or so is chaos. After Bobby Petrino made the leap to the NFL, the Cardinal program made what appeared to be a very good hire. They grabbed Steve Kragthorpe from Tulsa, who was building a Petrino-like reputation for aggressive and innovative offense, and quarterback Brian Brohm decided to stick around for one final season. They figured to dominate the Big East, and most fans believed that it would be either the ’ville or West Virginia (or both) in the BCS.
But what Kragthorpe found was a team that was talented, but, for lack of a better description, not right in the head. Whispers about discipline and attitude problems have stayed mostly whispers, but the numbers seemingly prove the point. Over twenty players have left the program in the last year. Some were injury-related, some transferred for undisclosed reasons and some were dismissed. Lamar Myles, the team’s leading tackler in 2007, left early for the NFL and ended up undrafted. In total, according to coach Kragthorpe himself, 43 players from the last four recruiting classes are no longer with the program.
Kragthorpe has addressed the unexpected depth issues (actually, wouldn’t shallowness issues be more accurate?) with ten junior college transfers. Such large influxes of JuCos have been historically risky for programs. Kragthorpe also cleaned house on his coaching staff, firing all the defensive coaches.
And the Louisville fan base is showing divisions. Some argue that Kragthorpe is cleaning up a mess left by Petrino; others argue that he himself is the mess. The team was cover-your-eyes-awful last year, and that was with Brohm. This year’s team doesn’t project to be as talented as last year’s, and the schedule finishes with a tough stretch: the Cards close with South Florida, Syracuse (who won in Louisville last year), Pitt, Cincinnati, West Virginia, and Rutgers. Losing could lead to even more chaos in the ’ville, sabotaging the football team’s recent inroads into the basketball-dominated Cardinal consciousness.
3. West Virginia Mountaineers
The foundation of West Virginia football was well established before Rich Rodriguez ever took over in Morgantown. However, RichRod appeared to have moved the Mountaineers to the summit (ha!) of the college football world. Then, he bolted for Ann Arbor, which has proved to be a boon to angry t-shirt producers and those who like to burn things on YouTube. The school made what appeared to be an emotional hire when it rewarded Bill Stewart with the head job in the wee hours following the Fiesta Bowl.
As has been well documented, Stewart hasn’t exactly overwhelmed as a head coach; his only previous college head coaching job was at VMI, where the cadets wear funny hats and the football team loses a lot. Stewart was 9-25 there. He also effectively lost both coordinators from last year’s team.
West Virginia fans have been supportive of the hire, but there is a hint of doubt behind their confidence. The schedule is unpleasant, with notable non-conference fixtures at Colorado and at home against Auburn, and a couple of inopportune losses might expose some of this doubt. West Virginia fans have gotten used to being at the top consistently, and they might not take too kindly to having to take a step or four back in the line. Bottom line, coach Stewart: you want them to be burning couches in celebration, not in anger.
4. Arkansas Razorbacks
Sure, it’s a bit pardon-me-would-you-have-any-Grey-Poupon-ish to say, but some programs get a little uppity from time to time. You know, when a program has an over-inflated sense of its own position in the college football world, and behaves a bit irresponsibly as a result? Minnesota, for example, was tired of “only” winning seven games a year. They fired Glen Mason, who had taken them to seven of the 12 bowls in school history. Last year they went 1-11 and lost to North Dakota State - at home.
The question here is whether Arkansas has done the same.
Houston Nutt was a bit of a circus at times — there’s no arguing that. But given what he had to work with, namely a limited recruiting base and comparatively underwhelming facilities, he did a pretty good job keeping the Hogs relatively competitive in the SEC West, even making the trip to Atlanta a couple of times. And while he certainly gored himself a bit on the way out (stupid text messages! even stupider Freedom of Information Act!), there’s no doubt the Hog Sty was getting a bit impatient.
Enter Bobby Petrino. No need to rehearse all of the Petrino = Satan bile that was spilled following his departure from the Falcons here, but it does bear mentioning that he was part of an attempted palace coup at Auburn in 2003, and that his departure from Atlanta was done poorly. At this point, it’s fair to question the depth of his commitment to Arkansas. In the hyper-competitive SEC, that kind of question could be enough to shuffle your program to the back of the pack.
5. Penn State Nittany Lions
Yes, the Nittany Lions were on my list of potential Kansans for this year. But, in the long term, there is some danger surrounding Happy Valley. JoePa’s tenure is winding down, and the common wisdom is that if it does end after this season, then the leading candidates to replace the legend are current defensive coordinator Tom Bradley and current Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano.
I’m sure both would be fine choices, as would be quarterbacks coach Jay Paterno,* but regime change doesn’t always go quietly. And while short term success sometimes follows the retirement of a legend (see Coker, Larry or Solich, Frank), that success is often short-lived (see Coker, Larry or Solich, Frank).
In fact, the Solich case at Nebraska is the blueprint for the worst case scenario at Penn State. The scenario is this: Paterno retires, and Bradley is hired. After a couple of merely adequate 8-4 seasons he’s fired. The university tries for the flashy and exciting hire, and they stumble into somebody Bill Callahan-esque. Meanwhile, the rest of the Big Te(leven) leaves Penn State in the dust, while they try to find The Man Who Replaced the man who replaced the man who replaced the actual man.
*Dude! You should see the look on your face right now! Seriously! I said Jay Paterno and you were all like “nooooooo” and started buggin’ out and all!
(Jack Bonden’s college football column can be found in this spot each and every Friday morning.)
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Comments
Mephistopheles on 07/25 at 10:38 AM
The sexual assault case at Iowa is certainly ugly and flat out disgusting. But, your characterization of the issue is much like it is in the local and national media, wrong and it ignores many of the facts in favor of presenting only the sensational paper-selling and website hit inducing parts of the story. The athletic department did absolutely nothing wrong. Coach Ferentz suspended the players a soon as he found out about the issue. Then 2 days later after meeting with the victim and others, he kicked them off the team. He did that having heard only the victim’s side of the story and without letting the players try to justify or explain what happened. I am not saying there is ANY justification, just letting you know that he was swift and stern in his actions. And that is exactly what he should have done. His authority ends there. He does not have the power to kick them out of school, remove them from the residence halls, send them to jail, or dictate how the investigation was to proceed from there. The letters sent by the victim’s parents to the university never once accused Ferentz or the AD of a coverup, and in fact didn’t even say one thing about either of them other than they were asked to and did attend a meeting with the victim and her family. Yet, this article and every single other one refers to Ferentz as having covered things up or as having been accused of covering things up, when the victim and family have said nothing of the sort. The letters the family sent to the university accuse others of things like not knowing anything about the incident when they should have, dropping the ball at numerous points, having a horrible policy that they followed. But, not once do the letters ever accuse Ferentz of anything. Are or were the perps his players and his recruits? Sure, and you can fault him for that all you want. But, don’t imply that which is simply not true all in the name of getting website hits. If that is not your intent, then at least know the facts before writing a column/blog accusing people of that which you don’t know.
Now, don’t take these comments wrong, as I think the perps should rot in jail for a very long time, and I also think that various administrators within the university should lose their jobs for their horrible handling of the situation, but be very careful of guilt by association without facts to support it.
Pete on 07/25 at 11:55 AM
I think the main point of the Iowa selection is that Ferentz makes a lot of money to have such a consistently bad team and the off the field issues are not helping.
Tradi's on 07/25 at 12:41 PM
I hope Petrino fails. There, I said it. Ferentz is a gonner. You can see how this is gonna play out already. Paterno gets two more years and then it’s Schiano (unless PSU is god awful this season then they’ll throw buckets of cash at Greg). I think Kragthorpe fixes things eventually. I would have liked to have seen Syracuse of this list. Remember when ‘cuse was one of the great programs in the country? Now they are an after thought. It’s a shame.
JohnG on 07/25 at 12:55 PM
Tolstoy, is that you?
Tradi's on 07/25 at 01:15 PM
Leo was much more concise.
Jay on 07/25 at 01:30 PM
Arkansas has underwhelming facilities!??!
Have you ever seen Arkansas’ facilities? They are among the best in the nation. Ask any recruit or writer that knows what they’re talking about.
bidgiebog on 07/25 at 01:32 PM
“Houston Nutt was a bit of a circus at times — there’s no arguing that.”
No shit. No self-respecting program will keep a coach who tried to pull the stunts Nutt did. When it isn’t a media darling school, though, they’ll be criticized for cutting him.
If Petrino does well to the point that a better school lures him away, I won’t be happy about it, but it’s laughably better than what’d hog fans would be dealing with if Colonel Reb was still around.
Helmet on 07/25 at 01:36 PM
Arkansas made a good decision senting Nutt packing. The guy was divisive. The direction of the University was totally going South. He is sneaky and Ole Miss probably loves him at this point. They’ll see his true colors - it’s just a matter of when.
Bobby Petrino is an upgrade all the way around. He’s been smeared by the national media, yet when he gets the chance to take a shot, he doesn’t. He admitted that he wished things could have been handled differently, but make no mistake, Arthur Blank’s hands are completely clean in this mess we witnessed. He’ll be fine at Arkansas, and thanks to the media killing his rep, you probably have solidified his stay at Arkansas. He will certainly never go to the NFL again and he realizes he needs to stick in one place a while. Lucky for Hog fans, that’ll be in Fayetteville.
A couple of facts that are never mentioned....
This is only his 3rd Head Coaching job… you’d think he has held more than Larry Brown with the vagabond statements.
He left $2 Million per year on the table to leave Atlanta. Now that has to tell you something wasn’t right. And that also shoots down the title of mercenary. He is happy coaching the college game and was willing to leave a lot of money on the table to get back to it.
Little River Hawg on 07/25 at 01:47 PM
You show yourself to be ignorant when you say Arkansas has underwhelming facilities. Arkansas’ football stadium is state of the art. The baseball stadium is normally ranked the best in the nation. The basketball arena, while aging, is as good as any in the nation. The indoor and outdoor track facilities have hosted college and professional championships. This does not even mention the brand new weight training facility and the indoor practice facility. Visit Fayetteville sometime, we would be glad to have you and you may learn something!!! Go Hogs!
Signed,
an “uppity” Razorback Fan
Hawgon on 07/25 at 01:55 PM
Comparatively underwhelming facilities!!?? Arkansas has the best facilities in the SEC. Why should someone so uninformed on such a basic issue, be trusted to get anything else right.
Jack Bonden on 07/25 at 01:59 PM
Jay, Little River Hawg, y’all are right to call me out on the facilities in Fayetteville… total crossing of wires on my part. For penance I’ll do a dozen Pig Sooeys and flog myself with half a slab of ribs.
CAS on 07/25 at 02:08 PM
Arkansas, underwhelming facilities? LOL, compared to whom? I’ll answer that for you: nobody. Good lord, Bondon, when did you last visit Fayetteville? 1962? Bobby Petrino and the Razorbacks may not have many fans outside the state of Arkansas, but even the naysayers who have visited the Fayetteville campus now know you’re either a fraud, horribly uninformed, or an idiot. Hate to be you.
CAS on 07/25 at 02:12 PM
I guess you posted your apology about the time I started writing--sorry ‘bout that. But dude, you’re as wrong about Houston Nutt as you are about the facilities.
paco on 07/25 at 02:58 PM
Houston ‘hooten’ Nutt was 42-40 in the SEC @ the UA. If the desire to do better makes the fans uppity....I hat to think what you would call Florida fans.
Check the hogs all time record....total AA....Bowls played....conference championships.....all time AP ranking.
I guess an idiot with a keyboard is all it takes to get published now days. Knowledge obviously doesn’t count for much.
Jackie Joyner Kersey on 07/25 at 04:40 PM
Paco-Go watch some soccer, brother. I think you’re commenting on the wrong sport. Go kick the paper bag around in your back yard. With your peanut size brain, the only publishing you’ll be getting is from your boyfriend.
darkhelmet on 07/25 at 05:52 PM
i need to echo the sentiments of those irritated with your lack of knowledge of UA’s facilities. they are on par with the best in the nation. constructing top of the line football, basketball, and baseball facilities was the one thing that frank broyles did a great job with. please do some research about someones university before launching into your sad and tired rendition of whats going on at Arkansas.
Ronnie Fleming on 07/25 at 06:07 PM
Have you ever saw the facilities at Arkansas, if so you knowledge of facilities is about as limited as your knowledge of why Nutt(spit) was run out of town.;..
Shadow on 07/25 at 11:04 PM
Arkansas under Nutt was mediocre, and the atmosphere was toxic in recent years. He may or may not have decent success at Ole Miss, but either way his time at Arkansas needed to end.
I dont know if Petrino will stay around that long, but having him for a few years, then looking for a new coach again is better than keeping Nutt around would have been.
paco on 07/26 at 08:57 AM
why the hate jackie....what did i say that wasn’t true....oh hows your sister in law?
Husker on 07/26 at 01:36 PM
the iowa hawkeyes are soon to be second fiddle to the cyclones in the state of iowa, the entire rape coverup is just downright disgusting, along with the ridiculous amount of player arrests. iowa is the cincinnati bengals of college football. and they are paying kirk ferentz HOW much?
Teddy on 07/26 at 02:36 PM
You’re an idiot. WVU is going to be fine. And we didn’t lose our D-cordinator, Jeff Casteel is back.
Diggs on 07/26 at 02:58 PM
“He also effectively lost both coordinators from last year’s team.”
Casteel is back as the D-Coordinator.
LMAO...Casteel is back as the D-Coordinator. That little gem was all I needed to read in order to come to the conclusion that you are a complete waste of time.
What a joke on the jabbing of Stewarts Coaching ability as well, “nobody” wins at VMI. I’m sure you already knew that though...right Jack? Eh, who am I kidding...you probably didn’t.
Please do your research if you want to stay employed as a writer/jounalist for very long.
Flatfoot on 07/26 at 04:20 PM
Jack, you don’t jack about Arkansas. Ask around some of your fellow sports writers who have been to a game in Fayetteville. They will tell you it is one of the best stadiums in college football. It is very obvious that you haven’t been to a game here.
zach on 07/26 at 05:03 PM
The thing about Houston Nutt is that he will get his players to play well for big game (LSU in ‘07, Auburn in ‘06) and then they go and lose games that they had in hand in the 4th quarter. He had a respectable record and he made the Hogs competitive, but they never took the next step with him. But I am glad you admitted your wrongness on the facilities knock.
GO HOGS
john in california on 07/26 at 05:25 PM
i disagree with your opinion about the future of wvu, but at least i would respect it more if you got your facts straight...wvu did not effectively lose both coordinators...their defensive coordinator, jeff casteel, stayed when rodriguez bolted...it would not have taken much homework to find this out...so therefore i must consider your thoughts on wvu as being misinformed...note about stewart...he had a higher winning percentage at vmi than previous coaches before and after him...the vmi job is a no-win situation...mike tomlin of the steelers vouches for him as do many other coaches who have worked for and with him...also the guy is a very good recruiter, as are most of the new members of the wvu staff and the recruiting year they are having, especially in virginia, bears that out...based on your sloppy reportage vis-a-vis casteel, i wouldn’t expect you to know this, so to paraphrase mark twain, reports of wvu’s demise are greatly exaggerated…
Rich in Ohio on 07/26 at 07:03 PM
To bad you can’t take the time to write an article that has facts.
It is one thing to write an opinion piece when you have done good research, but there is no excise whatsoever to write a piece such as this when you obviously did not take more than 20 or 30 seconds to search for reality.
You should feel good that you do not work for me.
Because with the lack of facts and proper thinking in this article. Had you been in my employ, you would be in the unemployment line now.
You may be right about the path of some of these programs. But personally I think you are just another trash writer who wants to just insult programs he feels superior to. And your very very poor , excruciatingly poor search for reality in writing here is just another sad indication of where journalism, and in particular sports journalism is. In the bottom of the outhouse.
If you want to say, Come on, try my job. Please feel free to ask me or John in Cali who responded above. Either of us could write factual articles a gazillion times better and infinitely more true than the trash you just offered to the public. EMBARRASSING !!!!!!!!!!!!
tom hitt on 07/27 at 06:41 AM
internet idiot that pens poorly articulated embarrassments to his blog.
jim guist on 07/27 at 06:46 AM
I would bet the farm you have never been to Arkansas!
Chris on 07/27 at 04:30 PM
Do you work for MSNBC? You sure report like you do. You are about 10% accurate in your “facts”. You obviously know nothing about any of these programs. Consistently bad seasons at Iowa? Please. Some down years, but plenty of bowl games in the Ferentz era. Underwhelming facilities in Arkansas. Ignorant. Penn State will be just fine because guys want to play there. Visit the area sometime and you will see why. WVU is chock full of talent and the talent will shine through. I don’t even know where you get your information, but check your sources before you make yourself look like an idiot.
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