I write this with a heavy heart and an understanding of the profession
called “College Football Coach”.
The job is not for everyone as you need to have a thick skin and also be
willing to work for many years at lower then average wage as you work your way
up the ladder. It’s also a job that
can change at a moments notice and send tremors across a program.
Bearcat Insider was founded almost two years ago and when I first meet
the Bearcats head coach Mark Dantonio I knew right away I was dealing with a man
of integrity and high moral standards.
Those of which I’ve tried to follow myself in running this strange
business called Internet Publishing.
It’s easy to get caught up in reporting rumors about players and coaches
and I’ve always prided this site for bringing out the truth in a story even if
it meant we were a little late in doing so.
Tonight many Bearcat fans fall asleep knowing come Monday the head coach
they’ve entrusted for the past three years has made a life choice for the
betterment of his family and the families of many of his assistant coaches. See, a man like Mark Dantonio doesn’t
forget those who’ve worked beside him in achieving the goals he sets forth. So while many know the Michigan State
job pays a lot more money then Cincinnati, it also pays a lot more to those
coaches who’ve been loyal and paid the price of sacrifice in getting to the next
level.
Some will talk about Cincinnati being a job for a coach to come in
and look to better himself, we’ll I feel many jobs across the country as just
like that. Keep in mind several
coaches have been fired Sunday so change is happening across the country and not
just at UC. Did you know even
Alabama was
starting to show interest in Dantonio?
Before I get into further details I want to thank Mark, Becky, Kristen
and Lauren for always being so kind to me or members of the Bearcat Insider
staff. I hope this doesn’t mean our
friendship ends as Mark leaves Cincinnati. I also want to thank other members of
the Dantonio family that have also been so kind during the past two
seasons. You’ve made my job very
enjoyable and I’ll cherish the time I’ve had getting to know many of
you.
But while Mark Dantonio is leaving, he’s leaving a program on a strong
foundation not one on life support.
He was the right guy for the job and I can tell you the hardest thing
he’s got to do is walk into the team meeting room on Monday morning to tell the
kids he loves of his decision to leave.
This program is better because of Mark Dantonio and will prosper in the
coming years.
While many will say money was the main reason for Dantonio leaving the
program, I can assure you there were many more items of need. While Cincinnati has built solid new facilities to
help it compete at a higher level then ever before, they still lack some things
most major programs need. The
building of an indoor facility being one of the more major ones that comes to
mind. I know UC has this on it’s
list of things to get done but money issues are still a problem at the
university as they work to payoff the balance owed on Varsity Village.
Mark Dantonio while not old (50), knows a coach is hired to be fired and
with all of the options available to him at Michigan State the choice became apparent it was
the best move for him and his family.
Where does that leave the Bearcats program?
The easy choice would be for Mike Thomas to walk down the hall and name
Pat Narduzzi the new “Full Time” head coach of the Bearcats. Knowing Coach Narduzzi the way I do, I
feel if he’s offered the job he’ll take the job. If he’s offered the job on an interim
bases I see Narduzzi filling the same position at Michigan State that he holds at UC.
Many names will be rumored to take over. The first name many Bearcat fans will
throw out is current Akron head coach J.D. Brookhart. Don’t look for this move to even have a
chance of taking place. Other names
outside of the Bearcats current staff will include many of the old guard looking
for a fresh start in a BCS conference.
I’ll have more names in a future story later today.