College coaches beware: A nation’s wandering eyes are on you
There was a question on every
body’s mind at Oregon’s spring game
on Saturday.
It wasn’t about the Duck running
game, or the team’s inability to stop the
big play on defense. No, we all wanted to
know what was on Mike Bellotti’s mind.
“Do you have any thoughts on Al
abama firing head coach Mike Price?”
“I think that’s a tremendous
shame,” Bellotti said. “Obviously, I
don’t know any of the details. I know
Mike Price is a very good person and
a very good football coach. That’s a
hard thing to handle.
“I think it’s a very fragile existence
nowadays at the Division I level. I
think we’re aware of it, but these
things bring it home even more.”
Fragile indeed.
Price’s firing on Saturday and Larry
Eustachy’s
ouster from the
Iowa State bas
ketball program
on Monday
magnify the
scrutiny colle
giate programs
are receiving
these days. In
the past,
shelling out cash
at a topless club
wouldn’t even
get a college coach a slap on the wrist.
Now, even the slightest slip-up can
cost a seven-year contract. For Price
and Eustachy, the term “slip-up” is a
nice way of putting it, but neither
broke the law in its true spirit.
What invariably did-in both coach
es is the fact that their actions por
trayed their respective schools in a
negative light, and with athletic de
partments being the true windows
into the souls of universities these
days, the two were easy targets.
This just goes to show how one mis
take can undo a career. Price was a mod
el coach—or so we were led to think—
at Washington State, and Eustachy nev
er had a negative word reach ESPN.
In a world where sporting events
are interactive, and a multitude of
television channels show sports 24/7,
college coaches are under increasing
scrutiny in every aspect of their daily
lives.
Price and Eustachy each acted
poorly, but in years past, it’s doubtful
either would have gotten the ultimate
axe for their transgressions. They
would have received a suspension, a
talking-to from the university presi
dent, and a warning not to do it again.
Not anymore. Not in this world.
Not at a time where recruits can land
a school its next shoe deal.
Nope. The ultimate choice has to
be taken.
Acted poorly and went to a strip
club? See you later. Don’t let the door
knob hit you on the way out.
Of course, had Price actually been
wise enough to sign that seven-year con
tract before he took over the program,
maybe he would still be in Tuscaloosa.
Let’s say that again: Sign your con
tract before you move into your office.
Then there’s Eustachy and his
mind-boggling transgressions.
OK, there’s really no way to
stick up for what he did. I mean,
sure, you’re an alcoholic — and
yes, this came out after the inci
dent — but in no way is that relat
ed to college coeds at Missouri.
And Natural Ice? If you’re going
to have to go to a college party to
get your kicks, spring for the stu
dents. Give ‘em something better.
• Point is, what these two did is
going to be in the spotlight.
Eustachy deserved his firing, and
maybe Price didn’t, but they’ve both
opened the door for public scrutiny.
Think coaches get pried on
enough as it already is?
Wait a little while.
Contact the sports reporter at
hankhager@dailyemerald.com. His
views do not necessarily represent
those of the Emerald.
Springtime and Oregon football
Jason Fife looks
toward the Oregon
sideline at Saturday's
spring game. Fife,
after starting all 13
games last season,
will enter fall
practices in a battle
with sophomore
Kellen Clemens for
the starting
quarterback spot
Mark McCambridge
Emerald
K
Chris Vincent and
Robby Valenzuela
(99) do battle at the
Oregon spring
game. Vincent is a
candidate for the
starting running back
spot, vacated by
Onterrio Smith after
last season.
Valenzuela is a
member of the
Oregon defensive
line, which has the
potential to be one of
the best in the
Pacific-10
Conference next
season.
Adam Amato Emerald
-v I