Great editorial and great point-of-view. Couldn't agree more. These are men in positions of responsiblity charged with teaching/coaching morals to our next generation. Sadly, the responsiblity goes all the way to the top with the A.D. and President ultimately responsible. As long as the football program brings in the revenue it does, nothing will change and any attempt to change it will be fought. How can you ethically tell a young man to trust your program one day and the next day fire the coach who has recruited him?

Unfortunately, this happens elsewhere besides athletics. My wife was hired by a manager who soon after took another job. It was too good an opportunity for the manager, so there are no hard feelings there, but the job experience for my wife is greatly diminished without that manager. It's always a chance when you sign on to somewhere.

That said, a release for coaching changes and a binding offer for a full four-year grant-in-aid seem reasonable to level these NLI contracts to protect both the student and the institution. If a student-athlete remains academically eligible at an institution and holds to the same behavior standards expected of other students, he or she should be able to retain his or her scholarship regardless of performance or value in athletics.

College presidents need to firmly be reminded that they operate non-profit (and often tax-supported) higher learning institutions and the athletic departments need to be a part of that mission and not a quasi-independent revenue generator. If that means taking on additional losses, so be it. There are worse things in life than going 10-3.

Coaching changes, like any job change, is part of life. The players are going to college to be students, to learn. Life does not always follow a smooth plan. If a player cannot practice football with different people as the coach, I would think that player is not going to be very successful in life. Is the recruiter/coach going to be his NFL coach or his boss if he works for a company after graduation? Most of the college recruits never even see the field on gameday unless the game is a blowout, much less make the NFL and stay on a pro team. Change coaches after the spring practice-change during the season-no time is a good time but that does not make football "seedy." What is seedy are opposing coaches saying things about a team and its staff which are not true, just rumors, to try to get an edge.

Thats life enjoy the ride. Free education

got a name pal?

Coaches get bashed no matter what they do; keep under acheiving coaches and you are too loyal, get rid of them and you are "seedy". The real mercenaries are the ones: ie Todd Graham, Nick Sabin, etc. TU has had several of these guys in football and basketball. You also fail to mention the shoe contracts that big name coaches get that pay them millions.

I agree! If you know you are going to fire a coach then man up and fire them. The players relationship with the coach that recruited them (usually their position coach) influences their decision. By delaying you are being dishonest to the players and you are screwing the coaches over for other job vacancies.

As for the 'ham-handed OSU situation', it is apples/oranges. YOUNG is the one that asked for the news not to be let out. No one really knows when it would have been announced....