At the End of the Day, Games are Won by Players, Not Coaches

Today is the most upsetting and depressing day that University of Cincinnati Football fans have ever encountered. Never before has UC’s football program excelled and competed the way they have in the last three years of Brian Kelly’s tenure only to lose our most prized athletics coach since Bob Huggins. After leading the Bearcats to a 9-3 record in 2007, a 10-2 record in 2008 and a 12-0 record in 2009, Kelly will leave the program and become Charlie Weis’ successor at the University of Notre Dame. In his three years here, he led the Bearcats to three bowl games. In ’07, Kelly led the ‘Cats to a win in the Papajohns.com Bowl, a loss to Virginia Tech in the program’s first ever BCS Bowl Game(Orange Bowl) last year and this year Kelly will not coach in the Sugar Bowl as the Bearcats will face the Florida Gators in their second BCS bowl game in as many years.

Fans are angry and upset that Brian Kelly lied to his players, the media, University Officials, and most of all, us. But as fans, we can not blame Kelly for what he did. He did everything in his power to keep the attention off himself and onto the players and their match up against the Pittsburgh Panthers. The players would not have responded with a great attitude if Kelly said before the game, “Hey guys, I know that if we win we might go to the BCS National Championship, but I might be going to coach at Notre Dame.” If Colt McCoy would’ve thrown the ball a second later, or if Hunter Lawrence missed the last field goal, UC would be playing for the championship in Pasadena on January 7th. Chances of Kelly leaving with the ‘Cats in the title game are slim to none. Although, I’d love to know how many coaches resign before the biggest game in the program’s history after going undefeated in the regular season.

Fans want to yell and scream that Notre Dame broke the rules and contacted him before the bowl game, but UC did the same thing with Kelly back in 2006-07 when they needed a coach for the International Bowl. Then, Kelly was the coach of Central Michigan, leading them to the Motor City Bowl in which he did not coach. So, if fans are going to be mad at Notre Dame for contacting him before the bowl game and Brian Kelly lying to everyone, then we must also be mad at the University of Cincinnati for contacting Brian Kelly before his former team’s bowl game. It’s worth noting that at the moment, UC has received permission from the University of Houston to speak with their Head Coach Kevin Sumlin about UC’s recently vacated Head Coaching position.

We may be angry that the man who has led our team to 34 wins in 3 years left in the middle of the night, but the time has come to let the anger go and move towards the Sugar Bowl. At the end of the day, Brian Kelly couldn’t throw the game-winning touchdown to Armon Binns to put UC in the Sugar Bowl. Nor could Brian Kelly make the four straight stops on defense to put the game in Pittsburgh away. It was not Brian Kelly’s play calling that won 12 games this year. The play calling does have some impact, but it’s the execution of the play by the players that rack up first downs, score touchdowns and win ball games.

Brian Kelly was and is a great motivator and is able to get players to follow him by believing in the system himself. He believes in his system and knows that it wins ball games. When a coach believes in their own system, it’s only a matter of time until the player’s start believing. That is the key behind Brian Kelly’s success. That is the kind of coach UC needs to be looking for to replace the once loved Brian Kelly. Sure, a Bob Stoops or Urban Meyer would work, but a coach that can come into a program that is experiencing its first major coaching departure and set up a system around soon to be starting quarterback Zach Collaros is what this program, the players and the fans need.

A new head coach needs to be found fast. If the Bearcats don’t find a new head coach soon, high school players that have already committed to UC could decide that a program without a head coach is not where they want to play. A program whose coach leaves before the biggest game in their history does not look good to a prep star. But a program that finds a coach quickly who possesses the skills needed to succeed in Cincinnati may save the program from losing top recruits.

University of Cincinnati President Mike Thomas will interview those already working in the program. Once Brian Kelly left, Offensive Coordinator Jeff Quinn was named Interim Head Coach and will coach the ‘Cats in the Sugar Bowl. If Quinn is not given the head coaching position, it’s expected, and almost guaranteed that he will follow BK to Notre Dame. That’s not the worst thing that can happen. Whoever is named head coach will most likely bring in their own offensive coordinator. The worst thing that could happen is the departure of Associate Head Coach Kerry Coombs. Coombs was the head coach at Colerain High School for 16 years and is one of the most popular Prep Coaches in Ohio. If Coombs leaves his ties to the area and relationship with the prep players and their families could destroy UC’s recruiting in their own city.

Whether we like it or not, this is sports. In sports, coaches leave or get fired, players get traded or leave, and fans get happy or mad. We love sports because of the storylines. This is what we signed up for when we decided to be sports fans. We knew these things could happen. It’s all fun and games until it’s your coach or player leaving. Brian Kelly came to UC as a coach who had yet to really prove himself. He left as a coach who can take even the worst teams from the bottom of the pile and into the BCS title game picture. Love him or hate him, you have to thank Brian Kelly. Look at how far he’s brought our football program in just three short years. For that, I thank him and wish him well at Notre Dame. Brian Kelly walked into the UC Football program and did what nobody, including us, thought was ever possible and that was transform our football team into championship contender. For that, we will forever keep him immortalize him in our hearts as the start of something beautiful.

The Greatest Game in College Football History...EVER!!!

As a Florida State Seminoles football fan, I have lived through some of the greatest, gut-wrenching, wire-to-wire football games in history.  At that same time, I've lived through some of the worst, dream killing, heart breaking college football games ever.  Trust me when I say this, I know great football games.  I was excited and pissed with "The Choke at Doak".   I cried every time Florida State lost by missing a field goal, five different times.  I was happy when Brian Monroe botched the snap and FSU won, and this year, I was disappointed when Christian Ponder's pass fell short in the end zone.  All in all I know great football games, and this year I witnessed the greatest football game ever.

On Saturday, November 5th, 2009, I sat watching my Cincinnati Bearcats play the Pittsburgh Panthers for the Big East Championship and a BCS Bowl bid.  UC had at least nine lives on this day, and unfortunately, that last life ended when the University of Texas' Hunter Lawrence kicked the game winning field goal with one second left in regulation to lift the Longhorns over the Nebraska Cornhuskers.  But before we go any further, let's wind the clock back eight hours or so to the Bearcats game.

The conditions had to suck for fans in attendance, players and coaches but as a fan, that's the way football is supposed to look like in December.  With the snow falling, temperatures dropping, and bodies flying all over the field, the UC Bearcats were in for a real treat with the Pitt Panthers waiting for them.  As for the game itself?  The first half was very reminiscent of last year's Orange Bowl between UC and Virginia Tech in which Virginia Tech ruffled up and beat on the Bearcats.  Tony Pike was the quarter back for both games, and unlike the Orange Bowl, Tony was able to muster up enough in the fourth quarter to lead the Bearcats to their second straight Big East Championship and BCS Bowl game. 

With so much on the line, the Brian Kelly and the Bearcats did not disappoint following halftime.  Pitt took a 31-17 lead to halftime before all hell broke lose on Heinz Field during the second half.  There was only one scoring play during the thrid quarter, and that was Mardy Gilyard scoring a 68-yard touchdown on a pass from Tony Pike.  In the fourth quarter, Pitt scored again, giving the Panthers another two touchdown lead.  In a matter of six minutes and 20 seconds, Cincinnati's defense stuffed the Panther offense, allowing Tony Pike and Isaiah Pead to tie the game up on two different scoring drives.  But please wait, because here is where all hell breaks lose. 

I can not remember a football game that has meant so much, that pumped me up, and got me excited as this one did.  Last year's Orange Bowl was the Bearcats first BCS Bowl game, and was very important for the program, it's players and coaches fans but I don't specifically remember jumping up and screaming during the Orange Bowl like I did when Armon Binns caught the game tying touchdown pass.  Nor do I remember high fiving strangers, yelling and singing the fight song with them.  Either way, I came away happy with back-to-back Big East Championships and a second BCS Bowl bid in as many years against former #1, and still power house team in the Florida Gators.  On January 1st of the new year, UC will have the chance to prove to the country just how good they are in the Allstate Sugar Bowl against the Gators. 

In a game that saw a total of six lead changes, with three of those coming in the fourth quarter alone, and a total of 89 points, the two teams put on a show that displayed heart, soul, dedication and want.  But what UC wanted that BCS bid more.  UC had a chance, that is, until Hunter Lawrence broke their hearts, and mine with his game winning kick.  With so much on the line, the Bearcats completed their greatest season to date and now wait for New Years Day, when a chance to start inside the Top 10 next year could be on the line.  The dust has settled, the stands have cleared, and the only thing that's still here is the memory of the greatest football game in college football history.  That's not including the Big East trophy, "River City Rivalry" trophy, or their game against Florida in the Sugar Bowl that they walked away with when the clock struck zero. 

The last four weeks, UC has played UConn, West Virginia, Illinois and Pitt.  West Virginia and Pitt were both ranked in the top 25 in their games against the Bearcats and while Illinois may not be a power house, they are still a Big Ten team.  Against UConn, UC won 47-45, 24-21 against West Virginia, 49-36 against Illinois and now 45-44 against Pitt.  I'd rather have teams test the Bearcats, give them a run for their money, and still have the Bearcats pull out.  A close game where UC and it's young defense must fight, scratch and claw their way to a win is better than a 70-3 blowout over Southeast Missouri State. 

Brian Kelly is one of the greatest coaches when it comes down to halftime adjustments.  It showed against Pitt, as he was able to help Tony Pike find his inner Heisman and lead this team to a win.  If he hadn't gotten hurt, Tony Pike would be the next Heisman Trophy winner.  But, he got hurt, and now, he'll play his final game in the Sugar Bowl, and go on to lead an NFL team in need of a dependable quarterback. 

There's only one piece of business to tend to before that bowl game, and that's Brian Kelly.  If he stays this year, then he'll be here for a long, long time.  If he turns down the Notre Dame job, you'll see Brian Kelly coaching the Bearcats for 30 more years, as he will try to challenge Joe Paterno and Bobby Bowden as most dominating football coach ever. 

'Cats, here's to all of you...and BK, please stay!

The Easy