It isn’t exactly a shocking realization that NC2A D1 athletics
are set up to exploit the student-athletes and promote the colleges and universities
themselves.  Students are forced to sit
out a year after a transfer and often face harsh restrictions after doing so -
even if university promises of playing time or coaching continuity weren’t kept
- while coaches can switch with little or no penalty.  Worse, if a coach violates NCAA rules and gets
his team barred from postseason play he is able to change schools and begin
illegally recruiting again (whatup, Kelvin Sampson) while his old team suffers
the penalties – and we haven’t even gotten to the millions of dollars made off
of athletes playing for their education, room, and board (I’m not saying what
Steph Curry is getting isn’t anything – far from it – but I’m real comfortable saying that that is
less than what Davidison’s President is making off his production).

So, with that in mind, count me among the seemingly few
people not horribly offended that Boston
College looks set to
follow through on their threat to fire head football coach Jeff Jagodzinski
after JJ interviewed for the New York Jets vacant coaching position.

When BC AD Gene DeFilippo caught wind of the fact that his
coach was gunning for a pro position he said, in no uncertain terms, “if you
take the interview you’re going to be fired.” I’ll ignore the detail that the decision
was more about communication than principle – reportedly, Gene D was pissed he was left out of the loop -
mainly because it’s the principle that I love.  Jagodzinski was hired just two years ago, and
while he has been wildly successful (whatup, Matt Ryan), he clearly has seen
the BC job as a stepping stone towards greater riches.  If you’re BC you can’t let that happen.

Boston
College may not be a perennial
powerhouse, but they’re headed that way – the Eagles have straight ACC Atlantic
division titles and a bowl win over the last two seasons.  If all they wanted to do was attract elite
level talent they’d let JJ interview and not mind turning
themselves into a stepping stone for NFL jobs.  If they want to do right by that elite level
talent, make sure that the kids who pledged to represent them are treated with
honor and respect, well, then they’ll find a coach who can live up to the
promises they make.  

Of course, the problem is even if this stand works – if JJ is fired and BC wins whatever legal battle will ensue – the problem is that moving forward this is not likely to ensure that head coaches remain loyal. In fact, the opposite may happen, where the contracts they sign will likely be laden with specific terms guaranteeing them the right to interview for other positions. All of this leads me to one final, free market solution: a retention bonus.

If I’m BC I know that the next coach I hire is probably going to demand contract language that allows them to interview with pro teams.  To that I say, fine, I’m putting in contract language that rewards the coach for not seeking these positions. Oklahoma just cut Bob Stoops a million dollar check for staying in place for 10 years, which seems to be win-win-win for the coach, the university, and the kids the first two are bringing in. You want to interview for another job? Fine, you’re losing bonus money that you’d get for not considering them. That way the school gets either the continuity of the coach or the name-boost that comes with the fact their head coach is interviewing for a pro job (the fact that we’re all talking about BC here isn’t nothing); the coach gets an incentive to stay put beyond his set-in-stone contract; and the kids get a better chance at being taught by the men who promised to teach them. Making this type of bonus common practice would be a baby step in the right direction.

Scottie Reynolds, whose 40 points led Nova to a 89-85 win over Seton Hall last night in Jersey

“Momentum, fine, whatever it is, confidence, whatever that is, the bottom line is it is the team that wants it more, the team that plays harder on Sunday and makes the plays.”- Giants Center Shaun O’Hara

Three lines on their world:

1. The Celtics are suddenly awful

2. Arkansas knocked off #7 Texas

3. and Carmelo Anthony set to miss three weeks with a hand
   

Three lines on ours:

1. Behind 40 from Scottie Reynolds‘ Nova got their first Big East win of the season

2. The 76ers return to Philly was a successful one
3. and the Flyers picked up another point
   
   

Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about after the jump

EAGLES

READ

Paul Domowitch doesn’t think we’ll be able to what-if Westbrook’s effort. His ankle and his knee on the other hand …

*IYCOR1 John Gonzalez stands up and says its okay to keep bashing Reid.

SKIP

Ashley Fox thinks the Birds’ young linebackers have held the defense together.

Phil Sheridan on the NFL playoffs: come January, you can throw out what happened in the regular season.

Rich Hofmann says the worn down Eagles’ D is going to have to step up again on Sunday.

*IYCOS1 Stan Hochman’s lede suggests suicide for anyone who criticized Andy Reid following the Baltimore loss.

Bob Brookover looks at how far these two teams have come.

Les Bowen reports that Tom Heckert is being considered to run the show in Cleveland.

Reuben Frank points out that Asante Samuel has played the Giants a lot over the last year +.

Reuben Frank remembers that John Harbaugh never lost faith in the Birds.

PHILLIES

READ

I can’t believe I’m doing this … but John Gonzalez, Phil Sheridan, and Bob Ford actually make some legitimate points about the steroid debate.

David Murphy’s notes include a look at the Phils’ options when it comes to replacing J.C. and more.

Randy Miller looks back at when all these appeals were happening: the World Series.

SKIP

Jim Salisbury doesn’t add much to the Romero debate.

1Chair snarkily blames Romero for not cheating well enough.

Jason Nark plugs the supplement Romero was caught using. Of couse Nark did.

So does Don Sapatkin.

David Murphy gets into the history.

Jim Salisbury reports that the Phillies have added Marcus Giles to the mix.

SIXERS

READ

Phil Jasner talks with Ed Stefanski about all that ails the Sixers.

SKIP

Kate Fagan’s notes report that Elton Brand remains on schedule.

FLYERS

READ

Sam Cardichi’s notes report that the Capitals were taking shots at the Flyers for running up the scores and having goon fans.

SKIP

Ed Moran looks at Andreas Nodl’s here-today gone-tomorrow season.

TODAY and MORE

A look back at the Phils season video and plenty more.

As always, feel free
to email
with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.  

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at 9:25 am and is filed under Morning Rounds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.