NCAA Coaches: Royalty or Loyalty?

Where has all the loyalty gone in sports?

I'm not talking fans abandoning their team after a crummy season or even players demanding to be traded.

I'm talking coaches.

You know the guys who are supposed to be true leaders of their squads, ready to fight any type of battle for their program, who point their fingers in initial press conferences, lacing the local media with championship promises?

The trend of alienation has been focused in the NCAA of late—in fact, its roots are in the collegiate ranks. Nick Saban, the pioneer of this "cop-out" movement, controversially left LSU for the pro game, then continually denied he'd ditch the NFL for Alabama.

Yea, OK.

Saban promptly waived goodbye to the Miami Dolphins after two seasons, putting the Dolphins in quite the rut. They finished their next season 1-15. Thanks, Nick.

In nearly an identical situation, hot-prospect Bobby Petrino signed on with the Atlanta Falcons after raising the Louisville Cardinals to national prominence in 2007. Through 13 games, his Falcons were 3-10, and instead of pressing on, he bolted to Arkansas to become the Razorbacks head coach. 

How did he notify his players?

A note in the locker room. Great example for your players. Run from your problems when the going gets tough.

Sure, it's legal, but it's just not right way to do it.  

Then John Calipari, basketball's supreme coach and recruiter, whatta' guy. He'll hang Final Four banners from your field house rather quickly. He'll also get them removed by the NCAA when your program is reaching its height of relevancy. Too bad he's gone at that point. Ask UMass and Memphis how they feel about good ole' Coach Cal.

Brian Kelly? Rich Rodriguez? Really, guys? That tough to stay another couple weeks?

Lane Kiffin, can you fit in anywhere?

Pete Carroll—very shady...the list rolls on.

I'm certainly a proponent of guys doing whatever it takes to reach that "dream destination" but in many cases, taking the new job helped in dodging a thorny situation. Carroll may have desired a challenge returning to the NFL, but after a non-USC-like season with violations possibly on the horizon, this was the ideal time take the Seattle job.

Kiffin wasn't off to the speedy start many expected at Tennessee. Actually, Kiffin hasn't been anywhere long enough to establish his coaching philosophy and foundation.

I can deal with Calipari, because Kentucky is top-flight college basketball. However, something's wrong when a man with that crooked of a past is coaching the Wildcats.

Bob Knight agrees.  

In Kelly's case, Notre Dame stands in a football class by itself, regardless of their recent disappointment. I get it. Same goes for Rich Rodriguez and Michigan, most all-time wins. But you had to feel for the Seniors on those respective clubs.

Rodriguez was turning West Virginia into a prestigious program overnight. Under Rich Rod, WVU competed in four consecutive New Years Day Bowls, won three Big East championships, and played in the school's first BCS game. After falling short of a National Championship at the hands of unranked and rival Pittsburgh, he hurried to Michigan before his team's well-earned bowl game.

Ruthless.

I wonder now if he wished he stayed in Morgantown.  

Kelly's situation is eerily similar to that of Rodriguez's. He supported his troops for three years en route to invitations to consecutive BCS bowls. He especially was Cincinnati's biggest promoter in 2009. But after sneaking out of Pittsburgh with his 12th win of the season, he scampered to Notre Dame like nothing happened.

Not exactly loyal when the Fighting Irish come knocking on your office door.

How great for college football would it have been if Kelly stayed at Cincinnati (like he said he would numerous times) to give Ohio State a true in-state rival?

Imagine the conference clashes between Rodriguez and Kelly today if they both remained in the Big East?

We can only wish.

At least wait out the bowl game your players have worked so hard for. 

Don't these men feel a little guilty, pouring their hearts to the fans and boosters with promises, then a few years later fleeing the scene?

Don't they look back on interviews with embarrassment when they swore allegiance to certain schools?

The contrary will argue that it's the fundamental American Dream to set a goal and do everything in your power to obtain it. "Movin' on up" is the part of any career. Jim Tressel climbing the ranks from Youngstown to Ohio State—no issue. 

To me, you shouldn't need to crush any player's hearts, break deep promises, or violate rules in the process, that's all.

I also realize that the Michigans, Ohio States, Notre Dames, Kentuckys, and Indianas all need coaches too—preferably the great ones—but the way these guys are getting there doesn't seem right.

I'm ready to take the adverse comments I'm bound to receive from this article, and I'll admit, it's quite possible I'm a little miffed because I'm old-school.

Are legends becoming extinct?

Will the Bobby Bowdens, Joe Paternos, and Gene Keadys be no more?

These figure-heads established the now "dream-job" positions because they stuck around. They're the founders of pageantry, loyalty, and integrity in college sports that can't be found anywhere else, but that is slowly diminishing.   

How about modern-day coaches like Jim Calhoun, or Jim Boeheim? Frank Beamer, anyone? They stayed put, created a power by themselves, and now are legends.

Good for them.

What happens if Kelly bombs at ND? Another Charlie Weis? What if Kiffin can't rekindle the magic Pete Carroll sprinkled on SoCal? Then what?

Where do you go from there, in those royal coaching thrones?

History reminds us what they'll do if there's trouble in paradise.

Leave.