Cincinnati Bearcats Players: Welcome to Real Life

Cincinnati head coach Brian Kelly was named the new head coach at Notre Dame on Thursday, replacing the recently fired Charlie Weis. The Bearcat players, however, were none to happy with the career decisions made by their newly departed coach.

Team MVP wide receiver Mardy Gilyard told reporters, "He went for the money. I'm fairly disgusted with the situation, that they let it last this long."

Bearcat tight end Ben Guidugli compared it to, "[someone turning] their back on us."

Guess what Cincinnati? Grow up! Welcome to the real world.

Cincinnati, you had an outstanding two years and you have capped off back-to-back Big East championships. You have many things to be proud of, but understand where you rank in the college football hierarchy.

Cincinnati is not, and never will be, on the level of Texas, Alabama, USC, Florida, and Notre Dame's of the world.

How can you hold it against your coach when he has the opportunity to move into this realm and possibly be the one who restores the Fighting Irish to a prominence not seen since Dr. Lou?

Put it this way Mr. Gilyard. You were a first-team Class 5A all-state selection in the state of Florida your senior year of high school. Is it possible you ended up a Bearcat because Florida, Florida St., and Miami didn't bother to offer you a scholarship? Of course it is.

You understand the hierarchy and if one of the big boys came calling you would have signed with them as quickly as you could find a pen.

You also criticize your coach for following "the money."

I'm assuming you will be in the NFL next year. I hope, considering your quotes, you will be consistent and when you are a free agent (should you still be in the league) you will sign with your current team, at that time, for less money than what any other team is offering you.

Mr. Guidugli. Before Brian Kelly was your head coach, the biggest win you experienced at Cincinnati was a three-point win over Western Michigan in the International Bowl your redshirt year. Since then, you have won the conference twice, had the opportunity to play in two BCS games and gone undefeated.

Coach Kelly, in a matter of three years, has turned Cincinnati from a basketball school into a football school.

I appreciate your loyalty to the university, considering your brother Gino was a four-year starter at quarterback for UC, but there are some things you need to think about.

UC was not Kelly's first job. His pattern has been to win, get a new job, and win again.

Like I wrote to your teammate Mardy above, unless you are going to turn down promotions and other job and better job opportunities out of loyalty when you graduate, you have no business being critical of your former coach now.

Cincinnati, your season is not over. You have an opportunity to make a statement for yourselves, your university, and the Big East conference when you take the field against Florida in the Sugar Bowl. Mardy Gilyard, show the Gators what they missed when they overlooked you. Ben Guidugli, you and your teammates show the country what UC football has become during the four years you have been a Bearcat.

I have no doubt it is very frustrating to lose your coach at this juncture. But think of it this way. Your outstanding performance this year earned your coach the head coaching job at the most historical college football program in the nation.

But stop making hypocritical statements about your former coach, when you will not hold yourselves to the same standard of those comments later in your life.

My random thoughts on the sports world can be followed on Twitter at @plh55.