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SPORTS A21
Monday 4 January 2016
Leap from college coaching to NFL rarely worth the trip
JIM LITKE but even better in the pros. over parts of two seasons Cowboys, though it was still ceiling, returning to the col-
AP Sports Writer But much longer is the list of and quit with three games Johnson’s team through lege ranks both times and
Everyone has to start some- those who clobbered the remaining in his third. and through. a third time after a brief re-
where. competition in college but The reasons for the failures Switzer dominated the col- tirement.
But if the end game is to win left the NFL with tails tucked are varied. Most college lege game, but was so
a Super Bowl, candidates between their legs. coaches hired by the NFL overmatched in the NFL TRY, TRY AGAIN
applying for NFL head- There’s three-time (in a begin with bad teams and that some Cowboys play- Carroll, too, was a yo-yo
coaching vacancies may 6-year span) national impatient owners. Some ers referred to him as “Bozo coach, working as an as-
want to downplay their col- championship winner Nick never adjust to the differ- the Coach.” Switzer went sistant at both levels before
lege resumes. As Philadel- Saban, who was 15-17 in ent schemes, much-faster 10-6 after his champion- taking over the New York
ship season and then 6-10, Jets in 1994 and going 6-10
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, talks with Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete leaving Jones to search for before being axed. Next,
Carroll prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. the 499 other coaches he he tried his hand with the
passed over the last time. New England Patriots from
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) 1997-99 and getting fired
DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT again.
phia’s firing of Chip Kelly re- the NFL and desperate pace of play, or the differ- YOU ON THE WAY OUT But Carroll hit his stride at
minded us again, past suc- enough to depart the Mi- ences required to motivate Bobby Petrino tends to USC, and NCAA investiga-
cesses are no guarantee of ami Dolphins that he lied highly-paid pros instead of leave a mess wherever he tors were hot on his trail
future prosperity — at least several times about chas- kids dependent on scholar- lands. After success at lowly when he lit out for a third
in the pros. ing the Alabama job he ships. Louisville (and later Arkan- NFL audition in Seattle. Two
Coaches with designs of eventually latched onto. Here’s a quick look at some sas and Western Kentucky), Super Bowl appearances
stepping up have their pa- Then there’s Steve Spurrier, of the memorable success- he couldn’t even last a and one trophy later, he’s
tron saints, to be sure. Four Dennis Erickson, Lou Holtz, es and failures: season with the Atlanta practically a fixture in the
have won championships Butch Davis, Bobby Petri- Falcons. After a 3-10 start Pacific Northwest.
at both levels: Pete Car- no, Rich Brooks, Frank Kush THE ACCIDENTAL COACH there, and a locker-room
roll (Seattle Seahawks and and even Oklahoma Soon- After an acrimonious split mutiny gaining steam, ANYBODY HAVE JOE
Southern California); Barry er legend Bud Wilkinson, with Jimmy Johnson, who Petrino bailed on the NFL NAMATH’S PHONE NUM-
Switzer (Dallas Cowboys whose flirtation with the NFL won two Super Bowls in and let his team in on the BER?
and Oklahoma); Jimmy was fairly typical. Dallas, owner Jerry Jones news by posting a note in Lou Holtz could coach. He
Johnson (Dallas Cowboys After amassing three na- essentially introduced Bar- the locker room. won at William & Mary, took
and Miami); and Paul tional championships and ry Switzer as one of “500 “That’s not how a man North Carolina State to
Brown (Cleveland Browns a 47-game winning streak coaches who could have acts,” Joey Harrington, the four bowl games, finished
and Ohio State). Several (a record that still stands, won the Super Bowl with quarterback whom Petrino ranked three times at Ar-
more, most notably Bill Wilkinson came out of re- our team.” benched, said at the time kansas and won a national
Walsh and Tom Coughlin, tirement for the St. Louis He was right, since Switzer of his departure. “That’s title at Notre Dame.
were very good in college Cardinals job, went 9-20 did just that with the 1995 how a coward acts.” Tucked into that gleaming
Or maybe just somebody resume was most of a disas-
who’s in a hurry to get out trous 1976 season with the
of town. Jets.
His players there never fell
IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUC- for the card and magic
CEED ... tricks, and the bonding
Anyone who watched sessions that endeared
Dennis Erickson coach ‘em him college players every-
up in college could be for- where else he went.
given for thinking his 40-56
pro record was a typo. He Holtz never got used to
turned around programs at having players who didn’t
Idaho and Oregon State follow his every command
and won two national titles and resigned from the Jets
at Miami. with one game remaining
That may explain why two that season, not long after
NFL owners gave him jobs calling a sports department
(Seattle from 1995-98 and in the New York metro area
San Francisco, 2003-04). and asking whether any-
The good news is that Er- body there had a phone
ickson finally recognized his number for his quarterback,
Joe Namath.q
