He was a good coach, whom both players and the media loved. He said he never wanted to work anywhere else. He directed some fine talent, including all-Americans and future NFL players. Most of his coaching career was devoted to University of Utah football.
In the end, though, he was offered a menial job in the athletic department. But it wasn't coaching, so he said forget it. He would rather be fired.
"It's very difficult, but you've got to make decisions," his boss said. "What you've got to do is what's going to be best for your football team, and what's going to give you your best chance to succeed — and I intend to succeed."
I'm sorry. Did you think I was talking about Ron McBride? I meant Sean McNabb. He spent 24 years as an assistant coach at the U. before being fired by McBride two seasons ago. (The aforementioned quote was from McBride in December 2000.) Technically, it was called a reassignment. But one thing is certain: McBride wanted change. The kicking game was in trouble, pressure was mounting, so he took action.
Sometimes changes have to be made. McBride, of all people, knows that.
With McBride's departure, Monday, the airwaves were flooded with calls from fans, most of whom felt an injustice had occurred. How could Chris Hill, Utah's athletic director, fire such a decent man? When did it stop being about character and become all about winning?
Quite a while ago, actually.
McBride's departure brought the usual flurry of protests. A few boosters will drop their donations and call for Hill's head. But after the emotion subsides, it will go down as an ordinary firing. It happens all the time. The coach goes into his final game knowing his job is in jeopardy. He says he's only thinking about winning his last game. Afterward, he says he will commence recruiting for the next year. He watches game film on Sunday. On Monday he meets with the A.D. The conversation is short and direct.
Then comes the inevitable uproar. Thirteen years ago, in one of his first moves as an athletic director, Hill fired Jim Fassel. The Utes were concluding a 4-8 season, 2-6 in the WAC. Though Fassel had done some good things, including a rousing 57-28 win over BYU the previous season, he couldn't win a conference championship. Fassel met with Hill on the Monday after the season ended, and left bewildered and hurt. A day later, he called a news conference to denounce Hill and the U. administration.
Some felt the change was unfair, even heartless. A few fans canceled their season tickets or left the Crimson Club. Then McBride was hired and things got better. Life went on.
If controversial, McBride's departure wasn't the strangest in school history. Following the 1984 season (a winning one, it should be noted), coach Chuck Stobart met with then-A.D. Arnie Ferrin. What emerged was an announcement that they had struck a "handshake agreement." Ostensibly, the university would look for a new coach and Stobart would look for a new job. If neither came up with a better alternative, they could always get back together.
Huh?
Before Stobart, there was Wayne Howard, who quit following an 8-2-1 season. There was nothing to protest, because it was his call. Howard's predecessor, Tom Lovat, was fired without much debate. A 5-28 record probably had something to do with that.
McBride's situation is far more controversial but not all that unusual. Some say he didn't deserve to be treated this way, that he should have been allowed to leave with dignity. Yet he was repeatedly offered a chance to do that, by accepting a handsome bonus and resigning to take a job in the athletic department. McBride refused.
He leaves much-appreciated, much-respected but fired nonetheless. A new coach will arrive and the cycle will continue. The only question is how long the cycle lasts.
There is a saying that all coaches are merely hired to be fired. There's no such thing as retiring.
There's another saying, too: This, too, shall pass.
E-MAIL: rock@desnews.com