Classic Quotes from the Losing Coach – Choice Comments from Week Two
Classic Quotes from the Losing Coach – Choice Comments from Week Two
College coaches are hired as much for their on-field abilities as for their off-field diplomacy skills. Diplomacy is a necessary skill made valuable by the competing pressures of being honest and trying to keep one’s job.
Colorado Coach Dan Hawkins – who in a fit of delusion predicted that the Buffaloes would produce a 10-win season – suffered a humiliating 54-38 loss to the mighty football power Toledo Rockets which sent his record for 2009 to 0-2. Following the game, he said he “had confidence in his team.” He just didn’t say confidence to do exactly what.
Following his teams come from ahead loss to Michigan, Notre Dame Coach Charlie Weis said that “this is a very disappointing, disheartening loss.” He will be all the more disheartened when he has to start sending out resumes. Weis called two pass plays – both of which fell incomplete – which allowed Michigan to take over possession with 2:13 left and two time outs. Weis’ horrible clock management in this game will be made more difficult to bear should he fail to win out the remainder of his schedule.
And there were other coaching comments worthy of note. Virginia coach Al Groh – lamenting on his 0-2 start with losses to William and Mary and last weekend to TCU – “we expect more out of ourselves.” Anyone who paid for a ticket to a Cavalier football game expects a whole lot more as well.
New New Mexico Coach Mike Locksley came up with this gem – “I’m proud of the way our defense played,” he said after a 44-10 loss to the mighty Tulsa Golden Hurricanes. “The defense corrected quite a few things. We had a few instances where we need to get off the field on third down.” After letting the opposition run up over 40 points in each of its first two games, the Lobo defense seems to have quite a few things that remain to be corrected. Locksley has problems on the other side of the ball as well. “We have some guys in our offense who have the ability to make plays. Somebody has to step up and do it. “ After two games producing a total of one offensive touchdown, it is going to be a very, very long season in Albuquerque.
Washington State Coach Paul Wulff should be commended for his honesty following an embarrassing 38-20 loss at home to Hawaii. “When you turn the ball over five times, you aren’t going to beat anybody.” His Cougars are now 0-2 and have to confront the real possibility of a completely winless 2009. Following on the heels of cross-state rival Washington’s winless 2008 season, state football fans are taking up curling.