The Official Fire Will Muschamp Thread

[Escambia94]

We do have to get rid of this loser, but kicking him to the street without cause is not right. I understand everyone is disappointed at losing, but he did his best and it was not enough. Firing coaches as mid season does nothing to fix the season. What? Does firing the man magically inspire Driskel and Harris to play better? Does it make Robinson, Burton, and Debose catch the ball that hits them in the hands? Look, the damage is done. Muschamp can neither recruit good players nor develop good players. I am sure that behind closed doors Muschamp is as good as fired no matter what happens and Foley is preparing his list. He is now in damage control mode. He cannot scare future coaches away by tossing out coaches who have a 57% winning record, especially a clean program.

 

[miltongator]

Without cause?!?

 

[Escambia94]

Without cause?!?

"Without cause" in the legal sense.

Here are some examples of contract provisions that would result in termination “for cause” if breached by a coach:

• Knowingly participates in violations of athletics governance association, school district or college or university rules, policies and regulations or knowingly allows such violations by others or fails to report such violations within a reasonable time period from when he or she learns of such violations
• Failure to carry out duties and responsibilities specifically delineated in the agreement and when informed of such failure by the institution, fails to remedy such deficiencies
• Conviction of felony
• Misconduct that offends the ethics or traditions of the institution or brings discredit or harm to the reputation of the institution
• Disability or death (usually accompanied by some kind of payment to coach or spouse covered by an insurance policy paid for by the institution)
• Violation of state or institution ethics laws
• Fraud or dishonesty in the performance of duties, including falsification of records by the coach or permitting or condoning such by an employee under his or her supervision
• Failure of coach, or failure of the coach to instruct/counsel employees or student-athletes under his or her supervision, to respond fully and accurately or to appear upon request during investigations of rules violations by the institution or governance associations of which the institution is a member
• Wagering on any amateur or professional athletics contest or consorting or associating with known gamblers or bookmakers
• Use of controlled substances to such a degree that performance of duties is significantly impaired over a substantial period of time
• Failure to cooperate and enforce policies and procedures related to student-athlete drug-testing programs
• Acts of violence or personal conduct, or condoning or encouraging employees or student-athletes in such conduct which may not warrant criminal prosecution but results in public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule that reflects unfavorably up the reputation or mission of the institution
• Actions taken at other institutions which violate governance association rules and which not disclosed to the institution

It is all but a foregone conclusion that Muschamp did not meet performance goals agreed to by him, Jeremy Foley, and UAA. Legally he can expect notice to not be retained past 31 December, but he can be notified of this action anytime midseason.

Before anyone tries the Ron Zook card, be sure to read the statements above under "termination for cause" and remember his involvement with fights in the locker room, fraternity party issues and underage drinking, allegations of hazing freshmen, and lots of off field issues with his players.

 

[DRU2012]

Sorry, but worrying bout "niceties" now reminds me of the "refined, civilized elite" in 1st-class on the Titanic. Aside from those who bribed, lied, bullied or cheated their way onto a lifeboat (and hence presumably went on to reproduce and pass this less-than-noble version of "breeding" on to future generations), they generally ended up at the bottom of the ocean.
I thought this point had long since been made rather nicely weeks ago when discussed in theory regarding how we choose to go from here, coaching/ethics/skirting-the-rules-wise. This is it, guys. Reality-time. No more important time, move or choice than when, who and how. Talk of "contracts" and "legalities" aren't at all true obstacles, and everyone knows it. You think even Muschamp's stubbornness keeps him here if and when money, back-room maneuvering and public scrutiny back him into a "no one wants you here anymore"-corner? May not be too "classy", no matter WHAT the public face and spin put on it by the various players in that staged melodrama-to-come--but it happens, we move on, EVERYONE "moves on" (at a certain point, and certain "considerations", it's in everyone's best interests, including Muschamp's) and very soon after it's a fading memory in the rearview mirror.

 

[DRU2012]

(PS--All the rest, all talk of who's at fault, what might have been, and why anyone has done what they've done up-til-now is essentially irrelevant, at this point. Old news--doesn't CHANGE anything. "What are we gonna do?!!" and what's coming, especially if we don't do it QUICK, is so far front-and-center as to force everything else, even "how it looks", down to teeny-weeny size in practical importance, by comparison. Just the way it is. I damn well hope our "people in charge" know this--can't think they'de BE "those people" if they didn't "get" that long before now...Just that "now we're there".)

 

[Escambia94]

Firing him now does not change a thing. This football team sucks. We know whose fault it is, but no coach is going to turn this roster into an SEC contender. Not today. Not next week. Foley just needs to make some phone calls when the time is right. He will not repeat the mistake he made looking for Spurrier's replacement by calling the NFL prospective coaches until late December. He will want a winning college coach on his list, so he can call them after December 1st unless they are in the football playoff.

Niceties are important, actually. That is the reputation of Florida, and could be what gives us the benefit of a doubt in tough times.

 

[Escambia94]

It looks like Muschamp bought some time. If Missouri beats Tennessee, it will be impossible for Florida to win the East. Until then, all for the Gators stand up and holler!