More fallout from the NFL coaching carousel

by Broncoman on Jan 7, 2009 4:47 PM MST Comment 27 comments

In what seems somehwhat like a move to cut off the hand to spite the face (I think I got that right), Boston College has fired it's coach (Jagodzinki) after learning that he either interviewed or spoke with the Jets about their job. This brings up am interesting point, should a coach be fired for talking to another team if it is a step up. I have a hard time faulting a guy who may want to see what is out there in the NFL and not be content at BC. Lets face it, BC is not Norte Dame, USC, Texas, Florida, Okalahoma or a big time program, a good program, but not elite.

Having been in a similar position in that I was terminated because I had alledgely spoken with another firm about a position (in fact I had not, I had only been contacted by a head hunter and said I would listen to what they had to say), I get rather ticked off by the notion that somehow a person cannot look to better themselves or gain a better position. My policy as a boss is that I am fine with my employees talking with other companies, if they weren't in high demand, then I would think that they weren't very good. I will not let an employee leverage me against another comapny, but I cannot in my good concsious keep someone from a potentially better oppurtunity.

Here is the link to the article: BC coach canned for talk with Jets

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Ah, these are the days of our lives.

To answer your question, yes. If the contract specifically forbids the signer to actively seek gainful employment elsewhere then the contract holder has every right to fire the contract breaking swine. Jagodzinki read the contract and signed it…and he willfully broke it. I’d be disappointed if Boston College hadn’t fired him. Besides, I’d support Pat Bowlen in a similar situation so I don’t want to be a hypocrite like the media and jump all over BC when BC had every right to do what it did.

This is my GAP, there are many like it but this one is mine. Without my GAP I am useless, without me, they will run through my GAP. I will protect my GAP and have my brothers back on his. I will not be moved from my GAP, I am a crazed dog that patrols this area and will defeat all who entire it. I own this GAP, it is mine. I bought it with blood and sweat. I will not be pushed. I will not be moved. This Sunday I will make a stand and a statement.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 4:58 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

The question is more

Should BC have used contract language like that? (If they did, of course)

I agree with Broncoman, as an employer you are going to hurt yourself in the long run by lowering the ceiling on your employees heads. But I also think it should be allowed, since the only way to disallow it would be to involve the government in something that they shouldn’t be involved in.

But employers should know better, no doubt about it.

Concision in style, precision in thought, decision in life.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jan 7, 2009 5:08 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

The government likes getting involved in things like this!

Even though maybe they shouldn’t. Just look at the government’s love for sports!

by phantom818 on Jan 7, 2009 5:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Hey dude...long time.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 5:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Haha, it sure has been a while.

Got back into the swing of things with that whole SD debacle, end of season collapse and Shanny firing (what a better time to get back into the discussion!)

Hope you’ve been doing well yourself.

by phantom818 on Jan 7, 2009 5:34 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I was in SD the city for that debacle. uhg.

Apparently I had a beer with weazel and didn’t even know it at the time. lol Currently we are discussing Dom Capers success 15 years ago in Pittsburgh as opposed to his recent plague-like impact on the Texans and Dolphins(07).

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 5:41 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I am about sick of this head coach search....tempted to just disavow football for a week and come back

to find out what happened

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 5:43 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't you already do that?

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed.

Since we have to hire someone, please get a defensive coach Mr. Bowlen.
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 7, 2009 6:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I did that before shanny was fired...now I gotta do it again it looks like. lol

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 6:22 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd say

only do it if the hiring disappoints you.

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed.

Since we have to hire someone, please get a defensive coach Mr. Bowlen.
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 7, 2009 6:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

How have you been anyways?

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 5:43 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I've been great, thanks for asking.

Glad to be back drinking that Broncos Kool-Aid again. I kid of course. Actually that disavowing football thing might be a good idea. You might have something there haha. Look forward to getting back on board when the Broncos DO finally play ball on the field.

by phantom818 on Jan 7, 2009 5:58 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yes, that and apparently the Utah State attorny general is going to sue the NCAA over the BCS

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 7, 2009 5:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Really?

That would be sweeeeeet.

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed.

Since we have to hire someone, please get a defensive coach Mr. Bowlen.
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 7, 2009 6:13 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

He said he was looking into it for anti-trust lawsuit

But the bugaboo is that he would end up suing the University of Utah and Utah State since they belong to BCS system, as wacked up as that is.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 7, 2009 6:25 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Crazy

I just hold out the slim hope that it would lead to a playoff system.

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed.

Since we have to hire someone, please get a defensive coach Mr. Bowlen.
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 7, 2009 6:32 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

technically

The MWC and WAC are not actually in the BCS. The non-BCS schools only can gain a BCS bid if they are in the top 8 in the BCS standings at the end of the season. The 6 BCS conferences are B12, PAc 10, Big 11, SEC, Big EAst, and the ACC

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 7, 2009 11:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

True, but they are part of the Football bowl conference or whatever they changed the name of D-1

The MWC and WAC signed agreements with the BCS so they could participate as you said, but they do not get the same revenue as the BCS conferences you mentioned even if they get invited to the game (I think their conference share is like 4.5 million and the BCS guarenteed share is like 8 million, which doesn’t take into account if a BCS conference gets two teams in like SEC, Big 12 , and the Big 10 did this year) that is what the anti-trust suit would be about, that the smaller conferences cannot compete with the bigger conferences and f-ing Norte Dame because they don’t get an equal share of the pie. I think he has a legit case but he will have to sue all the conferences that agreed to it and in turn that means all the member schools.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 8, 2009 1:49 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

but this is where

Teams like Utah and UTah State (as you mentioned) would benefit. These schools at best are on the peripheral of the BCS and would greatly benefit from any type of anti-trust litigation. However I dont feel anything will happen. The anti-trust will be hard to prove. Seeing that the 2 non-BCS conferences have accepted the system as is. That is what is going to derail any chance. legally that the MWC and WAC of getting this overturned. What would greatly help their cause is if Utah can split the Natl championship

somethings wrong, Trying to conquer these fears i thought were gone. And it's been so long, I'm dying to live in a world i don't belong

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jan 8, 2009 9:24 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

No disagreement from me.

I didn’t say that BC won’t pay for what they did, but I still think they were well within their right to do so. It would be ironic if Jagod…. couldn’t find another head coaching jig better than the one he gave up. Things must have been pretty sour over there for that to happen.

by Tim Lynch on Jan 7, 2009 5:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree BC has a right to terminate (with or without cause)

And based on the story, looks like it was without cause so they will be paying him for next season. Like I said, it just irks me to no end when employers get paranoid about loyality, it usally is a two way street, if the employer treets the employee well the employee will generally stay and work hard, if not then you get the reverse.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 7, 2009 5:15 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing that I read said he could not talk to someone else

There is a difference between a non-compete clause, and ability to restrict employment. I would understand if he was interviewing at West Virgina or a competeing school, but this looks more like an athletic director that is paranoid and bitter over guys leaving that program. If guys leave so much, maybe he needs to see why rather than worry about a guy talking to someone else. And I have never seen a contract held up that fordbid him from taking another job if it was a step up.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 7, 2009 5:09 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

NFL Network is reporting

that is was just a verbal agreement. If that’s the case, then BC has made a classless move in my opinion.

Thanks to Mike Shanahan, a great coach who will be dearly missed.

Since we have to hire someone, please get a defensive coach Mr. Bowlen.
Hillis for starter next year. He wears special thigh pads so his solid brass balls don't give him repeated thigh contusions.

by 53guys on Jan 7, 2009 6:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

It's actually a lot more complicated than that...

Coaches, much like corporate executives, are under contract, hence normal employment laws don’t apply. Essentially BC is terminating his contract for breach. Whether or not Jagodzinki broke the contract, and whether BC is within its rights to terminate, would be up to a court to determine. However, colleges, like pro teams, simply pay out the remaining money on the contract. As a result the coach cannot claim any damage so they can never get a court to hear their case. In fact they can dismiss him because they don’t like the way he parts his hair. If he still gets paid he isn’t damaged in a legal sense. It’s sort of no-harm-no-foul. I’m not saying it’s right; just that it’s perfectly legal.

by SlowWhiteGuy on Jan 7, 2009 5:45 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Well I dodn't say it was not legal

I agree with your points, it just is something that if coaches can be let go for a bad season (Tuberville in Auborn to name one), it is hard to tell them they can’t at least talk to someone else, but if he gets paid, I agree, there will be no legal action.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 7, 2009 6:28 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Here's part of what I wrote in my fanpost last week

link

As far as the first question goes, I think the school is doing more harm than good. It is questionable, at best, that the Jets would hire Jagodzinski and I think going through the interview process can only help him understand his weaknesses as a coach as well as a more complete understanding of what the NFL is looking for – in both coaches and players. If he was interviewing constantly I could understand the argument that the coach is showing no loyalty, but in this case it seems to be a one time thing with a dream job that Jeff never expected to materialize when he first took the BC job.

by MattR on Jan 8, 2009 3:32 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly

Here’s what I find ironic, more than likely Stoops and Meyer will interview for a HC job this year, would either Oklahoma or Florida be foolish enough to fire them for doing it, no, why, because they know that they aren’t going to another program and that it is part of the game, when you have good coaches, people are naturally going to want what you have. The trick is to make the jobs they have more appealing than going to the NFL. Pete Carrol gets mentioned allot, but why would he leave USC, he has one of the best paying jobs in coaching, he gets total control, lives where the weather is nice, is king of LA, and doesn’t have to worry about a salary cap or having ingrats for more than 4 years. There isn’t a better pro job out there, and he and the school know it. Make the BC job similar and you won’t have to worry about the coach leaving.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 8, 2009 4:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs