Rick Pitino Is Not Walking Through That Door...

"...Bob Dylan once wrote, The Times They Are a Changin. Ron Burgundy had never heard that song..."

Apparently Athletic Directors at large institutions throughout the country have yet to hear that song as well. In the wake of Billy Gillispie's firing from his post as head coach at Kentucky I think it is time for many of these schools to re-evaluate their "Holier Than Thou" attitude and realize that success is not given, it is earned.

This is an issue that has begun to gain momentum in the past decade or so in both big time college basketball and football. Schools such as Kentucky, Indiana, UCLA, Notre Dame and Nebraska feel as if it is their birthright to hoist a national championship trophy at the end of each season. They, and I quote numerous talk radio callers when I say this, feel that coaching the top team at their beloved institution is the "chance of a lifetime." Now I'm not saying that these are not great jobs, but one has to wonder with all of the scrutiny and criticism that come with these positions, is it really worth it?

Five years ago Charlie Weis stormed into South Bend, inherited a junior and senior laden team and took them to two straight BCS games and all was right in the World of the Golden Dome. Now we monitor his job status like we would a patient at Arkham Asylum.

Mike Davis took over for Bob Knight at Indiana in 2000, and within two seasons had the Hoosiers in a place they had not been since 1987; the National Championship Game, however because he didn't regularly get his teams to the Sweet 16, Elite 8, or dare I say it, back to the title game, he was fired after 6 seasons. In Bob Knight's final 6 seasons in Indiana he failed to get his teams past the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament.

Nebraska football still has yet to find a coach that could match the successes of the legendary Tom Osborne, and you know what, they probably never will.

UCLA basketball wins 10 titles in a 12 year span and all of a sudden the National Championship trophy is supposed to have UCLA engraved on it every year. UCLA does not even hang Final Four banners at Pauley Pavilion, they only hang championship banners. Do you know how many National Titles they have overall? 11. That means 1 outside of Wooden's 10.

What Billy Donovan has done at Florida is nothing short of miraculous, however if they have one more year in the NIT, don't you think some anonymous "For Sale" signs might start showing up in his front yard? Whether its right or wrong this is the reality of big time college sports these days.

The problem coaches are facing these days is the fact that while they still have to answer to the Athletic Director and the University President, they now have boosters who, and you can agree or disagree with me on this but its true, control most of the decision making that goes on in athletic departments. People forget Tubby Smith didn't get fired from Kentucky, HE LEFT!! Boosters need to let the coaches coach, and not only that, but let them coach THEIR style, not John Wooden's, or Rick Pitino's, or Lou Holtz's. Let the coaches be themselves and I guarantee you the results will come. Firing a COLLEGE coach after two years is not sending the right message, and for all of you Kentucky fans maybe you should listen to Rick Pitino's message and apply it to your situation.