  |
|
|
|
Tollner is the latest among Division I-A coaches without jobs for next year, and his firing has left this writer scratching his head, trying to figure it all out. Let me take you back to the first of his seven seasons at San Diego State. He inherited a program with just 4 winning seasons in the previous 11 years. During his 7-year tenure, the Aztecs posted 3 winning seasons and the team's first bowl game in seven years (in 1998). He was named WAC Coach of the Year in 1998. Add to that the fact that he had to endure a season in 2000 which saw more starters receive season-ending injuries at San Diego State than I've ever seen at any level of play. That same year, SDSU had one of the toughest schedules in the country. And now, he's jobless. Mind you, this is a man who turned down a pro coaching job on Butch Davis' Cleveland Browns staff. This is a man who has committed himself to making the community better. This is a man who has stressed not only hard play, but sportsmanship and scholarship among his players. This is a man who will go on to another school (my guess is Vanderbilt) in a tougher conference, with better recruiting potential, and turn the college football world upside down. A brief review: 1995, Tollner wins 8 games at SDSU and is named Region 5 coach of the year by the American Football Coaches Association. 1996, he posts another 8-win season. 1998, he takes the Aztecs to a bowl game and is named WAC Coach of the Year. 2001, He coaches Larry Ned to Doak Walker Award consideration. Mark my words, Ted Tollner's coaching career isn't dead. It isn't even injured. If anything, he may end up better off in the long run without being bogged down at a small Mountain West school in Division I-A heavy California. Try to recruit a team in California. I dare you. But before you do, be reminded that no fewer than seven Division I-A schools are vying for the same players. California, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Fresno State, San Diego State, and San Jose State. And most of these are "second tier" Division I-A schools that also have to compete with I-AA teams for the same players. I'm not claiming that as an excuse, just something to think about. You can't turn a California team around quickly any more than you can a team from Ohio or Florida. There are too many local schools, and out-of-state recruitment from other schools is rampant. Go To Page: 1 2
The copyright of the article Unfairly Axed in College Football is owned by . Permission to republish Unfairly Axed in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
|
|
|
|
