OT: New Mexico Fires Mike Locksley
Least shocking thing ever coming on the heels of two 1-10 seasons, an 0-4 start, a sexual harrassment charge, an assault charge, and a recruit somehow getting caught driving Locksley's car while drunk last night.
No word on Robin's (or Ron Zook's) reaction.
I can't picture too many coaches lining up to take that job.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:38 PM ^
I had nearly forgotten New Mexico had a football team.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:39 PM ^
#RonP4UNM
September 25th, 2011 at 8:40 PM ^
I guess when you're trying to lure recruits to New Mexico you really have to bend the rules. And in the end the man has no job and will probably never coach again.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
You'd think so, but a certain school has no trouble luring recruits to Boise effing Idaho
September 25th, 2011 at 10:37 PM ^
He didn't bend the rules. The "recruit" was a friend of his sons, and a prior relationship could be proven. It was the losses and the other stuff.
Reality in the workplace 101: a person seldom gets fired for what the official excuse is. A person gets fired because the bosses have already decided they want the person gone and are looking for a "last straw" to motivate them to make the move.
All I see is accusations of the harassment and assault charges, not convictions. So, really, what it boils down to is losing. I guess it's all part of the occupational hazard of signing up to be the head coach of a traditional tomato can.
It certainly is an amazing "coincidence" that schools like NMU and EMU are the only head coaching opportunities African-American coaches get.
September 25th, 2011 at 10:45 PM ^
Yea, Michigan planned on firing Gary Moeller. Damn those 13 losses in five years, we could have done way better. It had been two years since he won a Big Ten crown, so it was time for him to get packing...
OSU wanted Tressel out badly as well. When your school is losing one game in a season, it's time to move on. It had nothing to do with his NCAA issues.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:51 PM ^
Hmmm....I guess Ty Willingham getting coaching gigs at Stanford, Notre Dame and Washington were all just figments of my imagination.
And Sly Croom coaching in the SEC was a mirage and didn't happen, either.
September 26th, 2011 at 9:08 AM ^
The fact that he has placed himself in a position to be accused of such things is reason alone for his firing.
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<br>And your comment about black head coaches is just plain dumb. Plenty of white coaches have to start out at places like Eastern and NMU. You seem to have forgotten about Charlie Strong at Louisville, Bobby Williams at MSU, and Randy Shannon at Miami. They do receive opportunities at schools with decent funding.
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<br>There is an issue with black coaches and that is the lack of qualified assistant coaches. That is a significant reason for the lack of black head coaches.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
Worst HC in recent memory. Gerg's just a phone call away
September 25th, 2011 at 8:47 PM ^
GERG's line: "Come To The University Of New Mexico. Feel the beaver."
This might get recruits interested, to say the least.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:10 PM ^
Tell me more. This sounds more promising than the steamed clam I was promised by the Uconn coach.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:44 PM ^
What took so long?
September 25th, 2011 at 8:51 PM ^
About time? Don't coaches usually get fired after either bad seasons or off-the field misconducts? This guy had two of each prior to the latest scandal.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:52 PM ^
I wonder if Zooker will give him a call after season end? He was a legit coach for him.
September 25th, 2011 at 8:58 PM ^
is what I said after I had moved out here, experienced one UNM football game, and then was asked if I wanted to go to another. Spoiled I guess by the Wolverines.
September 25th, 2011 at 9:02 PM ^
"This is a long distance, collect call from New Mexico, will you accept the charges?"
Rich Rod: "_______________"
September 25th, 2011 at 9:09 PM ^
San Diego is one of the best places to live in the 48, so "go fish!" New Mexico!
September 25th, 2011 at 9:29 PM ^
Not that RR would consider this job, but I've been trying to guess where he'll end up. Going into this season I would have put my money on Clemson, but Dabo has been winning so far. Ole Miss is my new guess, with Noth Carolina second.
September 25th, 2011 at 10:01 PM ^
I dunno if he wants to take his chances in the SEC yet. He could turn UNC into another WVU, especially since they've got a lot of talent on the team already. I think he goes ACC.
As for UNM, that would be a great fit for an assistant; is Calvin Magee ready for the limelight?
September 25th, 2011 at 10:25 PM ^
UNC admin pointed said that they will only hire a new HC who has no major violations on his resume.
September 25th, 2011 at 10:27 PM ^
Magee is a bit of a risk, IMO. He's been under RR, who's known for heavy involvement in the offense, and now Graham, who's the same way. Not saying that UNM could do better, but he's not known independantly of those guys at this point (plus I want him to stay at Pitt).
I think RR goes for the best offer. I doubt he takes Ole Miss, just because the culture there is effed up enough that he wouldn't be able to do things his way. OTOH if Georgia opens up and he had a shot at the job I think he'd jump.
September 26th, 2011 at 12:15 AM ^
I dont know if Georgia would go for RR. Not saying he isnt a good coach or that he wouldnt do well there, just that Georgia probably wont want to take that kind of risk. Probably wont happen but I think it would be interesting if he ended up at UCLA. Would make for an interesting matchup with Oregon.
September 26th, 2011 at 12:31 AM ^
I'm not saying they would either, but I do think he'd jump on either Florida or Georgia. Those are the two SEC schools that seem to run things on the up and up (besides Vandy, and no name coach is going there) and are places he'd thrive. A school like Ole Miss is out of the question, IMO, because of the oversigning and related issues. RR wouldn't go all Les Miles for Ole Miss, and that makes them a bad fit.
September 26th, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
It only took him 3 years to destroy the winningest program in college history. He has proven that he wasn't ready to be a HC in one of the major conferences (B10, B12, SEC, Pac12). Right now, RR has zero mojo. I like the guy and can see that.
Like was mentioned above, I thought for sure going into the season he'd be at Clemson next year but Dabo is winning. My guess is that it will be an ACC or a school in the remnants of the Big East. NC St?
September 25th, 2011 at 10:07 PM ^
Somewhere Brian Ellerbe is smiling. No longer is he the worst college coach of all time.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:45 PM ^
does he still follow any sports news now that he's in the construction biz?
September 25th, 2011 at 11:48 PM ^
He's working his magic as an assistant at DePaul.
September 25th, 2011 at 11:01 PM ^
was the New Mexico college football team that scheduled the Gophers... Could have bought him some time.
September 26th, 2011 at 10:33 AM ^
It was about time. He was probably getting fired at the end of the season anyway. It's hard to embarrass the New Mexico football program but he managed it.
September 26th, 2011 at 2:42 PM ^
This guy was a textbook train wreck.