OT? - Dave Sofran fired at Birmingham Brother Rice
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/high-school/2016/12/17/sofran-l…
The school that gave us Alex Malzone and Grant Perry has canned the coach that replaced Al Fracassa after 3 seasons, the last one being a 7-4 year and a run to the regional semis.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:40 PM ^
hope he can bounce back quickly. seems pretty quick on the trigger
December 17th, 2016 at 8:46 PM ^
so I imagine they have a better take on the situation. Appears to me minds were made up the previous season in what, I imagine, was the worst W-L compilation in decades at that football tradition rich school. I do know, however, it is the toughest league in the state, bar none as proven by many of the lower classified schools that play at a roughly .500 or higher clip during the regular season, then go on to have great playoff runs, many of which end in championships.
It appears to me they pulled the trigger a bit prematurely on this young man. He grew up bleeding the colors of Brother Rice and I can only assume he would have had great success int he future. Even if they land - which I'm sure they feel they have - a tremendous head coach, it appears this is not in keeping with the loyalty, family-like atmosphere and high character that I am certain this school espouses and tries to live up to. I do know it has a distinguished list of grads that have gone on to great success. I wish the young man good fortune. Someone will be getting a damn fine coach.
December 18th, 2016 at 8:29 AM ^
I'm a Brother Rice alum. For those speculating it was about wins and losses, rumor has it that the firing was based on other factors which I won't discuss because I can't substantiate.
December 18th, 2016 at 9:12 PM ^
So are you saying Sofran's statement, "There weren’t any improprieties that took place either." may be incorrect?
December 18th, 2016 at 8:55 AM ^
I'm a Rice alum and this doesn't seem in line with the way the school has been run. In the past they had a member of the Christian Brothers as principal but lately they are run more like a prep school with a layman headmaster type structure. The new administrators might have been influenced by some big money insiders who wanted to make a change or had an agenda. They had a pretty good season this year in the Detroit Catholic League which is the toughest in the state. There ain't any more Al Fracassas out there. Back in the day they had a pretty good basketball program under Bobby Knight-wannabe Bill Norton, and since he left they have sucked at basketball ever since but no one seems to care. Strange.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:47 PM ^
What a bullshit thing to do to a guy, right before Christmas. These 'Catholic' admins who fired him should have a dump truck of coal dumped in their front yard.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:49 PM ^
I'll pee on their front doors. It'd save you money in the long run
December 17th, 2016 at 9:03 PM ^
Gordon Gee agrees with you all....
December 17th, 2016 at 10:33 PM ^
CC would not have done that to one of their own. Let that be a lesson to anyone thinking about sending their son to that school. #LiveAndDieForCCHigh
December 17th, 2016 at 10:46 PM ^
I'm ok if we don't pour salt at this time. Father Ned wouldn't like that.
December 18th, 2016 at 12:52 AM ^
You're right but I was actually more motivated to post in reaction to the 'Catholics' comment than it being about the BR situation. I actually had no idea what the situation was until I just actually read the article. From the outside, this move doesn't seem to make sense to me. And I'm hearing that it doesn't even make sense from those close to the situation.
December 18th, 2016 at 1:38 AM ^
Red chew for all....
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 8:22 AM ^
But, apparently, Father Ned doesn't mind firing someone right before Christmas, with no warning, seemingly poor reasoning, and no apparent backup plan. But hey, don't pour salt...
They offered him the chance to tell the public he resigned. What a stand up bunch of people...
December 18th, 2016 at 12:05 AM ^
Class of 01...we would never do that. Hell, Mach has been there since the 70s.
December 18th, 2016 at 12:13 AM ^
Going to be interesting ...
December 18th, 2016 at 1:28 AM ^
CC? You mean the same CC with an awful reputation of trafficking?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 10:31 AM ^
Trafficking ? Now, this is a first
December 18th, 2016 at 10:56 AM ^
i think maybe you mean OLSM and their practice of importing and housing european hockey players
December 18th, 2016 at 2:46 AM ^
Former basketball coaches Bernie Holowicki or Rick Coratti would disagree.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:48 PM ^
It doesn't really matter what level or what sport.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:23 PM ^
you want to be the guy, that follows the guy after the legend.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:48 PM ^
Brady Hoke would like a word...
December 17th, 2016 at 11:24 PM ^
Lloyd Carr is a legend?
December 17th, 2016 at 11:30 PM ^
Lloyd would actually be the guy after the guy (Mo) who succeeded the legend (Bo). It did work out pretty well for him.
December 18th, 2016 at 1:33 AM ^
National Championship. Legend.
December 18th, 2016 at 8:25 AM ^
I would agree, but this situation isn't that. The won-loss record was okay after three years. The school president and principle are new since July, and there was no warning or discussion. Just a good bye. This smacks of something outside of football.
December 17th, 2016 at 8:52 PM ^
Total shame, guy was never given much of a chance...
Also. There are no regional semis in MHSAA, District Final goes right to a Regional Championship, to Semis and then onto Ford Field.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 17th, 2016 at 8:58 PM ^
Sofran said he never had a meeting with Brother Rice administrators telling him that he didn’t win enough or had to improve in one area or another or a possible change would happen.
That is the part that strikes me as truly terrible. If that's the case, they didn't even offer Sofran an assessment of his performance and give him a chance to say what he can do to improve if indeed Brother Rice wasn't pleased. I wouldn't blame Sofran for being absolutely pissed quite honestly, even if he can't express it publicly at the moment.
December 17th, 2016 at 10:16 PM ^
One would hope that this decision comes back to bite them in the ass. If they'd be this cold blooded to a coach, I hope their candidates for replacement balk at the opportunity. How shitty to do this right before Christmas...
December 17th, 2016 at 9:04 PM ^
no way he gets plucked from Davison HS before a college comes calling. Rising young coach in southeast Michigan!
December 17th, 2016 at 9:55 PM ^
Rice interviewed Zimmerman back in December 2013, but Rice decided not to go that direction. That may have been their only chance.
I have no inside knowledge, but I'm sure Scott Merchant will be near the top of the list too. Although the negatives there: Chippewa hasn't really been elite in Scott's time there --- and the whole weirdness of him being the DLS coach for about 2 days last off-season.
December 17th, 2016 at 11:02 PM ^
He's at least kept Chippewa a perrenial top team in Macomb County. It's very tough to not be the top school even in your own district and do as well as they have. With Dakota, Romeo, Eisenhower, Stevenson at times, it is a small area and a lot of great teams
December 18th, 2016 at 2:38 AM ^
Even the famous Janet Jones couldn't save you
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 12:29 PM ^
The []_[] shall rise
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 18th, 2016 at 3:52 PM ^
Go Chiefs!! The original Utica high school!!!
December 18th, 2016 at 1:49 PM ^
I was on the football team at Rice when Merchant was an assistant. Good guy, good coach, but I wouldn't understand firing Sofran and hiring Merchant in his place
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
December 17th, 2016 at 9:05 PM ^
Careful what you wish for, Pumpkinheads.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:06 PM ^
... and while his family is undergoing medical issues.
Shit school. And I am an alum.
December 18th, 2016 at 12:08 AM ^
Not a shit school, miss the boys bowl...greatest high school football game in the country.
December 18th, 2016 at 7:41 AM ^
it was the best in Michigan. I still remember playing at Wizner.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:09 PM ^
...if John Harbaugh will be announced as the new Brother Rice head coach and associate athletic director.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:44 PM ^
Well Jack Harbaugh is available...
December 18th, 2016 at 2:04 AM ^
Les Miles is available.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:10 PM ^
Seems most unchristian by the Brother Rice administration.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:13 PM ^
That's really too bad. Coach Sofran put his heart and soul into that program on and off the field. No question he'll bounce back. WIshing the best for him and his family.
December 17th, 2016 at 9:15 PM ^
Probably a lot of grumbling from the latter who didn't see enough improvement from the 2-7 disaster
December 17th, 2016 at 9:21 PM ^
something happens when new administration come in and think that they want to clean the house. I bet that they already have a candidate who wants the job.
I am not sure how Catholic school works but alumni and parents should put pressure on the administration to make sure that the hiring of their next coach is a fair and open process
December 18th, 2016 at 9:05 AM ^
If history has taught us anything it's that the Catholic Church has always conducted its affairs fairly and openly.
December 18th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
and always for the benefit of the kids!