Integrity takes a holiday as colleges, coaches go green
Oil executives and used-car salesmen, make room. You've got company at the bottom of the integrity ladder.
College football and basketball coaches, not to mention many of the folks who hire and fire them, have sunk to new lows.
Last year was bad enough with the Nick Saban circus at Alabama, but the last month has been out of control.
First, we had the seemingly endless courtship of LSU's Les Miles by Michigan, which likely would have landed its man had athletic director Bill Martin moved a bit faster.
Then, Bobby Petrino slithered his way back into the college game after following Saban's lying lead and ditching his NFL team. At least Petrino left his players a goodbye note. What a guy.
Next came Rich Rodriguez, who nearly went to Alabama last year before ditching his alma mater (West Virginia) for Michigan. The move makes sense, but how Rodriguez went about it - telling star recruit Terrelle Pryor he was gone before informing his players - was shady.
Now West Virginia is suing Rodriguez as it interviews candidates. Joe Manchin, the governor of the state, has talked with all the candidates, as if he didn't have anything better to do.
But perhaps the most ridiculous spin of the coaching carousel occurred this week in basketball, as Eddie Sutton came out of retirement to replace Jessie Evans at the University of San Francisco.
Sutton's sole motivation is to win his 800th game. That's it. He'd never set foot on USF's campus. Didn't meet Dons players until Thursday.
USF said Evans requested a leave of absence, but this was a force out, plain and simple. Athletic director Debra Gore-Mann should be ashamed. Sutton will be gone at season's end and the program won't be any better off.
Lost in the covert searches, backroom deals, agent posturing and phony claims are the players. What about the kids who came to USF to play for Jessie Evans? Do they matter at all?
Here's a reminder to all the star high school players, something you've heard before but something that can't be said enough.
Never pick a college because of the coach. Their school colors are always green.
As promised, here are my BCS picks:
Rose Bowl: Illinois vs. USC, Jan. 1, 3:30 p.m., Channel 7
The skinny: Before he bolts for the pros, Illini star running back Rashard Mendenhall gets an up-close look at a real NFL defense.
The pick: USC 27, Illinois 20
Sugar Bowl: Hawaii vs. Georgia, Jan. 1, 7:30 p.m., Channel 32
The skinny: Hawaii has seen nothing like Georgia, but Georgia has seen nothing like Colt Brennan. Don't miss this one.
The pick: Georgia 45, Hawaii 38
Fiesta Bowl: Oklahoma vs. West Virginia, Jan. 2, 7 p.m., Channel 32
The skinny: Oklahoma's defensive line contains Pat White and Steve Slaton, and the shaken Mountaineers have no answers for the Sooners.
The pick: Oklahoma 38, West Virginia 21
Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs. Kansas, Jan. 3, 7 p.m., Channel 32
The skinny: Can Kansas prove its BCS worthiness after beating nobody in the regular season? Doubtful.
The pick: Virginia Tech 30, Kansas 27
BCS National Championship: Ohio State vs. LSU, Jan. 7, 7 p.m., Channel 32
The skinny: The location favors LSU, but the Tigers can never seem to pull away. Buckeyes avenge last year's flop.
The pick: Ohio State 23, LSU 21
Final regular-season record: 39-17
arittenberg@dailyherald.com