More Coaching News And Rumors

NT80 · November 28, 2007

Tech's Leach is rumored to be up for the Arkansas job. Sonny Lubick just got fired at Colorado State....

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Lubick relieved as Colorado St. coach; no word on his future

By PAT GRAHAM, AP Sports Writer

November 27, 2007

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) -- Colorado State coach Sonny Lubick shed tears, thanked players and coaches and joked in a farewell news conference Tuesday about how he now has to do the dishes.

The 70-year-old football coach showed no hint of bitterness toward the school that had just let him and his coaching staff go.

"I'll be a Ram until the end of time," Lubick said. "This episode over the last few days doesn't change anything for me."

Lubick was asked by athletic director Paul Kowalczyk to step down a few days before the Rams' season-ending win over Wyoming last Friday.

But he wouldn't quit on his team. The Rams finished 3-9 this season and he wanted a chance to turn the program around.

"He told us he wanted to come back," Colorado State senior quarterback Caleb Hanie said. "He said, 'I would never quit on you guys.' That's what we wanted to hear from him."

Hanie said it was difficult listening to Lubick's farewell speech in front of more than 200 friends, faculty, players and supporters.

"I think he deserves to leave whenever he wants," Hanie said. "He earned that right. But you can see where the school is coming from. That's what the game has evolved to, it's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately type of thing. Sometimes, you forget what coaches have done for you."

There were some former players outraged over the Rams' decision to oust Lubick and his staff. Lubick has been the face of the Rams for 15 seasons. He led the Rams to nine bowl games and at least a share of conference titles in six seasons, compiling a 108-74 record along the way.

"I'm not happy with the way it all played out," former receiver Pete Rebstock said.

Kowalczyk extended an olive branch to Lubick, attempting to bring him back as a fundraiser and goodwill ambassador.

"I have no plans. It's too early to speculate," Lubick said.

Lubick became highly emotional when he talked about his assistant coaches, who were all dismissed except for director of football operations Tom Ehlers, who will be kept on to oversee the transition period.

greenminer · November 28, 2007

I like Leach, but I think there's a small irony in dumping Nutt after his SEC accomplishments in favor of a coach who has yet to win his division.

NT80 · November 28, 2007

I like Leach, but I think there's a small irony in dumping Nutt after his SEC accomplishments in favor of a coach who has yet to win his division.

I like Leach's offense, but not Leach himself and pity the school that goes after such a classless person, unless he stays at Tech, they deserve each other!

Edited November 28, 2007 by NT80