Wildcat Fans Rejoice in Ron Prince Removal
13 comments so far
November 6, 2008 by
Asked point blank in yesterday's press conference if he was resigning, Ron Prince said no. Sitting next to the guy who fired him, Athletic Director Bob Krause, he calmly explained that he was being let go due to the fact that they haven't competed for or won a Big 12 North Championship yet. “We are in a performance-based profession and have made this decision in the best long-term interest of both the university and its football program,� Krause said in a press release. “Our goal remains the same: to build a winning program that is positioned to consistently compete for championships. I appreciate the hard work and dedication that Coach Prince and his staff have put in over the last three seasons and wish him the very best for the future.�
The strange thing is, he's coaching out the rest of the season. It could get very ugly in Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium in the next couple of weeks. Will fans be willing to sit through a couple more games of the Prince tenure? A small contingent of fans wanted to keep him around for another year, but most wanted the blowouts to end (sound familiar Husker fans?).
It is still surprising to me that he was not given another year with the opportunity to fire and hire some different staff or assistants. It used to be an unwritten rule that a coach was allowed one full recruiting cycle before being removed from his post. But down here in Kansas City, local sports figure Jack Harry suggested that he receive a fourth year, and KSU fans went ballistic. Mangino was 12-24 in 3 seasons at KU and not let go. Heck, Bill Callahan was 22-15 after three, but was let go in the fourth year. So there's not really rhyme or reason when it comes to the decisions of those crazy Athletic Directors.
It's just eerie how much his final year sounded like Callahan's. He announced that he took over play calling duties in the second half of last week's game (KU) and wanted to continue. Just like the Huskers last year, he tried to point towards offensive issues, rather than realizing his defense was being gouged by everyone under the sun. Just like Nebraska last year, the players looked lost on the field at times, especially when it came to tackling the guy with the football. Execution is the reason they were losing games. And it's because they had not been prepared - that's on the coaching.
Does it sound familiar to hear previous players calling on criticisms of the program, saying that they've turned their backs on tradition? From his habit of punishing players, his way of using coach-speak in conferences, his contract extension at the beginning of the year, his apparent recruiting evaluation ineptitude, and his habit of losing important conference (and rivalry) matchups, we see a Prince who mirrored Callahan's time at Nebraska.
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Brandon Nov 06 08
There is one difference between Prince and Callahan. Prince was able to beat a ranked team and pull the upset, twice on Texas.
Bo will get that done soon.
Brandon Nov 06 08
I, for one, will miss his glorious purple striped shirts courtesy of Nike.
teamster Nov 06 08
Firing after only 3 seasons (or during) shows the AD's lack in faith of a coach's procedure or process of developing a sound and competitive program. As many pundits have pointed out, recruiting a stable full of 2 year JUCOs doesn't typically translate into a sound long term plan. More of a display of futility and going for the hail-Mary. Coaching in this conference isn't for sissies. It's a tough task. I feel bad for the guy, but he got his chance on the big stage.
teamster Nov 06 08
EDIT: Changed my mind. I don't feel that bad for him. The severence clause of his contract will allow him to get through this upcoming winter in a hell of a lot better shape than I'll come through in. I won't be able to sip on pina coladas in the Caribbean.
Bill in Iowa Nov 06 08
I DON'T think they should have fired Prince! Instead, the AD should have made him run stairs in the stadium after each loss.
As a Husker, I really hate to see him go, cause unfortunately K-State will be better off without him.
Sam Nov 06 08
He could get a job at McDonalds as Grimace.
James Moore Nov 06 08
Well I sense some payback coming here. In light of all the poaching that went on with our recruiting last season I think we should start snooping around Kansas State and Colorado's verbals so far. These two schools are sinking and going down. Why not offer the chance to rescue some individuals from an impending disaster?
All in all, suddendly Nebraska, Missouri and Kansas have some stability and some forward movement in the Big 12 North. IF Pinkel were to take the Washington opening (not a stretch) then suddendly we could be in the position to get a few guys who initially didn't commit to us. Let's hope we have a strong finish to the season, because we will have good coaching, coaching stability, first-class facilities, and one of the very best programs in all of college football to offer prospective recruits. . .
Sam, LOOOOOOOL, Grimace comment!!!
teamster Nov 07 08
James, I like the poaching idea. Used to ply the trade a bit in my younger days. I don't think KSU has much in their verbal recruit account. Maybe two upper shelf players or less. From the word on the blogs, that's one of his problems.
Bill in Iowa Nov 07 08
I wonder if Josh Freeman wished he would have stuck with his pledge to play with the Huskers?
I am not sure if he would have ever started for us, but if he had, he would have had a cast of players around him (including great pass protection) that would have only enhanced his play.
Speaking of recruits changing their minds...I wonder if some of our recruits who jumped to Colorado last year wished they would have stayed to play Bo-ball? Refresh my memory... I think we lost a linebacker prospect to CU?
Tom in Wisconsin Nov 07 08
As a K-State alum, I iniitally thought Ron Prince was a smart hire (I thought hiring Bob Huggins was also a brialliant move).
Prince can't keep assistant coaches who are the recruiters. He maligns them as well as some of his players.
19 Junior College recruits in one season is a joke and the sign of a desperate coach. Problem, most of those JC players are not contributing and a number of the top guys never even got admitted to K-State.
I expect Brent Venables to be new coach. A K-State player and former assistant coach.
Tom in Wisconsin Nov 07 08
As a K-State alum, I iniitally thought Ron Prince was a smart hire (I thought hiring Bob Huggins was also a brialliant move).
Prince can't keep assistant coaches who are the recruiters. He maligns them as well as some of his players.
19 Junior College recruits in one season is a joke and the sign of a desperate coach. Problem, most of those JC players are not contributing and a number of the top guys never even got admitted to K-State.
I expect Brent Venables to be new coach. A K-State player and former assistant coach.
Tom in Wisconsin Nov 07 08
As a K-State alum, I iniitally thought Ron Prince was a smart hire (I thought hiring Bob Huggins was also a brialliant move).
Prince can't keep assistant coaches who are the recruiters. He maligns them as well as some of his players.
19 Junior College recruits in one season is a joke and the sign of a desperate coach. Problem, most of those JC players are not contributing and a number of the top guys never even got admitted to K-State.
I expect Brent Venables to be new coach. A K-State player and former assistant coach.
Andy Nov 10 08
Verbal commits lost last year (that may be regretting):
Eddie Brown, DL, TA&M
Bryce Givens, OL, CU
Adrian Hillburn, JC WR, KSU
Shaun Mohler, JC LB, CU
Doug Rippy, LB, CU