Normally, I avoid TJs columns, as they're not good for my blood pressure.  But his observations on Neu's departure are, IMHO, uncharacteristically thoughtful.  I'm not sure why Guerrero would have entertained thoughts of keeping Rick for even a nanosecond after Saturday's beatdown.  But the coaching carousel (especially out west) got REALLY crowded this weekend, and my guess is that forced DGs hand even if his higher-ups didn't.  Regardless, I still think CRN is leaving this program in better shape than it was when he took it over; he ran a very clean ship, and he recruited well enough that the next coach will have plenty of talent to work with. 

Moreover, his dignity under the current circumstances--which is the subject of TJs column--confirms the general sentiment that Neu is a Bruin we can be proud of.  I think he gave this job everything he had, and even if he wasn't able to deliver the results we all expected... he wasn't so afraid to fail that he didn't try.  If we consider football (sometimes, anyway) to be a metaphor for life, then there's probably a lesson in here for both our athletes and hardcore fans. 

Thanks, Rick, for your passion, and good luck in your next adventure.  I'm pretty sure you'll land on your feet and be okay.

…that windbag surprises me AGAIN. Here’s a couple gems from the column that can't be linked (I will NOT be responsible for making anyone ill):

Then, yes, bite your lip and call the guy who many think would be a good first choice, that Trojan-disturber up north known as Jim Harbaugh.

He has the swagger. He has the brains. He’s one of the few coaches who could be cool enough to coach here at the coolest place in the country.

I thought he was weak for tacking on that two-point conversion against Carroll this season, but if coated in a little more class that brashness can be a strength.

Did Bill have a lobotomy on November 29th, or do standards apply to everyone except the coach he’s been slobbering over for years?

There will be some talk that coaches will be afraid of the USC job because of the possibility of NCAA sanctions.

That should not lower Garrett’s sights.

Anybody watching Carroll’s remarkable goodbye news conference Monday was reminded that he’s been coaching this team under an NCAA investigation for several years.

Carroll was always arrogant enough to believe they would not be punished. That’s not what drove him away. And even impending sanctions should not keep a top replacement away.

I guess I have to concede his point that PC was probably the most narcissistic personality college football has seen in a while, but I somehow can’t imagine how hiring another primadonna in his place is going to play well when the NCAA starts slapping $UC around for real.

Just… wow.

This one’s for all you Patriots fans who whine that I only call out Bill Belichick for piling on in the latter stages of lopsided victories: How stupidly self-serving was the stunt Pete Carroll pulled at the end of Saturday night’s USC-UCLA game? In a move that screamed “I am a classless egomaniac!” Trojans coach Carroll (who I generally think is a less-egregious offender than most of his peers. … But hey, this is a diatribe …) ran it up on his arch-rivals after Bruins counterpart Rick Neuheisel had the audacity to call a timeout in the final minute with his team trailing 21-7.

More in his Morning Rush (see the "Over the top, ephedrine-laced diatribe before dawn.")

Looks like BD is headed to Pittsburgh as their third-round draft pick.  

Continue reading this post »