Wow. http://espn.go.com/ncf/news/2002/1113/1460319.html Mackovic asks players for another chance TUCSON, Ariz. -- His voice choking with emotion, Arizona football coach John Mackovic admitted Wednesday that he's made some major mistakes in dealing with his players and assistant coaches, and he vowed to do a better job. The Wildcats are 3-7 and 0-6 in the Pacific-10 Conference, and when the school called an afternoon news conference, there was speculation that the coach might step down. The 59-year-old Mackovic, who's in the second year of a five-year contract that pays him $800,000 per year, said he would not resign but would work to improve his communication with his team. An earlier report that Mackovic was going to step down turned out to be premature. "This afternoon I have met with my coaches and our team separately to express my feelings and regrets,'' he said. "I'm terribly sorry for my part in this turmoil and unrest. I accept full responsibility for my actions and pledge to work tirelessly to mend any fences.'' Mackovic's extraordinary news conference came after more than 40 of his players asked for and got a meeting with university president Peter Likins on Tuesday night to air their complaints about the coach. Mackovic said he was unaware of the meeting until afterward. The players complained that Mackovic verbally abused them, and they said there was no joy in playing for him. After the players met with Likins, he called athletic director Jim Livengood, who met with Mackovic for about 90 minutes Tuesday night. Livengood said Mackovic asked whether he should resign, and the athletic director told him no. Livengood, who hired Mackovic after Dick Tomey resigned following the 2000 season, was asked how secure the coach's job was beyond the final two games of this season. "Very,'' Livengood said, adding that all coaches are routinely evaluated at the end of every season. Livengood said he met with several players and plans to meet with all of them. He blamed himself for not realizing the scope of their resentment and dealing with it sooner. Livengood also suggested that the players' meeting with the university president had been promoted by "outside influences.'' He did not elaborate. Mackovic said the problems stem from his behavior following the team's loss at Wisconsin on Sept. 21. "I said many things that were inappropriate for that time and place,'' he said. "Most importantly, I allowed my emotions to get control of me. I've always placed high standards on my conduct, as well as my team's. On that day and on other days, I have failed to live up to my own standards.'' Mackovic, reading from a prepared statement, said he knew at the time what he'd said was wrong. "That same Monday, I made similar comments to our coaching staff, which I have regretted as well,'' he said. "Again, my actions and inactions in correcting the situation lie squarely on my shoulders.'' The Wildcats have lost six in a row, all conference games, most recently 37-7 at home against UCLA on Saturday night. Arizona plays at California on Saturday, then concludes its season at home against Arizona State on Nov. 29. Mackovic said "it was reported that I had told a player as recently as last Saturday that he was a disgrace to his family for the way he was playing. I have made a full and open apology to him and hope he can accept it.'' That player was tight end Justin Levasseur. "He just said something about my family that I didn't appreciate. He apologized for it,'' Levasseur said. "A little late, but he did apologize.'' Levasseur, a junior, said he had mixed feelings about Mackovic returning as coach next season. "I don't know if he can change, but I hope he can,'' Levasseur said. "I've got one year left. I'm a Wildcat, and I love to play football.'' Linebacker Lance Briggs, a two-time all-Pac-10 player, said he was one of those who sought the meeting with Likins. "It was a feeling that was echoed throughout the team,'' Briggs said. "As soon as I heard it, I said, 'Let's go.' I was one of the first guys to speak and bring it all out into the light. I had a chance to get a lot of things off my chest.'' Mackovic met for more than 90 minutes with his players before the news conference to respond to their complaints. Asked whether the team was behind him, Mackovic had no clear answer. "I think that we've had quite a day,'' Mackovic said, "quite a 24 hours, and I think we have to allow the dust to settle.'' Mackovic, who coached at Illinois, the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs and at Texas before becoming an ESPN analyst, installed some strict rules at Arizona. Players must wear coats and ties when they travel, for instance. "I'm a hard-nosed coach. I think people know that,'' Mackovic said. "I don't apologize for that. My apologies are for some things I've said and done that I shouldn't.'' Mackovic said that appearing at the news conference to apologize was "personally embarrassing, really hard.'' "It would have been much easier to just walk away,'' he said.
On SportsCenter the guy looked like a crybaby. I think this will only hurt his coaching, the players aren't gonna respect someone who is begging for his job, are they?
Mackovic's done at UA. He may not resign or be fired yet (UA is probably too cheap to buyout his contract), but when more than half his team goes to complain to the university president, he can't feel very confident about his coaching and job security.
When over half the team complains about you to the President, you're job is toast. If Mackovic resigns though, he doesn't get 2.4M of a buy-out.
I had a feeling UA wasn't going to fire him... #1- They are still paying for Dick Tomey's buyout, from when they fired him 2 years ago. #2- Basketball season is coming up, and will be a good pacifier for the alums, fans, etc. In 1-2 weeks, no one will care about UA football, if they do to begin with.
Winning cures all ills so if the Wildcats finish out the season strong, Mackovic might be back. I think it's in UA's best interest to cut ties ASAP. Mackovic is more suited for the NFL than for college. I've read he's not much of a people person which I believe you have to be in college. The situation hurts recruiting. Players have lost respect for Mackovic...if they respected him they wouldn't have gone to the president. He doesn't trust his players. Fans don't appreciate Mackovic's snobby attitude. Interesting the AD thinks it's a conspiracy..."outside influences". Right now Mackovic looks more lame duck than Steele.
I would say this is much, much worse than Steele's team. Baylor just sucks, this is a team pretty much giving up on their coach, and taking active steps to get him canned. This is like a lame duck, which has caught on fire, and is falling into a room full of gun powder. They definetly need to let him go now, this will be devestating to their recruiting if allowed to fester any longer.
Being an avid Pac-10 fan, I thought UA would be the surprise team out West. They have a decent QB, in Jason Johnson, stud RB in Clarence Farmer, and a very underrated WR in Bobby Wade. This clearly was a team that folded, because of their coach. What's funny, is that, it seemed to be the case last year too. The only game UA cares to win is the bitter rivalry game against ASU. The UA-ASU rivalry is as intense as any, as far as the players just truly hating each other.
Wouldn't it be great to be a coach? Get fired and still get paid? Current earnings and future earnings are the only reason he didn't resign.
No kidding. Tomey lives in Hawaii now, doing commentary for the Rainbow Warriors. Tomey is doing my dream job, while living in Hawaii, in addition getting paid several hundred g's by UA...
My take from here is that UA & Mackavic will negotiate a buy out at the end of the year (the money will come from p*ssed off alums, not the UA). If he can win a game (especially versus ASU) the pressure for immediate firing might subside a little and he could get another year to turn things around. Mac has followed me around a little (coincidently of course). I was at UT when he arrived. I was at (least least through halftime) of rout 66 game, and IMO the even worse debacle a rainy night in Rice Stadium. Funny things is, I thought he was a decent hire for the UA even though I well knew he was terrible for UT, my wife (an Aggie who knew less about Mac) did not. I figured he recruited well in So Cal (Ricky W, Westbrook), wouldn't have the Texas alumni problems or the trouble smoozing with Texas HS coaches. Also, I figured a few years in the booth would have given him some perspective and after all he had pro experience and is a decent offensive mind--which UA sorely needed. But I was flat wrong, my wife nailed it from the get go--it was the same ole alienating, aloof, uninspiring, predictable Mac. The good comparison is ASU as KR mentioned. Both coaches have only been there 2 years, so it is not like the ASU guy has felt the impact of multiple superior recruiting years or anything. The difference is the motivational ability of the coaches and the ability of one coach (you figure it out) to get the team playing better than would be expected from their individual talents. Personally, I think UA should get rid of Mac and go all out for the Fresno State guy. Or maybe they can hire that Willingham guy coaching some team not even worthy of being in a conference.
Scar-What rumors were out there for replacements? If I'm UA, or ANY school in need of a head coach, I sign up Mike Stoops in a heartbeat. Stoops is the fiery, young coach who recruits want to play hard for. Like how Mackovic ignored in-state recruiting at UT, he's doing the same at UA. ASU has been a$$raping UA with in-state recruits, especially last year. Anyone who follow recruiting knows that you must lock down your own in-state players, and then go after the players from So Cal. Mackovic has recruited the Houston area, harder than he did when he was at UT... I swear half of the UA 2-deep roster, consists of Houston area players. Is there any truth to the rumor that Jolivette was suspended for selling/possesing pot?
I've been hearing Stoops to UCLA forever. Although, if Toledo can win the next two (hopefully against both USC and WSU) he can save his job.
Zero, for now the President and AD have firmly supported Mac as coach following his apology. I think it is posturing personally, and when the heat comes down from the Board of Regents (The chairman was already saying the first priority for the Admn is to protect students from abuse--you can read between the lines) and alums a mutally agreed upon settlement will be reached--it is just my guess though. In a way all the talk of Mac belittling and demoralizing players may be a conveint way for the U (Pres, AD) to say they didn't make the mistake in the hire, they just have to act to "protect the students". This whole thing takes leverage away from Mac--because the debate is no longer framed as about poor on the field performance for 2 years (where he could say he didn't have a full chance in his 5 year contract)--but again about student athlete issues. In truth I am sure Mac's belittlement ("abuse of student athletes") isn't much different from probably what most football coaches are doing, but the team does suck, the program shows no signs of improving, and the players are demoralized, so the "abuse" angle gets played up. Coaching at this level is largely political, there is no doubt. Stoops would ge great, and he and other ADs well know it. I was thinking a slightly less high profile guy, preferrably with West Coast connections, like the Fresno fellow. I don't think UA has to compete equally with ASU in AZ generally and Maricopa County specifically (where Phx is and well over half of the AZ population) to be successful. Oregon and OSU have turned their programs around mostly with California recruits--and UA isn't in rainy, small town, Corvallis. AZ should not ignore Arizona, but should keep a national focus--with special emphasis on San Diego and Orange counties in So Cal & Harris County (see below). Much of this isn't Mac but I believe from an assistant coach that was a holdover from Tomey who focus's there. You can be sure if they can Mac they will try to keep this guy. You can find a lot of great college football players in the Houston area that UT barely sniffs at. I had not heard this but I have not heard anything about false rumors to the contrary either.
Good stuff as always Scar... I would be skeptical to bring in Pat Hill, the Fresno HC. His teams are filled with non-qualifiers that Fresno State brings in with open arms. I heard that FSU had 25+ non-qualifiers on their roster last year. Suffice it to say that FSU doesn't have a high graduation rate either. This is something that will matter when recruiting. Especially if you recruit in Cali, where strong academic schools like Cal, Stanford, UCLA, and USC exist.
When 30 or so outraged players show up at the AD's house late at night complaining about their coach, you've got a problem. They collected 100 or so signatures on their petition to get him fired.
