In the words of Donald Trump, Coach Kragthorpe, you’re fired!

University of Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich made it official at a noon press conference today and relieved head football coach Steve Kraghorpe of his duties.  Jurich said that the decision was mid-week and he met with coach Kragthorpe this morning to tell him of the decision.  Kragthorpe inherited the program after the Orange Bowl victory in 2007 and could never keep the team on the right path.  Coach K led the Cards to a disappointing 6-6 in his first year with several key returning players from that Orange Bowl team.  It only got worse from there as Louisville finished 5-7 in year two and 4-8 this year.  At his press conference, Jurich said “I was hoping we’d get over the hump this year.  I thought we could get through the year and really build some momentum and obviously that didn’t happen”. 

Louisville has not only seen it’s win total diminish over the past three years, but the support for the program has also gone down the toilet.  Only 23,000 fans showed up for Senior day yesterday and a record low of 21,000 turned out for the Halloween game against Arkansas State.  Jurich said he hoped to reconnect the fans with the program because fan support is the number one goal. 

Jurich also said he was very appreciative of what coach Kragthorpe has done here but felt that the program needed to go in a new direction.  “I felt like we needed to go in another direction and get the program back on track.”, Jurich said. He also said he would supply all the resources necessary to help coach Kragthrope and his assistants find new jobs. 

Jurich took full responsibility with what has happened to the program.  He said it would be his responsibility to get this program back to the level that is expected.  He also took responsibility for the mistake he made in hiring Kragthorpe.  Jurich said he thought Kragthorpe was the right fit when he hired him based on his pedigree and experience, but realized it wasn’t a good fit at all.  He said, “that’s something I have to question myself on” referring to the fact he hired a coach that wasn’t a good fit.   

When asked about potential replacements Jurich said, “I want to get a great leader of men and somebody that will take us to the heights we want to be at.”  He said he would not intrude on any one’s season and didn’t want to be a distraction for anybody.  He recalled the John L. Smith debacle during the Mobile Bowl in 2002 when news broke during the game that coach Smith was going to Michigan State.  This news created a big distraction for the team during the game in which Marshall destroyed the Cards.  Jurich remembers that feeling and doesn’t want to do that to anyone else.  He said the process would take a little longer than last time because some teams are still playing for another week or two.  He would not speculate on any candidates or who he may contact.  He did say he had some guys in mind. 

As for the list of potential replacements, several names have been thrown around lately.  We do know that Jon Gruden is out because of his recent contract extension with ESPN.  Two new names that everyone is talking about are Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin and Florida Defensive Coordinator Charlie Strong.  The names of Mike Leach and Tommy Tuberville continue to be thrown around and there are reports that Phillip Fullmer has interest in the job.  One thing for certain is that Jurich will be very careful this time around.  He can’t afford to make another mistake.

My Thoughts

The day is finally here.  Today is the day that Cardinal nation has been waiting for since last season.  I respect Tom Jurich for giving coach Kragthorpe every opportunity to turn this thing around, but it just didn’t happen.  This change needed to occur and it will be good for the program.  I respect Coach Kragthorpe for everything he has done here and tried to do.  I believe he is a good coach if put in the right situation.  He proved that at Tulsa.  I just don’t think that he can handle being at a big program like Louisville.  I hope he finds another job in Conference USA or some other mid-major league.  I wish him the best of luck and hope he has success somewhere else.

As for replacements, I think Jurich will get it right this time around.  Personally, I wold love to see Charlie Strong take the reigns.  He has experience under one of the best coaches in the nation (Urban Meyer) at one of the biggest programs in the nation (Florida).  He will be able to recruit some big time prospects in the sunshine state as well as all over the country.  He has a good reputation in the college football world and enough experience to lead this program successfully.  

I am hopeful that Houston’s Kevin Sumlin will not be here.  Let’s think about it, the last time we hired the coach of a Conference USA Champion, the program was shattered to pieces.  Hiring Sumlin would be like hiring another Steve Kragthorpe and none of us want that.  We need someone with experience at a major program. 

With Kragthorpe gone, the program is turning a page.  A new day has begun and Cardinal nation is no longer faced with misery.  We can open up the blinds, let some light in the room, and maybe go outside in public again.  This program will get back to its successes of 2006-2007 but it’s going to take time.  Don’t expect a Big East Championship right off the bat.  The new coach will need time to get his guys in here and implement his system.  The goal for next year should be a bowl game, any bowl game.  After we reach a bowl, we can start setting higher goals.  We need to crawl before we walk and we will walk again.  Just trust Tom Jurich and forget about the Kragthorpe mistake.  Jurich has made some very good hires in every sport during his time here.  Dan McDonald, Jeff Walls, Rick Pitino, Bobby Petrino were all Jurich hires.  It’s the holiday season and I know that Tom Jurich will give Louisville fans a great gift with this new coach.  He will give the fans their program back.