Poll: Where is Mike Bellotti in 2011?
by dvieira on Mar 22, 2010 10:00 AM PDT
in Oregon Ducks Football
Email
PrintWith Mike Bellotti heading off to ESPN to sow his oats as a college football analyst, is there a possibility that Mike is taking another "interim" job by going to the worldwide leader? Coach B makes no secret about his love for college football and, as great a gig as an ESPN college football analyst can be, could we be looking at Mike's eventual return to coaching within the next year?
The Pac-10 in 2010 could have some interesting positions open up. Bill Moos has just been installed as athletic director at Washington St. and if Paul Wulff doesn't show improvement, could an opening in Pullman be enough to entice Bellotti to take over in Pullman? Dennis Erickson will be on the hot seat in the desert at Arizona State next year. If the Sun Devils suffer through another tough season, could Mike head down to Tuscon? Even Colorado could be in play depending on how Dan Hawkins does this season.
Of course, Mike Bellotti might have a great gig in being a potential successor to Corso or Holtz. The million dollar question, and the subject of today's poll, is where do you think Mike Bellotti will be 1 year from now?
52 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I voted for what I would prefer, which is for him to still be at ESPN … seeing Bellotti on the sidelines of another school would likely make me very uncomfortable, especially if it is a Pac-10 (12?) school.
I voted for what I would prefer
I don’t have the heart to vote what I think .
I Don't Yell O I SCREAM!
by trumpetduck on Mar 22, 2010 10:21 AM PDT up reply actions
I voted from my head
not my heart, hence back to the sideline for Coach Belotti
"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin
I think ESPN really wanted/needed a veteran coach with a respectable record. The two most notable former coaches at ESPN are Lee Corso and Lou Holtz. ESPN might have some legitimate concerns of their age and health.
I think for 2010, we’ll see Bellotti getting some time in the booth. Maybe fit him in to Corso’s or Holtz’s position after they take leave from broadcasting.
It’s also very likely they just want him as color commentator. It will be interesting to see which region they take him to.
its spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-O-B-L-I-G-A-T-E-D-T-O-D-O-I-T"
I don’t see Bellotti going back to coaching. He’s said multiple times that he only missed football on Friday nights and on Saturday. He didn’t miss it during the week.
As much fun as it is to put on your tinfoil hat, I don’t think that he was forced out as coach. He stepped down earlier than I expected him to. He could have easily stuck around and coached for another year or two, but didn’t.
I just think he got tired of the workload of being a coach. Maybe he regains that passion over the next year or so. But I think it’s much more likely that TV stuff is right up his alley and he sticks with it. He’s always been great on TV, and has always seemed to really enjoy his appearances (from the coaches show to commenting on OSN broadcasts).
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
I don’t think it’s particularly wrong to speculate that it was suggested to Bellotti that he step aside and take the AD position.
I don’t think it’s right to say that is assuredly what happened though. It’s possible that it was just suggested to Bellotti. (Not forced. I think Bellotti could have coached for Oregon as long as he wanted to)
Pat Kilkenny wanted out at AD.
Oregon wanted to lock Kelly in for the future.
I think Kelly would have stuck around as Head-Coach-in-Waiting under Bellotti.
Move Bellotti to AD and let him advise Kelly during his first year.
Logically, I think the plan makes sense. The timing does too. There is motive, and there is opportunity. There is a reasonable basis for that hypothesis.
However, if you take everyone’s word at face value, which I see no reason why we shouldn’t, it’s just timing and opportunities presented themselves, and each party is pursing what they think is best for them and to an extent, the university.
its spelled "S-H-U-F-E-L-T-O-B-L-I-G-A-T-E-D-T-O-D-O-I-T"
I think it will come down to how it goes after his first year, I personally think he will thrive and eventually inherit the Lou Holtz role (not Corzo, he isn’t as dramatic). Also like jtlight says he wasn’t forced out, he was tired of the day to day grind. Remember, his marriage was ruined for a while, and coaching was no small part of that. I think he is set up pretty well to have this thing take him into the sunset.
But who really knows, maybe after a year or two he will feel the itch to get back in, or maybe he gets another offer he can’t refuse. Whatever happens, I hope he doesn’t end up coaching in the pac-10 again.
Say what you mean, and say it mean. - Clint Ruin
So he didn't like being AD
That’s just fine. He’ll be great at ESPN.
"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely
Consider what ESPN has now.
If — and that’s a big if, because there are logs of wings on the ESPN dove of peace — MB is being brought in as a top-level commentator, he’s almost certainly a candidate for (and being groomed / coached to) eventually take over for Corso, who had a stroke last year and is well below 100%, or Holtz, who is 92 years old and probably a Republican candidate for prethident in 2012.
If, however, MB winds up in the Tommy Tuberville chair, making pithy observations on an ESPNU panel all season and doing CUSA or MAC games, he might wind up as Tuberville did — landing another D1 job.
The difference between MB and Tuberville is that Tuberville pretty much sucked at TV, and MB, at least in a limited regional test, does not suck at it.
Who can say?
But I’m fairly confident that Canzano’s dream scenario of MB coaching after Kelly leaves is the biggest non-starter since Fred Thompson decided to run for national office.
BENZDUCK FOR ATHLETIC DIRECTOR!
Why the hell not?
by benzduck on Mar 22, 2010 12:02 PM PDT reply actions 4 recs
$2.3 Million Dollars for nine months of work
Where do I sign on, I’ll pay the $782,684 in taxes to make this. If this is correct it sounds to me that Mike Bellotti was forced out of the AD spot too, why would the school agree to pay him if the choice to leave was his?
"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin
It’s highly doubtful he was forced out as head coach, and he WAS NOT forced out as AD.
It was part of his initial contract that he’d get paid that as AD when he left. It was not a buyout. Of course, that 2.3 mil obviously helped entice Bellotti to step down as head coach. But that was his decision, it is highly doubtful that it was forced upon him by anyone else.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
It couldn't have been forced upon him
If Bellotti had been being forced out, all he would have had to do was make it public. The public shitstorm would have been enormous.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
by David Piper on Mar 22, 2010 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions
WHY?!
Would the University offer to pay that much if they didn’t think he would stay then. I am so confused on the business sense of a company that would pay that much money to somebody for a 9 month contract. Whether he was pushed out, coerced, bribed, whatever, it is a bunch of money for a job that wasn’t finished for whatever the reason. I don’t hold any ill feelings towards Bellotti but I do think whoever came up with this plan needs to be held accountable for the financial hemorrhaging the University’s athletic department is having.
"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin
financial hemorrhaging the University’s athletic department is having.
Weren’t they only about 650k in the red, all of it due to a timing issue with donor pledges?
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
650k
How much of the basketball arena, student athlete study hall and baseball field would be left unfinished if that is all Oregon was down? I am probably talking out my backside, but I’m pretty sure Oregon is down more than .65 mil Bellotti made less than 2.4 million as a H coach, didn’t he? If he did than hiring an AD for cheaper and keeping things in line would have been cheaper. Bellotti may not have been asked to leave any position, but this still has a large impact on $ plus paying for a new AD, H Bball coach, and the firm to find one. Am I wrong?
"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin
by haveasoda on Mar 22, 2010 7:10 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
but I’m pretty sure Oregon is down more than .65 mil Bellotti made less than 2.4 million as a H coach, didn’t he?
Did you just use a quadruple negative?
Hire Ben Jacobson!
Addicted to Quack
I used Pi while caluclating the Delta
all while keeping my base in K-Theory. I will also use this same formula when determing how much garbage the improved flux capicitor needs to transport me to the future to see the outcome of this all
"I used to play sports. Then I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm good at everything." - Demetri Martin
First, Dom is totally right.
Sexond, the University was softening the blow of the financial hit of moving from head football coach to AD.
The University assumed he would stick around. It didn’t work out. But the payout isn’t evidence of some sort of force out.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
by jtlight on Mar 22, 2010 4:48 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Sexond
Why do they put the x and the c so close together. Makes for an unfortunate typo that can also be awesome “I’d like sexonds”
Assuming he was pushed out, from either job, isn’t the way to look at this. If he was forced out as football coach, why would he decide to stay at the university in the first place as AD? He could throw a rock and hit 20 schools that would want him.
You assume bellotti has a cannon…
I can haz footbawl?
by axemen23 on Mar 23, 2010 12:00 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I highly doubt MB sees the field again as a coach. Why would he go from a difficult job (Coaching) to an easier job (AD) to an even easier job (ESPN Guy) to eventually jump back up to the difficult job at the age of 60?
His commentary on the CSN broadcasts were a breath of fresh air during what was usually a mindless duck fart conversation between Giansante and Newman.
I’m sure that ESPN saw some of his tapes and thought they could bring him in. Now whether or not he takes over for Corso, or Sylvester the Cat (Holtz) is pure speculation. I personally think is talent is in adding analysis to a decent announcer guy (much like what Gruden has on MNF).
I’m sure we’ll hear all the speculation next year when coaches start hitting the unemployment line about MB as possible coach. But I think after of year of working 1 day a week, MB will get settled in rather quickly in his new role.
Hire Ben Jacobson!
Addicted to Quack
I’m not sure AD is an “easier job,” unless you’re measuring “easy” strictly as “less hours.” I think coaching is what he knew, and he was good at it. As others have mentioned, being AD at a school like Oregon is much more like running a business than it is about sports any more. I have a feeling Bellotti didn’t really care for the taste of being an AD and moved to something he really enjoyed and would be “easier” in almost every sense of the word. All that said, I would be surprised to see him back among the college coach ranks within a couple years. Maybe not 2011, but somewhere down the line I think he’ll be back.
Defending maligned chants since 2009
I will be a MB fan forever
But I have an uneasy feeling that we’ll see him prowling the sidelines of a major college program other than UO within 2 years. It just happens too often these days, and as fans we have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that our loyalties often run deeper than those of our favorite coaches/players. A challenge is what makes these guys tick, and after raising his profile (even more) at ESPN for a year or two, I see Bellotti being offered a sick amount of money to coach a major program. And I see him going for it. And I will root for him, so long as it’s not a Pac-10 team.
2011, he will leave all the insanity,
and he will be sipping mint juleps in the shade of a giant magnolia tree.
been down so long, it looks like up to me.
by ducky darling on Mar 22, 2010 9:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I think he stays at ESPN. He was good at calling games and he seemed to really enjoy it. If ESPN gives him some good games and a respectable role during the season I think he stays there and becomes very good at the job. He’s smart enough to know that guys like Holtz(th) won’t be around forever and there could be a very good gig open in the near future.
I’d still respect him if he went back to coaching (I always cheered for Rich Brooks too) unless he was playing our Ducks. But the ESPN gig is such a big opportunity at just the right time, I just can’t see him bailing on it after one season. I just hope they let him call a Ducks game, that would be the best.
Let's ask it a different way
What coaching jobs would MB even consider? Remember, this is a guy who was reportedly in the mix for Ohio State, Notre Dame, and USC. I can’t see ASU or Colorado being that special to him, and WSU seems like a place a coach could show he could build a program under difficult circumstances—but he already did that at Oregon with a lot of support from Uncle Phil. So what top tier gigs would be available in 2011? Michigan? Boise State?
That's not what I've heard
from Boise State fans.
leave a note on your trash can for when they come to pick it up every week
Hire Ben Jacobson!
Addicted to Quack
That won't work
they don’t let you into Boise if you can read.
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
FUCK BOISE STATE!!!
Only losing THREE starters from the USC game. (Offense and Defense)
Ladies and Gentlemen your 2010-11 Oregon Ducks.
Oregon-Frontrunners for the 2010 Fulmer Cup
by QuackQuackAttack on Mar 22, 2010 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Fuck Boise State
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, SBN's Oregon Ducks blog
by David Piper on Mar 22, 2010 10:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Fuck boi...
Eh you get the gist.
I can haz footbawl?
by axemen23 on Mar 23, 2010 12:01 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
He wont be back as a coach
MB wont be coaching again. I read through most of the comments and nobody has made mention of MB’s bad back. I know that he had a lot of pain just standing for the 3 and a half hours on game day and that it was very hard for him to tolerate it. I am fairly certain his back problems had a big part in his decision to step down, and that was the only reason I wasn’t surprised it was as soon as it was.
Have people not mentioned his back because they don’t know about it, or have people just forgotten how big of a problem it was for him when he was on the sidelines?
by Koolp456 on Mar 22, 2010 11:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I don't know about the back,
but he underwent a double knee-replacement just a few months ago. That can’t be a big help on the sidelines or the practice field.
This is a pretty good point. I certainly forgot about it. Rec
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
