An Open Letter to Rob Mullens

Dear Rob Mullens,

Shit, or get off the pot.

Love, Tako

I feel like that’s all I really need to say, but in case you aren’t into the whole brevity thing...

Dear Rob Mullens,

Oregon needs a head football coach. That coach could be Mark Helfrich, or it could not. But Oregon needs a head football coach, and it needs one now. This whole “explore other options while keeping Helfrich under contract” thing you’re doing right now is, frankly, a pretty dickish and chickenshit move. It’s okay to be wishy-washy when you’ve got plans to grab a beer after work with some co-workers, but are still hoping one of your better friends calls with plans to go karaoke that night instead. It’s okay to be wishy-washy if you’ve been on three dates with a pretty-okay girl you met on Tinder, but the girl that goes to your gym and likes the same movies as you just broke up with her boyfriend and might be looking to blow off some steam on Saturday. But it’s not okay to be wishy-washy when so much rides on this decision, both for the program and for Mark Helfrich.

The longer you wait to make a decision, the more your program’s relationship with Mark Helfrich fractures, and there will come a point where even if you do want to retain him, you won’t be able to have the same rapport with the captain of your flagship - that point may have even passed already. The longer you wait to make a decision, the bigger impact it has on recruiting for next year. The longer you wait to make a decision, the more it impacts Helfrich’s ability to land a major head coaching job elsewhere, should that be his goal. The longer you wait to make a decision, the more your current players sit around in a state of limbo and contemplate their options at other schools. The longer you wait to make a decision, the worse this whole situation gets.

Ultimately, this comes down to answering the question, “Is Mark Helfrich the right man to lead Oregon football for the near future?” If that answer is yes, don’t look around for a more definitive yes. Back Helfrich, defend the hell out of him at every turn, and resign as AD if you’re wrong. If the answer is no, fire him. It honestly doesn’t matter if there isn’t a slam-dunk hire out there anymore. You screwed yourself by letting this whole thing go public and bungling the athletic department “response” to the media. If Helfrich isn’t the right guy, it’s up to you to go find the right guy, and hire him at any cost. But the answer to “Is Mark Helfrich the right man to lead Oregon football for the near future?” can’t be “I guess, unless we can find something better in the next week, then probably no.” Make a fucking decision, and own that decision. In short...

Shit, or get off the pot.

Love, Tako