“It was just one of those years it all kind of came together.” - OT Jeff Backus (Michigan grad)

Indeed Jeff. Indeed. If you can’t be good, be good at being bad.

Let us be among the many to congratulate the Detroit Lions on sweet perfection. The Lions are the first team in NFL history to finish 0-16, doing so by losing today at Green Bay 31-21. I detailed the importance of this accomplishment last week for the city of Detroit, but I didn’t think I would actually see it happen.

Going winless during a 16-game schedule in the salary cap era is no simple accomplishment. It takes futility from the top down- from the President to the GM, football operations, coaching staff, and of course the players. And it was no statistical fluke either- the Lions finished 27th in scoring offense and dead last in scoring defense. Not surprisingly, the Lions didn’t place a single player on the Pro Bowl roster either.

In other NFL news, here’s the recap of the Buffalo-New England game. I had the pleasure of driving through the very wind that created havoc in Buffalo and I can attest- it was crazy.

You’re welcome.

AP Photo/Michael Conroy

Or Fired Coach hobbling on crutches as it were. Charlie Weis got the dreaded coerced vote of confidence from Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick on Wednesday. This following an article in the Chicago Sun Times reporting that the “Weis Watch” had officially begun. In the Chicago Tribune on Thursday Swarbrick was quoted as saying:

“They know they have my full and total support during the course of any season. And at the end of every season, we’ll evaluate everything about the program.”

That of course means post-season support hinges entirely on what boosters want divided by the reputational effect of breaking off three coaches in a row prematurely (it’s a complicated equation). And Notre Dame being a fine Catholic institution, I wonder how many Hail Mary’s Swarbrick said following that statement.

When asked if Weis’ job is at risk, Swarbrick continued…

“It’s not. It can’t be because I’m not engaged in thinking about that. That’s not the way we approach this. The answer is: It’s not.”

Reeeeeeeally. That’s fascinating. So if you don’t consider the prospects of second losing season in a row and a likely a 6-7 final record this season, than maybe it won’t happen. The ole’ head in the sand strategy for running the department. Well done.

Swarbrick wasn’t finished…

“We’re clearly a lot better than we were last year. That’s what you’re looking for. You’re looking for progress.”

Uhhhhh…slight correction there. I’m an eternal optimist but you’ve got to put some context around what you’re looking at. This time last year, the combined record of Notre Dame’s opponents was 70-35. Through that same period this year, Notre Dame’s opponents are 41-46. So, yes there is some improvement shown, but in proper context, the quality of competition for Notre Dame this year vs. last is much, much weaker. Easier to look better against less competition, no?

Finally…

“I just think you have to let the whole thing run its course,” Swarbrick said.

Which translates to “he’s going to be fired very soon”. Fired coach walking.

You’re welcome.

As if the Raiders performance on the football field wasn’t bad enough, Al Davis added a nice helping of dirty laundry yesterday in firing Head Coach Lane Kiffen. Side question: who’s creapier- Al Davis or Hugh Heffner?

The only think missing here are the guys in the audience asking questions about Coors Light. This one doesn’t quite have the passion, but nonetheless, at least one bleep in each sentence has to count for something. Reference our last post on this topic for more fun.

Nebraska Athletic Director Steve Pederson was fired Monday in the wake of two embarrassing losses in a row for the Nebraska football team. A 45-14 loss at home to a 4-3 Oklahoma State team preceded by a 41-6 loss at Missouri the previous week spelled the end for the Nebraska AD.

This is the wrong Steve Pederson

Ironically, when Pederson fired Frank Solich in 2003, he was quoted as saying “I refuse to let this program gravitate toward to a level of mediocrity”. Well congratulations Steve, Nebraska’s mediocrity has become its’ own center of gravity and other programs are gravitating toward you (see “Notre Dame”, “Miami”, “Florida State”). Well done.

Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman was quoted as saying “Steve has done many positive things for Husker athletics during his tenure, but I think only new leadership can objectively assess the state of our program and make the decisions necessary to move us forward.” The translation to that quote is “We’re going to get Tom Osborne in here as AD and his first order of business is going to be fire Bill Callahan’s ass faster than Les Miles can say “go for it” on 4th down.

The boys over at www.edsbs.com hit it right on the head referencing Callahan and his link to the flood of coaches that fled the NFL for college in hopes of easier, and greener pastures- Callahan, the Wannstache (Dave Wannstedt), and Chan Gailey (and I’m including Charlie Weis in that group also). Athletic Directors in 2002 & 2003 were gleefully quick to pull the trigger on NFL retreads in hopes that the experiment would work out to the level that Pete Carroll has at USC.

Bill Callahan- you’re a fired coach walking.

Two more coaches got the proverbial “support of management” publicly this week which of course means they’ll be fired sometime in the very near future.

The first coach given the prophecy was Michigan ball coach Lloyd Carr.

U of M Athletic Director said “Absolutely I support him. Period. There’s no more to the story. I support him.”

Translation: “Absolutely I support him (in his new career as Associate Athletic Director). Period (not period, still under intense negotiation). There’s no more to the story (there’s plenty more, just no more I’m going to tell you right now). I support him (but not as much as I’m going to support our new Head Coach Les Miles).

The second coach given verbal walking papers isn’t a surprise- Cleveland Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel- With a 10-22 record over his first two years.

The timing of that firing could be interesting, I’m guessing Week 10. Browns General Manager Phil Savage used a familiar flanking-support move by linking arms with Romeo and re-directing aggression toward the media: “You’re in the business of creating controversy and conflict. Romeo and I are in the business to create cohesion and continuity. That’s the way we’re going to win.”

Translation: “We’re in the business of creating pain and agony for Cleveland Browns’ fans. Romeo and I have created neither cohesion nor continuity. Only nine players remain from the 2004 squad- that’s on me, the GM. Everything else is on Romeo. The only continuity he’s created is a high level of horrible football and utter befuddlement. I have no idea how we’re going to win, but by bringing in a new head coach, I’ll buy myself another two years of employment.”

You’re welcome.

We’re going to play a little word game on RedRenee tonight. I’m going to present you with some quotes from an article in the hometown newspaper of a college football team and you get to guess which team deserves such inky bloodshed:

Here’s the title of the article: “Journey starts, and (team) quickly loses its way”

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

“Saturday…after those months of rhetoric, after those nonstop pep talks to any Rotary Club or street corner gathering that would listen, (insert name of city/state) had a chance to see a ________-coached football team.”

“The (insert team name) trailed 21-0 at halftime. They left to numerous boos and disgusted shakes of the head.”

“There were also thousands who simply left, figuring no matter what happened after intermission could not make up for the embarrassment of what occurred in the first two quarters…”

“…so let’s stop tossing the hogwash and try some humility. Better yet, why not try some quiet? Yeah, that’s it. Shut up and coach, and maybe your (insert conference name here) athletes will be able to win a home game against a (insert inferior conference name here) opponent next week.”

Who would deserve such a tongue-lashing? Lloyd Carr? Chuck Weis? How about Syracuse coach Greg Robinson- that team sure is painful to watch? All are deserving. But this was reserved for another…

Try first-year and first-time head coach (not counting high school) Tim Brewster at the University of Minnesota. That’s right, Minnesota. Minnesota Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse delivered the above verbal bombs following Minnesota’s season opening loss to Bowling Green, 32-31 in overtime.

Never mind that the state of Minnesota and the boosters of U of M football ran former coach Glen Mason and his gleaming white teeth out of town despite raising a bad program from the ashes of suck to at least above average, if not exceptional mediocrity. In Mason’s nine years at Minnesota, he delivered the first eight-win season since 1967 and the first ten-win season since 1905. He also was the first Minnesota coach to deliver a winning season since Murray Warmath in the 60’s.

Minnesota football nation- check yourself. You’re MINNESOTA FOOTBALL. You’re good for boating and fishing. You’re not the cradle of college football.

Why don’t you take a deep breath and give your new coach more than two quarters before you declare the program finished. This is yet another thing wrong with college football- Tim Brewster barely stepped off the bus before he was ambushed by this half-wit. (For the record, I am for the firing of Charlie Weis though. Ha, ha, ha).

Golden Gophers- if you really want a Big Ten title, there’s only one way to bring it home- Craig T. Nelson and Dauber. You know- from the tv show “Coach”. I’m pretty sure they’re available. That would sell season tickets because people would at least know they’re in for some zany laughs.

Nice patience you got there Minnesota. You stink.

I’m starting a new recurring category on Red Renee- it’s dedicated to the dreaded “vote of confidence” that coaches get from their administration shortly before they’re surreptitiously fired. The latest to fall victim is none other than Kentucky head basketball coach Tubby Smith. Kentucky AD Mitch Barnhart said “Tubby’s our basketball coach” and I’m pretty sure the next part will be “until I fire him and hire back Rick Pitino”…. Good luck Tubby- thanks to your Athletic Director, you’re employment is officially on the clock.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2795480