Anyone savvy with the Washington State sports scene knows all about Bill Doba. After only five years of being the head coach at WSU, Doba “stepped down” “willingly” to vacate the position. Anyone living in the Palouse wondering what that arid stench has been floating around the past week can at least be certain that whatever it is… it certainly is not kosher.
Why?
It’s a strange thing, that the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year would not be good enough for our program only a few years later, and it would seem that recruiting has been the big topic, with Doba failing to land recruits. For example, the Cougars right now have 3 two-star recruits. In comparison, the 3-9 Colorado State Rams, who play in a much weaker conference, have signed 7 two-star recruits to date.
Doba was, and always has been a man of principle. That’s not something you can say about 90% of the college coaches out there, and I’m sure that in today’s “market”, if you are not willing to pull sleazy tactics and make fruitless promises to 17 year olds you aren’t going to land top recruits. So when it comes to getting kids to choose between Seattle, Los Angeles, Berkeley, and a city in the middle of wheat fields, it would seem that WSU came to a cross roads - whether they knew it or not - of deciding between principle and moral character and winning.
It also doesn’t help that alumni and supporters on the west side of the state have to sit and watch after recruit after recruit sign with Tyrone and the Huskies. To date, UW has gotten commitments from 9 three-star recruits, and 7 two-star recruits. In a world where three Apple Cup victories seemingly should have been enough to seal Doba at least one more year, it would seem that the disproportion of the “arms” race of building up top talent might have been more significant than win-loss records and bowl games (or lack thereof).
Obviously I am writing with the bias of knowing that Doba was doing a fine job as a coach, and looking for any other reason why the school might have felt that he needed to be fired. It almost seems to me that with the success the team had in 2003 - which, to be honest, was not the norm in Cougar football - that the fans got hooked and wanted more at any cost. To me, the cost might be tremendous as WSU risks going from being an “honest” program which placed importance on academics and character to being just another team out there willing to do whatever it takes to win one or two more games a year.
Let’s face it Coug fans: this is not an elite program. WSU is not going to be in the running for the championship every year. So why potentially sacrifice moral high ground for a bowl game? Well… that one is easy: $$$$.
With the success of the basketball program, and only five years removed from a #9 ranking in football, its not shocking to see some people in the local media get inflated expectations, but the outcome certainly is disappointing.
WSU is a school that may never be a national power, and using the basketball team as an example, it is never acceptable to achieve at “any means necessary”. Our basketball team is full of unheralded players who are dedicated to the team and play a complete game. They did not get to this level by sacrificing their principles; rather they are great because they have held firm to their principles.
So it’s hard to understand why a football program could not also be molded in this way; to compete with players of character and discipline who play as one cohesive unit. And although it’s not hard to understand “why” Doba was fired - come on, you aren’t buying this “mutual garbage” are you? - it certainly is disappointing for the school to have lost a coach who was more interested in the development of young men, than 6 wins and a bowl game.
6 responses so far ↓
1 kajun36 » The Doba Debacle // Nov 30, 2007 at 10:09 am
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG doba.jpg]Anyone savvy with the Washington State sports scene knows all about Bill Doba. After only five years of being the head coach at WSU, Doba “stepped down” “willingly” to vacate the position. Anyone living in the Palouse wondering what that arid stench has been floating around the past week can at least be certain that whatever it is… it certainly is not kosher. Why? It’s a strange thing, that the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year would not be good enough for our program only a few […]
2 geekounet » The Doba Debacle // Nov 30, 2007 at 10:14 am
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG doba.jpg]Anyone savvy with the Washington State sports scene knows all about Bill Doba. After only five years of being the head coach at WSU, Doba “stepped down” “willingly” to vacate the position. Anyone living in the Palouse wondering what that arid stench has been floating around the past week can at least be certain that whatever it is… it certainly is not kosher. Why? It’s a strange thing, that the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year would not be good enough for our program only a few […]
3 likewhoa » The Doba Debacle // Nov 30, 2007 at 10:20 am
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG doba.jpg]Anyone savvy with the Washington State sports scene knows all about Bill Doba. After only five years of being the head coach at WSU, Doba “stepped down” “willingly” to vacate the position. Anyone living in the Palouse wondering what that arid stench has been floating around the past week can at least be certain that whatever it is… it certainly is not kosher. Why? It’s a strange thing, that the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year would not be good enough for our program only a few […]
4 mirek » The Doba Debacle // Nov 30, 2007 at 10:44 am
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG doba.jpg]Anyone savvy with the Washington State sports scene knows all about Bill Doba. After only five years of being the head coach at WSU, Doba “stepped down” “willingly” to vacate the position. Anyone living in the Palouse wondering what that arid stench has been floating around the past week can at least be certain that whatever it is… it certainly is not kosher. Why? It’s a strange thing, that the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year would not be good enough for our program only a few […]
5 milner » The Doba Debacle // Nov 30, 2007 at 10:52 am
[…] Check it out! While looking through the blogosphere we stumbled on an interesting post today.Here’s a quick excerpt [IMG doba.jpg]Anyone savvy with the Washington State sports scene knows all about Bill Doba. After only five years of being the head coach at WSU, Doba “stepped down” “willingly” to vacate the position. Anyone living in the Palouse wondering what that arid stench has been floating around the past week can at least be certain that whatever it is… it certainly is not kosher. Why? It’s a strange thing, that the 2003 Pac-10 Co-Coach of the Year would not be good enough for our program only a few […]
6 Cougar Lew // Nov 30, 2007 at 11:39 am
Comparing a college football program to a college basketball program may not be as analogous as you want to believe. There are two major differentials between the sports, in terms of comparing “success” ratios. First, and foremost, the entire package of scholarship players for a basketball team would just barely be enough to fill out a starting offense/defense team in football. Focusing recruiting in basketball isn’t quite the numbers game needed to fill out a football team roster. The other significant difference is the likelihood of injury. As an example, injuries took Oregon football from #2 in the country to a “pick’ em” in the Civil War game. No denying the physical contact in basketball, but chances for severe injury are higher for a football player. Then there are the expenses associated with maintaining a basketball program compared with a football program. Simply put, when was the last time a Division 1 college dropped it’s basketball program because of expenses?
The position and point driven home on this blog is to question motivation. When winning is sought without concern for the price paid, is it really worth it? Is the only significant measurement of character promoted and developed at WSU “winning college sports games”? It wasn’t when I attended classes in Pullman. Hope that never changes, regardless of short-term whims.
Cougar Lew
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