It used to be that coaches would do one of three things near the end of their tenure:  They would retire (like Bear Bryant or Dean Smith), they would take "a reassignment" in the athletic department (like Sonny Lubin) or they would be fired.  Those options seem plausible, but in our litigious and over media influenced society a new option has arisen: The succession plan.

Florida State, for example, has Jimbo Fisher waiting for Bobby Bowden to step aside.  Purdue has recently announced a succession plan for coach Joe Tiller, one that has a coach from outside the program, Danny Hope. Kentucky announced that Joker Phillips will take over for Rich Brooks someday in the future. In basketball, Tom Davis' son Keno, took over the Drake program when his dad retired.  At Texas Tech, Pat Knight will be the new coach when his dad Bob has had enough.  Sean Sutton took over for his dad Eddie after Eddie got caught driving drunk retired.

I'm not sure what the purpose of this is other than to let the fans and boosters (especially the boosters) know that the old coach's day is almost over and a young, new coach who you are already acquainted with is waiting in the wings to take over.  I don't know that it helps the team any or the teams performance.  Another possible explanation is that it puts price controls in place, meaning instead of backing up an armored truck in front of Rich Rodriguez's door to get him to come to Michigan, you have someone in place who you know is there and you know what they cost.  This makes administrators very happy.

What's often wrong with these plans as coaches like Bill Guthridge found out is it's not always easy to follow the legend.  The road is littered with the names of men who followed legendary coaches only to succumb to the pressure of not meeting the expectations of the University, it's boosters and fans.  Remember Gene Bartow?  Although successful at UCLA, he left after two years because he was the guy who directly followed John Wooden?  How about Mike Davis?  Even though he took Indiana to the final four, he never had an easy day thanks to being the guy who was appointed as Myles Brand's successor to Bob Knight.  Ray Perkins bolted back to the NFL after three years of succeeding Bear Bryant at Alabama.  And, if you really want something to do today, look up the names of Phil Bengston or Jim Dooley.

Often in the succession scenario, the mystery has been removed and the community surrounding the team knows the new coach.  Now, it's just a matter of easing the old coach out the door.  But really, what's Bobby Bowden going to do all day when Florida State tells him it is definitely time to step down.  Can you imagine JoPa, who is expected to discuss his future with Penn State next week, sitting in the park playing chess or bochy ball?  The succession plan makes it easy for that to happen.  Look at Tiller at Purdue.  He's had a couple of down years and suddenly it's announced that he's retiring.

I don't think these plans work very well.  Michigan did it right, not having a waiting successor to Lloyd Carr but rather going outside the program to hire Rich Rodriguez who will breathe new life into the program.  Carr really wasn't a legend as much as he was a good citizen and coach, taking over for Bo Schembechler's designated successor, Gary Moeller, whose career at Michigan ended in a hail of drunken profanity.

Having a coach waiting in the wings while the older coach is still sitting on the nest is silly.  In many cases, the legend's program is not what it used to be because it needs new ideas and new thinking.  Turning it over to an assistant isn't really going to change it that much.  Bringing in a new guy with a fresh perspective sometimes helps re-invent a program.  Rodriguez followed the legendary Don Nehlan, coming from Tulane and raising the bar even higher on the West Virginia program. 

So, you gotta wonder, when JoPa sits down with the brass at Penn State, if one of those suits will pull a revolver from his drawer and say "Old man, who is your replacement and when can we expect them to start?"  That's the way we do it these days.

Lightning Round

• What the hell is in the drinking water in Chicago?  Even our hero and role mode is trying to encourage Bear fans to root for the Packers.  He writes:

The Satan Clause: Would Bears fans root for the Packers to win the Super Bowl if it meant that Brett Favre would retire?

• Would Bears fans root for the Packers to win the Super Bowl if it meant that Cedric Benson would retire?

• Would Bears fans root for the Packers to win the Super Bowl if it meant that Lovie Smith would retire?

• Would Bears fans root for the Packers to win the Super Bowl if it meant that Lovie Smith would retire Adam Archuleta?

• Would Bears fans root for the Packers to win the Super Bowl if it meant that Jerry Angelo would retire from drafting offensive players?

• Would Bears fans root for the Packers to win the Super Bowl if it meant that Ben Wallace would retire?

As the man himself would say "and death is not an option."

• The Ravens hire a new head coach named Harbaugh and no, it's not that guy from Stanford.
• Is Khabibulin the Russian word for "Wally Pipp?"  Sure seems like it.
• NHL commish Gary Bettman's sphincter just got a whole lot tighter.
• If you could buy Sammy Sosa for what he was worth and sell him for what he thinks he's worth, you'll make a killing.  Unfortunately Sosa thinks he's still worth what he was in 1998.
• The paint on the BCS trophy isn't even dry yet and Foxsports.com is already looking ahead to next year. God bless them.
• Why is it we still insist on adding race to achievements?  Mike Carey is a good ref and has been named to head the crew in the Super Bowl.  Does it really matter what color he is? 
  
• Finally, someone finds a judge who tells the RIAA to shove it.
• If you live in Seminole, Florida and your child is a good student, they will not be receiving a free happy meal to mark their achievement.  Not after some meddling mommy called the school district and complained.  Attention meddler: America is about choices.  If you choose not to allow your children to eat fast food, that is your choice.  But depriving kids of trying to earn a bonus for a positive accomplishment because it doesn't meet your standards is not fair to other kids or parents.  Who died and made you Queen?  Once again, liberal think: You are not smart enough to decide, so we will decide for you.
• If you support Hillary Clinton, don't watch this video.  If you support someone else (like Ron Paul for instance) have a good laugh: