Jon Embree spent four years in Boulder as a Buffaloes football player in the 1980s and prior to accepting the head coaching position in 2011, he previously spent ten seasons on the University of Colorado coaching staff. He was considered a lifetime Buff with deep ties to the CU community but a 4-21 record in two seasons led to his dismissal this week.
As a respected member in the college football world and a resume decked with UCLA and two NFL stops, he would likely receive an assistant opportunity at another BCS program or potentially a head coaching job at a lower tier FBS school.
However, Jon Embree blew it.
Upon receiving word from Athletic Director Mike Bohn, CU President Bruce Benson, and CU-Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano, Embree proceeded to spit up a pile of excuses and immature racial comments.
No coach should be surprised when they are canned following the ugliest season in school history, one that featured a home loss to Sacramento State, preceded by a 3-win season in year one. Is two years enough to turn around a beleagured program? No, of course not but have you been living under a pile of buffalo feces and missed the explosive arms race that has overwhelmed college athletics in the last decade?
Four wins are unacceptabe to fans, high capacity donors, University officials, and the Board of Regents amongst others.
“If you just hire the next guy and say you’ve got two years, keep your fingers crossed,” Embree said after his dismissal.
Those comments are understandable and no one will blame the CU alum for his frustation but his continued rambling produced the most immature comments ever made by a bitter coach.
He appeared on the Evan & Phillips Show on Mad Dog Radio on SiriusXM Wednesday morning and was asked if he would still be the coach if he were white.
“Probably,” he answered.
The question was spurred by earlier comments at his press conference suggesting CU left Embree high and dry.
“You know, we [minority coaches] don’t get second chances. That’s ok. You know, you know that going into it. I think Tyrone [Willingham] did. Um…I don’t know if there’s ever been another one fired that’s gotten another opportunity at the college level. But, every minority coach knows that going into it.”
I do not care if you are black, white, purple, blind, female, or a two-year-old illiterate toddler, when you go 1-11 with no home victories and a loss to Sacramento State you deserve to be fired. And why should the school retain you in order to save you from your supposed difficult job search?
Shut your bitter mouth, accept your failures and move on.
Featured Image: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
