Kevin Sumlin has been fired, so now what happens?

With Kevin Sumlin out as head coach, will this fan base now promise to fill the stadium for the next head coach, or has apathy completely set in?

With Kevin Sumlin now fired, we once again find ourselves back here having the same coaching conversation, and at this point, it is becoming cyclical. So the question is, will we be back here in another three years?

Given what we just saw, if I said the next coach will give us six seasons, five bowls, a high-octane offense, consistent Top 15 upsets, a Pac-12 South title, and a New Year’s Six bowl, what would you say? Give him a lifetime contract and a statue, right?

Arizona Wildcats

Yes, I just gave you Rich Rodriguez’s resume while at UA.  While there has been some mea culpa from those who now realize how good we had it, people were still not filling the stadium or investing in the program during that time.

Personal matters aside, Rich Rod should never have been let go for his on-field product. At the same time, the fan base never got fully behind him either. My question is, is this going to be a continuation with the next coach? Have Arizona fans thrown in the towel with football in general?

For those of you longing for Dick Tomey or the days of Larry Smith, without me saying “Ok Boomer”, I’m sorry but today’s socioeconomics of college football has passed you by.

Times have changed since the implementation of the BCS. We have seen the rise of the SEC, all the games are on TV so kids don’t need to travel far from home, college coaches can make more than NFL coaches and thus a smaller shelf life.

Throw in the ridiculous cost of college today and guys like Chuck Cecil aren’t walking on; they’re accepting a scholarship to UNLV.

Hell, things have gotten worse since the implementation of the playoff. Since its inception, of the 24 teams selected, 17 have been from Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. It is very likely that three of these teams will make this year’s playoff as well.

The power dynamic is top-heavy, the TV contracts are game-changing, and we’re down to about 10-15 programs that can compete Nationally.

The Pac 12 has become so impotent Nationally from a financial and fan base standpoint, that outside of USC, every job is a stepping-stone job.

Fans weren’t sure if we could afford to buy out Sumlin, Texas A&M on the other hand gave him $10 million just to go away, and another $75 million to Jimbo Fisher to replace him without blinking an eye.

This past week, Auburn just gave Gus Malzahn $21 million to go away. At Arizona, we couldn’t even dream of that kind of money.

This is the reality. When you factor in the local high school recruiting, fan base, and facilities, UA is realistically the 10th best job in the conference and if things go well it’s a stepping stone job to our next coach getting $6M a year to go to the SEC.

Are you ok with that? Can you accept that? Is it worth your investment? Even if it is an alum?

Understand that after three years of Sumlin; Rich Rod’s resume is going to be the best that you’re going to get at Arizona, and if you’re not going to show up and support that, but most importantly accept that, then what’s the point?

Fans need to come to grips with Arizona’s ceiling and hope things can maybe one day turn in our favor. Until then support the program or don’t.

By Travis Burns
Dec. 15, 2020 | 5:15pm