[NU Sports] coaches leaving (fwd)

[Mike Nolan]

> However, I think the days of coaching stability are almost gone - look at all
> the changes happening not only at our place, but up the road in Madison...

True.  Coaches with the length of tenure of a JoePa, Tom Osborne or Bobby
Bowden are likely to be rare commodities in the next 25 years.  Solich 
couldn't cut it as Osborne's successor (though that's a very complex issue),
I don't know what will happen at Penn State and FSU when those legends
finally hang it up or leave the building feet first, but I'd put money
that their successors will stumble a bit, too.  

How many years did it take for a coach to emerge from the shadows of 
Darryl Royal at Texas?  Has Alabama found a satisfactory replacement for 
the Bear yet?  No coach at Notre Dame since Rocke has made it beyond 11 
years or won more than 100 games (Rocke won 105 in 13 seasons, Holtz 100 
in 11, Parseghian 95 in 11, Leahy 87 in 11.)  I guess the luck of the 
Irish doesn't apply to the head coach.

Ferentz has so far seemed a worthy successor to Hayden Fry, it'll be 
interesting to watch what happens in Madison over the next few years.  
One advantage Osborne had in Lincoln was he had Devaney (fondly known as
the Bobfather) protecting his flank, will Alvarez do that for his chosen 
successor?  What will happen when Lloyd Carr steps down at Michigan?
(15 weeks ago I might have phrased that 'is forced out at Michigan', but
I think he's safe for another year or two.)
--
Mike Nolan