HOT SEAT

The way some coaches are performing, er, underperforming, Homer Simpson should at least get an interview.  He does have a proven track record, calling the shots for nearly 20 years.

The number of coaches on the hot seat are virtual bonfires waiting to happen.  Numerous fans would be willing to offer a match, feeling their team's season have already imploded.


Sports talk radio phone lines in Detroit were flashing like Christmas lights Saturday after Michigan lost to Purdue in the Big House 38-36.  It was the Boilermakers first win in Ann Arbor since 1966. 

Fire Rich Rod!  He's Got To Go!  He's Not A Michigan Man!

The retort is simple.  How do you like Lloyd Carr now?  You remember him.  The guy boosters rode out of town because Ohio State's Jim Tressel seemed to have his number.  The Lloyd Carr that ran a pro-style offense and put Michigan in a bowl game every year. Yeah, that guy.

So in comes the innovator from West Virginia, who in seven seasons won four Big East Championships.  Year one at Ann Arbor, 3-9 overall, 2-6 in the Big Ten - no bowl game.  Now in year two, Rich Rod is 5-5 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

The man who hired him, Athletic Director Bill Martin is retiring, leaving Rodriguez isolated on an island of criticism.  And yet, despite the mob mentality, you have to give Rodriguez at least one more year.  He's had to mesh some of Carr's leftovers, those that stayed, into his system and that has not been an easy task.

Michigan fans be cautious of wanting someone who has roots to the program.  One of the Wolverines big wins this season was over Notre Dame who has 1978 grad Charlie Weis calling the shots.

Last Saturday Weis got outcoached and had to watch his superior athletes fall to a spirited Navy team, 23-21.  Since taking over in 2005, Weis is 5-12 against ranked opponents and 11-21 against teams with a winning record.  The overall record is a respectable 35-24 but taking into account the previous numbers, you do the math as to who the Irish have been feasting on.  This season alone Notre Dame has benifited from a coaching blunder by Purdue and an ill advised pass by Michigan State. 

No one is saying Notre Dame won't put together successful seasons, (think 8 to 9 win years) but if the alumni thinks this program is ever going to return to the glory days of being in the National Title hunt every season, someone obviously isn't watching the teams that don't play on NBC.


In the NFL, wasn't Lovie Smith in a Super Bowl just a few years ago?

What the hell has happened to the Monsters of the Midway?

Granted, the Bears have never seriously scared anyone offensively, but lately, they've just been stinking up the lake front.  The organization sold its soul to acquire Jay Cutler from Denver.  Two first picks, a third rounder and Kyle Orton!  That had to at least be a crime in some Chicago ward.

Exactly who did the Bears think was going to be on the receiving end of Cutler's passes?  They still act as if Devin Hester is going to turn into Reggie Wayne one day.  Here's a thought.  One of these draft years or free agent signing periods, get a top notch wideout!

It wasn't like he was making plays all over the field anymore but the Bears do miss linebacker Brian Urlacher's feel for the game on defense.  Lovie has taken over the defense and the Bears have been getting torched so bad you'd think the O'Leary's were up in the pressbox.

It was also Lovie and the Bears that shipped Thomas Jones out of town to make room for Cedric Benson who also wore out his welcome.  They sure love him in Cincinnati though.

Jim Zorn of the Washington Redskins has been coaching as if two of his harshest critics, Sonny Jurgensen and John Riggins, are still on the team.  When your resume stood out because you were supposed to be a hot shot offensive coordinator, you should at least do something innovative.  Lulling opposing defenses to sleep isn't working.

There is no mystery here.  Zorn will soon have plenty of time to work on his golf strategy.  Who knew when he yelled "FORE" he was talking about how many games the Skins might win this season.

Is Eric Mangini that guy who keeps showing up at parties and everyone soon leaves?  Was it mostly Brett Favre in New York?

In fairness to Mangini, the Cleveland Browns have been a mess long before he got there.  It just looks worse now.  Front office problems, personnel problems, LeBron didn't pick football as his primary sport, you name it, the Browns just can't win.  And to make matters worse, it looks like they should have left Brady Quinn sitting in the draft room.

Mangini might do some hocus-pocus and keep his job. If he does, job number one after the season is to head to Home Depot 'cause everybody in Cleveland needs to be issued a shovel to help clean up this poop.

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If you've got some names to add to the Hot Seat list, feel free to leave your observations.