On Monday, the University of Arizona made the costly choice to fire head football coach Mike Stoops and pay a $1.4 million buyout. Our stand is there wasn't really any other choice.
Many of you have praised Stoops. He took U of A to three straight bowl games - for only the second time in school history.
Yet, this season was rapidly going downhill.
UA had a 1-5 record, including losing the past 10 Division I games. And Stoops' tantrums on the sidelines were embarrassing the university.
During the past home game, I watched fans - young and old - stream out of the stadium at half time. Stoops was quickly losing the support of boosters.
UA Athletic Director Greg Byrne had no other choice.
He has to hire a new coach because recruits will not come to play for a coach who looks like he is going to lose his job.
It's time to look to the future for football at the University of Arizona.
Byrne has done a great job with the Arizona's men's and women's basketball program and now it is time for him to work on football. His communication with the fans, boosters and the news media has been good so far.
Let's give him the opportunity to make it happen.
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