I think I have decided what the worst job ever must be.
This guy had the worst job ever, apparently.
I think I read on Monday that the New York Jets were interested in interviewing Jeff Jagodzinski. Apparently the Boston College staff also heard that the NYJ were interested in interviewing Jags, and immediately issued an ultimatum, which amounted to do the interview, and you’ll be fired.
There’s all kinds of things wrong with this. In no particular order:
- Jags hasn’t done anything but proven he can win with another coach’s players. Why the heck would the Jets be interested in him? Why did he actually think an NFL team, even if it is a crappy team like the Jets, would be interested in him?
- Why would anybody threaten to fire an employee if they took an interview?
So that was funny. But not nearly as funny as when Jags took the interview anyway, knowing that he’d probably be fired.
“Despite the threat from athletic director Gene DeFilippo, Jagodzinski plans to do the interview with the Jets, the sources said. Those sources said that in the event Jagodzinski is fired, B.C. would promote offensive coordinator Steve Logan to head coach.”
Three years ago, Tom O’Brien, coach of the BC Eagles for ten years stunned … shocked … mildly amused the ACC by leaving a job at an “up and coming” ACC school for a program that was, well, crappy. North Carolina State hired him away – a crappy team in the same conference (sorry Jeff), that had none of the potential that O’Brien had built in his years at BC. In a nutshell, he went to a worse football program, in the same conference as his old football program, for less money. It was kind of shocking, honestly – leaving a solid, secure job and legacy for a decidedly uphill battle.
Well – maybe not so much surprising now, given this new situation. A guy was making a million dollars or so a season, knew if he took an interview he would be fired, took the interview anyway, and was then fired. So BC’s old coach left for an effective rival school with a serious paycut, and BC’s latest coach willingly walked into the firing squad. What the hell do they do there in Chestnut Hill?
So, Jags was 20-8 over his career, and O’Brien was 75-45 – but he started from scratch. Not too shabby. Both more or less willingly left. So clearly, it’s the worst job ever.
Full disclosure: Boston College is one of Virginia Tech’s main rivals, as most of you are well aware. This is why I find this so amusing, as they’ve been our opponent in the last two ACC championship games. I love that the program is so ridiculously messed up that nobody actually wants to coach there. Part of me wonders if Jags knew that recruiting had dropped since O’Brien left, and he was out of good O’Brien talent and knew the run was coming to an end, so losing the job and saving face in this manner was the best thing possible for him. He comes out smelling like roses, while BC comes out like the crazy ex-girlfriend that West Virginia was when their coach left last year.
