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Losing big games was Cooper's downfall
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Losing to the biggest rival and losing in
the biggest games finally caught up with Ohio State University football coach
John Cooper.
|  | | John Cooper leaves Ohio State with a 111-43-4 mark in 13 seasons at the Buckeyes' helm, ranking second on the school's all-time wins list. |
He was fired Tuesday, a day after the Buckeyes were defeated
24-7 by unranked South Carolina in the Outback Bowl. That defeat left Cooper 3-8 in bowl games.
Though the defeat extended the school's poor bowl showing,
athletic director Andy Geiger said Cooper's dismissal "did not
hinge on winning or losing the Outback Bowl."
Cooper's Buckeyes struggled under the spotlight, going just
2-10-1 against archrival Michigan to go with the losing bowl
record. Six times in his 13 years, the Buckeyes closed out their
season with consecutive defeats to Michigan and in a bowl game.
"I'm sure that was a big factor, and the reason I won't be
coaching here anymore," said Cooper, who had hoped to coach at
least one more season.
Geiger said the Outback Bowl's outcome was "sort of a capstone
on what we have seen as a deteriorating climate within the football
program."
"Concern about discipline, competitiveness, academic pursuits,
a whole series of things. I thought yesterday, unfortunately, was
an exhibit of all those things rolled into one," he said.
Cooper disputed those concerns and said he couldn't think of an
off-the-field problem this year that affected his team.
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Tue., Jan. 2
The firing of John Cooper comes with mixed emotions for me. I was Cooper's first recruit at Ohio State and a captain for him. I have a loyalty to him and I feel for him and his family at this unfortunate time. However, looking at the situation objectively, I know the University made the best move considering what had been the direction of the program. I'm sure it was a difficult decision, but they handled it appropriately by making it as quickly as possible following the bowl game.
The program had lost their focus on the goals which had enabled them to be a championship caliber team throughout the mid-90s. They had become more of a selfish, individual team and had lost discipline, character and integrity. Hopefully whomever they bring in can revitalize the program and bring back those essential elements. They will need someone who will demand discipline from the players.
Looking forward, Glen Mason and Walt Harris are considered the front runners for the job, and assistant head coach Fred Pagac will also receive a lot of attention. Pagac played for Woody Hayes and has been an assistant at OSU for over 25 years.
With all due respect to the governor, this is the biggest job in Ohio. OSU will be able to bring in just about anyone in the country; it is a top five-premier-type of job, and the search for a new coach will be conducted as such. An Ohio--not necessarily Ohio State--connection may be key; someone who maybe didn't go to school there, but was born or grew up in Ohio. They're looking for a Buckeye.
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Ohio State will pay Cooper $1.8 million to buy out the last
three years of his contract, which paid him more than $1 million
a season. Cooper said he hoped defensive coordinator Fred Pagac
would be his replacement.
Although favored in the game Monday, Ohio State lost to a South
Carolina team that went 0-11 last season and was the only unranked
team in a New Year's Day bowl.
In the weeks before the Outback Bowl, a starting wideout fell
off the team with a 0.00 grade-point average, the team most valuable player and
leading rusher was held out of the starting lineup for missing the
first practice in Tampa, and one offensive lineman sued another for
$50,000 in the wake of an on-field fight in the spring.
Minnesota, coached by former Ohio State player and Hayes
assistant Glen Mason, upset the Buckeyes 29-17 this season. Mason,
who might be a top candidate to replace Cooper, said he cried on the
way to the game when he thought how much Ohio State had meant to
his career.
Mason told WCCO-TV Tuesday night that he had not been contacted
by Ohio State.
The 63-year-old Cooper was 111-43-4 at Ohio State, which
finished second in the final Associated Press poll in 1996 and 1998 seasons.
But he never lived up to OSU's Woody Hayes' high standards.
Cooper's victory total and tenure at Ohio State were exceeded
only by Hayes, who went 205-61-10 in 28 seasons and led the
Buckeyes to the 1968 national title.
Cooper once said he would always pale in comparison to the
revered Hayes, who died in 1987.
"A lot of people are never going to like me," Cooper said.
Cooper became Ohio State's 21st head coach on Dec. 31, 1987,
succeeding Earle Bruce, who was 81-26-1 in nine seasons.
Cooper had gone 82-40-2 in 11 years as a head coach at Arizona
State and Tulsa, and was an assistant at Iowa State, Oregon State,
UCLA, Kansas and Kentucky.
Ohio State officials said Arizona State's 22-15 victory over
Michigan in the 1986 Rose Bowl was a key factor in their decision
to hire Cooper.
Ohio State was a contender for national titles under Cooper, but
could never follow through.
"His record is good. Beating Notre Dame twice is good," Bruce
said in a telephone call from his home in Florida. "But I guess if
you're talking about being remembered at Ohio State, you've got to
talk about the Michigan games and the bowl games."
In 1995, the Buckeyes won their first 11 games before losing at
Michigan. Five weeks later, Ohio State lost to Tennessee in the
Florida Citrus Bowl.
The 1996 team won its first 10 games and was ranked No. 2 when
it lost to Michigan. That team rebounded to edge Arizona State
20-17 in the Rose Bowl.
Ranked No. 1 in the preseason, the 1998 team stayed atop the
polls until Nov. 7, when it lost to 17-point underdog Michigan
State. The Buckeyes won their last three games, including victories
over Michigan and against Texas A&M in the Sugar Bowl, to again
finish No. 2 in the final rankings.
In 1999, though, the Buckeyes went 6-6 after closing with three
consecutive losses. They didn't play in a bowl for the first time
since Cooper's first season.
This year, the Buckeyes won their first five games to climb into
the top 10 but faltered down the stretch and wound up 8-4.
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South Carolina 'Brews' up an Outback Bowl romp
Division I football coaching changes
The College Gameday Crew analyzes Ohio State's decision to fire John Cooper.: Real 56.6 | ISDN | T1
John Cooper disagrees with the dismissal, but will respect Andy Geiger's decision. (Courtesy: WSYX): wav 260 k
Real 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Ohio State AD Andy Geiger says John Cooper's departure is a culmination of many things. (Courtesy: WSYX): wav 166 k
Real 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
Bobby Bowden is discouraged by the dismissal of John Cooper.: wav 135 k
Real 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6
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