Why James Franklin fired Kirk Ciarrocca, even though he knew he might have to replace Mike Yurcich next year Jones

Three main questions arise as a result of James Franklin’s quick elimination of his offensive coordinator, which was announced yesterday morning with more than a little surprise:

1. How can you fire Kirk Ciarrocca after only one season when he had no personal preparation work due to the COVID pandemic with players he barely knew, and then lost his top two backs before the second series of the season? Does the man not deserve another year?

2. How would the offense of Mike Yurcich, Ciarrocca’s replacement, be significantly different or more effective? What in his past as OC in Texas (2020), QB coach at Ohio State (2019) and OC in Oklahoma State (2013-18) can we extrapolate in his new job as OC in Penn State?

3. How can you depend on Yurcich to hold himself for more than a year when it’s his fourth concert at another school in the last four years and he’s pretty clearly on his way to a head coach position if he passes?

Answer # 1

I think it all comes back to a point that I was forced to emphasize it again, even though I’ve done it before and tired of the theme myself: the crazy salaries in the football coaching of universities today drive this insane game of music chairs. Assistants can so easily double their salaries by switching from mailbox to coordinator and double it again from four to two times from coordinator to head coach, that program loyalty is an archaic concept. You can not blame them for looking for work.

But in this case, I will go one step further: I think head coaches have surrendered themselves to market power. They do not even try so hard to stabilize their staff because they think it is a lost cause.

Men like James Franklin with high interests are just not going to wait any longer. They see an assistant available that they want, they weigh the guy they have, and if they think it’s an upgrade, they’ll do the same thing a hot assistant with prospects would do himself – pull the trigger.

With athletes gaining new freedom to move, it’s a game of transience in all directions. Even the alleged COVID sobriety that we have been shown to have had no effect in this area. Athletic directors, head coaches, assistants, college transfers, high school recruits. Everyone reserves the right to take notice at any time. Either you adapt to reality or you will fall behind those who remain constantly vigilant and proactive.

Is it fair that Ciarrocca did not have more time? No, not even a little. I would say it was a pretty cold step for Franklin, given the circumstances.

But you know what else? With the money flying around these days, Ciarrocca will grab somewhere and take very good care of his family. It’s not like getting fired.

And he knew when he moved from Minnesota to the landscape of the sport in which he works. Even more so these days than the NFL, I think college football is the epitome of the neo-Mad Men phrase, “a results-oriented enterprise.” You have a narrower window than ever to manufacture. And if you do not swim fast, the first wave pulls you back.

Answer # 2

By all accounts, this is an impressive rental. The 45-year-old Yurcich is a man from Cleveland who first played quarterback at the legendary Division III powerhouse, Mount Union (OH), and then transferred to California (PA), where he is a three-year beginner. wash.

There started a long coaching period in a small college PSAC ball, first in Edinboro, then in Shippensburg, where she set QB, Zach Zulli, Perkiomen Valley, all sorts of NCAA Division II records. In 2012, Zulli led all divisions with 4,747 passing yards and 54 touchdowns (a D-II record). His 344 points scored both over and running was another D-II single season record.

This caught the attention of avid web browser Mike Gundy who did extensive internet research in search of a new OC. He had to be sent away to a local firefighter who shot the Ship U. games for videotape. But he loved what he saw. Yes, he is actually considering hiring a D-II assistant to be his OC at a Power Five heavyweight.

It took the Oklahoma State head coach for a while to track down Yurcich, as he trades communication lines of small college, unanswered office phones, and small administrative staff. But when he did, he liked what he heard during a long conversation.

As Adam Rittenberg of ESPN.com put it in a great 2017 narrative, Gundy Yurcich offered the job by telephone – $ 400,000 per season over four years – in the market value of Garden Variety Coordinator in 2013. There was no answer to the other side of the line for a few seconds so Gundy had to make sure the connection was not lost. Gundy asked Yurcich if he should consult his wife. He answers no, it will not be necessary. Look, he’s earning $ 52,000 at Ship.

It took him a few years, the second one rougher than the first. Okie State fans have become impatient with what appears to have been a breastfeeding. But as soon as Yurcich started hitting a groove with his second full-back Mason Rudolph in 2015, the Cowboys were in the race. They presented large offensive numbers and crowd-pleasing plays.

The highlight arrived in 2017: Rudolph won the Unitas award, which won 4553 meters, 35 touches and 9 interceptions, with a .650 completion percentage. The Pokes were average 45 points and 569 yards per game. In their three losses, they scored 31, 40 and 52.

Both selected Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Steelers and honored Yurcich by some great suitors. He remained seated in 2018, but eventually ran into Ryan Day’s hook in 2019 to be the Buckeyes’ QB coach and passing game coordinator. Coaching Justin Fields and OSU’s receiver squadron was too much to pass. So was the annual salary of $ 950,000.

Yurcich acted again. That is, Fields and his targets performed. The QB had a phenomenal second season, with 3,273 yards, 41 TDs and only 3 interceptions with a 672 percent. Day and Kevin Wilson committed the offense, so Yurcich did not name plays. He simply did the work he was hired for – to make a raw diamond in a finished gem that maximizes the production of recipients Chris Olave, KJ Hill, Binjimen Victor and Garrett Wilson. Only Penn State and Wisconsin were close to delaying the passing game in Buckeye; not even Clemson could really achieve his 28-23 CFP semi-victory.

What a call from the Buckeyes’ former assistant in exactly the same job, Tom Herman, head coach, the man who eliminated three OSU QBs through injuries on his way to the national title in 2014.

After raising his ceiling in Columbus and eager to reconnect with the coordinator duties, Yurcich accepted an annual salary of $ 1.7 million as the offensive coordinator of Longhorns (later to $ 1.5 million through a UT COVID wage cut), which made him the tenth highest – paid assistant in college football. He would technically share OC duties with O-line specialist and former PSU assistant Herb Hand, but Yurcich was at the helm.

Or was he? Among a quartet of Texas experts I consulted for this story, everyone expressed doubts that Yurcich called the shots in full. Three independently noted that they think he is being forced to change his usual “jet” pace for the more conservative Herman, in part because Longhorns’ defense was terrified early on and Herman found it important that it be as long as possible from the field had to be kept. .

Texas has put up some big numbers, especially late. But there were questions as to why true first-year rugby player Bijan Robinson, a future NFL pro, did not get the ball until the last few games, including an Alamo Bowl blowout from Colorado. And others about Herman’s love affair with QB Sam Ehlinger, a tough runner who really did not have the arm to effectively threaten the defense.

The Horns have won 5 of their last 6 and scored many points, but look sloppy in streaks. They blew a 10-point lead at home to Iowa State in the third quarter and lost a critical 23-20 decision, without failing both a false point, and then a 4th-and-1 after they had a 30-goal goal put them up halfway through the fourth quarter. These were definitely Herman override decisions of the kind that head coaches usually make.

In every way, Yurcich tried to adapt his scheme – running game and a pocket caretaker QB who launched vertical play action, always out of the gun – to his incompetent staff and dominant head coach. But the 7-3 end of Horns with losses against the nemeses Oklahoma, Texas, Christian and ISU, fired Herman and his staff. His unexpected dismissal by Texas AD Chris Del Conte just last week (in favor of Steve Sarkisian, of all candidates) released Yurcich on an extraordinarily late date in what Franklin likes to call “silly season”, the scramble of coaches in December and the endless accompanying rumor mill.

Answer # 3

Which, by the way, never yielded much chatter about Yurcich, and not a glimpse of the national agent dogs associating him with Penn State. Franklin moves slyly.

Interestingly, after spending 12 seasons at the obscure NAIA and Division II levels, Yurcich then began embracing the career ladder at six more at his first FBS stop, Oklahoma State. Gundy told Rittenberg for the ESPN.com story three years ago that he fully expects Yurcich to become a head coach, even though he has never been one at any level. And when assistants start working, that’s almost always the ultimate goal.

Well, Yurcich stays one step away. He could have climbed it from Texas if Herman had not been fired. While Ciarrocca had little ambition to become a head coach and has the humble, modest personality of a career assistant, it seems that Yurcich certainly has the necessary ambition and drive and that the vibrant personality matches. An AD can sell him to his donors, chancellor and supporter base.

There is definitely material to work with at PSU next season, especially with some experienced pocket walkers, talented runners and capable young receivers in the stable. The recently announced return of WR Jahan Dotson would not hurt Franklin’s pitch for Yurcich.

The potential reward is available to everyone if the new OC PSU turns into a point machine.

So the answer is: Franklin could not possibly hold on if the Nittany Lion offense has a big 2021 series and excels in the big games. Like Joe Moorhead after 2017, Yurcich will be worth at least four times what Penn State pays him, and he will get a chance to run his own store.

Then the man who barely earned a schoolteacher’s salary eight years ago will go to his fifth school in five years to earn a hundred times as much.

And Franklin will start flipping through his black book again. This is the way it really works these days in big college football, where austerity measures are still a rumor.

More PennLive sports coverage:

• What should the new Penn State offense look like in 2021? Get to know Mike Yurcich, his style, and more.

• James Franklin of Penn State sends Kirk Ciarrocca in after one season, breaking into his fifth OC in eight years.

• For Frank Reich, traveling back to Buffalo for game card playoffs evokes fond memories, but that’s all about Jones now.