Columnn: Syracuse, Ohio State make smart coaching moves

This week proved to be an important one for the human resources departments, or realistically, athletic departments, for two drastically different reasons: The hiring and firing of figures at two prominent programs kept people interested. Once again, some were happy and some were furious.

FIRING
As if people had not heard enough details regarding the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal, now it appears we will be starting from the beginning again, this time with former Syracuse assistant coach Bernie Fine.

Syracuse fired Fine on Sunday. It was 100 percent the correct and appropriate thing to do. Syracuse clearly knows what happened at Penn State and could not take delay a moment on a decision regarding Fine.

Whether or not Syracuse had all the facts yet never mattered. It is too close for comfort to the Penn State allegations to mess around even a little bit. The immediate firing of Fine will most likely save Head Coach Jim Boeheim from the same fate as Joe Paterno. Unless something earth-shattering happens in the next week, Boeheim should keep his job.

The issues in this case might play out in the media even more than those of Penn State because of a loudmouth district attorney, William Fitzpatrick, who is already speaking openly in press conferences about the case. That is not the way to get justice for anyone.

The next couple of weeks will help to see if the firing of Fine was for all the right reasons, but there is absolutely no way Syracuse could have let him sit on the bench for even one more game.

HIRING
All is right with the world in Ohio. The state university will once again have a top-name coach to lead it back into the high rankings of college football teams and back into the hearts of everyone still proud enough to call him or herself a Buckeye fan.

On Monday, Ohio State announced the hiring of Ohio native and former University of Florida Head Coach Urban Meyer. He is 104-23 in his 10 seasons of coaching but was in what he called retirement when he got the call from Ohio State.

This is the best possible move for both Ohio State and Meyer. Meyer, who left due to health and family concerns, gets to go back to the game on his terms. Ohio State gets someone who knows how to win and knows how to control a program.

Buckeye fans should hold their breaths and hope Meyer has pulled out of the slump that produced an 8-5 record his last season at Florida. It will not be the easiest path for Meyer when he gets there. The pain and severity of NCAA penalties may linger for many years to come, but the Buckeyes hope Meyer’s winning records and reigns at Bowling Green, Utah and Florida will carry over to Columbus, Ohio.

Bringing an Ohio native back to his home state is a great story. It helps put Ohio State back near the wholesome image some might still envision it with.

Ohio State fans, players and students are ready to win again. Meyer better know he does not have much time until the camera lights shut off and the real work begins again.

­— cursini@indiana.edu