This was well-deserved.
You could not bring him back after Friday night. You just couldn't. The culture had to change. The attitude had to change. Everything needs to change around here.
I have zero sympathy for Mase for so many reasons. He will be well-compensated for his firing with that generous contract extension. He has had more than enough time to get the job done at the U. He has had his chances here. I expected him to be here next year, but to me, this was over Friday night. Joel Maturi could not ignore this.
Mason was fired for this reason. His teams choked leads and Mason clearly could never find solutions when teams made a run. If anyone got to watch Friday night's game on the NFL Network, you will notice that Mason clearly had a look of a man that had no clue what to do. He was like screaming at the refs and begging for calls. He clearly had no idea what to do and I have to figure Joel and Robert Brubinks realized that and made that decision. Losing in important Big 10 games also was a factor in the coach's firing, but Friday's game was the topper.
Was Mason a failure? I have to say yes. He deserves credit for taking this team to another level and he put a lot of time into his job. With that said, he had no idea how to put this team into a big-time program. The recruiting was fine, but his philosophy about how defense does not matter is why the Gophers are what they are. He also was a horrible gameday coach which is why I consider him a failure. For the money he was being paid here, he should have done better.
To me, the decision to fire Mase was Brubinks. I know he was not crazy about giving Mason that extension. I doubt Joel Maturi would make a decision like this. Hell he kept Monson this season after rumors that he was going to be gone in March. The president of the university had to be fed up.
Who I want as a next coach? We are not getting a major league head coach like a Rich Rodriguez, Greg Schiano, Karl Dorrell, or any of that ilk here. It will be a young coach. I am very intrigued with Mike Tomlin. I don't know what his future plans are. I know he wants to be a head coach, but what level. If he is committed to the pros, it won't happen. I would hope he would take the college game because I think he can win here at the U and he is a guy that has a good personality to win recruits and create relationships. If not Tomlin, I would say Rick Neuhisel, but will the Gophers take a risk on a slick guy like him.
Who knows how the new hire will do, but the bottom line is this. Mason had to go. His time has come and gone. It wasn't getting better. I have been a Mason guy up until this year and this loss Friday night was it for me. I don't think fans had any more confidence in him. It was clear the alumnis and the board of trustees had enough of him. His bosses could not take it anymore.
As for Mason, I doubt he will ever be hired from a big-time program. Why would they considering he is a horrible gameday coach? He will likely work for a small college program like he used to be at Kansas. He will get a job, bu Minnesota was going to be the best as it comes for him.