The Kansas State Wildcats fired Jerome Tang on Sunday, and while that news itself is not shocking, it is shocking that they’re trying to do it “for cause”. In the specific language of the contract, it notes that Tang shall not engage in any behavior, actions or activities that subjects “Coach, KSA, or the University to public disrepute, embarrassment, ridicule or scandal, with such conduct reflecting unfavorably upon KSA or the University’s reputation, or overall primary purposes and mission.”
Gene Taylor said on Sunday night during his press conference, “Basically his comments about the student-athletes [after the Cincinnati game], and the negative reaction to those comments from a lot of sources, both nationally and locally, is where I thought we needed to make the decision.”
This is a total cop-out from Gene Taylor, and there’s no way that it should hold up as a firing “for cause”.
What Did Jerome Tang Say?
Here was the full two-minute press conference from Jerome Tang after his team got blown out by Cincinnati last week.
Tang went on to say he was blessed to do this, but that, “This [loss to Cincinnati] was embarrassing, and that these dudes to not deserve to wear this uniform… I’m embarrassed for the university, our fans, our student sections. It is just ridiculous.”
The quote certainly got a lot of attention locally, and was picked up nationally, including getting discussed on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption. But in many ways, Jerome Tang was standing up for the University and showing pride in the University, saying they are better than the product that took the court last week.
Would it have been nice for Tang to take some more responsibility for the make-up of this team that has wildly underachieved? Yes, absolutely. But in no way is this the kind of situation that rises to the level of “public disrepute, embarrassment ridicule or scandal.” No way.
Kansas State is Playing with Fire
The reality is Kansas State screwed up in giving Tang multiple extensions early in his Kansas State tenure. It was a mistake. Kansas State screwed up. And now they don’t want to pay the price for the screw up. And it could backfire in a major way.
What agent with a quality head coaching candidate is going to advise his client to take the job in Manhattan if Kansas State fights hard to not pay a buyout to Jerome Tang? What coach, regardless of agent, is going to find this job appealing as this buyout battle gets more attention? You think Brad Underwood would consider this for a second?
For the record, the buyouts are out of control in college athletics. These universities need to wise up, pay a fair market rate to football and basketball coaches, and knock it off with these buyouts that cost tens of millions of dollars. Once a couple of prominent schools stand up to the chaos, it will begin to subside. But anyone can start the trend.
That being said, Tang had the buyout. And if now is the time that Kansas State felt it needed to fire him, then they owe him the buyout. Fair and square. And if they want to be upset with someone over it, they need to start in the mirror, not in Tang’s contract. The answer is much more clear-cut in the former than it is in the latter anyway.
