Colorado State University Athletics
Sonny Lubick press conference transcript
11/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 27, 2007
Paul Kowalczyk opening statement:
I'd like to thank everyone for being here today. It goes without saying that Coach Lubick is a first-class, value-driven man with more integrity and character than most of us could ever hope to have. He has countless accomplishments to his credit, and -- although wins are extremely important to us here at CSU - more significantly, Sonny has been the standard of how to shape and mold the lives of young men.
Sonny has represented Colorado State University with the utmost dignity and professionalism and I have truly enjoyed working with him for the year-and-a-half that I have been on this job. And that is why I struggled with a decision that I felt had to be made.
I do not take these decisions or my responsibility as director of athletics lightly. How do I balance properly honoring a legacy with my duty to the institution? Do I go with my head or my heart? I realize the profound impact such decisions have on so many people. In the end I felt it was time for change within the football program and 10 days ago, I asked Sonny to step down and consider helping the university in another capacity.
There has been an outpouring of appreciation and support for Sonny, as it should be. Please realize, this hasn't been a Paul vs. Sonny, or Sonny vs. CSU issue. It's been about trying to work together to meet the needs of the university, while having Sonny continue to be a part of the legacy that he built.
I can say with all honesty, that I have approached this matter with great sensitivity to Sonny, Carol Jo and their family, and I think Sonny can attest to that as well. I have always worked to do the right thing and to do it well, but I also regret the way that this has been portrayed and I apologize to the university community, to the alums, and to Sonny and Carol Jo.
Now as we moved forward, we are here to celebrate Sonny's career and pay homage to a gentleman, in every sense of the word, who has meant so much to CSU.
Sonny and I were talking yesterday and he said, "You know Paul, when this is all over you and I will be friends." I said, "Sonny, it mentioned in one article, us having a beer together, and I think we need to do that. " And he said, "I think we'll need a case."
Ladies and gentleman...Coach Sonny Lubick.
Sonny Lubick:
"I would too like to thank you all for coming. I certainly did not realize it was going to be this much of a big deal. I see our players who I just met with a couple of minutes ago. I'm glad that some of you could stick around and hear this. I'm sure it's not going to be something that you haven't heard before but as you all know I have been relieved of my duties here 10 days ago as Paul (Kowalczyk) said. Before I get into that I did write some notes, and these guys in the front (the press) have seen me for 15 years without any notes. So I'll probably screw this up.
We have a little saying in our meeting rooms, especially in our DB (defensive backs) meeting, about missed opportunities. And this cannot be a missed opportunity for me to tell you how grateful I am that all of you have come here to find out the real truth.
I don't think there's a coach in the country who has had 15 years as good and as fun as I have had. I just told my last team here, I want everybody to know this: I as coach of 15 teams enjoyed coaching every one of them. That's why I wanted to come back last year. I looked at the senior leadership. They never give up on themselves, their coaches or their university. I have had more success than I have ever imagined. I came to Colorado State 15 years ago thinking I would probably be in the same mold, four-five years later, I'd be out, because that had been the precedent for the seven previous coaches here.
In 1982, Leon (Fuller) got the job, and the local newspaper guy who has Tony's (Tony Phifer, Fort Collins Coloradoan) job right now said, `Leon, will you come down to the cemetery with me? This is the graveyard, the last six guys have been fired.' He wanted to get Leon's tombstone up there before he'd even started. Well that's why I can hold my head and my coaches' heads high, because we broke the mold that lasted 15 years with as good of a program that put Colorado State in the right frame and doing it the right way with great coaches and better players.
My motto was always this: We didn't out-talent them, we didn't have a lot of other things that people had, but we did have this: We did have heart, we had character and all that it took to make a winning football team.
I want to thank Dr. Yates for taking a chance on a lowly assistant coach at the University of Miami. He gave me the opportunity to come to Fort Collins and Colorado State. Of course I was here once before and I think we went through the normal thing when they hire coaches. They had this big-time committee. They brought me in for an interview and we (Miami) were getting ready to play in the Sugar Bowl to play for the national championship. The plane was late, I got here at midnight. I was supposed to get here at seven. I missed all my interviews that day, which was good. And then I went in to have my interview at 9 o'clock in the morning and they had 14 people on the committee. And 10 of them were guys who I had coached. So I thought I had a shoe-in.
I also thank besides Dr. Yates for seeing something in me, the six athletic directors that I've worked with, the six ADs and the three interim ADs. I enjoyed every one of them. Thanks to everyone who supported me, to everyone who is here and many of them who are not here. I never expected this support, this is so overwhelming and people have given so generously. And I know I'll miss everybody. But I have to thank Pat Stryker and the Bohemian Foundation for everything that she has done. She came to a few games and next thing you know she gave us a great gift to keep this university going and keep us in the forefront and give us a chance and show her confidence in Colorado State. Thank you Brett and Danette (Anderson) for what you have done. And Gene (Markley) and everybody and all you guys that have donated so much to Colorado State University. I kid our coaches, even though we lack some funding, in fact, hell, we won more games before we had the McGraw Center.
I see Terry (Pettit, former University of Nebraska women's volleyball coach) back there. The only team room we had, we did not have a team meeting room. Some elderly lady gave our video guy - she said because she liked what we were doing - she gave him $20,000, and to us that was the end of the world, and to help us get a meeting room. I happen to pull my fast one and I said to Gene Markley, `Boy if we had $20,000 we could get a meeting room.' And the next day it was done. Thank you for that.
Thanks to CSU, the faculty who have always been supportive, for me and our coaches. What a wonderful relationship we have built. I know they have watched us with close eye as we came in here they knew after a while that these coaches were doing it the right way, and they knew the student-athletes we brought in were doing it the right way and trying to do the right thing. Your help, because of your trust, Colorado State is an easy sell.
The last two days I sat at home with nothing to do. I did the dishes three times. It was the first time in about 17 years. I was just thinking, we'd be out recruiting going to one of my home appointments.
I said that it's an easy sell, Colorado State, because of the people, the faculty their genuine concern. The parents can feel that. We come in here and I always put them to the test. I say, `When you walk around here this week, make sure when you walk across campus to stop any student on this campus, whether they're an athlete or not, and ask them how do they like Colorado State.' Ask any student, their response is, `I love it here.'
Community. Thank you for all that you've done, your genuine friendship, relationships that I've developed over 15 years. Sometimes I don't know how people care for you. But I do. I got a feel and this episode over the last few days did not change anything for me. I just know the feeling that Carol Jo, our family and I have from this community. I know it's there and it makes us feel good. I know the same thing about our coaches. It was for me, a perfect fit. It's been a perfect fit. Today, life is good. When I got up this morning, I went down and worked out; first time I've worked out for a while, I've been too busy trying to coach. And I went to my coffee place at 7 o'clock and the coffee was still on the house. `Coach, it's on the house.' I always fumble, like I'm reaching (into his pocket), but he said, `This one's on me.' I walk downtown and people say, `Coach...coach...coach.' That's good. That's good.
To my press. you've always been fair to me, more than fair. More than I deserved. We had 15 good years here. They gotta write what's out on the field. I respect you guys. You've done magnificent and I couldn't have asked for any better. But then I get to thinking, `They should have, we won a hell of a lot of games here, too.'
Players, all you guys, all the guys who've ever played for me, thank you. Every job has good, bad. The best part of this job is 2:30, when you meet with the players and you're out on the field with them until 5:30. That is life; that is what makes it fun. I am lucky enough to have some of the best players, I'm not just talking about the guys in the NFL, walk-ons. I'm talking about all of them. I have learned more from my players than I have from anybody.
I told our players, `Failure isn't fatal and success isn't forever.' When I took this job I pinched myself, `When is the bubble going to burst?' The players just kept getting better and better and we just kept going on but I kept thinking this can't go on forever.
Thanks to the coaches, Monte Kiffin, who came up here in the spring for 12 hours a day teaching us football.
Thanks to Coach (Mike) Shanahan. Thanks to Coach (Gary) Kubiak, Keli (McGregor) for being a confidant, Clint Hurdle for all his great messages. And last but most important, my family, Carol Jo, (son-in-law) Gerard (Boyle) -- he is working right now, someone in the family has to work. Michelle Boyle, Matt (Lubick), Marc (Lubick), our grandchildren.
I will be a Ram until the end of time. I'll be in your corner and I'll be watching you closely. Again, I really don't go this long in press conferences, but I didn't want to miss the opportunity to thank you all.
Carol Jo would like to say a word.
Carol Jo Lubick:
First of all, I just want to say that I am proud of my husband, and proud of all the coaches and the job that they have done. I'm not real good at speaking in front of people, but Sonny asked me when he went out the door today, if I would make a couple of comments at the end and take this opportunity to thank every one of you for touching all of our lives in some special way. How fortunate we've been to have the quality coaches we've had, and their families, and the team. The football players through the years are an inspiration to me. We have always been family; we have them into our home, we follow them, go to their weddings and see their children. We will always be family with those of you who are here now.
Coaching has been a wonderful profession for Sonny and I. I'm not even sure how many years we've coached. It's like a roller coaster. There are ups and downs, but I would definitely say that the ups definitely outweigh the downs.
I wish we could go on coaching and this may be premature for us to say that our coaching years are over, but our 15 years at CSU has been the most wonderful ride possible. We have great affection for CSU, for all of their programs, for athletics, for the band that has always been so supportive of us. The community, we've been taken into the community. You can move, in coaching, several times, but when we came here we knew this was home, and everyone opened their arms and accepted us. We hope that we are able are to continue in some way to return to the community what they have given to us. We will always be a CSU Ram.
We are looking forward to whatever lies ahead with great anticipation. When we moved to Miami, I told Sonny that I would not go. I would never raise my kids where there are drugs and whatever, and he said, `Think of it as an adventure,' and it is true. I ended up loving Miami, just like I loved everywhere we've been. So thank you for everything and all I can say is we've been richly blessed.
Kowalczyk on post-retirement employment with CSU: Sonny and I have talked about that. There is some confusion about that matter, so I want to address that at this time. There is a clause in Sonny's contract that addresses post-retirement employment with the university. I'm not quite sure how we got to this point, but the bottom line is that Sonny knows that that opportunity is available if he wants it. The press release that was sent out yesterday was not totally accurate in that regard. He knows, right now, he has time to decide whatever it is he wishes to do and he is always welcome to come back. Whether he has a position or not with this institution, we always want him to be a Ram, be a part of this program, be around this program. But yeah, if Sonny wants a position he will have one with this university. He will have that development, fundraiser, ambassador-type position. What's been reported hasn't been totally correct at this point and we have helped in some of that misinformation.
Lubick on the potential position: Well, everything happened kinda quickly, as one could imagine, and a change in one's whole life, his whole thought process. We haven't even had a chance to think about it. We wanted to get through that Wyoming game, and since that game it's been three days or four days. We really don't know. I know right off the bat that I'm going to head out to see my mother, and Carol Jo, see her mom. They are both ailing. I have no plans right now and it's too early to even speculate on anything.
Lubick on what he told his players about loyalty: I know a lot of people have asked that. That's the big thing to the coaches and the team. What's done is done. It's over and down the road. That's the way she goes. I'm not going to get caught up in that for sure.
Kowalczyk on the committee to find a new head coach: We'll address that at a later date. Right now I just want to honor Sonny and talk about his departure and what he has meant to the university, but we'll get around to that.
Kowalczyk on how difficult the decision was: This is on various levels. First of all, I worked with Sonny for a year-and-a-half, and like everyone else, I've grown to love and respect the gentleman and admire him, so for me personally there was an issue. And, of course, I knew what he meant to this institution, over time, historically, and how he embodies all that we, at CSU, want to represent. That's a real struggle. You don't do those things without thinking through all those factors. It's not been easy. It wasn't easy then and it hasn't been since. He's a first-class act, as you saw and that's what made him so special to Colorado State and this community.
Kowalczyk on who will guide the program in the interim: We have asked someone to handle that for us and we will be taking care of that. We certainly do not want to lose those kids who have committed. That is our plan to honor those commitments. Hopefully they will want to stay with us as well through this transition. (Director of Football Operations) Tom Ehlers will be helping us in that regard. Tom has been with the university for 27 years and I don't want anyone to think that he would be disloyal by doing that; disloyal to Sonny or to his other coaches because he also is another class act.
Kowalczyk on when a coach can leave on his own terms: Again, there are a lot of factors at play. All I know is that when you go through this process and you think about the plusses and minuses, you take all those factors into play. Every place is different, every situation is different.
Kowalczyk on whether he realized how unpopular this decision would be in Colorado: Absolutely.
Kowalczyk on whether an option was given to Coach Lubick: My hope was that we were on the same page with regards to where he was and where we were and that was not the case. At that point, it was `Ok, where do we go from here?'."
Kowalczyk on situation for assistant coaches: I met with the coaches yesterday, yes. I wanted to do that earlier, or as soon as I could, but the way things played out, over time, I wasn't able to do that. But, yes, three month's severance and right now, they still have their cars and their keys. This can be difficult, but we're not trying to kick them out the door and tell them, `Good luck.' We're trying to do this the right way and as best we can.
Kowalczyk on why he felt a change was necessary: Well, I think that if you look at the last four years, really. You look at where the program has been, look at our attendance. And certainly - although I don't base decisions on what the public of the fans are saying - there has been a lot of discontent about where the program is and where it's going. So I thought, if you wait until next year...wait until next year, when does your opportunity run out where you have to start from scratch? We have a lot of equity in this program; we have a great core from which to work. Also, thinking with Sonny's situation with two years on his contract, is it going to be a circus next year...'Are you going to retire, when are you going to retire, what's going to happen next?'. Again, a lot of those factors enter into the thought process.
Kowalczyk on where the department will find money to buy out remaining contract: We will take care of that. We'll find a way.
Kowalczyk on whether there was a defining moment where a decision was made: I wouldn't say that. No, there really wasn't. It's more of a cumulative situation, cumulative effect.
Kowalczyk on why the decision was made before the end of the season: The thinking was - and of course people can judge however they see it fit - to talk to him in advance and think that if this is it, for him to relish that final moment, that final game. To smell the grass, to feel all there is to feel. Your senses are heightened and it would feel more special that way. I don't think it turned out that way, though.
Kowalczyk on what he would tell boosters and community members who disagree with the decision: First of all, this man Sonny Lubick has meant everything to this institution. The first thing is, we're going to try to keep him here, keep him in the fold and keep him a part of the CSU family. That's the first thing. And, secondly, for folks to be patient about the process, who's hired and where we're going next. We're trying to reset the bar here. We want to return Colorado State to the days where we are in the Top 10, and we're nationally ranked, and we win conference championships on a regular basis and that we play in BCS bowls. That's the charge that has been given to me and those are the standards that we want to be judged by. And so, if fans will be patient, ride it out. Obviously this is very emotional for everyone. I felt and heard that emotion and now I think, once it subsides and once people realize that Sonny is OK and good with things as he indicated, that we'll be alright and we'll be reunited and he will continue to be the biggest asset that this institution has.
Kowalczyk on regrets about how the situation played out: These are personal matters and you like to resolve them behind closed doors, and that things aren't leaked and that things aren't played out in the press and that people don't take sides. Our discussions from the beginning have been very amicable and friendly. There's been no name calling or shouting or anything like that. It's been handled with professionalism, internally. Externally, it hasn't looked that way and that's unfortunate. That's unfortunate for everybody involved. To me, this is an outstanding institution and all of us want to represent it in the best way possible.
