BC and Addazio out of limbo, so now what?

When is an extension, not a real extension? When your own press release buries the news in the fourth paragraph on the announcement. The message from Jarmond is light on specifics and lacks any dollar signs (which is typical of BC). It only explains that Addazio's contract was extended for two years. The extension had to be done. BC was in an untenable position...of their own making. But why did they do it like this and what does the future hold?

Clearly BC is frustrated with Addazio. You don't start your message off with we wish we had won more if everything is wonderful. But following the losing streak and the rumors, BC had to say or do something. In College Football it becomes very hard to lock down quality recruits and a quality staff if there is much uncertainty. This public extension provides some relief to Addazio's recruits and anyone he is going to try to bring on as a new staffer. (But as the Coen news mentioned, most of the new hires will probably ask for and get a two-year deal.) That was the only reason for the extension. There are no other suitors out there trying to hire Addazio away from BC. He wasn't walking away either. This settles the public aspect. Behind the scenes is a little different.

You don't drag negotiations after six years, no suitors and a .500 record if you want to secure and pay your coach for the long term. You don't have to because you are negotiating against yourself. While there was incentive to help recruiting, there was no incentive to help the Steve Addazio retirement fund. I don't know any of the specific financials of the deal, but do know that this new commitment won't be a financial obstacle if BC decides to make a change next year.

This means that Addazio is coaching for his job. He's got the talent, the practice facility, a schedule he handpicked, his best recruiting class, a veteran QB and playmakers all over the roster. There are no excuses. And if he doesn't break his ceiling, he will be done.

Knowing this only makes me frustrated with how Martin Jarmond played this. As I said the Sunday after the Syracuse game: Addazio is either the right guy or not. We are not learning anything new in Year 7 that we don't already know in Year 6. He is who he is. While that had value at a certain point to BC and while he does deserve credit for building BC up after Spaz, at what point do we say we can be more? It is a risk, but I think it is a risk worth taking. Jarmond himself has even said in sports you are getting better or you are getting worse. Does he really feel we are getting better or are we stagnant?

I don't know how this will end. My gut tells me it will end with seven wins in 2019 and Addazio being fired. I hope I am wrong because that will mean we wasted a year of everyone's time.

Report: Addazio coming back

According to Football Scoop, which specializes in coaching news and is pretty well sourced, Addazio is coming back for 2019 season. Based on that report and Jarmond's meetings in New York City, it doesn't appear that BC will be making any announcement or extending Addazio beyond his current deal. I don't love this strategy, but I am not the AD. I will have more on the different implications of the non-extension, but for now let's hope it doesn't hurt Early Signing Day.

The longer we wait the less likely there is real news

With multiple national writers claiming Addazio was on the hotseat, many thought there would be news Sunday. Nothing happened, even as most other programs either fired or extended their respective coaches. More rumors followed and no news Monday. Blauds put up a piece claiming Addazio was offered a one year extension for less money. No one else has reported that either. Meanwhile Addazio is on the road visibly recruiting and the local press is talking basketball and bowl games with no mention of looming coaching news.

I don't have any real news, so like most of you, I am left to speculate. I don't think the one-year, low-ball extension story makes sense as a news report or as a strategy. Addazio wouldn't leak that to Blauds and I don't think Jarmond would either. That means if it is sourced -- it is heavy on speculation from someone removed from the actual discussion. I think if they were going to fire Addazio they would have done it already. 1. to lock in a new coach before the early signing day in December and 2. to avoid putting Addazio and his staff on the road locking in kids to a staff that won't coach them. The recruits get screwed during any transition but BC tries to do what's right. Putting a staff out there only to fire them when they get back to Boston isn't right.

I do believe there is some sort of impasse about the extension. Whether it is money or time or the internal politics, for some reason it hasn't been presented to the public.

We will start to get more info when Jarmond hits the road to talk to donors this week. I don't expect him to provide much insight or specifics, but the conversations will at least set an impression of where he, BC and Addazio stand.