Getting fired for taking an interview? Really Boston College?

The current head coach of the Boston College football team, Jeff Jagodzinski, has apparently been asked to interview for the same position with the NFL's New York Jets. The word out of BC is that if Coach Jag just goes to the interview, he will be fired. While some are outraged with this suggestion, others are applauding the school's decision. I am not sure whether it is right or wrong, but I do see both sides of the argument.

Coach Jagodzinski does have a five year contract with Boston College that does not expire until after the 2011 season. He has a class of recruits and returning players that expect him to be their coach, that's why they want to be Eagles. According to the Athletic Director, Gene DiFilippo, says he and the coach had an understanding that Jagodzinski would be at the school well after the 2008 season. I actual think all of these are good reasons for the potential firing. In this day and age, a contract really means nothing. Coaches sign long extensions for ridiculous amounts of money knowing in the back of their head that they will jump ship for the right situation and the right price. Look no further back then last off season and the move from West Virginia to Michigan of Rich Rodriguez. After taking the job in Ann Arbor, his contract with WVU stated he had a four million dollar buyout for leaving on his contract. He and the school went to court over this clause that was in the contract. If the buyout was in the contract when he signed it, Coach Rodriguez should have to pay. But with some arguing in the media and some more than likely overpaid attorneys involved, they settled the dispute, when there should have been no dispute. AD DiFilippo is making sure that his coach is held responsible for his actions by not honoring his commitment and fulfilling the contract that he signed two years ago. The NCAA puts so many restrictions on the movement of the student-athletes that it is about time someone made the coaches realize that they should have restrictions too.

On the flip side, isn't this just following the American dream? If you do your job well, you should have the opportunity to improve your situation for yourself professionally and for the benefit of your family. In the profession of coaching football, it doesn't get any bigger than coaching in the NFL. If Coach Jag has done a job worthy of getting an interview with the Jets, good luck to you. I would rather have a coach that is garnering that kind of attention than one that gets no offers. This just shows what a good job he is doing with his current program that someone in need wants his services to fix their problems. Also, let us keep in mind that BC would also need a new coach. Now it has been noted that the Eagles would try to fill the job with another coach already on the staff. Playing Devil's advocate for a moment, what would DiFilippo have to do if all the in house coaches follow Coach Jagodzinski to the NFL. Well he would have to start a nationwide search for a new head coach. Some of the best candidates are guys like Turner Gill, Norm Chow, Charlie Strong among others. But in order for any of them to take the BC job, they would have to (dare I say) break there current contracts to take the job. Now just because they all interview for the position does not necessarily mean that they get the job. So why would it be alright for Boston College to interview candidates that are under contract somewhere else but it is not fine for their current coach to look for a better job? There is no logic that says that is ok, other then the old schoolyard mantra "Finders Keepers." DiFilippo have found his coach, now leave him here and find your own coach, NY Jets.

I am not important enough, nor do I get paid enough to say who's thinking is correct. Even though both sides of the argument have merit, it will be the coach and the AD that will have to live with the decision. No matter how wrong they both may be.