Wins outweigh Guy’s character
Brent Guy’s integrity, class, character and a 70-percent team graduation rate were trumped by an 8-38 on-field performance over the past four years.
In an 11:30 a.m. press conference Monday at The Coppermill, USU Director of Athletics Scott Barnes announced the firing of Guy.
“It was a difficult decision because of the person Brent Guy is,” Barnes said. “He has led our program with integrity and character. In the end the lack of any significant or sustainable momentum was the reason. In addition, progress was undoubtedly made, but progress that translates to wins certainly wasn’t there.”
Barnes said he made the decision after Saturday’s loss to Louisiana Tech. He said he asked Guy Sunday to step down after the Nov. 29 season finale against New Mexico State. Guy then informed the team of the decision, after which Barnes met with the team without Guy or his coaching staff.
During Monday’s weekly Western Athletic Conference coaches teleconference, Guy spoke in subdued tones about being shown the door.
“It’s what college football is all about – production and wins on the field,” Guy said. “We didn’t make enough improvement on the field, and in the end that was the reason. It is what it is on the field. I feel we made progress on the field, but we didn’t make progress in the win column.”
Guy said the team didn’t say anything to him when he made the announcement.
“You get a little shocked,” Guy said. “I’ve hopefully coached them that it’s about production. That’s the way life is.”
Barnes said he has started a nationwide search with a committee consisting of himself and USU President Stan Albrecht. This, Barnes said, will allow a decision to be made more quickly.
“It makes us a little more nimble,” Barnes said. “Again, I have folks I will rely on to continually provide feedback and notes. That does create an opportunity to move quickly.”
Guy is the third consecutive USU football coach to be fired. Barnes refuted the assertion that this firing will be a step in reverse for the program.
“This is not a do-over,” Barnes said. “This is not a rebuild. We have resources in place and a plan in place that we have not had at Utah State.”
What are those resources? The key ones are things Guy did not have when he was hired Dec. 10, 2004. The major addition was the Jim and Carol Laub Athletics-Academics Complex, located in the north end zone of Romney Stadium.
Barnes said another key improvement is scholarship numbers.
“The number of student-athletes on scholarship and in some cases the talent level is better than it was,” Barnes said.
As for what he will do after Nov. 29, Guy didn’t have an answer.
“I have no idea,” Guy said. “My concern is my coaches and football players doing the best we can to finish out the season. We have to play a team in New Mexico State that has great scoring potential. My future right now is playing New Mexico State. I have no idea what the future holds for me.”
–samuel.hislop@aggiemail.usu.edu