Getty ImagesWe posted a video (or a link to a video because of some NSFW language) last week of Wyoming coach Dave “Flyboy!” Christensen going bananas (B-A-N-A-N-A-S!) on Air Force coach Troy Calhoun after a 28-27 loss. Christensen had already issued an apology for the profanity-laced rant, but we called for more action from either the University of Wyoming and/or the Mountain West Conference for what was some seriously out-of-line behavior.
Someone listened. Or, just had a dose of common sense.
Wyoming athletic director Tom Burman said in a Monday press conference that Christensen has been fined $50,000 and suspended for one week for his outburst. Christensen, who was notified this morning of his punishment and will be reinstated Sunday, will not be allowed to attend practice or be in team facilities. Cowboys assistant Pete Kaligis will act as interim coach for this Saturday’s game against No. 21 Boise State.
As for how this situation would affect Christensen’s job security — Wyoming has just one win this season — Burman said the plan is for Christensen to be the team’s coach next year.
(Hat tip: Star-Tribune’s Ben Frederickson)
Didn’t realize the guy had only one win this season. No wonder he went bonkers. He’s probably terrified he’s going to lose his job. The punishment seems a tad harsh, but given the way parents go berserk at little kids’ games these days, it’s probably good for Wyoming to say the over-the-top stuff won’t fly.
You realize that we’re all going to have Gwen Stefani in our heads for the rest of the night, right? lol
YOU called for harsher punishment? Well, who are you? ( on my roger daltrey voice)
The biggest irony (and faux pas) of the rant was it happened against a service academy on the day Wyoming was wearing uniforms to honor servicemen. I’m an Air Force fan, so I’m certainly not defending Christensen for what was clearly a classless act, but I don’t think that incident warrants a fine of any kind if not for that. I couldn’t hear him on the telecast and while he was clearly mad, he didn’t grab Calhoun or anything. $50K is a pretty major fine for basically yelling at somebody.
$50,000 fine for that? You hear that every day in NYC.
“Burman said the plan is for Christensen to be the team’s coach next year.”
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That is, until another coach can be lined up.
Deb, I don’t think that the punishment is harsh at all. If “most of us” were in a position to be the public face of a university or any organization and were caught on film, in public, giving a speech consisting mostly of a string of “f-bombs”, then “most of us” would be fired on the spot. Especially over a non-issue that could have been overcome anyway.
I do have to admit to BK that the “flyboy” reference just cracks me up. I suppose that channeling the inner WVU I got from the in-laws.
@dmcgrann …
That’s true, but he was on a football field where that language isn’t … unexpected. The suspension seems appropriate, but the $50,000 might have been a little excessive. I doubt he makes Saban money.
Christenson makes $700k per year…thats great money in the average worker world, but he is in the bottom third of football coaching salaries, but then again, he is at Wyoming and not in one of the big five conferences(ACC, B1G, Big12,Pac12, SEC)
just fyi, the lowest paid coaches in college football are:
Dennis Franchoine@Texas St(formerly of N.Mexico, TCU, Alabama and Texas A&M), Larry Coker of UT-San Antonio(formerly Miami) and Todd Berry of Louisiana Monroe….all are paid $250k per year…..Berry will probably move up after this season…Coach Fran and Coker both got big payouts in their last jobs.
the next lowest paid guy is W. Kentucky coach Willie Taggert at $300k, and Im sure Kentucky will make a move for him if they fire Joker Phillips at the end of the season
Funny thing – Calhoun got called out for what his player DID do. His player did it because he’s afraid of Calhoun’s wrath.
Classless? Nah. Calhoun knew it was true. Calhoun is a “do as I say, not as I do” guy.
The darker side of how close games are won or lost got exposed by Christenson’s post game rant. … Reality TV at it’s very BEST.