Out of respect for Gary Barnett’s privacy, we won’t ask why he decided to stay at Northwestern for now.
We won’t inquire as to why he would turn his back on the University of Texas, which reportedly was ready to double his $500,000-a-year salary at Northwestern.
It’s nobody’s business, after all.
It’s not the business of the assistant coaches and football support staff who spent the last three days writhing over how this year’s will-he-stay-or-will-he-go saga would turn out.
It’s not the business of the prospective recruits struggling with the hardest decision of their young lives, wondering if the man with the purple promises is still going to be around when they get to Evanston. It’s not the business of the fans who’ve filled Ryan Field, or of the university administrators who have twisted themselves into pretzels to make Barnett happy.
Coach has decided to stay for now. End of statement.
Besides, Barnett may not be able to answer the most important question: When does it end?
When does a coach with a sub-.500 lifetime record and a 12-year guaranteed contract stop listening to suitors?
Know that Northwestern officials are asking themselves that question at this very moment. Yes, they’re thrilled Barnett is staying. He is talented and principled and a fine representative of one of the nation’s better universities.
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But at some point Barnett’s willingness to entertain other offers raises questions about his commitment to Northwestern. That point is now.
In the blush of the 1995 Rose Bowl season, it was understandable that Barnett would want to explore all his options; he needed leverage against Northwestern, and he parlayed it into that long-term contract and better pay for his assistant coaches. He didn’t know if he’d ever be as hot again.
And last year, after Barnett proved that 1995 was no fluke, he would have been foolish not to weigh the opportunity to coach at Notre Dame. How many coaches are asked to follow in the footsteps of Knute Rockne, not to mention Ara Parseghian and Dan Devine?
But this year’s flirtation is testing the patience of the many people who admire Barnett, who consider him more than just another whistle-toter.
Experience tells them that they can’t relax yet. Southern Cal might soon be looking for a head coach. That Penn State job is going to open up one of these centuries. And what if the Bears ever dump Dave Wannstedt? Michael McCaskey is known to like Barnett . . .
As long as Barnett is willing to listen, someone will always be ready to ask. He’s proven he can win at the highest collegiate levels while maintaining laudable priorities about education and athletics. There aren’t many of those around.
It’s possible the suitors will eventually get wise to the tease. It’s also possible the annual runaround will begin to make a dent in Northwestern’s recruiting. For the last two years Midwestern rivals have told prep stars: Barnett isn’t going to stay, son. If he was, why is he allowing himself to be No. 1 on everyone’s wish list?
That question can’t be answered as long as the DO NOT DISTURB sign hangs from the door of the NU football offices.
Many years ago, the Detroit Lions asked LaVell Edwards to be their head coach.
Edwards thought he’d take it, then changed his mind. He decided that, no matter what he accomplished in Detroit, he would always be the next Lions coach to be fired.
At Brigham Young, he would always be the builder, the sustainer. He’d always be on a first-name basis with his campus.
As Edwards retold the story to a visitor in Provo this year, he motioned out the window of his office. Though it was early summer, the sun was sparkling off the snow-capped peaks of the Wasatch Mountains.
“I’ve got a great deal here,” Edwards said.
Barnett does too. One of these years he might even realize it.