Vandy's Johnson made right decision

Bobby Johnson’s sudden resignation or retirement, depending on your viewpoint, has caused plenty of questions about the Vanderbilt football coach’s real motive. Was there something behind stepping down three weeks before the season? Does he have a health problem? Was he trying to set up his assistant, Robbie Caldwell, to get the job?

There are two reasons that have been mentioned as Johnson’s motivation that I believe: he gave up fighting the academic battle, and he was simply tired.
You might call him a quitter. Or think there could have been a better time to announce a retirement. But the dog days of summer is fine with me. Even one of the more preferred times of year.

When else would you do it? December? I don’t think so. Think how that would leave your successor, likely an assistant promoted into an interim role?

Recruiting, with a month to go until National Signing Day, would take a big blow. Whatever momentum you could gain from a bowl game would be gone. And it would be impossible to avoid the argument that you checked out midway through the season.

The losing battle of competing in the SEC, and maintaining the high academic standard at the so-called Ivy League of the South makes it one of the toughest jobs in the country.

If you win big, that’s fantastic, but you wouldn’t be recognized nearly as much within the university – which doesn’t have a traditional athletics department anymore - as you would at other schools. If you’re .500 or worse, well, you’re Vandy, so enjoy being most teams Homecoming opponent. Not to mention it’s virtually impossible to finish about third in your own division in the SEC.

So give Johnson credit for recognizing there are more important things in life than spending countless hours draining your health away from your family. He’s made enough money, and could work as a consultant, or TV/radio guest to stay involved.

At 60, Johnson made the right decision before it was too late. And he’s about the only coach around that has made the right call.