Flynn saga shows ugly side of football
Dick Flynn said good-bye to Kelly/Shorts Stadium on Saturday and hello to his team's best effort of 1999.
The Chippewas played their most complete game of 1999 and sent the man who had put 22 years of blood, sweat and tears into this team, into the sunset.
Oh sure, Flynn will still probably be seen around the area from time, he may still even get a job within the athletics department, though nothing has been discussed.
But even during what could be considered one of his darkest hours, Flynn continued on and made it one of his finest.
At his postgame press conference, Flynn refused to take any credit for the game.
Instead he continually heaped praise on his team, including his 17 seniors who also ended their Kelly/Shorts careers on Saturday.
The emotion of the season though was evident in the eyes of Flynn and should serve as a reminder of the "other" side of college football.
We've all seen the great players and the great plays made during crisp autumn afternoons football games.
The cheering, pageantry and celebration of receiving a bowl bid.
But the sport of college football is not only felt as one of sport's ultimate highs, it also showcases some of its' ultimate lows.
CMU and more specifically Flynn, experienced both ends of the spectrum this past week.
On Tuesday, Flynn made one of his toughest calls, not just as a coach but as a man. He chose to resign from his position.
In many ways, this move could be seen as an admission of failure, a sign of weakness.
Far from it.
In doing what is best for the program, Flynn made a decision which showed inner strength and the ultimate high with his regard for the CMU program beyond all else.
There were rumors of Flynn possibly being fired but rather than give his team a win-to-save-my-job type speech or two, he was content with what had been done.
Satisfied? No.
Who would be?
Since winning the Mid-American Conference championship and being named conference "Coach of the Year' in his rookie season of 1994, Flynn's teams had been inconsistent at best and awful at worst.
1995 - 4-7 1996 -5-6, 1997 - 2-9, 1998 - 6-5 and then this season's current 3-7 mark.
College football is about two things, winning and winning now.
Unfortunately for Flynn he was doing neither and the cheering had stopped.
Had Flynn outlived his welcome? Not by any means. After all, look at last season's team.
The 1998 Chippewas were playing for a berth in the MAC title game with just two games left in the season. 1999 had been an entirely different story.
The Chippewas had lost what amounted to their top four tailbacks at various points throughout the year and were already trying to replace the most talented pair of wideouts in school history.
But don't make excuses for Flynn or for his team. Injuries and departed players are a fact of life in sports, especially college sports.
Flynn the man though is also an institution that is purely college football. Even with all the greatness and championships Bill Parcells has achieved, can you really see him staying with the Jets for 22 years and then resigning? I can't even watch the Jets for 22 minutes.
What now then for Flynn, for this program?
Flynn will coach his last game at CMU on Saturday as they take on the Ball State Cardinals in Muncie, Ind.
As for the Chippewas, they will continue on next season with a new coach and new energy.
But for the first time in 22 seasons, without Dick Flynn.
Who is the real loser in this equation? You may be surprised.
