Florida Atlantic’s Tom Herman is ‘scared’ for coaches, where college football is headed

BOCA RATON — Tom Herman calls it his “most successful” coaching story, working through a rocky relationship with quarterback Cardale Jones before they united to help Ohio State win a national championship in 2014.

Herman was Jones’ position coach and they “hated each other.” But Jones stuck it out, worked on those issues through talks, counseling sessions and, yes, arguments; and now Herman calls Jones a member of his family.

“Cardale Jones doesn’t happen (today),” Herman, the Florida Atlantic coach, said following a recent spring practice. “It just doesn’t. Cardale Jones would have transferred well before he ever had an opportunity to win a national championship and build a relationship with the Herman family that he has forever.”

And now …

“I’m scared,” Herman said. “I’m scared for our profession. I’m scared for the young men that look to this great sport for life skills, not just a paycheck. Believe it or not, those young men still exist.”

Tom Herman has moved on from his first season at FAU, which ended 4-8, and so too has more than 40% of his roster. FAU saw 26 players enter the transfer portal after last season, while 27 have transferred in from four-year schools.

Herman, though, knows he must adapt to the new normal in college sports. He understands the landscape has changed dramatically since those days he was the Ohio State quarterbacks coach, or the head coach at Houston and Texas.

With the exception of dynamic receiver LaJohntay Wester, who transferred to Colorado, and one or two others, those departures were “mutual,” according to Herman. Part of that is a product of Herman finding the right fits for his culture, as it is a sign of the times.

This, he believes, will mitigate year-to-year turnover.

Florida Atlantic head coach Tom Herman watches his team during the first quarter against UTSA at FAU Stadium on…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-atlantics-tom-herman-scared-122237126.html

Author : Palm Beach Daily News

Publish date : 2024-04-02 12:22:37

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