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Bates Expected to be Named Interim Coach (Wannstedt Resigns)
ESPN ^ | November 9, 2004 | ESPN.com news services

Posted on 11/09/2004 8:28:23 AM PST by PoliticalInsider

MIAMI -- Coach Dave Wannstedt's latest loss with the Miami Dolphins was his last.

Midway through a dismal season that has left Miami with the NFL's worst record, Wannstedt resigned Tuesday. Defensive coordinator Jim Bates was named interim coach at a news conference.

Wannstedt was asked not to step down by team owner Wayne Huizenga on Monday, but Wannstedt did so "in the best interest of the team," it was announced in a news conference Tuesday.

Miami's season began with the retirement of star running back Ricky Williams and has left the team at 1-8. The timing of Wannstedt's resignation wasn't surprising with the Dolphins beginning their bye week.

Bates' first game as interim head coach will be Nov. 21 at Seattle. He was head coach of the USFL's San Antonio Gunslingers in 1985 and became the Dolphins' defensive coordinator when Wannstedt became head coach in 2000.

Miami blew two leads and lost 24-23 Sunday to the Arizona Cardinals, who ended a 17-game road losing streak. The Dolphins endured their most lopsided defeat of the season last Monday, 41-14 against the archrival New York Jets.

Dolphins players were aware of Wannstedt's tenuous future and the rising tide of discontent among fans.

"I feel sorry for the guy because he's a first-class guy," cornerback Patrick Surtain said after Sunday's defeat.

It's not like guys aren't going out there giving 110 percent and laying it on the line for him. We're doing it all -- getting holding penalties, offsides, we're doing crazy stuff. How can he control that when he's on the sidelines?"

Wannstedt barely avoided being fired after last season, when Miami failed to reach the playoffs for the second year in a row. Huizenga decided to keep Wannstedt but stripped him of authority over personnel decisions.

Little has gone right for Miami since. Wannstedt was twice forced to change offensive coordinators during the offseason, and Williams abruptly retired just before training camp. Receiver David Boston, the top offseason acquisition, suffered a season-ending knee injury before the first preseason game.

That was the start of an injury wave as the Dolphins endured the worst start in their 39-year history. They're one defeat from their first losing season since 1988.

Wannstedt, who succeeded Jimmy Johnson in 2000, has a record of 43-33 in Miami. His career NFL record, including six seasons with the Chicago Bears, is 84-90.

Wannstedt was fired in 1997 by the Bears. His final two teams there went 4-12.

The Dolphins won only one playoff game under Wannstedt, and that was four years ago. Even with seven Pro Bowl players in 2002, including NFL rushing champion Williams and sacks leader Jason Taylor, the Dolphins missed the playoffs.

One of Wannstedt's first moves when he became coach was to nudge a 38-year-old Dan Marino into retirement. As a replacement Wannstedt acquired Jay Fiedler, who has never been popular with the Dolphins' fans.

Wannstedt was just the fourth coach in Dolphins history, and only Don Shula coached the team longer.

While the Dolphins have been a perennial playoff contender -- until this year, at least -- they haven't reached the AFC championship game since 1992. Their last Super Bowl berth was in 1984, and they haven't won an NFL title since 1973.

Huizenga, who became sole owner of the Dolphins in 1994, has been through three coaches in pursuit of a championship. He nudged Shula into retirement following the 1995 season, and Johnson called it quits four years later.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: themaster
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To: PoliticalInsider
I watched this clown do nothing to increase the viability of the CHICAGO BEARS during his entire tenure there.

Then, to my amazement, MIAMI hired him.

Then, I watched him do nothing to build on the team he inherited from Shula.

1) Why did MIAMI hire him in the first place?

2) What took them so long?

21 posted on 11/09/2004 8:44:57 AM PST by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: dubyaismypresident

HAH!!!!


22 posted on 11/09/2004 8:47:15 AM PST by Argh
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To: dfwgator

It seems like there would be a tremendous business opportunity out there if someone could bottle the stuff that makes good quarterbacks.


23 posted on 11/09/2004 8:48:20 AM PST by Thebaddog (I'm a doggy relaxing with four feet in the air after last Tuesday.)
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To: dfwgator
While Roethlisberger is doing a fine job in the Steel City, the reason why the Steelers are the best team in the NFL (at least this week) is that they have a great offensive line, and a good defense.

And they're exploiting that strong O-line by establishing a ground game. Virtually any quarterback can get Roethlisberger's results if they have enough time -- and you get time by having some combination of blocking, a viable running game (allows for play-action), a quick release, and/or the ability to scramble. Roethlisberger has at least three of the four (I'm not sure about the quick release), and his only weakness seems to be not being able to check down if the primary target isn't open.

24 posted on 11/09/2004 8:49:43 AM PST by kevkrom (Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. But it rocks absolutely, too.)
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To: dfwgator

No offensive line=no running game=no passing game=1-8 record


25 posted on 11/09/2004 8:51:18 AM PST by HockeyPop
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To: dfwgator
That is so true. David Woodley happened to be behind center when the Dolphins lost to the Redskins for Gibb's first Super Bowl win.

In 9 games (strike shortened) he averaged 11/20, 1 INT, .5 TD's, and 120 yards. A solid running game and a crushing defense almost won them a Super Bowl. The defense averaged about 2 INT's and 3 sacks per game (no idea on the fumble count, but the Killer B's could really hit).

David Woodley was the Kyle Boller of his day.

26 posted on 11/09/2004 8:51:24 AM PST by vollmond (Head back to base for debriefing and cocktails.)
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To: vollmond

Heck the 72 Dolphins lost Bob Griese for most of the season, and relied on Earl Morrall to get to 17-0. Even when Griese was healthy, if he threw more than 10 passes in a game that was a lot.


27 posted on 11/09/2004 8:53:20 AM PST by dfwgator (It's sad that the news media treats Michael Jackson better than our military.)
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To: DoctorMichael

I second that emotion. From all of us in Chicago who were waiting / hoping / knowing that he would eventually turn the Dolphins into a bunch of losers like he did to us in Chicago, a collective SEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE YYYYYYYAAAAAAAAA !!!!!


28 posted on 11/09/2004 9:01:33 AM PST by thepatriot1
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To: DoctorMichael

Wannstedt was Jimmy Johnson's defensive coordinator in Dallas when they won a couple of superbowls. Both Wannstedt and Norv Turner (off coord) got head coaching jobs on the basis of their pedigree with Jimmy. Jimmy was head coach of the Dolphins, succeeding Shula. When Wannstedt was finally sacked by the Bears, out of loyalty, Johnson appointed him to the position of "assistant head coach" with the plan that Wannstedt would succeed him when Johnson retired. Wayne Huizinga, being a hands-off, delegating kind of owner, let Johnson do whatever he wanted, with the end result as we now have it.

As a native of Chicago, a life-long Bears fan, and frequent viewer of my videotape of SuperBowl XX, including the SuperBowl Shuffle video, I could see this coming right from the very start. This whole unfortunate episode is a manifestation of nepotism in the coaching ranks. Right now The Oakland Raiders are likewise getting what they asked for with retread Norv Turner.


29 posted on 11/09/2004 9:26:44 AM PST by Ozone34
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To: Ozone34

Thanks for the pedigree! {*LOL*}


30 posted on 11/09/2004 9:29:46 AM PST by DoctorMichael (The Fourth Estate is a Fifth Column!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
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To: PoliticalInsider

It's amazing how that phenomenal Dallas Cowboy coaching staff, which directed four straight championship appearances and three Super Bowl victories, was so ineffective wherever they went: Jimmy J. failed in Miami; Turner in Washington, Wannstedt in Chicago, now Miami; Campo in Dallas . . . . and isn't Turner back in Oakland now? Strange.


31 posted on 11/09/2004 9:39:06 AM PST by LS
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To: PoliticalInsider
Miami needs a QB in the worst way

And that QB needs to stay on his feet and have a clean jersey.

32 posted on 11/09/2004 9:50:32 AM PST by fso301
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To: kevkrom

Maybe they can hire Steve Spurrier so they can actually go winless next season.

Have to admit Spurrier going winless would carry it's own level of entertainment value.....


33 posted on 11/09/2004 9:56:04 AM PST by showme_the_Glory (No more rhyming, and I mean it! ..Anybody got a peanut.....)
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To: dfwgator

So who's going to get the Gator job?


34 posted on 11/09/2004 9:56:43 AM PST by citizen (Relax. Terrorism is only a nuisance.)
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To: fso301
Miami may now be in one of those unfortunate circumstances where the owner is part of the problem. Miami has just not been as good since Huzinga took over as owner.
35 posted on 11/09/2004 9:57:04 AM PST by Credo
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To: PoliticalInsider

Miami has little choice. If I lost to Dennis Green, I'd consider hanging it up too. :)


36 posted on 11/09/2004 9:59:55 AM PST by Colonel_Flagg (Gloating? Us? Well, okay.)
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To: Ozone34

At least they don't have Dennis Erickson, worst coach in the NFL bar none.


37 posted on 11/09/2004 10:43:47 AM PST by nickcarraway
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Dan Reeves..please pickup the white courtesy phone...Dan Reeves...


38 posted on 11/09/2004 10:44:39 AM PST by Vigilantcitizen (#40)
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To: PoliticalInsider

Actually, Wannstedt was quoted as saying, "First Ricky Williams, now with Bush getting re-elected, I'm going to the CFL...."


39 posted on 11/09/2004 10:50:56 AM PST by hobbes1 (Hobbes1TheOmniscient® "I know everything so you don't have to" ;)
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To: LS
It's amazing how that phenomenal Dallas Cowboy coaching staff

Not Strange at all. Two Words. Herschel Walker

Two More 19 players.

Two More Emmitt smith

Two More Darren Woodson

Two More Russell Maryland

Etc...Etc....

40 posted on 11/09/2004 10:59:58 AM PST by hobbes1 (Hobbes1TheOmniscient® "I know everything so you don't have to" ;)
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