[pmayjr]

It's not just about the firing of Mason, it's the firing of Monson as well. They both had contract extensions given to them within the last 3 years, and now both received buyouts. It's part of the reason why the A.D. is cash strapped.

But both moves had to be made. Mason was fired, because the football program plateau'd, and it wasn't making any $$$$. They weren't able to win any big games that put them over the top. Mason had also had a history of blowing a lot of games where they had huge leads only to collapse. He also was viewed as smug and arrogant by a lot of people in the Minnesota area.

As for Monson, the Basketball team never won under him. The team was under NCAA sanctions for the first few years of his tenure, but those years passed and there was still no success. You guys have seen how bad the Gophers were this year. They set a school record for losses in the season. The team looked hopeless to improve under him, and frankly he was a bad coach. His strategy seemed all about slinging threes and outscoring teams. Defense and rebounding were never a priority for Monson.