That’s why the scapegoat explanation doesn’t seem to fit. This has to be about

I think most here were surprised and upset and would offer up ARod in his place

BYU '80

11/27/23 11:37pm

Sounds like ARod needed a scapegoat 2 save his own skin-at least 4 1 more season

zerome4sooners

11/28/23 5:41am

Here's my question: how does KS/A-Rod think that firing a good(?) TE coach...

COACHdrn

11/28/23 7:32am

That’s why the scapegoat explanation doesn’t seem to fit. This has to be about

russkiejedi

11/28/23 7:39am

Not a scapegoat a sacrificial firing.

Blue2thebone

11/28/23 7:55am

Potato, potahto. It doesn’t make sense as a sacrificial firing unless the

russkiejedi

11/28/23 8:56am

You err when you expect the firing to "make sense".

Les IsMore

11/28/23 3:50pm

Nah. There was a reason. It doesn't have to make sense to me, but it has to make

russkiejedi

11/28/23 7:10pm

So my post later in the day wasn't the first one to say this - I agree with this

Tricky

11/28/23 12:07pm

If that’s true, it still doesn’t make sense. Need to get rid of ARod to do that

zerome4sooners

11/28/23 1:40pm

No, you don't. Changing the OL and TE coaches and bringing in a new OL coach and

russkiejedi

11/28/23 7:12pm

Not if ARod keeps calling the plays he’s been calling

zerome4sooners

11/28/23 8:10pm

That’s the question Jimmy. Yeah, it makes no sense

zerome4sooners

11/28/23 1:39pm

Only way it makes sense is if it's a precursor to hiring a QB coach

krindorr

11/28/23 2:01pm

Let’s now throw to and use the TEs less! That will solve our problems!

sandiegocgrfan

11/28/23 3:15pm

What a deeply touching letter from an outstanding young man about his father

Love Cougs

11/28/23 9:38am

Nah. Most of us didn't want to see either of them go

MaxxPower

11/28/23 11:41am

You're kidding yourself if you think A-rod has been consistently excellent. He

BleedCougarBlue2

11/28/23 1:01pm

Although if ARod were let go, it probably would have meant Funk, Clark, Unga also would be gone anyway

krindorr

11/28/23 11:53am

Thank your Dad for his efforts and care for the team. Best wishes for his health

BostonCougar

11/27/23 11:38pm

The only thing that makes sense

airbug

11/27/23 11:39pm

Time will tell. This could be true

BYU '80

11/28/23 12:05am

Good luck attracting and keeping all of the 4-stars he recruited if they aren’t going to have a tight end coach

Alex Clark

11/28/23 12:10am

That could be the risk. They would still need a TE coach but it would be combine

BYU '80

11/28/23 12:15am

Yeah sorry, it was meant to be a response to the airbug post.

Alex Clark

11/28/23 12:28am

I know a lot of the Clarks and I’ve always been a fan. You guys make Provo great

andrewg3

11/28/23 1:01am

They don't need TE's. Remember, Arod is still there.

777

11/28/23 1:11am

What are you saying?

coastcat

11/28/23 7:01am

He's using sarcasm and a little humor.

kahuna

11/28/23 7:20am

Or maybe the new oline coach really has a TE guy he wants to bring?

JuicyJam

11/28/23 6:28am

Unless the Oline coach is a high level guy, this doesn't make sense.

HighHorse

11/28/23 6:46am

Agreed. Position coaches generally don't have that much sway.

JuicyJam

11/28/23 7:08am

My takeaway from this…

Bobby Lee Swagger

11/28/23 7:30am

RE: The only thing that makes sense

Morty13

11/28/23 9:02am

Maybe ARod's refusal to throw down the middle means he is shifting away from TEs

TailgateU

11/28/23 11:43am

Why would they have to do that? Why not just hire a QB coach?

Natedog916

11/28/23 12:49pm

Limited number of coaches in CFB

cougaman

11/28/23 12:55pm

Ah. Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that.

Natedog916

11/28/23 1:33pm

Thanks for sharing. I appreciate him giving it his all and I hope he can find

ImRonBurgundy?

11/27/23 11:40pm

I really enjoyed listening to his interviews and as a fellow shorty myself…

Little Mac

11/27/23 11:42pm

Thank you for sharing and I hope he finds more peace. So sorry he has dealt with

Cougar TD

11/27/23 11:43pm

Thank you for sharing. Based on Masen Wake’s tweet, and my limited interactions with some past players your

RalphWiggam

11/27/23 11:44pm

Looking forward to Clarkcast next season!

Yes

11/27/23 11:48pm

MLP's tweet also backs up that claim and validates what was posted. Hope your

Sircumference

11/28/23 1:30pm

Extremely well written..

Yes

11/27/23 11:46pm

I think that’d be awesome for him to break down games with former players

GlutealGuy

11/27/23 11:47pm

Fans can be so irrational and brutal. I would love a BYU version manning cast!

Reasonable1

11/27/23 11:49pm

Me too! Clarkcast would be fun to watch

DrGCoug

11/28/23 2:05am

<< Deleted >>

kccougar

11/27/23 11:50pm

I believe CB has suggested a Manning Cast type livestream before. I suggest

DiamondDog

11/27/23 11:51pm

You are a great son of a great man.

NorthwestCoug

11/27/23 11:53pm

Most of us know he was the 2023 scapegoat. This whole height thing is bizarre.

777

11/27/23 11:57pm

I know some love him but Kyle has always seemed to be a superficial man.

Soupie

11/28/23 12:35am

Scapegoat is the wrong word, I think Alex would agree that sacrifice is the word that best describes Toms offering of

Blue2thebone

11/28/23 12:53am

Wonder if felt just Funk wouldn’t be seen as enough change. Needed more for optics. Sad

Soupie

11/28/23 12:56am

Scapegoat is actually the better word. Sacrifice indicates a greater good.

ochobeeguy

11/28/23 9:36am

His height was the thing that attracted me the most to him.

imfear2000

11/28/23 11:56am

BYU is better by having been associated with the Clark family. And thank you for

elguerocougero

11/28/23 12:00am

Best wishes to your dad and your family. Hope this change turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

ManicBlue

11/28/23 12:01am

Thank you for sharing. Your dad is a great man and coach. A BYU man he is!

Burton162

11/28/23 12:02am

Trust us, we don't blame your dad, and we are sad to see him let go.

Blue Ghost

11/28/23 12:03am

I have been able to attend many practices the last few years...

The Y's Insider

11/28/23 12:03am

You don't fire someone like Clark just to be a scapegoat when other personnel changes are already in the works

kccougar

11/28/23 12:09am

sadly, fairness and coaching hiring/firing seldom go together

Hill4Heisman

11/28/23 1:36pm

Such a great tribute. Made me so sad to read.

Wife of Y Not?

11/28/23 12:10am

Wish Kalani would do it himself if he wanted someone fired

Goliath

11/28/23 12:13am

Why do we assume Kalani didn’t *want* to do this? If Arod is a leader, he

Cosmos-beard-card

11/28/23 5:03am

Kalani is NOT untouchable & he, not ARod should be the one

gopman

11/28/23 5:35am

Agree Coach Clark shouldn’t have been fired, wish I believed your other points

Cosmos-beard-card

11/28/23 9:40am

Who is the head coach? That answers who does the firing.

gopman

11/28/23 11:47am

Except it doesn't, outside whatever worldview you've concocted.

Cosmos-beard-card

11/28/23 12:58pm

You should talk to Nick Saban.

gopman

11/28/23 1:15pm

More proof that ARod and KS are incompetent, clueless if they think this will fix the offense. I have my doubts!

coastcat

11/28/23 7:30am

As a former player… many things are not fair and don’t make sense. The most important thing you can take away is that

Rhino84

11/28/23 12:22am

I was shocked to see the news of Coach Clark leaving.

runningfoo

11/28/23 12:28am

Then why did the TE position underperform all year? Where was all the talent?

Hammer15

11/29/23 2:00am

Re-read the post.... I didn't make any claims about his skills in the technical aspects of coaching. Only true

Rhino84

11/29/23 2:11pm

Coach Clark is one of the best X and Os guy around.

pittsburghcoug

11/28/23 12:33am

It clearly wasn’t enough.

DirtyWater

11/28/23 2:46am

It doesn't help if nobody listens.

HighHorse

11/28/23 7:46am

Thank you for sharing this. I've always liked Coach Clark. It's a little

Judge Judy

11/28/23 12:37am

Thanks for your family's dedication to the Cougs. It doesn't make sense...

byujdmba

11/28/23 12:37am

Love your Dad!

richvan

11/28/23 12:37am

Your Dad gave my son a chance at BYU and we are forever grateful for that! He is such a great man and this breaks

richvan

11/28/23 12:42am

Visited w/ your Dad when he took a group of Scouts to tour the FB facilities. He lives in a neighboring ward & a family

Soupie

11/28/23 12:44am

He took me and my wife on a tour of the facilities too.

JuicyJam

11/28/23 7:11am

Thanks for the insights about your dad. Putting a human face on this illustrates

sandiegocgrfan

11/28/23 12:53am

True in general, but I don't remember one person asking for Clark to be fired.

ochobeeguy

11/28/23 9:51am

Sounds like Coach Clark leaving his position was indeed the right thing at least for him if not for the program.

Blue2thebone

11/28/23 12:56am

Awesome post. Well written. Great to see the human side. The success your father has had

TFL

11/28/23 12:58am

He’ll be missed! Not his fault Arod literally failed to involve the TE much

SwanSong

11/28/23 12:59am

RE: He’ll be missed! Not his fault Arod literally failed to involve the TE much

quickquackcarwash

11/28/23 8:57am

Throughout the season, I have noticed

quickquackcarwash

11/28/23 10:48am

RE: He’ll be missed! Not his fault Arod literally failed to involve the TE

JuicyJam

11/28/23 10:51am

Funk’s departure was necessary

bigjohn

11/28/23 1:04am

I imagine this is true.

RUNBYU1

11/28/23 1:09am

Clark's name was never even brought up during the most heated and

777

11/28/23 1:10am

Generally, it was Funk ... ARod ... Kalani, in that order.

ManicBlue

11/28/23 1:17am

Which is precisely why it doesn't seem the decision would be an attempt to

Tricky

11/28/23 12:11pm

I appreciate the honest (and brave) post here. CB can be a den of wolves…

Dwide_Schrude

11/28/23 1:30am

Great Post! What a Dad!

BYUFan2010

11/28/23 1:38am

RE: A post about my dad, Coach Steve Clark

TrustMeIKnow

11/28/23 2:06am

Thank you for posting this. I hope there is another opportunity soon for him

DrGCoug

11/28/23 2:13am

We were all perplexed. He was one of the few bright spots on the staff.

karatekid

11/28/23 2:51am

Awesome post. Thx for sharing

Bovine University

11/28/23 4:23am

Hate to lose such an important part of the program.

isellutah

11/28/23 4:56am

My 2 reactions to this post:

zerome4sooners

11/28/23 5:32am

Your dad's firing was like Bama cheated so the NCAA issued a bowl ban and

BYUlv

11/28/23 6:23am

Thank you for sharing. I'll always be a fan of Coach Clark!

DoneDirtCheap

11/28/23 6:25am

Good post. Well written. 👍🏼

Coug-Ida

11/28/23 6:26am

Thank you for the post and thank you for sharing another side of your Dad. I think all CB is and was sad to hear about

TheLoneCougar

11/28/23 6:41am

Thanks for posting. I wish Coach Clark all the best. A ClarkCast sounds great!

Orem58thBall

11/28/23 6:52am

Whittingham sure is a tool, isn't he?

Roko's Basilisk

11/28/23 6:53am

<< Deleted >>

Idacoug

11/28/23 6:54am

Thanks for clearing the air.

RedSox

11/28/23 6:58am

Kalani can't do his own dirty work? If true, that's truly disappointing.

CharlottesvilleCoug

11/28/23 7:00am

Sounds a lot like the Detmer release.

Count Cougar

11/28/23 7:37am

Having others do your dirty work puts a stain on the “ KS is such a fine man who represents BYU values “ image. KS

coastcat

11/28/23 8:08am

We don't know how much KS influenced the decision. I assume Clark reported to ARod as OC so it seems

Bobber

11/28/23 8:48am

The final call is made by the head coach. Period. The "Kalani isn't

gopman

11/28/23 8:52am

Just because you end your opinion with “period” does not make it a fact. There

Cosmos-beard-card

11/28/23 10:18am

The lengths people on this board go to exonerate Kalani......

gopman

11/28/23 12:39pm

The unwillingness on here to read other people's PoVs and evolve their own...

Cosmos-beard-card

11/28/23 1:01pm

Do you work for the BYU athletic department?

Les IsMore

11/28/23 4:15pm

Most asst coaches are on a one year contract. They aren't really fired but don't have their contract renewed

LaserCoug

11/28/23 4:23pm

I’m saying every organization does it differently. I’ve worked for many large

Cosmos-beard-card

11/29/23 4:39am

RE: A post about my dad, Coach Steve Clark

DavisCoCoug

11/28/23 7:13am

I am a huge fan of your Dad’s FWIW. I am sorry this happened to him.

Socrates Johnson

11/28/23 7:17am

Mad props to you and your dad

niqmadu

11/28/23 7:18am

Wait, someone posts their real name and real story? I love CB for this.

kiyoshige

11/28/23 7:22am

Sounds like he might be better off doing something else. Football is cool, but there are other things more fundamental

Haysom Till

11/28/23 7:28am

Coach Clark is overqualified to be a TE coach

bonesnineteen

11/28/23 7:47am

This is why I don’t understand the firing. Why not reassign him as QB coach?

BYU'01

11/28/23 2:12pm

Thank You and your Dad! from this Cougar Fan! Once a Coug always aCoug! GoCougs!

baishel44

11/28/23 7:49am

Interesting post...

Coug

11/28/23 7:54am

Thanks for sharing. I don't know anything about any comments about his size, so

cDog801

11/28/23 8:00am

I appreciate your dad's devotion to BYU. I am confident he will be well in the

rockyrd

11/28/23 8:00am

Well said and best of luck to your father and family

Cougarpride

11/28/23 8:03am

I think everyone was shocked to see Clark’s name and expected Funk.

Tuskaloosa Cougar

11/28/23 8:08am

Classy post

CougarMandias

11/28/23 8:09am

Thank you, Alex. Very classy. My prayers are with your dad. He will be missed.

TRUE_BLUE_COUGY

11/28/23 8:37am

Thank you for posting. It was a head scratcher for me him being let go. All the

Big-Q

11/28/23 8:39am

Really crazy move by the coaches, he can’t be a scapegoat because it’s clear

here's to hoping

11/28/23 8:45am

My guess is that it's about the QB play...which sucks and isn't fair to Clark

krindorr

11/28/23 8:49am

Is it a rule to only allow 5 offensive coaches and 5 defensive, or is it budget

Das_Countach

11/28/23 12:24pm

NCAA Rule. No requirement on the breakdown between offense and defense though

LaserCoug

11/28/23 12:30pm

10 is max, breakdown doesn't have to be 5/5, but it's hard to imagine taking resources away from Hill immediately

krindorr

11/28/23 12:51pm

If you need to hire a dedicated QB coach, you have to let someone go. Sucks for

Junior Deputy

11/28/23 9:25am

Why not just do like SEC schools do and hire consultants?

Les IsMore

11/28/23 4:21pm

That's actually the definition of a scapegoat. Innocent blamed for other people.

ochobeeguy

11/28/23 9:49am

I knew I wasn’t crazy!

Alex Clark

11/28/23 6:56pm

Players knew that being in Steve's group was a privilege

BlueZone

11/28/23 9:53am

This sounds like a Kalani was behind it.

shakarocks

11/28/23 10:06am

You have no reason to jump to that conclusion from the OP. Example Scenario: KS tells AR that he is on the hot seat

Rhino84

11/28/23 10:52am

No idea if this is true. But of all the explanations put out there, it seems to make the most sense to me.

Alex Clark

11/28/23 7:01pm

I second all the posts thanking your dad. I am truly grateful for every single

nybyblue

11/28/23 10:12am

Love the Clarks, and thanks for the authentic post! Here’s to better things

blue13

11/28/23 10:24am

Thank you Coach Clark!

The Number Cruncher

11/28/23 10:28am

I don’t know your Dad, but I do know that he has an awesome son.

Rocketman

11/28/23 10:32am

Thanks for sharing and I think a lot on here agree with you that he was not the

Blue for Life

11/28/23 10:38am

Yeah, I think most of us are still scratching our heads over that firing.

KCFan85

11/28/23 10:56am

I definitely appreciate your insights - thank you for sharing.

Eddie

11/28/23 11:00am

Your Dad is THE MAN

EDthoracotomy

11/28/23 11:06am

Not interested in the Manning Cast show

Jimmerfan32

11/28/23 11:40am

Hahaha appreciate the honesty!

Alex Clark

11/28/23 7:08pm

Well that’s business. I’m sure Kalani had the best in mind for the program.

Domin8

11/28/23 12:17pm

Great post. Unfortunately your performance

BYUvermont

11/28/23 1:03pm

Welp, 2 things for sure:1 - KS is weak to not let a coach go himself. 2 - KW is

BleedCougarBlue2

11/28/23 1:03pm

Lol, taken out of context.. we have limited details. CB is often ridiculous

Domin8

11/28/23 5:52pm

I think most of us were disappointed with the decision.

Bobmarleyjr

11/28/23 2:20pm

What bothers me about this whole situation is that Kalani wouldnt fire Tuiaki

Sircumference

11/28/23 2:29pm

Do you have any more insights on what happened with Holker?:)

Undefeated

11/28/23 2:39pm

RE: A post about my dad, Coach Steve Clark

Bowers86

11/28/23 4:10pm

Kyle Whittingham should have a lawsuit slapped against him for Discrimination.

bLuE wAvEs

11/28/23 4:55pm

Kyle isn't short

shakarocks

11/28/23 5:14pm

Height isn't a protected class so it's allowed to discriminate

krindorr

11/28/23 5:27pm

Looks like you are right. Apparently Utah voted this spring & it got denied.

bLuE wAvEs

11/28/23 6:10pm

sounds like he is the sacrificial lamb

dccoug

11/28/23 4:56pm

Sad to read this. Wish your dad and family all the best!

LateToTheGame

11/28/23 5:35pm

What a post…

rmarkerm

11/28/23 6:48pm

I still wonder if we are bringing in an OL coach who is taking over TE as well

YOHONOMOTO

11/28/23 6:59pm

Not possible. TE go with skills position on skeleton drills, 1 on 1s

Bobmarleyjr

11/28/23 7:52pm

Sorry. I meant maybe he's a package deal bringing his own guy.

YOHONOMOTO

11/28/23 9:22pm

Loved your Dad coaching at BYU- thx for sharing

chidote1

11/28/23 7:55pm

Eyeroll just to complete the yahtzee.

Spiff

11/28/23 8:00pm

this post looks like it smashed all sorts of CB records for engagement ... true?

mindzeYe

11/28/23 10:03pm

No. I know #of views isn’t even close. I forget which ones have the most POTD and thumbs up, but those numbers were high

kirty

11/28/23 10:32pm

Here are all of the top ones

El Jefe

11/28/23 10:48pm

Thanks for sharing that it's a solid top 6 for POTD.

mindzeYe

11/30/23 2:02pm

Posting on CougarBoard