Is this the press conference Coach Holmgren said would be by someone else, and he wouldn't be there?

I guess it's better for everyone to remove any suspense about Holmgren's last year for the organization, players and fans.

Go Seahawks!!

OUTSTANDING!!

Thank you Mr. Allen and Tim Ruskell.

the rooney rule is ridiculous.

zomgzomgzomg.

very interesting...what happens with Willingham gets canned at the UW next year?

This is great news. This is great for the team, the players and the organization. I think it also virtually guarantees we keep Trufant--it was Mora who finally pushed him to be what he became last year, putting him on the left side and basically saying "be the best or pack your bags."

da da da da daaaa
I'm lovin' it.

Ridiculous? It's racist.

youre right, it doesnt exactly go along with the idea of being judged based on your character and not your color.

Ok so they are dodging the Rooney Rule Bullet? Hmmmm interesting.

don't think he was the best option.

first, Willingham will not be fired (Why would you fire the coach of the 2008 pac10 champions?) second the rooney rule in this case would be a sham because it has been obvious to everyone that Mora would be the next coach. It isn't fair to a minority candidate to come in for a meaningless interview. It is great if there truly is an opening and the team is willing to listen to all options including minority candidates. But that is not this case.

Just for clarification, the Rooney Rule is not racist (though it is a rule concerning race in the NFL), but rather a rule centered around the reality of the history and legacy of the NFL as a product of the USA. Meaning that as NFL coaches and management trodded along throughout history, the coaches, owners and management were Anglo. The culture of the times (and I do mean the culture, the guys you go to school with, to church with, have lunch with, see at your friends parties, your buddy's business contact) dictated that the person most likely to be hired would be much like the people that make up the organization (Anglo), simpley because of natural connections. Blacks had their own separate league and separate colleges that produced great players and great coaches, but while the establishment was eventually willing to accept a black athelete when he was clearly making a positive impact on the field, accepting the idea that a black coach could do a better job seemed to be a corner that could not be turned - be it due to mindset or cuture, it was the same effect. Black player allowed, but not coaches at the highest level. And that doesn't even touch on other minorities.

The Rooney Rule is not affirmative action; it does not require any hirings based on race. Rather it is a means of opening doors for minority candidates who may not have had the connections to get in front of the decision makers with their ideas/styles.

The Colts and Hawks are not the first teams to 'get around' the Rooney rule. There have been coaching searches since the Rooney Rule that have been little more than going through the paces for the team to hire the guy they knew they wanted. When a decision has been made without a conserted effort to find the most qualified candidate who is best suited to bring an organization a Lombardi Trophy, it is usually the organization that loses out. I hope this is not the case with my Seahawks as candidates like Jason Garrett and Josh McDaniels, amoung others are left uninvestigated.

wow, someone got alot on their chest. To summarize, the Rooney rule is good. It helps diversify the population of coaches. It increases competition for coaches. None of that is bad.

for those who think it's racist, you're racist. Everybody deserved a chance.

Damnit I will be in class during the presser... Why can't they have it at 3 like Holmy's last announcement. I think that this is a great announcement, as it will provide possible FA's with the security of knowing who out next HC is going to be. I feel that Mora never got a fair chance having to work with the coach killer (and apparently dog killer) Vick. It will be interesting to see the moves that that front office makes this off-season knowing that Mora will be the HC in the years to come.

I feel for UW tho... what happens if Ty fails to win 6 games again now?

2 comments:

1. I'm largely ok with this as long as it doesn't undermine Holmgren in 2008 & cause problems. Mora's probably as good as anyone else available & he'll have had 2 years to learn the team.

2. I think there is a real possibility Willingham does get fired in the next year or 2. What then? Personally I can't understand why anyone would rather coach college then the NFL between the NCAA's ridiculous 1000 page rule book & the rigors of recruiting, but Mora has said that UW is his dream job.

Jim Mora Hispanic. His father is Hispanic.

The Rooney Rule does not even needed. He already is a minority. He is of Hispanic ancestry. Case closed...


Apparently, hiring Mora gets around the Rooney Rule, which requires one minority candidate to be interviewed for any opening.

I wouldn't be worried about Mora leaving the Seahawks for UW. UW was his "dream job" when he was joking with his UW buddies and life was less than pleasant down in Atlanta.

As for the Rooney Rule, I oppose anything that is basically "window" dressing. Any organisation that wants to hire a specific coach is still going to do so, regardless of how many minority or non minority coaches they interview. Forcing organistions to bring in "token" coaching canidates just so they can say they are in compliance, seems like a bad idea to me.

The real fact is that winnning in the NFL is more important than race and time changes a lot of things. Coaching just lagged behind the player positions as far as racial issues go. Evnetually coaching will catch up.

Seattle Times claims they have confirmed the Jay story... to be true.

"Jim Mora is going to be the Seahawks head coach beginning in 2009. In the spirit of giving credit where credit is due, FOXSports.com reported the news first. We've confirmed it independently. The Seahawks don't have any confirmation, but there is a press conference scheduled for noon on Wednesday.

Mora came to the Seahawks after three years as Atlanta head coach. He coached the Seahawks secondary in 2008 and served as assistant head coach. He was a candidate for Washington's head-coaching job, but withdrew himself from consideration.

Coach Mike Holmgren will coach one final year with the Seahawks. His contract expires after 2008 and he announced last month this will be his final season with the franchise."- Seahawks Times
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/seahawks/


so much for a break Frank eh? Maybe next bye week? :(

btw they get around the rule because they are hiring within... thus really saying there's no opening.

Now it's case closed.

NNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO this guy has done nothing to prove he can be an NFL coach to take us to the next level......HUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I can't believe they are doing this because of this rooney rule crap. I'm sure they are doing it for continuity reasons, and to sew Mora up!! He will now most certainly be in the mix to hire replacement coaches. But Frank as usual needs to throw in a twist of suspense about possible rifts within the organization. mmmmmm Next it may be Holmgren being sumarrily ousted by the Mora coup. Holmgren coaches against Nora's coaches, holmgren secretary's battle Mora's secretary in coffee room.

I agree with edstang about the continuity aspect. Continuity is important and having a bird in the hand (as it were) in Mora means that he gets to know Holmgren's assistants and vice-versa way before he ever takes over the reins. This will go a long way in providing continuity in the coaching staff and the players will most likely feel more comfortable too.

This does not mean that there won't be a change in some of the coaching staff but, it does help.

Now, about this year's Super Bowl... did anyone else see the non-calls on pass interference during critical plays that reminded them of a called back touchdown in another past Super Bowl?

Will I ever get over SB XL? ;-)

Z

Does anyone know if this is an unprecedented move? I don't recall another situation where a coach was in his final year, announces he is only coaching that final year.....and then the team announces who will be his successor before that year is over?

This is not good.everything i read and listen to says Mora is not strong enough to be an effective head coach in the NFL. Being a players coach is not necessarly a good thing.

mingweezy, any rule that is set up to prevent racism ussually does more damage then good. the fact is you are requiring that someone be iterviewed solely on race which is racism in its self.

Its purely specualtion that this move was to "avoid having to interview otheres"....seems pretty simple that they think Jim is the best guy to take over for this franchise.
Like I said before, I think his energy will be a nice thing for this team.......we need to show a lot more heart and determination and energy that I think is missing.
The big question will be what the offense will do.....how will this affect the offense?
This will be interesting.

http://www.seahawks.com/News/News.aspx?id=10188

I don't believe for a second that the Seahawks are hiring Holmgren's replacement a full year in advance just to get around the Rooney rule. It is much more likely to ensure that Mora doesn't get hired by another team and possibly the Seahawks front office telling Holmgren that this year really will be his last in Seattle.

racism n. "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race." This is the Merriam-Webster definition from 1933—this is even in dire need of an update. How exactly does this rule "harm" us? Requiring the White owners, to interview a Black candidate for a profession dominated by Black players, seems more than fair. White people have a "built-in" competitive advantage over minorities because of our dominance over capital. It is impossible for a disadvantaged group to be racist, by definition. They can be prejudice, not racist.

don't screw this up, timmay... now that we're used to a certain culture of winning, you and your boy mora better keep that up...

otherwise, i'm sure paul allen wouldn't mind hiring a new gm after he cans you.

i hear mike holmgren might be free...

The Rooney rule? Is just for the NFL?
How many White coaches has there been at Grambling,Alcorn St.,Howard.Jackson St.If there are rules for one shouldn't that rule work for everone?

Will Ruskell be able to run all over Mora,maybe thats why Ruskell wanted Holmgren out of the way.
I also believe Ruskell will pick in the first round in the draft a CB,It will be Terrel Thomas from USC,or it will be Tracy Porter from Indiana.
If TRU don't agree with what Ruskell wants to pay him he will be gone traded maybe.If Ruskell lives up to the way he has done business it will be a NFCW team.

Keasley,

Right on! But don't try to talk logic around here with some of the bufoons.

Jibo1,

All I can say is-- clueless jibberish! Think, or at least do some basic research, before you post.

The Hawks can't trade TRU. They don't hold his rights - He can sign with any team he wants to sign with.


Lets just hope in the next 20 days or so we have some good news about seahawks signings - meaning we brought our key guys back, before they get on the open market.

the rooney rule IS racist by definition. people should be hired or fired based on merit, not on race. mandating that you interview a minority candidate is just stupid, especially if there isnt one thats a top candidate. maybe if this was 1960, but its not, and it isnt an issue anymore.

I don't feel like I know enough about Mora as a head coach to have an informed opinion as to whether he'll be a good one or not -- but organizationally, this is a very polished move. Having Holmgren's successor already in place not only makes this upcoming season more distraction-free and smoother, but also allows Mora to transition in from secondary coach to basically assistant head coach, and to start building his authority such that he comes into next year with a running start rather than from a standstill. It's the kind of thing a well-run organization puts together. And I'll put some trust in Holmgren and other Hawks management that they've determined Mora does have what it takes as a HC. All in all, nicely done.

hmm, racism isn't an issue? Let me guess.....your WHITE? Unfortunately we have not progressed quite that much. Just because we have come a long way does not mean we are there yet. Maybe you should read a book once in a while and stop watching Fox News.

The most significant issue on this is not the Rooney Rule, or the players, that is now taken care of. It is the other assistant coaches who were leap-frogged by Mora for this opportunity. Holmgren said, as recently as the 2006 season, that he believes there are future NFL head coaches on his staff, and pointed out Gil Haskell as one of them. How must Haskell feel? How about John Marshall? Or Dwaine Board? Or anyone else? Does this create disharmony among the coaching staff? Now that Timmay has a teacher's pet?

Under most circumstances this would really scare me. The one thing that makes me feel okay about this is the Big Show. I've got to believe that he has had conversations with all of his assistants about their futures and about this move. He has tempered their expectations and prepared them for this. I'm sure there is some resentment going on within the coaching staff. Hopefully it ends soon. Heck, maybe Zorn resented it? Maybe Nolan Cromwell did? We do not know. But I'd love to hear from Ruskell, Holmgren, and perhaps Haskell, how this is being handled internally. People will not say they are miffed, but I'm sure some are.

Nice pull on the Mora is a hispanic thing. Not that it matters....
the Rooney rule IS a GOOD THING, because now owners must consider people of color, when in the past they probably easily glossed over them.

hmm, racism isn't an issue? Let me guess.....your WHITE? Unfortunately we have not progressed quite that much. Just because we have come a long way does not mean we are there yet. Maybe you should read a book once in a while and stop watching Fox News.

there already were black coaches, and there will be more black coaches in the future. giving them some sort of advantage because they are black IS RACIST, politically correct or not. it would be racist if a less qualified white person were hired over a more qualified black person as well.

"Will Ruskell be able to run all over Mora, maybe thats why Ruskell wanted Holmgren out of the way."

I don't think this is the case. Ruskell was assistant gm in Atlanta while Mora was there. He has consistently brought good people from Atlanta that he knows, this is a continuation of that.

Besides, Holmgren is too tall, can't have that in a Ruskell system. Mora is a better fit (kidding). Not to slam Ruskell here at all, but does it seem to anyone else that he goes out of his way to get small players? I understand he has made a career of signing de-valued short guys like Tatupu, but doesn't it seem sometimes he goes a tad too far (branch maybe is an example)? Just a question.

Mora has proven to be a successful head coach. Any coordinator out there does not have that on their resume. Granted he may have made some mistakes in Atlanta, being too player friendly, etc., but maybe he has learned from those mistakes (he is still young). If anything, the Atlanta job had to be extraoridinarily difficult because of Vick.

All we can do is support him at this point in time and see what happens.

I think this is great. My biggest fear was that we'd go into the season with a bunch of uncertainty about who would be the head coach the following year. Free agents in particular might be unwilling to sign up for three to five years if they were only going to play for Mike for one year. Coach Mora -- regardless if you think he has what it takes, or not -- certainly has the appropriate experience, and by announcing now that he'll be the new head coach, there will be NO messy transition.

This is an example of exactly how to do it.

For an example of how not to do it, see the Redskins.

Or for an even better example of how not to do it, see the Raiders.

snuggleson- you are sorely mistaken. It is not RACIST to have this rule. It would be racist, by your definition, if the rule mandating hiring these people by a percentage in the league. That is not the case. The case is to make sure they are given OPPORTUNITY and nothing else. Previous to this rule, minority candidates were not given a proportionate opportunity to even interview for these jobs. Now they have the door of opportunity at least open to them by rule.

If the NCAA had this rule, which they do not, more minority coaches would likely be hired. There are more minority head coaches in the 32 team NFL than there are in all of division one college football...by far.

"Free agents in particular might be unwilling to sign up for three to five years if they were only going to play for Mike for one year."

That's another good point. In terms of recruiting a top player this off-season, this move makes it much more appealing, in light of Holmgren's announcement, to know that there is stability in the organization, and also let's them talk face-to-face with the guy they know is going to be their coach after Mike leaves.

Stupid argument. You hire the best guy out there or someone who is a west coast offense guy and has been in the system for a couple of years.

Oh yea, and I am sure Dungy signed off on this racist move as they are doing the same thing in Indy.

Of course you can ask United airlines what is was like to be saddled with nearly a thousand underqualified folks because they were minorities....What a bitch when they couldn't get them to meet upgrade qualifications....Just more imposed non-racism....

This is a good move. Period.

papahawk- sorry pal, saying you need to interview someone BECUASE THEY ARE BLACK is racism. and lets be real, the NFL wants people to interview BLACK candidates, not hispanic, not asian, not native america. it is pure and simple racism.

Thanx for that link Yankinta...I knew it had been around back when the Realignment Schedules came out, but it had been years since I had seen it.

Notice how the Division Rank opponents have reversed? In 2007 *and* 2008, we host the NFC North. Apparently, they reversed the order after the first full intra-conference cycle of 6 years.

I wasn't sure if they had made a mistake this year or not...I even emailed Frank and got no response (surprise surprise), but apparently they had this in mind from the beginning.

Snugglson - I am deeply saddened for you and your lack of understanding in this world.

The colts and Hawks did not have to 'get around' the Rooney rule (as reported by reporters that don't do the slightest bit of homework before posting stories)for a couple of big reasons:

1 - Caldwell is black, Mora is Latino
2 - Since 2002 the rule specifically has stated that hires from within the organization are not subject to the rule because their will be no interview process in which to participate.

Snugglson, the NFL is predominantly BLACK. The players are mostly black—that is why they want to give minorities a fighting chance. Bottom line, they are getting a CHANCE. Not the job.

I'll repost as I didn't notice one response to my question....

Does anyone know if this is an unprecedented move? I don't recall another situation where a coach was in his final year, announces he is only coaching that final year.....and then the team announces who will be his successor before that year is over?

rooney rule,
boneheads
mora goes to washington(redskins) gets the offer, comes back to seattle
gets better offer, before mikey makes his decision to stay or go.
deal was in place to replace mike before he decided to come back for one year.covering there ass, so no extention for mike, one and done
free agents, (ours and everyone else's) know what there getting for the next 5 yrs.
rooney rule ...please.

downinthegroove,

I know I am probably reading your quote a little too literally, but "underqualified folks because they were minorities" needs more explaining.

I'm hoping that you meant to say that they had a financial incentive (quota) to hire people that were less than qualified because they were minorities, and not that they were underqualified BECAUSE they were minorities. Clarification?

Answer to two Q's:

This is a move not unprecedented as the Colts have named a replacement coach for Dungy after this year. Same situation as Hawks.

My "quote" was literal and expanding upon it: United Airlines at the time was the world's largest airline. They did not hire a female minority due to her inability to meet the minimum requirements. The government made a example of them and forced them to hire several hundred minority employees both male and female although mostly female. When these employees met the requirements to upgrade as desired they had the largest failure rate in industry history.
But that's real world.

This is football.
Best guy gets the job. It's rediculous to make this racial as I want the best guy to coach the Hawks. This move places a guy groomed in the offense with a defensive mind and yeah he did a great job last year with the DBs to be our coach. Damn. He's white. So what, he's also from here. His dad was a great coach.

This is football. Make your point.

Mora will be fine, he's learning under one of the best coaches! This gives him time and he will benefit greatly from being under one of the best for two years. Having stability I would say, is the main reason this is coming out now. FA want to know where the vision of the team is so this very much does make sense to me. I think Allen and Russell are really going to push to get us back to the big one and this is just another step in the right direction.

How many black coaches are there in NCAA Division I? 6 out 119! Racism is still alive. Just because you choose to ignore it, does not mean it is not present in society. The Rooney Rule is great and do not be blind and think otherwise.

If EVERYONE deserves a chance to interview for an NFL head coaching position, I WANT AN INTERVIEW TOO!

The Seahawks hired Mora as DB coach with the additional title of Assistant Head Coach. This meant he was the HC in waiting. DUH! And there is nothing wrong with that. People dont like it because Mora isnt black, and thats stupid.

Wayne Fontes, Art Shell, several other coaches got thier jobs and Fontes kept his through 12 years of futility due to thier skin color: white guys would have been canned much faster. Same with Willingham: he has his job due to the color of his skin. And that folks, is a form of racism.

paulb--"It is impossible for a disadvantaged group to be racist, by definition." That has to be the single stupidest thing I have ever heard! Minorities can, and often are, just as racist as some white guys. One side of my wifes family are some of the most racist people i have ever met--they make hillbillies look tolerant, and they are very much minorities. Any time one race puts another race down or seeks to put thier race ahead of another, that by definition, is racism.

The Rooney Rule is in place for a reason. The problem I have, is that in todays NFL, winning is the most important thing--look at the Belicheat fiasco. Do you think for one minute that an NFL team would pass on a guy they thought could win just because he was a minority???

What bothers me is that when teams like Seattle or Indy promote from within, they get grumped at by idiots whining about the rooney rule. The rule is in place to make sure that when there is an open search for a HC, QUALIFIED minority candidates dont get ignored. Just because a guy is a position coach or coordinator doesnt mean he is qualified to be an HC, and its seems that is ignored if the person is a minority.

Mora is well qualified to get the chance to be hawk HC, and he has paid his dues working as assistant HC.

PapaHawk--Dwayne Board hasnt even served as a coordinator, he has no business even being mentioned for HC. And Marshall for HC is laughable as well. The guy has one of the most talented, fastest defenses in football, and cant figure out how to utilize them, and you want to nominate him for HC candidate?? Id say he has to have the Hawks D finish in the top ten a couple years in a row before any HC openings are mentioned in the same sentence as his name.