Sports Media Hall of Famer Thinks Chip Kelly Should Be Fired
Bill Plaschke has nine "Associated Press Sports Columnist of the Year" awards on his mantle. He knows a thing or two about writing. He's been in the LA sports media space for nearly 30 years, seeing many head football coaches come and go at UCLA.
In his column this week, Plaschke argued that Kelly is simply not worth the money he is being paid, pointing out how Kelly is actually the highest-paid employee by the State of California. Kelly has over 30 years of coaching experience with stops as head coach at the University of Oregon, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the San Francisco 49ers. He is regarded as more of an offensive-minded head coach, but ironically, UCLA's defense is what is keeping them in games this season
UCLA's offense is ranked 71st in point per game this season. Granted, they have struggled to find consistency in the quarterback position. But even while they had a very effective quarterback last season in Dorian Thompson-Robinson, under Chip Kelly, UCLA has not won a bowl game.
Plaschke elaborated on this in his column:
In six years, they have never lost fewer than three conference games, including this year, going 3-4 in the Pac-12 despite being blessed with a schedule that didn’t include conference powerhouses Washington and Oregon. In six years, against top-25 teams, they are 5-13. In six years, they have won seven games against teams that finished the season with winning records. Wherever champions are made, it’s not here.
As UCLA heads into the Big 10 next season, many media members and fans alike are questioning whether or not Kelly is the right man to lead the Bruins into this new era for UCLA.
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