Mike Stoops is fired as Arizona coach, but let's not forget what preceeded him

Mike Stoops is out as Arizona head coach, but as necessary as that move became, Arizona fans should not forget the positive and lasting impact he made on the program.

Confession: I have never been much of a supporter of Mike Stoops. Between the sideline antics, recruiting troubles, and baffling losses to below level competition (New Mexico. Twice), it became extremely difficult to garner much positive support towards Stoops. Throw in the 10 straight losses to FBS teams and even the most ardent of Stoops supporters did not have much to grasp to. Sunday morning, after digesting the Oregon State loss, I was fully ready to see Stoops canned. I had already started day-dreaming about who would replace him.

Yet, despite the outcome of the last 12 months and the current state of the program , I still find myself thankful for Stoops and his near-eight years of service. It is easy to forget now, but Stoops was willing to step into what had to be one of the worst jobs in college football at the time, following Mackovic's Reign of Terror. The program was in shambles. The players executed a literal mutiny against their coach. Looking back, I'm shocked Stoops even took the chance. Certainly, the grass was not any greener in Tucson than in Norman.

The good news for Wildcat fans is Stoops did take the job, and made everyone in Tucson forget the dark years of Mackovic and his Reign of Terror. He took the team to three straight bowl games, including a victory in that all-important first one, the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl. Arizona had not gone bowling since the 1998 Holiday Bowl, and it was Stoops who took them there in three consecutive seasons.

The time, however, was right for Arizona Athletic Director Greg Byrne to make the change. The team had plateaued at best, and was in a free-fall at worst. The Stoops program had run its course and it is clear that both parties were in need of a change.

Going forward, Arizona fans should have confidence that Byrne will make the right hire for Arizona now and into the future. The fact that Arizona will even be considered a desirable landing spot for any reputable coach is thanks in large part to Mike Stoops. Without his seven-plus years of contribution, and his success in dragging the program out of the muck of Mackovic, Arizona fans would have a lot less to look forward to.