2001 Bucs: Dungy's Last Stand
(January 14, 2002)

This is being written prior to any announcement on the future of the job as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach. The rumors that Tony Dungy will be fired and replaced by Bill Parcells are expected to be confirmed within days, if not hours. This article takes a look at the stretch run, the playoff loss at Philadelphia and the speculation (if we can still call it that) surrounding the head coaching position.

When last we wrote about the Bucs, they were 4-5 and things looked grim. The team did go on to win four of the next five to clinch a playoff berth. They looked good in 24-17 Monday night victory at St. Louis. A 16-13 overtime victory at Cincinnati was followed by a 15-12 victory over then winless Detroit. A trip to Chicago saw a miserable performance in a 27-3 loss to the division champion Bears. The team looked the best it looked all year in a 48- 21 victory in a key game against New Orleans. A 22-10 victory of defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore put the Bucs in the postseason. The regular season ended with a meaningless 17-13 loss to Philadelphia.

This site's Buccaneers 2001 preview article began with "Philadelphia 21, Tampa Bay 3. Eight months later the stench lingers. Will that miserable playoff performance be motivation to propel the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl?" Toss in the possibility that head coach Tony Dungy's job was on the line and what could we expect of this year's playoff game at Veterans Stadium? Unfortunately, more of the same. Smell that smell. Eagles 31, Tampa Bay 9. The last three playoff games, an NFL postseason record twelve consecutive quarters, the team has failed to score a touchdown. The players like and respect Dungy, but I sure would not want this group playing for my job.

This brings us to the point were the winningest coach in team history, a man who made the playoffs four times in the last five years, will be fired. Getting rid of a popular coach must have been a tough decision, but it was a decision that had to be made. Bill Parcells is expected to be named the replacement. After Steve Spurrier unexpectedly resigned as the University of Florida head coach to take a shot at the NFL, some may thought he was a better fit in Tampa Bay. But the Bucs first quarterback, and head coach of the Tampa Bay Bandits, is headed to the Washington Redskins. I would have preferred Spurrier, but Parcells is a proven winner. It is time to move on.

Tony Dungy is not the only one who will not be back. Jacquez Green, Riedel Anthony, Donnie Abraham and Randall McDaniel are probably goners. Warrick Dunn and Warren Sapp could be with other teams. Bill Parcells will try to bring his own people in and most of the coaching staff could be looking for work. Parcells will want total control, so General Manager Rich McKay may also be gone. McKay has done an outstanding job assembling talent within the constraints of the salary cap. If he wants to stay in football, a number of team's could use his expertise.

I guess we should look back at the old days of Buccaneers football, when a season like this would have been a good thing. Many words have been written, and plenty of words spoken, about the Bucs. There may be only one thing left to say. Thanks Tony.