Is Tepper justified in firing coaches?
Plus: The news of the week — South Meck High teacher arrested — New state auditor appointed — Gastonia Mayor Walker Reid dies — LaMelo Ball sidelined with ankle sprain
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Opinion: Panthers owner David Tepper took a lot of heat this week after firing coach Frank Reich. But at 1-10, it was the right move; Time to get the next hire right
Explaining the firing of Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich, owner David Tepper told the media on Tuesday: “The product on the field’s just not good enough right now.” It’s hard to argue with that. (Photo by Chanelle Smith-Walker/Carolina Panthers)
by Carroll Walton
Charlotte sports — and its highest-profile figure, team owner David Tepper — have been in national headlines this week after Tepper fired Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich.
Both the immediate and lingering reaction has been a variation of “Yeah, that’s Tepper doing what Tepper does,” conjuring an image of an impatient and overbearing owner firing yet another coach. The tally is three head coaches since he bought the Panthers in 2018, and two in two seasons with his newer purchase, Charlotte FC.
In a span of 19 days in November, Tepper fired both Reich with the Panthers and Christian Lattanzio of Charlotte FC. Lattanzio was out after 18 months at the helm. Reich’s firing came only 11 games into his four-year contract, making his tenure the shortest in NFL head coaching since 1978. That’s pretty rare even by “Not For Long” standards.
And yet, even in all the noise, there hasn’t been much defense of Reich — not really — just complaints that he wasn’t given enough time. Is anybody saying, “But look at all the positive he is doing?” After following both of these recent coaching moves in Charlotte, my overriding reaction was, “Hmm, well, yeah. I can see why.”
Charlotte FC’s case was a little more nuanced. The team made the Major League Soccer playoffs for the first time in the franchise’s two-year history. But when you consider the six more games they could have easily won had they held a lead for 10 minutes or less, and how much easier it is to get in the playoffs this year with a new format, the decision to fire Lattanzio becomes a little clearer.
And with the real possibility that star player Karol Swiderski will move on to Europe this winter, and the challenge of taking the team to a higher level next season getting greater, there’s a case that Lattanzio had “met his capacity,” as a source familiar with the situation said. (Inaugural coach Miguel Angel Ramirez’s departure was more abrupt and more straightforward. His rapport with players off the field turned out to be a complete mismatch.)
With the Carolina Panthers? There’s little nuance in a 1-10 record, the worst in professional football.
“The product on the field’s just not good enough right now,” Tepper said during his 14-minute press conference on Tuesday. “It just isn’t.”
In my 30-year career covering a variety of sports, I covered one 1-10 football team, Georgia Tech in 1994. It was my first season covering college football, and I learned this lesson: Coaches don’t last when they win one game. And what we found in the case of Bill Lewis that year was that bubbling underneath the surface was a quarterback controversy that divided the team along racial lines. Translation: major problems.
I don’t think there’s anything nearly that ominous behind the scenes in Reich’s case. I think what you see is what you get: a young quarterback struggling, pieces around him not good enough and a coach unable to do much to help.
Nick Saban at Alabama made Young a Heisman Trophy winner in two years. Reich could hardly get him in position to get a pass off. Sure, Alabama had much better talent in comparison to its opponents, and Carolina has had injuries to its offensive line. But it’s not like there are total slouches playing backup offensive line in the NFL. Run a draw play or a screen, every once in a while, to take the pressure off?
I actually had the thought, sitting in the stands at Bank of America Stadium on Nov. 19, as the Dallas Cowboys started pulling away, that Reich should take Young out late in the game, just to keep from completely demoralizing him — not to mention to preserve his health.
Joe Person, Panthers beat writer for The Athletic, pointed out that had Reich played backup quarterback Andy Dalton some, it might have bought him some time. Maybe it also would have fired Young up competitively, in addition to preserving his psyche. At least it would be trying something different?
When asked Tuesday about his impatience with coaches, Tepper said: “I do have patience. My reputation away from this game is one of extreme patience. … That patience comes with good performance and things you want to see, progress being made in different aspects.”
Ironically, for all the criticism he takes, Tepper is the ultimate modern-day owner. He models the mindset of many modern fans. Many of the same people criticizing him for his quick trigger are also thinking, “OK, I was sick of watching that, too.”
John Hayes, who is an executive producer at ESPN by trade, Charlotte FC fan and podcaster by passion, said on an X post following Monday’s news of Reich: “On a day when David Tepper is going to get criticized, I just want to thank him. Thanks for Charlotte FC. Thanks for Karol Swiderski. Thanks for Atrium Health Performance Park. Thanks for allowing Joe LaBue to run a classy organization.”
Tepper spends money. Lots of money. He has the power and right to do with it what he wants. Say what you will about his decision-making and maybe his meddling tendencies, he has no problem cutting his losses.
In a society where impatience reigns supreme, this is the new normal. Coaches are going to come and go. The fact that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s name is being floated as a possible head coaching candidate in Charlotte is confirmation enough. Six Super Bowl titles there aren’t helping him through a miserable year in New England.
Tepper’s impatience in firing coaches is not the problem — it’s in hiring them. He and the people who work for him need to get it right this time, both with the Panthers and Charlotte FC.
Carroll Walton covers Charlotte FC for The Charlotte Ledger’s pro soccer newsletter, Fútbol Friday, which is published weekly in the February-to-October soccer season. Carroll was previously a longtime baseball writer with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Reach her at carroll@cltledger.com.
Today’s supporting sponsors are … The Mint Museum. Give the gift of art with a membership to The Mint Museum. Gift recipients will receive a special package announcing all the benefits with their membership to the Mint.
… and Crisis Assistance Ministry. Today at Crisis Assistance Ministry, 100 families will seek to avoid eviction or utility loss. You can ensure those neighbors maintain the hope, warmth, and light of home this season.
This week in Charlotte: ‘Stephen Curry Interchange’ coming to I-77?; Legalized sports gambling won’t start in N.C. until after Super Bowl; Charlotte’s construction boom brings lower rents
On Saturdays, The Ledger sifts through the local news of the week and links to the top articles — even if they appeared somewhere else. We’ll help you get caught up. That’s what Saturdays are for.
Education
CMS enrollment data: (WFAE) Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools says the numbers of Hispanic and Asian students have increased this year while the numbers of Black and white students have decreased. With a total of 141,393 students, the district’s enrollment is flat and has fallen short of projections for growth.
South Meck High teacher arrested: (WSOC) South Mecklenburg High School teacher Gabriela Neufeld was charged with felony sexual activity with a student by a teacher after police said she had sex with an 18-year-old student. Police said the sex acts occurred at least five times and listed the location as near Park Road Park. Prosecutors said the student’s mom grew suspicious when her son missed rugby practice and found his location with the Life360 tracking app, drove to the park and found the teacher and her son having sex in a car.
Politics
Appointment of new state auditor: (WRAL) Gov. Roy Cooper has chosen former Wake County commissioner Jessica Holmes to replace State Auditor Beth Wood, who is stepping down this month after being charged with improperly using state-owned vehicles.
In memoriam: (WSOC) Gastonia Mayor Walker Reid died Thursday. Reid, who was first elected as a council member in 1995, lost his re-election bid last month.
Local news
Steph Curry exit coming to I-77? (WSOC) Davidson town leaders and Davidson College officials want to name I-77’s Exit 30 the “Stephen Curry Interchange” after basketball superstar and Davidson College alum Steph Curry. But the Davidson town board approved the measure by a 4-1 vote Tuesday — a vote that could put the naming in jeopardy, because it’s believed that N.C. Department of Transportation officials prefer for naming resolutions to be unanimous. NCDOT officials are expected to take the matter up at a meeting Dec. 7.
Charges dropped against woman from viral video: (WBTV) Charges against a woman who was punched by a Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer in a viral video have been dropped. The video showed the officer delivering more than a dozen strikes to Christina Pierre’s knee and legs in an attempt to subdue her during an arrest. A judge ruled Thursday that police body-cam footage must be released by Dec. 12.
Business
Inside Payzer’s success story: (Ledger 🔒) The founder of Payzer, a Charlotte-based tech company that launched in 2012, describes the journey of starting a company in a room over the garage in his Union County home to becoming one of the area’s biggest tech success stories. The company was recently purchased by Maine-based WEX for $250M, marking one of the highest sale prices in the history of Charlotte tech companies.
No legal Super Bowl gambling: (WSOC) Legalized sports gambling in North Carolina won’t start before the Super Bowl in February, the chairman of the N.C. Lottery Commission said. The commission is still devising rules for online and in-person betting, which is supposed to start before next summer.
Sports
Panthers coach fired: (WSOC) In a news conference a day after firing Carolina Panthers head coach Frank Reich, owner David Tepper said he understands fans’ frustration with the team and pledged that “We will make it better.” He said Reich is a “fine man” but that the team’s 1-10 start is “not good enough.” He also said: “The buck stops here, and I take full responsibility for everything.”
LaMelo Ball injured: (ESPN) Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks due to a right ankle sprain, impacting the team just as they had their projected starting lineup available for the first time in two years. Ball, 22, had surgery on the same ankle last season, limiting him to 33 games in 2022-23.
Good reads
Giving Tuesday: (Ledger) The Ledger asked readers to submit their favorite charities across the Charlotte region for our fourth annual Charity Shout-Out. Check out the list of the 52 charities — just in time for holiday-season charitable giving.
History of Hispanics in Charlotte: (Philanthropy Focus/FFTC) Longtime Charlotte journalist and Fiestas Patrias founder Rafael Prieto-Zartha chronicled the history of Hispanics in Charlotte, starting with the arrival of explorers from Spain in 1540 and ending with current-day leaders and migration trends. The timeline is robust, with information on the founding of Hispanic leadership organizations to controversies over topics like the 287g deportation program at local jails and the rise of Hispanic students in local schools.
From the Ledger family of newsletters
New twist on charitable giving: Trust-based philanthropy is gaining popularity as a more effective and respectful approach, allowing donors to provide funds to nonprofits without restrictions and empowering organizations to make decisions based on their expertise.
Construction boom leads to lower rents: Average rents in areas of Charlotte, such as South End, uptown and SouthPark, have decreased due to a surge in apartment construction, with the region’s apartment vacancies reaching a record high of 10.7%.
Big Union County flea market to close: Sweet Union Flea Market is set to close on Dec. 31 after 39 years of operation, as the family owners cite their ages and the lack of interest from the younger generation to run the market.
Independence Boulevard middle lanes could come back: The bus lanes in the middle of Independence Boulevard, which have been closed since the reconstruction of the Hawthorne Lane bridge in 2021, are slated to reopen in mid-2024 pending city council approval for $950,000 in construction work.
Sycamore goes “tame” on winter ale label: Sycamore Brewing has revived its tradition of eyebrow-raising beer can labels, with this year’s Christmas Cookie Winter Ale featuring a burlesque-style design, which some customers are calling “tame” and “boring” compared to previous years.
Top mascot choices for new Ballantyne Ridge High: The survey for naming the mascot for the new Ballantyne Ridge High in south Charlotte has 10 contenders, including the Wolves, Rhinos, Bison and Badgers. The survey is open through Sunday.
Publix still a go for the Arboretum: Publix says it’s still committed to the project of building a store at the Arboretum shopping center in south Charlotte and will provide more information about the store in mid-to-late January.
Plans to preserve shrinking county farmland: Mecklenburg County is experiencing a significant loss of farmland as increased development encroaches on farms. The county is working on a plan to preserve what’s left, including voluntary agricultural districts and a partnership with The Conservation Fund to purchase land from farmers looking to exit farming and sell it to new and minority farmers.
Push for historic designation of 1930s mansion: Residents in Charlotte's Stonehaven neighborhood are seeking historic landmark status for a 1930s stone mansion, known as the J.J. Akers House, amid concerns that Providence Day School, which has the property under contract, might demolish it.
Public pooping update: Fourth Ward residents in uptown Charlotte are hopeful that new proposed rules addressing issues like public urination, defecation and open container violations will be presented to the city council in January.
Room In The Inn program still recovering from Covid: Roof Above's Room In The Inn program, which partners with local organizations to provide shelter for people experiencing homelessness from December to March, will have about 60 host sites this year, down from its pre-Covid level of 105.
How to fix the airport's holiday traffic problem: The days surrounding Thanksgiving saw extreme traffic delays at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. WFAE’s Steve Harrison looks into potential solutions to manage congestion.
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