Fordham football coach fired

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Fordham University Executive Director of Athletics Frank McLaughlin announced on Saturday that the Rams head football coach Tom Masella has been relieved of his duties effective immediately.

Fordham is still considered a Patriot League member even though the team can't win a league title because it began to offer scholarships two years ago. Its games also don't count in the league standings.

"We are grateful for Tom's hard work at Fordham over the past six years but we feel it's time to make a change," said McLaughlin. "Tom is a determined coach who was able to help lead Fordham into the football scholarship era. We wish him all the best in the future."

Masella completed his sixth season at Fordham with a 41-21 loss to Holy Cross on Saturday as the Rams closed out the year with a 1-10 record.

Fordham's lone win this season was a 21-14 victory over Columbia. The Rams lost to both Lehigh and Lafayette by lopsided scores this season, falling to the Mountain Hawks 34-12 on Oct. 15 and falling to the Leopards 45-24 a week later.

In his six years at Rose Hill, Masella had a 27-40 record while in ten years as a collegiate head coach his record is 44-66.

During Masella's tenure, Fordham produced a record-breaking quarterback in John Skelton, who is now the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

A national search for a replacement will begin immediately.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/