Fred Turk Out as Capitals Coach
Raleigh finished the 2000 season in 2nd place in the Coastal Division and many people felt they would be the team to beat in 2001. Instead they tanked falling to last in the division and have finished last in the division every year since. Fred Turk lasted longer than most coaches in Raleigh, but failed to pick up the team this year after management acquired the most successful quarterback in league history Van Egger, and so Turk is saying goodbye. Turk was 13-23 in his time at Raleigh and failed, like Ron Carpenter and David Gibson before him, to bring any real spark to this team. So Turk is out looking for a job and Van Egger is hoping a new coach will help him redeem his poor performance this season.
The Capitals need some major change. Over the past 6 years Raleigh has by far been the worst performing team in terms of where they place in their division. This year was thought by many to be the most disappointing season so far and many fans and management were left scratching their heads as to what more they can do to turn this team around.
Tom Smythe Let Go By Tobs
The Wilson Tobs announced today the release of head coach Tom Smythe. Over the past 6 seasons Smythe has had a record of 51-20-1 and won the Coastal division the last 5 years from 2002-2006. Owner Matthew Vaughn praised Smythe in the announcment saying that he had brought Wilson to the top of the league, but that differences between the two were leading them to part ways. Smythe for his part simply said that he felt a need for change as well. "I'm not sure," Smythe said, "why it is, but it is obvious that the management does not believe I can win a championship. With that lack of support I feel that I cannot continue here. I just hope I can get an opportunity with another team to prove them wrong."
Wilson was embarrassed in their wild card game against Salisbury this past weekend losing 38-3. No one is saying if this was the straw that broke the camel’s back or not, but it certainly didn’t help. After going 2-10 in 2000 Smythe was brought in to replace Robert Walker as head coach and quickly turned things around. He traded away Marcus Musson and brought in Bennie Berwick in a controversial move that turned out to be brilliant. Berwick went on the lead the Tobs to the playoffs in 2002 and 2003 then took Winston-Salem to the playoffs in 2004. After losing to the Bees in 2003, in their first championship appearance by a very lopsided score, Smythe and management agreed to completely revamp the team. The revamp seemed to work as Wilson came alive in 2005 going 11-1 and keeping the championship game against the Bees close. But even then there was a sense of strife in the clubhouse and it was confirmed for the first time today with the announcement today.
Smythe now looks around the league for another job where he should find one and Wilson goes into the marketplace for a replacement. We shall see next season whether management or Smythe are smiling in the end.
