College football media reacts to Washington State firing Nick Rolovich for refusing COVID mandate
Washington State fired head coach Nick Rolovich on Monday with cause after he refused to comply with the state’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate.
After refusing to comply with the state of Washington’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for state employees, Washington State Cougars football head coach Nick Rolovich has been terminated with cause, as reported by Jon Canzano of The Oregonian.
Rolovich had been vocal in his opposition to getting the vaccine and had searched for avenues to avoid getting vaccinated, most recently applying for a religious exemption from the state. Instead, the university terminated his contract on Monday.
It’s also worth noting that the situation in Pullman didn’t stop there as all of the unvaccinated assistants on Rolovich’s staff were also fired.
Reactions to Washington State firing Nick Rolovich over his vaccine refusal
Naturally, the college football media had plenty of thoughts about the Rolovich firing.
It didn’t have to come to this but Rolovich decided it was his personal choice to lose his job. https://t.co/qoJKfhvKRk
— Patrick Schmidt (@PatrickASchmidt) October 18, 2021
The dumbest boy alive https://t.co/Bsut8hBBLl
— BUM CHILLUPS AKA SPENCER HALL (@edsbs) October 18, 2021
This will go down as the dumbest way a head coach has ever lost their job.
— Alicia de Artola Castillo (@PenguinOfTroy) October 18, 2021
He refused to get an FDA-approved vaccine during a pandemic. Darwin Award worthy. https://t.co/m3q9pGaHTk
Helluva career move, Rolo. One of the jobs discussed here in Dash 2Q: https://t.co/02H0NmcT4w https://t.co/ymVeUpHNRo
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) October 18, 2021
And there it is. Wild to throw away a Power 5 job over this. https://t.co/7hklt6iKWC
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 18, 2021
These idiots don’t deserve the millions they’re missing out on anyway. Good lord https://t.co/d0J5dt4DTd
— Morgan Moriarty (@Morgan_Moriarty) October 18, 2021
This has been an absolute incredible saga to witness from afar. https://t.co/TgWGLLrudN
— Kevin McGuire (@KevinOnCFB) October 18, 2021
If nothing else, you have to feel for the Washington State players, especially as the team has somewhat outperformed expectations so far in the 2021 season.
Under Rolovich, the Cougars were off to a 4-3 overall start and 3-2 in Pac-12 play. For a team many expected to finish at the bottom of the North division, that’s a strong start. Now, you have to wonder what their immediate future will hold after their head coach was fired due to his stance on the vaccine.
Jake Dickert, Washington State’s defensive coordinator, is expected to be named the interim head coach to guide the Cougars through the remainder of the 2021 season.
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