Arizona State football's Herm Edwards slammed for 'trust' comments, lack of accountability
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards did an interview with Dan Bickley and Vince Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Tuesday and one of his comments did not go over well with some ASU fans and media members.
In the interview on the Bickley and Marotta Show, Edwards said he doesn't "micromanage" people and that you have to "trust" people, when asked if his loyalty had potentially been taken advantage of by previous members of his coaching staff.
He said: "I feel this way, that when you delegate responsibility you have to trust people. I live in a world like that. I grew up this way. I don't micromanage people. I understand what is going on for the most part, but at the end of the day, football is about trust, by the way. This game is built on trust. … People in the circle you've got to trust each other that they are going to do their job. If they don't, you can't run the play. It doesn't function that way ... Sports is all about trust. It's about the people that you trust that are going to do their jobs correctly and in the right way."
More: ASU football can still reach high aspirations under Herm Edwards, Ray Anderson says
More: ASU President Michael Crow explains why Herm Edwards is still Sun Devils' football coach
More: Arizona State football coach Herm Edwards addresses NCAA investigation, 'trust'
VOTE: Do you 'trust' Herm Edwards as the coach of the #ASUfootball team? (#ASU coach addresses #NCAA investigation: https://t.co/0k3lYsjKHm) | Slammed for comment: https://t.co/AOWENScEIJ) #ForksUp @azcentral
— azcentral sports (@azcsports) February 22, 2022
Many were swift to react to the quote, wondering if Edwards was trying to pass the blame instead of be accountable for the state of the ASU football program, which is being investigated by the NCAA for recruiting violations.
Some were not easy on the coach.
More: Jayden Daniels transfer reaction: Arizona State football 'a mess' under coach Herm Edwards
He’s right, trust is important. So is accountability. https://t.co/rH5uGMDHul
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) February 22, 2022
Herm Edwards awkwardly admits to lack of institutional control at ASU. https://t.co/5tXUmhhatv
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) February 22, 2022
Trust needs to be earned not given
— Robert Kirby (@kirbybobby1) February 22, 2022
at least Herm is consistent, he doesn't micromanage, macromanage, clock manage, coaching staff manage, recruiting rule adherence manage, the only thing Herm manages is empty platitudes and folksy coach speak.
— Released.Kraken 🔱 (@ReleasedKraken3) February 22, 2022
Nick Saban, Urban Meyer, Jim Harbaugh, Dabo….what do these and many more successful “college”coaches have in common? They micro-manage. Maybe college coaches need to micro-manage Herm. He says it like it’s a bad thing. https://t.co/QTzXQfqPeh
— Aaron Hill (@Aaron_Hill_) February 22, 2022
Maybe try a better vetting process then?
— Aaron Hill (@Aaron_Hill_) February 22, 2022
Your boss micromanaged the hell out the previous football coach. https://t.co/QTzXQfrn3P
— Aaron Hill (@Aaron_Hill_) February 22, 2022
Setting culture, expectations, consequences, accountability is not micromanaging. People need to earn the leash they're given.
This is complete negligence. https://t.co/Wf2aRM7VzK— DevilTukee (@DevilTukee) February 22, 2022
Sounds like a BS excuse. Trust is one thing, but turning an blind eye and not paying attention is totally different. https://t.co/aLS3IxKx63
— Fun Devil (@krathkey) February 22, 2022
“Trust” that all my assistants will take the fall
— Ludo Bagman (@LudoBags) February 22, 2022
Wow. So, he threw everyone else under the bus? Welp. Let’s see how that plays out. pic.twitter.com/e3Na6B9mzl
— Nate (@n8vtxn37) February 22, 2022
More: Spencer Rattler's dad: Money didn't keep QB from transferring to Arizona State football
In an email, Republic reader Andrew Sullivan wrote: "Edwards is correct in saying that you must trust those that you hire. On the flip side Edward's must take the blame when he makes mistakes on those that he hires in the first place. What kind of leadership compass did he present in the first place? The leader sets a trend that must be followed. If he's innocent of wrong doing he is not innocent of establishing a unacceptable working environment. Sorry coach but you hired the carpenters that built your house. Now, when the house falls apart you can't claim that the poor workmanship of those carpenters isn't on you."
More: Herm Edwards video resurfaces amid Arizona State football NCAA recruiting investigation
Curtis Byrnes, another reader, offered this: "Edwards statements reflect who he really is - ‘a true snake oil salesman’ spouting off all the blather about high standards, teamwork, character, honesty, togetherness and trust. He placed all the blame on his employees (young coaches) and accepted none of the responsibility for where the program is currently. History demonstrates that all great leaders take responsibility for the actions of those under their charge. All he wants to do is blame young coaches for doing things the way they thought he wanted him done. To assume that they violated recruiting rules without his knowledge is a stretch. If for no other reason, he needs to be terminated because he did not properly supervise those in his charge. He lacks courage to do the proper thing. Wasn’t this supposed to be the great Anderson/Edwards reset where they demonstrated a new/better way to do things in college athletics? All that really happened was: Anderson hired his buddy and they tried to prove that they were smarter than everybody else. Unfortunately, it was a failure and now the ASU athletic program will be years recovering from the mistake."
The Sun Devils are scheduled to open the 2022 season at home against Northern Arizona on Sept. 1.
More: ASU should fire Ray Anderson, Herm Edwards, Arizona state senator T.J. Shope says
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU football coach Herm Edwards slammed for lack of accountability