Event Date: March 18th, 1986
Event Description: Generals Dump Michaels
Source: Football News
The owner of the New Jersey Generals of the USFL fired Coach Walt Michaels after disputes over the team's direction, and the club's defensive coordinator immediately quit in protest.
Michaels, fired as head coach of the NFL New York Jets in 1982, has been popular with the fans and players. Michaels led the Generals to the league championship last season.
Owner Donald Trump blamed Michaels for the Generals' four straight losses and said he had no choice but to fire the veteran coach.
Ted Cottrell immediately quit as the General's defensive coordinator, saying he couldn't work for Trump anymore. Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer was named interim coach.
Trump, who said he had made up his mindafter the teams’ most recent loss to the struggling Jacksonville Bulls, told the coach of his decision during an emotional meeting Sunday morning. Michaels left the meeting, got into his vehicle and drove away without talking to the news media.
Trump was visibly upset when he appeared at a news conference to make the official announcement.
“One thing I don't appreciate is reading in the papers every day that we have a rotten football team,” he said. “We don't have a bad team; it's as good as any other in the USFL.”
“It's my decision to make and that's it,” Trump said. “I know there's a lot of emotion that takes place in something like this. But we don't go to the public or the media to make a decision like this.”
The relationship between Michaels and Trump has not been good since the start of the year. Michaels has let it be known he was unhappy that the team has not signed any top players for the defense.
Trump and Michaels got into a shouting match last week because Trump thought the coach had criticized him for not providing adequate talent. Trump spokesman John Barron has publicly criticized the General's coaching staff, saying they were being too conservative.
Trump and Michaels got into a shouting match last week because Trump thought the coach had criticized him for not providing adequate talent. Trump spokesman John Barron has publicly criticized the General's coaching staff, saying they were being too conservative.
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