Shutdown Corner - NFL

Last year, the Indianapolis Colts named Jim Caldwell as the successor to Tony Dungy. With the Super Bowl-winning coach stepping aside today, Caldwell takes over, a fact that's no less surprising now than it was when it was announced last January.

Caldwell's previous head coaching experience came in college, when he spent seven years at Wake Forest. I attended Wake during Caldwell's final two seasons and it's no stretch to say that if you had told anybody in Winston-Salem that Jim Caldwell would one day become a head coach in the NFL, they would have laughed out loud ... heartily ... for a really long time.

It's not that people thought Caldwell was an especially bad head coach, but it's doubtful that anyone thought he was a good one. Caldwell went 26-63 at Wake Forest, a record that was poor even at a school that had always been a football laughingstock.

His losing ways were excused because it was said to be impossible to win at Wake Forest. That theory was proven wrong though when Caldwell's successor, Jim Grobe, took the Demon Deacons to the Orange Bowl in 2007 and led the team to its current streak of three straight bowl appearances (the first such run in school history).

Grobe has won 53% of his games at Wake. Caldwell won just 29%. In simpler terms, his teams were lousy.

After getting fired at Wake, Caldwell found work in the NFL and has served as the quarterbacks coach in Indianapolis since 2002. Some say his arrival coincided with Peyton Manning's flourishing as a quarterback. But, of course, correlation doesn't imply causation.

Does Caldwell's college record mean he's going to experience something similar at the professional level? Of course not.

Should it cause a little concern from the Colts faithful? Absolutely.

Photo: Getty Images

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  1. joshua C
    1. Posted by joshua C Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    Were the Colts required to go through the hiring process too? If Caldwell was white and the job was just passed on to him everyone would be screaming racism or that there was some good ole boy connection. I don't care what color anyone is, I just don't think it's fair, I havn't heard anyone say anything about this but I know I would have if the Colts new coach was white?
  2. The Thrilla in Vanilla
    2. Posted by The Thrilla in Vanilla Thu Sep 03, 2009 11:01 pm EDT

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    I want to buy your rock.
  3. Rob
    3. Posted by Rob Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:55 pm EDT

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    The Colts should have learned from Indiana University and Mike Davis. You don't give a guy his first job at the top. This may please the minority police, but it probably screws Colts' fans. Why not take a run at Cowher, Billick, or some other head coach who's shown he can win in the NFL? What has Caldwell accomplished? I mean besides nothing.
  4. just me
    4. Posted by just me Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:22 pm EDT

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    ok .. this is coming from a huge Colts fan in an effort to explain some of the logic behind the Caldwell decision ... it's about doing everything possible to keep things like they are .. he knows the system , the players , the other assistants ...we may not get to the Superbowl every year but we have won 12 games a year for 6 straight years ...something no other team ever did ... the last thing we need is someone like Billick or Cowher coming in here and changing everything around .. we're happy with our twelve win seasons and a shot at the big game every year ...Caldwell has learned a lot from Dungy and this Colts fan feels pretty good about next year ...
  5. Mike
    5. Posted by Mike Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:20 pm EDT

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    very good point joshua C... but unfortunately whites do not have a union that goes after companies requiring equal opportunity. Maybe the next time an executive management position opens at BET a white applicant should at least be interviewed!.... this just shows that racism is still in everybody's mind when it shouldn't matter whether the coach in waiting or the person hired for the job is black, white, brown, green or blue (we cant leave out the smurfs). I am more concerned about Caldwell's resume rather than his color. How come teams with other openings haven't been throwing job offers his way?!?! But you never know, unnamed/unknown coaches are flourishing in the NFL today. Lets see what happens.
  6. Ryan H
    6. Posted by Ryan H Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:47 pm EDT

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    the colts have enough talent, granted old talent, but talent nonetheless, so I'm not too worried. thanks for the wins Tony and best of luck to you
  7. Christina
    7. Posted by Christina Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:11 pm EDT

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    I really hope he just lets manning run offence biggest mistake dungy made not trusting manning to run offence!
  8. cleveland rocks
    8. Posted by cleveland rocks Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:26 pm EDT

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    the colts are gonna suck now! yes, go brownies
  9. Commoners A
    9. Posted by Commoners A Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:28 pm EDT

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    what you guys don't understand Dungy has been training him since last year to take his job. The trasition should be smooth. Especially since he's been with the organization.
  10. andrew
    10. Posted by andrew Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:54 pm EDT

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    To post number 7. Yes I'm happy the way we play right now. We always seem to get teams that have our number though. For example San Diego right now has our number, the Patriots use to have our number, and yeah their may have been a few times where we lost when we shouldnt have but it takes a really good team to make it to the post season for 7 or 8 years like we did and still can do. The Colts just need people who can stay healthy and TACKLE. In our game against San Diego their were MANY plays where we should have stopped Darrn Spoioles (sp?) but we just couldnt hold on to him and that has been our problem for some time now. We need more than just Sanders (and a few others I could name).
  11. Mark S
    11. Posted by Mark S Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:29 pm EDT

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    I'm a transplanted Steeler fan who has come to love the Colts after nearly 20 years in Indy. I was a disappointed with Indy's loss to SD last week as I was happy for the Steelers yesterday. But what have the last 2 weeks shown us? Any team that can make the playoffs can win or lose. Play the game at this level and the slightest slip-up will take you down. What will Jim Caldwell bring? Who knows. But then again, Mike Tomlin proves a new head coach doesn't have to be a flop. I will keep pulling for both my teams!
  12. Spion K
    12. Posted by Spion K Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:36 pm EDT

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    colts lbs all suck and they continue drafting tes and cutting them.
  13. Giant
    13. Posted by Giant Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    What in the world are you guys thinking giving Caldwell this job? There goes the team!
  14. Giant
    14. Posted by Giant Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:04 pm EDT

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    looks like ill be a bengal fan now.
  15. AL R
    15. Posted by AL R Thu Sep 03, 2009 2:49 pm EDT

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    hey 14, What??????
  16. corey b
    16. Posted by corey b Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:29 pm EDT

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    good desision keep a guy who knows the system and we may be losing harrison soon but have great talent such as addai manning wayne clark freeney and in 2 or 3 years i guarantee anthony gonzales will be a pro bowler
  17. NVM
    17. Posted by NVM Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:32 pm EDT

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    While he may not have the greatest credentials, he will allow a smooth transition for the organization. Jim Irsay and Bill Polian simply wanted somebody who knew the system and someone the players could trust and play for. They didnt want any strife in the locker room about a new head coach. Also, Caldwell has been watching Dungy to see how to coach well and lead the team. As a Colts fan, I know that we will definitely have more losses next year but we will still have good, veteran players that will lead the team to victories. With the talent we have on our team, we should be able to make the playoffs next year.
  18. Ben S
    18. Posted by Ben S Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:47 pm EDT

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    now what all of you are failing to realize it takes an even better team to make it to the NFC Championship game 5 times in the last 8-9 years and never loosing their first playoff game under Andy Reid!!!!!!!! Go Eagles!!!!!! But you do have to give the Colts some credit..... i think the new guy will do just fine, and by the way Dungy did give Manning a lot of the play calling responsability.
  19. Badomen
    19. Posted by Badomen Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:28 pm EDT

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    Dungy may be a better father this time around. Everyone knows he was a good football coach.
    However, his first son's suicide can partially be attributed to Dungy's lack of involvement with a son he was slowly losing while ignoring. Studies show that a person's propensity to consider suicide at a young age is influenced heavily by the parenting that person receives.
    Dungy is a better man now. Too bad it was such a harsh lesson.
  20. Timo
    20. Posted by Timo Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:15 pm EDT

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    Regarding the promotion without interviewing a white candidate:
    NFL teams do not need to follow the"Rooney Rule" (interview at least one minority candidate) if they have previously indicated they have someone in place within the organization to take over. For example, Jim Mora Jr. was named Mike Holmgren's replacement in Seattle last year, although I believe he ended up taking a college job recently. Likewise, last January, the Colts said whenever Dungy retired, Caldwell would take his place. No racism involved.
  21. jimmy d
    21. Posted by jimmy d Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:21 pm EDT

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    Tony Dungy is a class act. Nobody will ever know what influenced his son's suicide. For all we know it could have been brought on by a relationship turned bad. He more than likely took his reasoning for taking his own life to the grave with him. You can point at this study and that one but everything has and always will be subject to the individual. Back to football..........he had a great career and the Bucs Super Bowl can be attributed, at least in half to what Dungy helped to build there. I might be a Giants fan but I have an appreciation for anyone that has accomplished what he has. Thanks for your contribution to the game of football Dungy. True football fans appreciate what you've brought to the game.
  22. notphilfan
    22. Posted by notphilfan Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:46 pm EDT

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    As a Bear fan I should detest Tony Dungy, but I got to tell you, I admire him. He will be truly missed. Professional sports needs more coaches who influence their players to do good things in this world, not end up in a strip bar at 3:00 am. Each of the professional leagues should have a one strike policy, because there is probably 200 guys who would love to play in place of the screw ups like Pacman and Burress etc.
    Caldwell better have huge feet cause he has big shoes to fill.
    Sit back and enjoy the good life Tony, you've more than earned it!
  23. ARIZONA JEFF
    23. Posted by ARIZONA JEFF Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:32 pm EDT

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    dungy won a superbowl which is alot. but geez he took peyton manning teams to the playoffs and choked more than not. why bring all the race into it? he was a good regular season coach. i personally would have gotten a more vocal coach who demanded accountability. turner gill is the hottest coach in the country, black, and is at BUFFALO.this guy is a bad hire. Wake Forest is an ok job and he sucked.
  24. Gbdup
    24. Posted by Gbdup Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:40 pm EDT

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    did dungy really retire or did the colts fire him but just told him to retire so that they can keep it on the DL? anyway if the latter is true id love to have him in jacksonville, and im sure that he would get calls from lots of teams around the league.
  25. Unicorn
    25. Posted by Unicorn Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:48 pm EDT

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    I'm glad to see he'sgoing to be helping people who can use his inspiration and life experiences, instead of those useless overpaid crybabies, who play some stupid game.

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Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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