Idaho State AD Irv Cross, football coach Tom Walsh resign
Posted: Thur November 5, 1998 at 5:33 p.m. EST
POCATELLO, Idaho (Ticker) -- In the midst of a 2-6 record, Idaho
State athletic director Irv Cross and football coach Tom Walsh
were each asked to resign from their positions today by school
president Dr. Richard Bowen.
"A review of the department of intercollegiate athletics has
revealed a program that, in my judgement, in many ways is
stalled," said Bowen.
Cross, who has held his post since March 1st, 1996, will step
down when his contract ends at the end of June. Walsh, who is
5-14 over two seasons at the school, has his contract run up at
the end of January.
A former Pro Bowl cornerback in the 1960s, Cross spent 23 years
with CBS Sports as an NFL game analyst and studio co-host and
commentator. He was a financier, stockbroker and consultant for
several financial institutions prior to joining ISU.
"I want to thank the university for giving me an opportunity to
have this position," said Cross. "There aren't many
Afro-American athletic directors on the Division I level in this
country. I was one that had an opportunity to do some things
that I believed in very strongly, and I appreciate that
opportunity."
Walsh guided the Bengals to a 3-8 record during his first season
at the helm and has three games remaining to improve upon the
mark this year. He owns a 13-17 collegiate coaching record,
which includes an 8-3 mark at U.S. International in 1979.
"The perception, obviously, among the community and other people
has been relayed to us that we're not a very good football team
or we're not doing well," said Walsh. "The reality is, we may
not be winning as many games as people would like us to win, nor
as many as the players would like us to win, but there has been
improvement, and that is the reality.
"The reality is we're a very young ball club, a lot of youth, a
lot of talent, a lot of skill, a lot of future. Someone's going
to benefit from that, and unfortunately it won't be us."
Walsh was an assistant with the Los Angeles Raiders for 14
seasons before departing in 1995. He started as receivers coach
with the Raiders in 1982 and became offensive coordinator and
quarterbacks coach five years later.
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