Posted: Sunday, January 24, 2010 11:19 am

Rick Stockstill, head football coach for Middle Tennessee State University, showed us what integrity and character look like last week.

At a time when college football coaching ranks were replete with sad examples who were generally an embarrassment to their profession, Stockstill stood firmly for the right way to do things, for commitment, for the kind of character we truly would want student athletes to imitate.

Stockstill stood firm and decided to stay at MTSU.

He apparently had been offered the head-coaching job at Eastern Carolina, a school that has jumped into the national stage with four straight bowl appearances, produced players such as the Titans’ star running back Chris Johnson, he of the 2,000-yard season, and generally represents a move up.

And, that is not to mention a contact some estimate to be in the five-year, $5 million range, many times over what Stockstill is currently making.

ECU’s interest is understandable. In four years Stockstill has led the Raiders to their first two FBS bowls and this just past season directed Middle to a New Orleans Bowl victory over favored Southern Mississippi and a 10-win season with a team that is hugely exciting to watch.

But the Raider head coach removed himself from consideration, noting he could not be out recruiting as he was for Middle Tennessee and be honest with those young athletes considering donning the Blue and because of the players he had on squad plus appreciation for the opportunity the university had given him.

Stockstill’s integrity stands as a shining example at a time when Tennessee was victimized by a roguish, immature Lane Kiffin, another successful coach left his team before a BCS game and three high-profile coaches were fired for misconduct toward players.

What isn’t unusual is Stockstill’s stand to do what is right.

We’ve seen that in the amazing improvement of the football team’s academic position that has gone from sanctioned to award winning.

We’ve seen that by his holding his best offensive player accountable even for possibly the biggest game of the season and not letting the athlete start for breaking a team rule.
We’ve seen that steadfastness on discipline and accountability even while seeing the team succeed.

Coach Stockstill showed a lot of class with last week’s decision, but it wasn’t something we hadn’t seen before from him.

Too often college football coaches are judged by nothing more than wins and losses.
Rick Stockstill is more than that and we should remember that.