Mike Bellotti worked at Oregon for over 20 years, both as a football coach and athletic director, but just remembered that he left his keys in an ESPN studio and won't be coming back. Gee, I wonder why that is?
Bellotti is leaving Eugene to become a college football analyst at ESPN, despite holding his athletic director job for less than a year. He swears he's not running away from the numerous paperwork headaches caused by his delinquent football team—and the basketball coach he had to fire—but there does seem to be a pattern. LaGarrette Blount, Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James were all recruited to play for the Ducks by Bellotti and all joined the team in 2008. After one year with them on the sidelines, Bellotti quit football to become the athletic director. Now he's quitting again "to get back into football" and not because those guys (and several others) are still driving him crazy.
Nope, not running away from anything at all. Just a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to not be around Oregon football for awhile. But if the NCAA calls, you can totally give them his new email address.
Oregon's Mike Bellotti resigns as AD; will join ESPN [ESPN]
"George Schroeder: AD never wanted the gig" [The Register-Guard]
Bellotti's Resignation Not Necessarily a Sign of Anything [Conquest Chronicles]
Ducking Out: Mike Bellotti Leaving Oregon for ESPN [Sporting Blog]