Mike Bobo’s job is safe.

More accurately: Mike Bobo’s job was never in jeopardy.

One miracle comeback against Arkansas saved Colorado State (3-9) from its worst finish in 30 years and the best athletic director Joe Parker could do was shrug and say “meh.” At 11:25 a.m. Monday, he basically did just that by sending an email to fans informing them that CSU’s head football coach isn’t going anywhere.

No mention of the unreasonable contract he offered Bobo last December. No mention of the $8.5 million required to part ways with his coach. Just seven paragraphs saying this season was a disappointment and, in more subtle language, ask that you buy 2019 season tickets.

Which is perfectly fine. One losing season in four years shouldn’t cost Bobo his job. And if you’re Parker, what else are you supposed to do? Come out and say “I’m sorry I offered Bobo a bad deal we can’t afford to get out of?”

Parker’s role in the disaster that was the Rams’ season is prominent. In his defense, there was no way to foresee how poorly 2018 would go. Bobo’s teams won seven games in each of his first three seasons and any decent coach should have his program peaking in Year 4. At the same time, offering a coach who hadn’t won a bowl game, hadn’t beaten CU and hasn’t come close to a conference championship a deal that financially protected him for poor performance while letting him walk for cheap if he succeeds was an objectively bad move. Given that contract was signed nearly a year ago, there aren’t many amends Parker can reasonably make.

He’s also not the only athletic director in this state who opted not to fire his football coach after a disastrous season. Northern Colorado’s Darren Dunn gave Earnest Collins Jr. a vote of confidence last week after a 2-9 season and a career record of 26-62 with the Bears. Though, perhaps to Dunn’s credit, he noted that “Coach Collins is fully invested in making necessary changes and has been looking at every facet of the program, including personnel …”

Bobo isn’t taking that same approach.

Following Colorado State’s 27-19 loss at Air Force on Thanksgiving, Bobo was twice asked directly if he planned to make any staff changes in the offseason. He said no, instead hoping for consistency to help raise the level of the product.

In 2010, as another 3-9 season stumbled to a close, I asked former coach Steve Fairchild in three consecutive postgame press conferences the same question about making staff changes.

“No.” “No.” “No.” One year later, he was looking for a new job.

I’ve said it before: Bobo is nothing if not devoted, but don’t confuse devotion with stubbornness. The only excuses for the quality of product in Fort Collins to have deteriorated so significantly this fall are 1) You recruited so poorly that your program goes down the Poudre in Year 4, or 2) you made bad staff hires.

Former defensive coordinator Marty English took a temporary retirement last December and the Rams somehow allowed 451.5 yards per game this season — their worst mark since 1996 (462.9). Former offensive line coach Will Friend left for a job at Tennessee and Colorado State allowed its most sacks per game (2.5) since 2012. These aren’t coincidences. Losing three starters on the offensive line hurt, but that ties back to recruiting.

Changes should be made. If Bobo isn’t willing to — and Parker won’t force them — then anything short of a championship-caliber season in 2019 should put Bobo on the hot seat.

Perhaps Bobo, with this staff in tact, can elevate Colorado State back to the level Jim McElwain reminded us was once possible. But is he willing to bet his job on it?

It appears so.

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