Arizona Cardinals Fire Coach Tobin

T E M P E, Ariz., Oct. 23 -- Vince Tobin, who coached Arizona to itsfirst playoff victory in 51 years two seasons ago, was fired today— a day after the Cardinals lost to the Dallas Cowboys 48-7.

Defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis was hired as interim coachfor the rest of the season.

“I’m very sad to see coach Tobin go,” quarterback Jake Plummersaid, “but at the same time I’m excited in a way to see coachMcGinnis come in and bring some new philosophies and some thingsthat might help this team. I think you’re going to see a fired-upball club that’s going to be ready to play.”

Tobin’s firing came with the Cardinals in last place in the NFCEast and two weeks before a vote in Maricopa County on a proposed$331 million stadium for the team.

Looking for Answers

Tobin had a 29-44 record in 4½ seasons as head coach. In 1998,he directed the team to a 9-7 regular season, its only winningcampaign since the franchise moved to Arizona from St. Louis in1988.

The Cardinals made the playoffs for the first time since 1982,then beat the Cowboys in Dallas for their first playoff victorysince the NFL championship game 51 years earlier.

However, the team stumbled to 6-10 last season and was 2-5 thisyear.

Plummer said he would always be grateful to Tobin for making hima starter as a rookie and sticking with him through some toughtimes.

“Obviously you can’t fire 54 players,” Plummer said. “Thesick thing is we are good, talented football players. You look atthe guys we have, a lot of them could start on other teams. Why isit not happening? We have to find that answer.

“Whether coach was a scapegoat or not, we still have nine gamesleft, we have to find an answer and get it done and win thisweekend.”

‘We’re All to Blame’

The loss in Dallas was the Cardinals’ largest margin of defeatsince 1981, and team president William Bidwill would not endorseTobin afterward.