Coaching Insanity

**ShopTalk** · 12-30-2010, 11:27 AM

Is it just me, or do others see how unrealistic and insane coaching expectations have become in NCAA football?

I mean, you've got rumors that OSU is firing their head coach after taking them to a BCS bowl game - again - because he's "gotten too many violations".

You've got Auburn defending their practice of giving out $300K parental gifts and trying desperately to keep an OC because they made the National Championship game.

You've got Maryland firing a coach who has been the best coach they've maybe ever had after taking them to a bowl because he's not good enough.

You've got Penn St. trying to push out Jo Pa who built the program because "he's too old".

You've got Pitt firing a coach after a winning season because it's not good enough.

You've got two head coaches one-two year removed from the National Championship game in tailspins. One is retiring (Urban Meyer) because the stress and unrealistic expectations of being in the National Championship every year or you're fired mentality is literally killing him - and he's relatively young.

You've got another in Mack Brown who fired or lost his top coaches. The same coaches who took him to the top just a few years back.

Have all of these coaches suddenly become mentally handicapped because 17-21 year old kids failed to win a National Championship? Doesn't anyone realize that who is going to have the best team each year is more determined by who has the healthiest best prepared team of players?

Gene Chizik is going to a National Championship with one superstar QB and lots of high quality talent. Yeah, coaching helps, but even Malzahnn didn't get to the NC without Cam Newton last year. In fact, they weren't even in sniffing distance one year back.

Am I the only one who realizes there's only going to be two teams in the National Championship each year and if you didn't make it ever or rarely changing a head coach isn't going to fix it?

Has a collective insanity has overtaken college football, or has it always been this insane?

Does winning a National Championship really make a difference in anyone's life that went to the school or is going to the school other than the players and coaches?

I mean, do you get a cash bonus at work or a raise because your team won the NC? Does it make you tougher, smarter, more desirable to anyone or better looking? No.

Do you feel better about how crappy your life is or will be? No.

Does it solve world hunger or do anything useful? No, not really.

What is does do is socially engineer you and our culture into believing it is O.K. to cheat, lie, steal, knowingly employ criminals, bribe, threaten, rape and pillage if you "win".

Like the girl who killed herself because she dared to accuse a Notre Dame employee/Football player of sexual assault. And was texted by the player "you don't mess with ND football".

OK, Class Dismissed!

**heitclone** · 12-30-2010, 11:44 AM

The correct response is very simple $$$$$$$$$$$$$

**Knownothing** · 12-30-2010, 11:55 AM

Every team thinks they are capable of getting to "The Next Level" when they are not. It's like Iowa. They have hit there top level. I would die for that level to be honest. Maryland will never compete for a National Title in football. It's crazy that some of these schools think so highly of themselves. Schools should allow fans from across the country evaluate there teams head coach. That way they get an honest opinion of what they should expect. Right now expectation are way out of wack for every school.

**Cloner97** · 12-30-2010, 12:04 PM

I have a new thread called Posting Insanity. My main focus is ShopTalk

**Jarrods79** · 12-30-2010, 12:07 PM

Media, BCS, "tradition" freeze...all of these in relation to money. They should start by eliminating the preseason poll, reducing and capping the number of total scholarships per team, and restricting scheduling so Texas (and other schools) can't play Sisters of the Poor to get to a bowl game.

**Tre4ISU** · 12-30-2010, 12:09 PM

On the Friedgen and Wanstache front, they were let go for the same reason McCarney was. They just weren't getting to the next level. There was no reason Pitt shouldn't have won the Big East this year. None. Both are good coaches but at simetime being good just isnt good enough.

**synapticwave** · 12-30-2010, 12:09 PM

I agree with everything you're saying, but that's the world we've constructed...built on greed. If you make it to the top you're expected to deliver, whether it's politics, CEOs or college football coaches.

**heitclone** · 12-30-2010, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

On the Friedgen and Wanstache front, they were let go for the same reason McCarney was. They just weren't getting to the next level. There was no reason Pitt shouldn't have won the Big East this year. None. Both are good coaches but at simetime being good just isnt good enough.

Right, I think Wanny had to go. Pitt recruits too well to be mediocre, as far as Friedgen I think his firing was decided prior to this season. I think Wanny being fired is a bit more justified since he never really had a breakout year. Friedgen is a different story because he is in the EXACT same situation as McCarney was, both had taken their programs to places they hadn't been and ended up being vicitms of their own success.

**Neckbeard** · 12-30-2010, 12:29 PM

It's the illusion of hope. People love the idea of what the next coach could do. It's the same reason why backup QB's are so popular.

Programs strive for stability but at times that can make fans restless/bored. Nobody wants to think that they have "topped out" at 8-4 and a second tier bowl. "We can win 8 why can't we win 10? Must be the coach!" Iowa basketball and Dr. Tom is a great example of this.

When AD's fire coaches it can light a fire under the fanbase and encourage giving and support. JP launched Mac in big reason b/c he had big facility plans and needed a shot in the arm for donations. Apathy had grown in our fanbase and he needed a new product to sell (or new illusion of hope). Our biggest ticket sales years since the 1970's came in Gene's murderous stint. The only thing that didn't work is that we didn't win. In the end it not only comes down to $$$ and wins but that you continue to increase them.

**pulse** · 12-30-2010, 12:38 PM

Friedgen/Maryland's problem is the few good season where they had double digits wins, people forget that they had really soft schedules (like they always do because they play in the ACC). They weren't as good as their records would indicate, they had a hard time with ranked teams, i.e. paper tiger, so he's a victim or their number of wins even though they were never a top team talent wise.

**Clone96** · 12-30-2010, 12:52 PM

Friedgen also had the problems of a new AD & Maryland's own T.Boone Pickens (the founder & CEO of Under Armor is a Terp Alum) trying to T.Boone the Maryland atheltic department

**fccy** · 12-31-2010, 05:28 PM

Originally Posted by Jarrods79

Media, BCS, "tradition" freeze...all of these in relation to money. They should start by eliminating the preseason poll, reducing and capping the number of total scholarships per team, and restricting scheduling so Texas (and other schools) can't play Sisters of the Poor to get to a bowl game.

Aren't FBS scholarships capped at 85 total?

And how do you restrict scheduling?

**Three4Cy** · 12-31-2010, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by Clone96

Friedgen also had the problems of a new AD & Maryland's own T.Boone Pickens (the founder & CEO of Under Armor is a Terp Alum) trying to T.Boone the Maryland atheltic department

He was Debbie Yow's favorite, and she protected him, and went after Gary Williams. After Yow left for NCST, he was in hot water.