Newton Gimmick

November 21st, 2021 at 1:33 PM ^

I think the playoff-or-bust mentality leads to situations like Texas, Florida, USC ... change coaches every couple years while mired in mediocrity.  Very possible that none of those teams even make a bowl this year.  IDK why but I think winning 9-10 games a year puts us closer to that goal than winning 5 and starting over again, and again and again.  Plus I get to enjoy some decent football along the way instead of whatever the hell Texas/Florida/USC fans are watching this year.

Joined: 05/06/2015

MGoPoints: 33792

jmblue

November 21st, 2021 at 1:38 PM ^

The four-team playoff seems uniquely designed to make fans unhappy.  Making a bowl now feels like a second-rate accomplishment, while gaining access to the playoff is incredibly difficult.  You can't have 90-95 % of programs feeling like they never have much of a chance and still keep fan interest healthy. 

They can't put the genie back in the bottle and go back to the old system, so they really have no choice but to expand the playoff field.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 103071

JonnyHintz

November 21st, 2021 at 2:47 PM ^

You’re very right. The problem a lot of people have with the 9-10 wins a year is that it puts you in no-mans-land with your program. You’re falling short of your goals, but you’re winning too many games to justify a change. Pretty much where we’re at with our fanbase right now. Where we constantly argue about firing a guy with a .719 winning percentage that now was four 10 win seasons in his 6 full seasons (and an admittedly bad half season). And argue about who we could get that can do better. And we’re fairly divided on the subject.
 

As mentioned by yourself and a few others, the current playoff system creates this “all or nothing” mindset that makes it impossible for coaches at a certain group of schools to ever live up to expectations. With 2-3 schools being virtual locks for the playoffs every year, that leaves one “at large” spot and there’s a dozen or so schools who have the goal of obtaining that spot. The math simply doesn’t work out.
 

At the end of the day, Harbaugh is having B+/A- type seasons and some of the fanbase wants him fired for not having A+ seasons. And there’s a lot of debate about how to handle having B+/A- seasons, where you have an objectionably good season but fall short of your goals. Regardless of which side of the argument you’re on, it’s a precarious situation to be in. 

Joined: 01/11/2015

MGoPoints: 48897

Ecky Pting

November 21st, 2021 at 10:25 PM ^

SMH on this - seems premature - but rabid fan bases, former players and boosters can make it seem inevitable, so AD’s end up canning a coach just so they don’t get canned themselves. In 4 seasons, Mullen took UF to an SECCG and 3 New Year’s Day bowl games. His win percentage was 3rd all-time among UF coaches, behind Spurrier and Meyer.

Joined: 09/06/2013

MGoPoints: 4655

jmblue

November 21st, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^

That's a decent comparison in terms of record.  Richt was a pretty good coach (145-51 at Georgia) but didn't win it all.

There is a big difference though: the state of Georgia is a recruiting gold mine, and the only in-state competition (Ga Tech) can't recruit a lot of that talent due to its admissions standards.   From a recruiting standpoint, UGA might be better positioned than any other school in the country.

Joined: 11/07/2008

MGoPoints: 103071

Kevin13

November 21st, 2021 at 4:00 PM ^

Exactly don’t get rid of a 9-10 win coach or you might become the next Nebraska. Yep just a year ago people were all wanting Mullen or Campbell well I will take 10-1 right now over what their teams are doing 

Now there are still people who want JH fired but give you no name on who will come in and do a better job then him 

Joined: 01/26/2016

MGoPoints: 16039

MGoStrength

November 21st, 2021 at 4:12 PM ^

I'm happy with the resurgence this year, but I'll wait another week before placing any final judgment. We said going into this year JH needed to beat MSU and be competitive with OSU. The only real scenario that would make you OK with not doing either is taking care of everyone else, which he did. A win or close loss next week looks very good for JH. A blow out loss looks like more of the same old frustrations.  If he can find a way to be competitive with OSU and make us believe a win is possible one day I'll get behind JH again. But, if it feels like he'll never beat them I'd rather take my chances with someone else. I think a lot of coaches that have never had the opportunity to coach at a place with UMs resources could do as good or better and you don't need to fear failure. 

Joined: 07/29/2010

MGoPoints: 20002

M-Dog

November 21st, 2021 at 5:22 PM ^

I had a lot of heartburn over what Harbaugh did or did not do over 6 seasons.  He grossly under-performed against what he was hired to do. 

But he did get there.

If this was year 2 instead of year 7, we would be absolutely giddy with the Harbaugh results and the potential going forward.  Next year is looking very promising.

So, we need to put on our "sunk cost" hats and focus on where we are now, and where we can go from here.

It took a (looooong) while, but Harbaugh did eventually address the things we all complained about . . . crony assistant coaches, a misunderstanding of what you can do in the college game versus what you can do in the NFL, the "body blows" offense, a defense with only one pitch . . . he has addressed all of it.  Even the play calling is getting better. 

It took a while, but Michigan is emerging as a modern elite-level college team.

Now let's learn how to work the new second recruiting season each year - the Transfer Portal, and we're in business.

 

Joined: 07/06/2008

MGoPoints: 257573

Perkis-Size Me

November 21st, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^

See I don’t get that. He’d had multiple good to very good seasons prior to this one. Yeah this season was bad but if Scott Frost is getting a second chance, I’m surprised Mullen isn’t. 

Florida truly got spoiled with Meyer. 

Joined: 11/30/2011

MGoPoints: 106314

wolve1972

November 21st, 2021 at 1:48 PM ^

The difference is that Nebraska will never be a CF powerhouse again with their horrendous recruiting base, Hell, the whole state of Nebraska only has 1.9 million people. They basically have to go at least 500+ miles for top recruits.

Florida, on the other hand, is right in the middle of one of the top 2 or 3 recruiting hotbeds in the country is has no reason not to be a CF power. There's a reason why recruiting hotbeds like California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Louisiana draw the top coaches when a CF coaching spot opens up

 

Joined: 12/07/2018

MGoPoints: 6806

bronxblue

November 21st, 2021 at 1:31 PM ^

Not a surprise - he's not been a great recruiter and his team quit on him this year.

I wonder if Tucker tries to leverage these openings for even more money from State or if he jumps to a better spot.  UF and LSU have massive ceilings and he's got connections there.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 172099

BlueInGreenville

November 21st, 2021 at 1:33 PM ^

Floridas last two hires have been high character guys who didn’t win like Urban cause they didn’t cheat like Urban.  I assume they’ve learned their lesson and Lane Kiffin is house shopping in Gainesville as we speak.

Joined: 10/22/2017

MGoPoints: 6334