both the reality and the problem.
There are NO excuses in year four.
If the S&C program is not where it needs to be it is YOUR strength and conditioning program.
If depth is not where you want it you've had 4 classes. Everybody on the roster or who left the roster you recruited.
If you don't have a QB or a left tackle or a backup middle linebacker why didn't you go get one or develop someone already on the roster?
Simply put in year four and beyond you own it!!! All of it!!!
People like to say Coach Fulmer inherited a good situation from Coach Majors . . . well even if he did (which is arguable) it only mattered for 3 years. Even staff that inherit national title winners and contending rosters it is over and done after 3 years. By year 4 whatever is on the field is completely a function of your staff and your coaching identity.
When Coach Jones was hired a friend who played at Louisville said, "he's not a bad coach but you'll have to take the good with the bad. Every season he'll have a game or two where he'll do something coaching-wise that will lose you a game and make you scratch your head". That's an exact quote and while you may be able to win a conference title at a glorified mid-major conference doing that. . .I'm not sure you will ever win and SEC title that way.
I'm not necessarily among the "Butch has to go now" chorus but I will say this. . .if Butch Jones is your Ron Zook don't squander his Zook contribution. If all Butch Jones is going to do is build up the talent and profile to make you attractive to a coach who can take you in a championship direction then don't wait until it is a dumpster fire and nobody of championship caliber wants the job.
There are NO excuses in year four.
If the S&C program is not where it needs to be it is YOUR strength and conditioning program.
If depth is not where you want it you've had 4 classes. Everybody on the roster or who left the roster you recruited.
If you don't have a QB or a left tackle or a backup middle linebacker why didn't you go get one or develop someone already on the roster?
Simply put in year four and beyond you own it!!! All of it!!!
People like to say Coach Fulmer inherited a good situation from Coach Majors . . . well even if he did (which is arguable) it only mattered for 3 years. Even staff that inherit national title winners and contending rosters it is over and done after 3 years. By year 4 whatever is on the field is completely a function of your staff and your coaching identity.
When Coach Jones was hired a friend who played at Louisville said, "he's not a bad coach but you'll have to take the good with the bad. Every season he'll have a game or two where he'll do something coaching-wise that will lose you a game and make you scratch your head". That's an exact quote and while you may be able to win a conference title at a glorified mid-major conference doing that. . .I'm not sure you will ever win and SEC title that way.
I'm not necessarily among the "Butch has to go now" chorus but I will say this. . .if Butch Jones is your Ron Zook don't squander his Zook contribution. If all Butch Jones is going to do is build up the talent and profile to make you attractive to a coach who can take you in a championship direction then don't wait until it is a dumpster fire and nobody of championship caliber wants the job.
