When the stadium is empty and merchandise sales are in the toilet, then the University will wake up and do what it takes to build a successful football program.
Alabama did the same thing for years -- hire cheap. First, the former player with the name (Shula) after struggling with Perkins, then the experienced guy in Curry, they tried the old guy in Stallings, then the great coordinator in DuBose. After years of sucking because they didn't go get the best, they finally went out and spared no expense and got the best.
Multiple national titles later, Alabama's AD is financially booming. And the championships continue to roll in. Saban hires ex head coaches and stacks them in the offices...not even on the field. He buys the best players in America year after year. Bama has gotten so powerful that the NCAA and the SEC, from compliance to officiating are Alabama's bitches.
Stop spending your money on a half-ass product and change will come. The only bold move this University has made in 30 years is hiring Kiffin, who was a hot commodity at the time. It was a swing for the fences that missed. That doesn't mean we should stop trying to hit a Grand Slam. But we keep going bargain basement and then when we see a bit of success (read, recruiting -- which every coach we have ever had, regardless of the timing or NCAA investigations, has had success at), we jack up the pay and end up paying mid-range dollar for a blue light special Head Coach.
I spend a couple of thousand this year going to games in Knoxville, Athens, and Texas. Next year, I'll vote with my bank account and sit at home. As long as we have a Division III level head coach, I'll wait. Just like it took enormous pain in this country to make some change, looks like we need more pain in Knoxville before the University will do what it takes to make our football program great again.
Alabama did the same thing for years -- hire cheap. First, the former player with the name (Shula) after struggling with Perkins, then the experienced guy in Curry, they tried the old guy in Stallings, then the great coordinator in DuBose. After years of sucking because they didn't go get the best, they finally went out and spared no expense and got the best.
Multiple national titles later, Alabama's AD is financially booming. And the championships continue to roll in. Saban hires ex head coaches and stacks them in the offices...not even on the field. He buys the best players in America year after year. Bama has gotten so powerful that the NCAA and the SEC, from compliance to officiating are Alabama's bitches.
Stop spending your money on a half-ass product and change will come. The only bold move this University has made in 30 years is hiring Kiffin, who was a hot commodity at the time. It was a swing for the fences that missed. That doesn't mean we should stop trying to hit a Grand Slam. But we keep going bargain basement and then when we see a bit of success (read, recruiting -- which every coach we have ever had, regardless of the timing or NCAA investigations, has had success at), we jack up the pay and end up paying mid-range dollar for a blue light special Head Coach.
I spend a couple of thousand this year going to games in Knoxville, Athens, and Texas. Next year, I'll vote with my bank account and sit at home. As long as we have a Division III level head coach, I'll wait. Just like it took enormous pain in this country to make some change, looks like we need more pain in Knoxville before the University will do what it takes to make our football program great again.
