Nobody gets much rope. The coach has got to do what the coach has got to do.
I was extremely happy to see brewster taken out and only regret that he was not taken out sooner. He couldn't stand on his own two feet. The parade of coordinators started as soon as the first season had been completed. In the end NOBODY could save brewster from himself.
Coach Kill had better just do things the way he wants to do things starting from day one, because, his record is 1-4 right now overall and 0-1 in Big Ten play. His job here started the day he accepted the job. He has some things that he just has to accept. Maybe he can't put a team on the field this year that will be as good (on paper) as any other team he will play in the Big Ten. He took the job. He has to live with what he has. That's life.
On the other hand, he has a BEAUTIFUL stadium to recruit to that hoax,Gutey, Wacker, Mason and brewster didn't have in their first year. You win some...and you lose some...but: you have what you have and that is ALL that you have.
I'll never feel too sorry for any head coach who makes the kind of money a Big Ten Coach makes. So, Coach Kill has his shot. It's up to him to do it the way he sees fit to do it.
What I don't like about the U of M Football Program is the administrative leadership that has been the factor in control for the past half century. They have been totally in control of everything that has happened in the football program from the NC years right on through the present time. The administrators have dictated EVERY move made over that time. Many of the moves have been HORRIBLE moves when compaired to the moves the administrators at OSU, Michigan, MSU, PSU et. al. We can now add Nebraska to that list...and...as of late, iowa and wisky.
It's kind of too bad, in a way that MORE of these administrations that tried to "fire" their way to appeasing the fans and season ticket holders couldn't have been "fired" themselves. They really didn't have such a great half-century themselves when you really take a look at the tenures of some of them.
So, Coach Kill just has to do it the way he sees fit. He will be held accountable. The ONE thing that will make him or break him will be the total number of Big Ten wins he can achieve. Years one...three and seven are especially important. Year one should include at least one Big Ten win. Without that, it can be very difficult to get to the minimum 7 or 8 Big Ten win number by year number three. (That should get the 4 or 5 year contract extension deal done.) By the end of year number seven, a minimum of 21 Big Ten wins MIGHT get an extension out to the 10th season...if academics, attendance and especially student attendance is acceptable. 22 to 24 Big Ten wins by the end of the 7th season would make a further extension highly likely. Considering the history of this program, the state of this program and the fact that Nebraska has been added to the conference, between 21 and 25 Big Ten wins by the end of the 7th season would be a really remarkable and admirable achievement, assuming academics continue to improve and the program has been run completely scandal and problem free. That number would leave room for some years to be better than other years and maybe even a nice run in one of those seasons!
So, good luck Coach Kill. I'm cheering for you, your saff and your players. I hav confidence that you will give this job your best effort and that you will use your experience to work to keep things on an even keel. This program needs the stability that you and your staff can deliver...and...your players need that stability that you and your staff can, and will provide.
One Big Ten win this year would certainly help your case. No, I am sure that you won't be fired if you don't win in the Big Ten this season...but...a Big Ten win certainly would help. Two Big Ten wins this season would put you in pretty darn good shape!
There is NO free pass in the first year. You took the job. You play with what you have to play with. Figure out a way to beg, borrow or steal a Big Ten win or two this year and in my estimation, you will be cruising and will drive thiis program to your first extension at the end of year three!
And, it is MUCH better to have TCF BANK STADIUM on the East Bank campus than it was to have had the damn dome within the distant view way over in downtown Minneapolis. So, it is what it is...the good, the bad, the new and the old. In the end: it's all in your hands Coach Kill...the ball is in your court...
; 0 )