First off, after the Syracuse game, I would have been first in line to say that we should keep Charlie no matter what happened against USC. However, after that crapfest, I still think the smart move is keeping him, but I wouldn't be upset if we didn't. When an "offensive genius" provides a "strategic advantage" that results in our first first down on the last play of the 3rd quarter, there's an issue. On the other hand, this team is MUCH better than the one that was on the field last season. That said, now we get to get blasted by Oregon State again in the Sun Bowl!
As for the BCS, why have the system if bowls other than the Championship can do whatever the hell they want? Why should a boring Ohio State get picked ahead of an exciting, undefeated, and higher BCS ranked Boise State? You're telling me Boise in another BCS bowl wouldn't be the highest rated game of the year? Imagine if Missouri beat Oklahoma. A Boise vs. Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl rematch would draw more viewers than anything outside of the Super Bowl and American Idol. The only BCS game casual fans across the nation are going to watch is one that involves Boise State, especially since Ian Johnson is still there. Who can't think of their mom wanting to watch the guy who proposed to his cheerleader girlfriend on the sideline after making the winning play?
Along those lines, I have a name to put up for the potential ND coach discussion since I'm not too excited about the Cincy guy. The best coach ND could hire right now would be Coach Pete from Boise State. No, this isn't a strictly homer pick, especially since it would probably set Boise back 5 years. Here's a few reasons why I think Coach Pete would be the best fit:
1) Like Boise, ND can't recruit everyone you'd want to because of academics. At Boise, Pete recruits people that fit in the system, and at ND he could do the same, only instead of getting 2 and 3 star guys (3 star baby!) and making them work, he could get 4 and 5 star guys that were made for his system. Instead of settling for smart QBs with a weak arms who make up for their deficiencies with intangibles like every Boise QB of recent vintage, he can get the Jimmy Clausens of the world that seem to have it all.
2) Because of Charlie's recruiting, ND almost has too many skill people to play them all the next couple of years. The beauty of the Boise system is that if you are good enough, you will play, as almost all playable skill position players play similar amounts.
3) Coach Pete knows how to handle expectations (although admittedly not ND-level). Boise is expected to win 11 games+ every year, and they do it. Anyone who watched the Fiesta Bowl knows that Coach Pete pulls out whatever it takes to win, and he does this each and every game. What is Cincy ever expected to win?
4) Unlike Charlie, Coach Pete actually is an offensive genius. Watch any Boise game and you'll see more creative plays than you will in all other games combined that week.
5) It's not all about offense. Boise always has a solid D too, it's just that they don't have the studs that the top teams do. Again, they are taking the 2 and 3 stars (3 star baby!) and making it work.
6) Coach Pete is 1 for 1 in BCS bowls. Charlie is 0-2.
There are obviously other options ND could go after, but after a long day of traveling gave me time to think this all through (thanks for the snow Denver!), Coach Pete is really the only coach I would be excited to get. We would be silly to chase the popular name and go after this Kelly guy just because every team in need of a coach is after him.
All of this said, I still hope they give Charlie at least one more year.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
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6 comments:
I love how all this is coming from a guy with a bright blue Boise State shower curtain.
Again, it would KILL Boise if Pete left. Unlike when Coach Hawk left, there really is no perfect replacement coach on the staff that could just slide in. The coordinators are like under 30 and really haven't coached much.
Fair or not, I'm gunshy about Petersen because of Hawkins and Koetter's lack of success at Colorado and ASU, respectively.
However, if Petersen was always the brains behind the operation, then I'm OK with it.
what about Pat Hill? the mustache alone would have let us beat Pitt this year.
Pat Hill mustache > Dave Wanstadt mustache > Charlie Weis modified flat top
Bill,
The comparison to Koetter is not applicable - Pete and Koetter are from different camps.
Coach Hawk would be a good comparison though since he and Pete are boys from way back in their playing days at Davis. I would point more to Coach Hawk's situation than his coaching ability. Who is going to win in the Big 12 when there are always multiple big boys?
Yeah but CU is in the Big XII North, it's the Big XII South that's good. Kansas needed a 4th down TD pass with 27 secs to go to finish above .500, Nebraska is not that great yet and CU lost to Texas A&M - one of the doormats of FBS (sorry The Real Starr). I question Hawkins decision making by bringing Cody in as quarterback. I haven't watched as many games as Mr. Pro, but the kid doesn't seem that great. And as for the Big Boys in the Big XII, if you want to count Mizzou as one, that game was even uglier for CU than ND/USC.
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