Thinking last night about the significant advantages Gary Pinkel had over Barry Odom when he came to MU as a head coach.
1. Pinkel had 10 years experience as a head coach at Toledo in the MAC conference and consistently won and was in contention for MAC titles. Not the SEC, but still a division 1 conference and remember, Pinkel beat Penn State and Paterno during Pinkel's last year at Toledo. Pinkel didn't have to learn on the run how to be a head coach.
2. Pinkel brought his entire staff with him with the exception of his Defensive Coordinator that stayed at Toledo to take the head coaching job. That's huge for the sake of consistency and having everyone pushing in the same direction. In year 2 Odom is still making staff changes and trying to define his role.
3. Pinkel had the good fortune of having a super star, dual threat QB named Brad Smith. Not trying to knock Drew Lock - but he's not at the same level as Smith who could take a game over with his running ability (i.e. South Carolina Independence Bowl). Every great MU team I've seen has had a dual threat QB - Terry McMillan (1969), Corby Jones, Chase Daniel and James Franklin all could run or pass to help win a game. Drew Lock strictly one deminsional.
4. Pinkel started his career at MU in the Big 12 - a good conference, but top to bottom not as strong as the SEC - notice Vanderbilt and Kentucky are off to 3-0 starts. There are no Kansas or Iowa States in the SEC.
With all those advantages Pinkel was still actually under pressure a couple of times in his early MU career to keep his job. I clearly remember an article in the Columbia Tribune in 2004/2005 time frame asking for his removal. Pinkel was a "prick" in how he dealt with the press in his early years at MU. It was about 2004 that Mike Alden talked to Pinkel about his relationship with the press and it did help his approach in dealing with that group. The 2nd half of the 2005 Indepedence Bowl game was huge for Pinkel as mentioned when Brad Smith carried MU to a win. Chase Daniel followed as the starter in 2006 and the rest is history.
Barry Odom is a good coach, but not sure he's even close to being able to turn this thing around as a first time Head Coach. You let the season play out and see if there is any improvement, but if not a change is very possible. Find an experienced Division 1 coach. Yes, on occasion you find a Nick Saban or Bob Stoops, but your chances are much greater with an experienced head coach that can bring his staff to MU and turn this program around.
I'm certain Sterk has a working list that he'll continue to update as the year moves forward. In the meantime MU is only 3 games into the season. Have to hope Odom can pull this team out of what is looking like a dire situation with the SEC schedule looming in the future. Don't discount how important a half empty stadium will play in Sterk decision making process. This is football, not basketball, and you can't afford the impact losing seasons will have on attendance and the bottom line financial statement.
1. Pinkel had 10 years experience as a head coach at Toledo in the MAC conference and consistently won and was in contention for MAC titles. Not the SEC, but still a division 1 conference and remember, Pinkel beat Penn State and Paterno during Pinkel's last year at Toledo. Pinkel didn't have to learn on the run how to be a head coach.
2. Pinkel brought his entire staff with him with the exception of his Defensive Coordinator that stayed at Toledo to take the head coaching job. That's huge for the sake of consistency and having everyone pushing in the same direction. In year 2 Odom is still making staff changes and trying to define his role.
3. Pinkel had the good fortune of having a super star, dual threat QB named Brad Smith. Not trying to knock Drew Lock - but he's not at the same level as Smith who could take a game over with his running ability (i.e. South Carolina Independence Bowl). Every great MU team I've seen has had a dual threat QB - Terry McMillan (1969), Corby Jones, Chase Daniel and James Franklin all could run or pass to help win a game. Drew Lock strictly one deminsional.
4. Pinkel started his career at MU in the Big 12 - a good conference, but top to bottom not as strong as the SEC - notice Vanderbilt and Kentucky are off to 3-0 starts. There are no Kansas or Iowa States in the SEC.
With all those advantages Pinkel was still actually under pressure a couple of times in his early MU career to keep his job. I clearly remember an article in the Columbia Tribune in 2004/2005 time frame asking for his removal. Pinkel was a "prick" in how he dealt with the press in his early years at MU. It was about 2004 that Mike Alden talked to Pinkel about his relationship with the press and it did help his approach in dealing with that group. The 2nd half of the 2005 Indepedence Bowl game was huge for Pinkel as mentioned when Brad Smith carried MU to a win. Chase Daniel followed as the starter in 2006 and the rest is history.
Barry Odom is a good coach, but not sure he's even close to being able to turn this thing around as a first time Head Coach. You let the season play out and see if there is any improvement, but if not a change is very possible. Find an experienced Division 1 coach. Yes, on occasion you find a Nick Saban or Bob Stoops, but your chances are much greater with an experienced head coach that can bring his staff to MU and turn this program around.
I'm certain Sterk has a working list that he'll continue to update as the year moves forward. In the meantime MU is only 3 games into the season. Have to hope Odom can pull this team out of what is looking like a dire situation with the SEC schedule looming in the future. Don't discount how important a half empty stadium will play in Sterk decision making process. This is football, not basketball, and you can't afford the impact losing seasons will have on attendance and the bottom line financial statement.
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