After digesting this loss and contemplating the future I think the time is probably right to move on from the Barry era. I really like Odom but I am not confident in his ability to coach a well disciplined team, manage a game effectively to give the team a fighting chance to win evenly matched games, and to recruit to a higher ceiling than he has shown. So Missouri needs to move on.
Before I say anything about the job, I want to recognize that as a fan base we shouldnt be complaining about a coach that gets 8 wins a year and takes us to bowl games most of the time. We are not AL. That said, we can expect to win 8 games with an occasional 10 win season that we compete in the East. Down years happen but overall that is something we should be satisfied with. Odom has accomplished some of it but he has won games against only the most inferior teams. I know there is an outlier but that is generally the case.
SO...Why would a coach come to Mizzou? According to most of you on here we are going to have a hard time convincing anyone good to come to mid-Missouri and coach. And if we do get someone good they will leave in a few years...
I dont think we will have that hard of a time convincing someone to coach here.
Mizzou is one of only 14 SEC jobs available. The preeminent conference in all of college football. Major plus. Coaches are mostly ego driven. What coach worth his salt doesn't want to coach in the same conference with Saban, Smart, etc?
Additionally, in terms of expectations, the bar is relatively achievable as I referenced above. 8 wins and occasional competition for the East. Not saying a coach should be content with the above an if we get the right guy he definitely wont be. But it gives a good coach some breathing room to get it rolling..
Facilities...I know most of you guys have seen the facilities. As you know, Mizzou has been on the offensive in the arms race that is college football. The SEZ project is 1st class and can be a major recruiting advantage as we move ahead. The place is a football mecca and allows the coach to train and prepare a team at the highest level.
Recruiting...Has been mediocre for the majority of the last 3.5 decades. A coach that can just up the bar a bit is going to be viewed well. We need to somehow get to mid pack in the SEC. A coach that knows how to sell to kids has A LOT to sell at Mizzou as discussed above. There is no reason with the facilities, the conference and the visibility we cant be a destination for 4 star midwest guys with the occasional southeastern 4/5 star who got spurned by AL
And before you say it, the recruiting restrictions that may be put in place if NCAA sanctions are upheld are not a big issue.
Lastly, I know everyone around here says it will cost too much to get anyone good. But I think about how Mizzou has structured Barry's buyout and they knew this day was inevitable. They are prepared to move on and do it as inexpensively as possible (smart). In terms of money for the new regime, I believe it is there. Everyone says there arent donors that can bring the money needed for more coaching talent but I respectfully disagree. They just have to have a reason to spend the funds. I know for a fact someone just gave upwards of 1.5mil for an upgrade of the mens bball locker room. Seems to be money available if the right story is being told.
In closing, change needs to happen. I'm not saying that it will for sure but I think it needs to. And when that change does come I still think that this football job is one that coaches would be lining up for. The specter of 2015 is gone and the university has shown a willingness to go to bat with the NCAA.
That is all.
Before I say anything about the job, I want to recognize that as a fan base we shouldnt be complaining about a coach that gets 8 wins a year and takes us to bowl games most of the time. We are not AL. That said, we can expect to win 8 games with an occasional 10 win season that we compete in the East. Down years happen but overall that is something we should be satisfied with. Odom has accomplished some of it but he has won games against only the most inferior teams. I know there is an outlier but that is generally the case.
SO...Why would a coach come to Mizzou? According to most of you on here we are going to have a hard time convincing anyone good to come to mid-Missouri and coach. And if we do get someone good they will leave in a few years...
I dont think we will have that hard of a time convincing someone to coach here.
Mizzou is one of only 14 SEC jobs available. The preeminent conference in all of college football. Major plus. Coaches are mostly ego driven. What coach worth his salt doesn't want to coach in the same conference with Saban, Smart, etc?
Additionally, in terms of expectations, the bar is relatively achievable as I referenced above. 8 wins and occasional competition for the East. Not saying a coach should be content with the above an if we get the right guy he definitely wont be. But it gives a good coach some breathing room to get it rolling..
Facilities...I know most of you guys have seen the facilities. As you know, Mizzou has been on the offensive in the arms race that is college football. The SEZ project is 1st class and can be a major recruiting advantage as we move ahead. The place is a football mecca and allows the coach to train and prepare a team at the highest level.
Recruiting...Has been mediocre for the majority of the last 3.5 decades. A coach that can just up the bar a bit is going to be viewed well. We need to somehow get to mid pack in the SEC. A coach that knows how to sell to kids has A LOT to sell at Mizzou as discussed above. There is no reason with the facilities, the conference and the visibility we cant be a destination for 4 star midwest guys with the occasional southeastern 4/5 star who got spurned by AL
And before you say it, the recruiting restrictions that may be put in place if NCAA sanctions are upheld are not a big issue.Lastly, I know everyone around here says it will cost too much to get anyone good. But I think about how Mizzou has structured Barry's buyout and they knew this day was inevitable. They are prepared to move on and do it as inexpensively as possible (smart). In terms of money for the new regime, I believe it is there. Everyone says there arent donors that can bring the money needed for more coaching talent but I respectfully disagree. They just have to have a reason to spend the funds. I know for a fact someone just gave upwards of 1.5mil for an upgrade of the mens bball locker room. Seems to be money available if the right story is being told.
In closing, change needs to happen. I'm not saying that it will for sure but I think it needs to. And when that change does come I still think that this football job is one that coaches would be lining up for. The specter of 2015 is gone and the university has shown a willingness to go to bat with the NCAA.
That is all.
