FOOTBALL The future of the head coach

[GabeD]

After spending a bit of time in the athletic director's office this morning, I'm fairly confident saying that Barry Odom has approximately the same chances to get fired as I do this year. So feel free to carry on about what should happen or what you want to happen, but I'm fairly certain there's a near zero chance of it actually happening before next season.

 

[MIZDPT15]

After spending a bit of time in the athletic director's office this morning, I'm fairly confident saying that Barry Odom has approximately the same chances to get fired as I do this year. So feel free to carry on about what should happen or what you want to happen, but I'm fairly certain there's a near zero chance of it actually happening before next season.

They're playing the long game, I get it. I think it's okay for us to still be disappointed in some of the same mistakes BO made in his first couple years. I have no doubt that will experience he'll be a very good HC, but he's not there yet. Consistency and learning from mistakes is something his team's have struggled with. I was hoping bringing Dooley on board would help with that... he's a guy who had to have learned a bit.

 

[Otis Blake]

Makes no sense to tip one’s hand, in any case. No upside with 5 games left. Barry’s the boss and he’s owed a lot of money.

 

[billkent]

Barring losing out and going 5-7 (this isn’t going to happen), there isn’t really a reasonable scenario to fire Barry after this year.

But, pending the results of the remaining games, Barry could leave himself a razor thin margin of error going into next year.

That’s made worse by the fact that he’ll be replacing his QB, top 2 receivers, All Conference TE, top 2 OL, best DL, best LB (already playing without him), and 2 starters in the secondary.

Long story short, if you finish up 6-6/7-5, he may not be able to go 6-6/7-5 again next year and keep his job (in a year where he’ll be breaking in a ton of new guys.)

For Barry’s sake he needs a 9-3 season still this year (8-4 at the absolute minimum, and even that would leave a sour taste in fans mouths.)

 

[TitoNW]

Almost seems like we have an AD who looks at the big picture and sees a program that's in vastly better shape than it was 2-3 years ago (but, yes can still lose to Vandy) instead of irrationally & petulantly overreacting to one game. Weird!

 

[MIZ25!]

Almost seems like we have an AD who looks at the big picture and sees a program that's in vastly better shape than it was 2-3 years ago (but, yes can still lose to Vandy) instead of irrationally & petulantly overreacting to one game. Weird!

*2 games

 

[mnevels83]

I think Jim is smart in his thinking.. its a bull market for head coaches... thats a lot of money to ask donors while upgrading facilities, plus BO would be OUR guy if he becomes THE guy... #growingpains

 

[SecondCityTiger]

You must be relieved.

 

[Otis Blake]

Almost seems like we have an AD who looks at the big picture and sees a program that's in vastly better shape than it was 2-3 years ago (but, yes can still lose to Vandy) instead of irrationally & petulantly overreacting to one game. Weird!

I’d bet a month’s pay Sterk was (and is) highly pissed off about Saturday, coming off our first sellout in 5 years.

 

[Christianmizzouguy]

Sterk is a guy who seems to remember if Odom does nothing else as a coach, it's finish strong. In 16 he won his 2 of his last 4 regular season games. In 17 he won 6 straight. In 18 he won his last 4 including one over #7 Florida. If he does similar this year you are looking at 9-3 with a chance at 10-2. Finish strong this year it's a year of what if but still successful.

 

[mizzoucobra]

The annual rite of late October

 

[MizzouCruiser]

It is way to early to be talking about this anyway. Odom has just as good chance at winning the east still than cratering and getting fired.

 

[Mizzou Mule]

Makes no sense to tip one’s hand, in any case. No upside with 5 games left. Barry’s the boss and he’s owed a lot of money.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Facts and I agree^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

@GabeD, you took their temperature today. Thank you, you did your job. The AD office is always straight with the future especially to the mass media, right? And $$supporters$$ never have any influence with the future, correct?

 

[hmd77]

If you're Missouri and you want to fire a guy after three straight bowl appearances (I assume there'll be another this year), you might as well just shut down the football program. Getting to a bowl most years should be the goal, with the hopes for a breakout 10-12 win season every four or five years. Take the 7 or 8 wins and count your blessings, Mizzou fans.

I still remember 13 losing seasons in a row under Powers, Widenhofer, Stull, and Larry Smith before he finally broke through with a couple bowl appearances in '97 and '98.

This program is built to be a 7-8 win team most years. You hope you can develop a class and ride them to double digit wins a couple times a decade. That's the formula. It will be until a coach comes in who breaks that mold and starts putting up those double digit wins more years than not--but at Missouri, you aren't gonna get to that point without putting up a bunch of those 7 and 8 wins seasons first.

Odom has lost some head-scratchers, but firing him at this point would be monumentally stupid.

 

[MizzouFan314]

You must be relieved.

Underrated Comment

 

[jmizzou]

Gabe it's a shame you have to keep repeating this message to the board. Ridiculous actually.

 

[GabeD]

The annual rite of late October

Its what has to be posted when people try to fire the coach every time they lose a game

 

[pduff]

I don’t think even the most irrational Missouri fan truly believes BO would, could or should be fired after this season....

 

[MizzouCard]

Its what has to be posted when people try to fire the coach every time they lose a game

Or when said coach underachieves every September/October

 

[I_Hate_The_Cornhuskers]

Its what has to be posted when people try to fire the coach every time they lose a game

There are losses and then there are complete and epic losses, that have happened twice this year. Please don't play down to the fans.

 

[cardstl143]

You may not like Barry and you may not think he is the guy long term, but to talk about him being fired makes you and our fan base look like idiots.

 

[Christianmizzouguy]

I don’t think even the most irrational Missouri fan truly believes BO would, could or should be fired after this season....

Have you read half the posts since Saturday?

 

[DSP73]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Facts and I agree^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

@GabeD, you took their temperature today. Thank you, you did your job. The AD office is always straight with the future especially to the mass media, right? And $$supporters$$ never have any influence with the future, correct?

I can think of two instances where boosters influenced the AD

1) when the KC faction pushed out Onofrio for Warren Powers

2) and the MU Arena donation

In Onofrio's case, he had a number of "off" seasons and certain boosters wanted a native son of KC to come to CoMo....and were willing to pay what was then a large buyout


Anything is possible but I don't see that scenario repeating itself this year

 

[atl_cat]

The team is 5-2. Barry Odom shouldn’t be fired during or after the season, barring some off field issues or a total collapse. Which is not going to happen.

Bitch and whine all you want, Odom’s your coach.

 

[pduff]

Have you read half the posts since Saturday?

The Lair houses whole other level of irrational fan...

 

[Otis Blake]

Pinkel’s exit announcement was certainly driven by booster outrage.

 

[ripzou]

Sorry to hear you’re leaving @GabeD

 

[ripzou]

I don’t think even the most irrational Missouri fan truly believes BO would, could or should be fired after this season....

What if we lose out?

 

[Christianmizzouguy]

The Lair houses whole other level of irrational fan...

Like @TigerCruise, @philconnors12345, @brosept, @ripzou etc.

 

[GabeD]

You must be relieved.

Relieved in the sense that I don't really love coaching searches. Not relieved in the sense that it didn't surprise me in any way because I already knew there was very little chance of him getting fired unless the wheels come off and the car burns up in front of Sterk's office

 

[Christianmizzouguy]

What if we lose out?

What if he wins out like he has the last 4 games the past 2 seasons?

 

[TigerInCincy]

The one thing BO is excellent at is placing himself on the hot seat

 

[Christianmizzouguy]

The one thing BO is excellent at is placing himself on the hot seat

And then winning in November

 

[GabeD]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Facts and I agree^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

@GabeD, you took their temperature today. Thank you, you did your job. The AD office is always straight with the future especially to the mass media, right? And $$supporters$$ never have any influence with the future, correct?

Nah, this wasn't an interview. This was just talking. Also, there's probably only one person who has the kind of financial influence over the athletic department to force a firing and he's not the type of person to threaten to pull his money over coaching decisions. He's smart enough to let the AD do his job. But if you don't want to believe me because it isn't what you want to hear that's up to you

 

[brosept]

Like @TigerCruise, @philconnors12345, @brosept, @ripzou etc.

If you think I am calling for his head or am irrational you have a problem with rationality.

 

[GabeD]

There are losses and then there are complete and epic losses, that have happened twice this year. Please don't play down to the fans.

The thing is, both of these things can be true at the same time: Both losses this year have been awful and he is not in danger of getting fired

 

[GabeD]

The one thing BO is excellent at is placing himself on the hot seat

But other than on Twitter and this message board, he isn't there. I think it's at least possible he was there after the Kentucky game last year, but hasn't been since then.

 

[Toast Texas]

It's good to hear the grown ups who are in charge take a long term view on the coaching staff.

 

[rws262]

I'm curious to know the web traffic numbers on PM after a loss like to Vandy compared to, say, a win over Florida last year. Also, could you create a board that opens only on Saturdays right after the game and then disappears completely around Sunday night saving us all some embarrassment?

 

[pduff]

Pinkel’s exit announcement was certainly driven by booster outrage.

I know no one will believe this but a buddy of mine who had moved from New Orleans to KC, posted some pics on FB in the summer of 2015. They were of he and his wife at Pinkels wedding.

I asked him how he knew Pinkel and he said HIS wife was childhood best friends and the matron of honor to Pinkels new wife.

He then said very cryptically. “Big news coming. Enjoy your coach while you can” this was in August. Obviously I asked what he meant and he said he couldn’t say more.

After Pinkel announced he had cancer and was retiring, I asked my buddy if this was what he had been talking about, and he said yes, and that it had all been decided in May.

Take it for what it’s worth...