I was talking to a buddy of mine who is a UGA alum about our current situation. I always like hearing an outsider's take on stuff. He said something that I think is interesting (and for the record it's something that I disagree with). We were talking and I mentioned that Barry Odom's seat is getting quite hot and he looked at me with a confused look and just said why? He then said that he's a young coach that is about to take Mizzou to back to back bowl seasons in the SEC. I then mentioned that Gary Pinkel won at least eight games nine different times. He goes well yeah, but Gary Pinkel was like you guys's Bill Snyder. That made me think. I think most of us on this board view Mizzou as a program that has some decent resources that has just traditionally under achieved. Gary Pinkel just simply showed us what this program could be capable of. I think many on the outside view Mizzou as a very tough place to win and that Gary was the random miracle worker that could win games here.
Why is this important? Because outside perception matters when it comes to hiring a coach. I do think that if Barry makes a bowl this year it will make hiring his replacement a real chore. We would have just fired one of our own who took over a mess after the protests and took the program to back to back bowl games. This is at Missouri. We are the die hards. We see the lack of execution and discipline at key times. We see the mismanagement of games. We also have seen what this program can be capable of. I think a lot of potential candidates would take the 30,000 foot view that many other outsiders take and think why would I want to take over that situation?
I honestly don't know how I even feel. We repeatedly just keep pissing down our leg in key spots. I do think coaching has a lot to do with that, but if we do end up in a bowl at 6-6 I don't see really how you can fire Odom at that point. I think you have to keep him at least one more year if nothing else just for appearances and to be able to tell the next guy that you gave his predecessor every chance to succeed. I get that money talks, but I also don't want to have to overpay a guy just to get him to take the job. That's how you get yourself in trouble.
Why is this important? Because outside perception matters when it comes to hiring a coach. I do think that if Barry makes a bowl this year it will make hiring his replacement a real chore. We would have just fired one of our own who took over a mess after the protests and took the program to back to back bowl games. This is at Missouri. We are the die hards. We see the lack of execution and discipline at key times. We see the mismanagement of games. We also have seen what this program can be capable of. I think a lot of potential candidates would take the 30,000 foot view that many other outsiders take and think why would I want to take over that situation?
I honestly don't know how I even feel. We repeatedly just keep pissing down our leg in key spots. I do think coaching has a lot to do with that, but if we do end up in a bowl at 6-6 I don't see really how you can fire Odom at that point. I think you have to keep him at least one more year if nothing else just for appearances and to be able to tell the next guy that you gave his predecessor every chance to succeed. I get that money talks, but I also don't want to have to overpay a guy just to get him to take the job. That's how you get yourself in trouble.
