I think he is stepping into a pretty difficult situation. We fired a guy who won 9+ games each year and had people on both sides of the issue. The Callahan/Pelini transition went much easier because almost everyone was done with BC. This transition will be a little tougher because there were still strong supporters of Bo....perception.The hire was nothing anyone thought so of course people are going to be nervous about this hire.
The more I keep reading and hearing about this cat, I am pretty excited. I have to disagree with you that he will be eaten alive by the illuminati. The players will back this dude and he will bring in some solid coaches....I really hope!
Stay the course my man!!!
I dont think there were that many Bo supporters left. Whats going to make this transition difficult is the hire itself. We would all be singing a different tune had we landed a proven winner. We got the exact opposite and now everyone is "hoping" what we did is right. "Hope" is not a strategy (unless you are running for president). By making this hire the pressure cooker just got hotter for the simple fact that this guy is coming into an environment now were people are already skeptical. At the first sign of trouble this thing is going to turn on its head. Had we hired a proven winner that would not be the case.
Again, I hope I am wrong.
But you're making the assertion that Mike Riley isn't a proven winner. Given the significant disadvantages Oregon State faced in the Pac-12--probably the less talented team when compared to all but 2 or 3 teams (Wazzu, Colorado, maybe Utah), 93-80 is pretty solid, and a record I don't believe BP could have achieved. Mike is now the head coach at Nebraska, a team that talent wise, is probably the 3rd or 4th best team in the conference (Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State) but coaching wise probably had one of the worst staffs in the conference.
It is within reason to assume that Mike will come in here and win. He has all the intangibles and now has the resources.
I am making the assertion Mike Riley isnt a proven winner based on his record of past performance. You are making the assertion he is a winner by including a bunch of excuses in order to arrive at the hope he will do well. All I'm saying is we are at a point in this programs history where taking an unkown was not a wise decision.
I hope I'm wrong.
Gary Anderson is coaching the Wisconsin Badgers Football Team in his second season.
He was second in the Leaders Division last season.
He's playing for a conference championship his second season.
If we're talking about past performance......by your argument, he should be exempt from that job, right?
4-7
4-8
4-8
7-6
11-2
That was his coaching record before coming to Madison. Even with his two seasons as Bucky's head guy, he's still only won a little more than half his games coached.
Give the guy a chance. If he gets the right staff in place, he'll do just fine.
Hiya coach!