I've expressed this sentiment in various threads, but I wanted to consolidate: great players make coaches look good. Most coaches aren't great. Most hover around average (like us all), and their fortunes ebb and flow according to the talent they employ.
UK doesn't have much experienced talent. Fire Shannon Dawson/DJ Elliot today (I don't care much either way), and their replacement will inherit a lot of younger talent that was bled this season. Both sides of the ball could be better, but is that on the new coach or is that due to young talent finally maturing?
Another example: Stoops' first class wasn't that good. No fault to Stoops - he only had 6 weeks to recruit - but many have already transferred out, or have moved down the depth chart due to signing more talented players in subsequent classes. Young players will play a lot again next season. It's not possible to "coach-up" experience until it happens naturally.
Finally, winning isn't a birthright at any school. The post Bryant era at 'Bama has lasted 33 years. About 50% of the time they were coached by someone who would get fired (or leave out of fear). For 17 years they were in the wilderness (although it seems they’ve forgotten it). Unless your coach is Brad Scott, changing coaches is always a risky endeavor.
And that's because the winning formula is Talent + 3 Years of Maturation = Success. That formula, if a coach is given enough time to implement it, overcomes anecdotal play-calling and poor clock management in the long-run.
UK doesn't have much experienced talent. Fire Shannon Dawson/DJ Elliot today (I don't care much either way), and their replacement will inherit a lot of younger talent that was bled this season. Both sides of the ball could be better, but is that on the new coach or is that due to young talent finally maturing?
Another example: Stoops' first class wasn't that good. No fault to Stoops - he only had 6 weeks to recruit - but many have already transferred out, or have moved down the depth chart due to signing more talented players in subsequent classes. Young players will play a lot again next season. It's not possible to "coach-up" experience until it happens naturally.
Finally, winning isn't a birthright at any school. The post Bryant era at 'Bama has lasted 33 years. About 50% of the time they were coached by someone who would get fired (or leave out of fear). For 17 years they were in the wilderness (although it seems they’ve forgotten it). Unless your coach is Brad Scott, changing coaches is always a risky endeavor.
And that's because the winning formula is Talent + 3 Years of Maturation = Success. That formula, if a coach is given enough time to implement it, overcomes anecdotal play-calling and poor clock management in the long-run.
