Optics and accountability
Since this game couldn't really get more embarrassing and we're shit-posting the board anyway, it's maybe worth thinking about the bogeyman of "optics" that supposedly prevents colleges from firing coaches (head or otherwise) during the season. Shit Shoops still has a job and he's "coaching" from home. What interests me about this that football coaches are constantly preaching that the game teaches toughness and accountability. That you do your job or you lose it. Meritocracy, whole milk, no chicken, eat grass, blah, blah, fucking blah.
But when it comes down to it (supposedly) these same coaches will be afraid to take a job where it looks like you can get fired for failing to do your job. Where you might lose your job if, after six years, you field a team in the bottom 1/4 of the conference. Where you might lose your job if your defense is giving up about 500 passing yards to a QB whose most notable trait is that his name sounds like penis. That's apparently too much accountability; it's too tough on a coach.
So my question is, do people really think that optics matter that much? Will Michigan tank it's ability to get a good coach (lol, as if they'd pick a good one) if they fire a DC mid-season? Or are "optics" something perpetuated by agents who all want colleges afraid to fire coaches?
November 7th, 2020 at 2:55 PM ^
Warde better see the writing on the wall here and start looking for a replacement. He won't so we are doomed.
November 7th, 2020 at 2:56 PM ^
The optics of a mid-season firing would have zero negative impact on landing a coach. The only optics would be sending a message to the boosters, fans and team that they deserve better and the AD is willing to do something about it. There is no downside, it’s all upside. This is a lost season already. Before anyone says it will put the recruiting class at risk, they are all already at risk just watching this train wreck.
November 7th, 2020 at 7:19 PM ^
This!! The optics of firing Harbaugh Monday will be “this isn’t okay, and we are making a change”
November 7th, 2020 at 3:01 PM ^
Utah State just fired Gary Anderson today. Program needs to do what it has to do.
November 7th, 2020 at 3:15 PM ^
Send Harbaugh home in a taxi, make Gattis the HC and start the search tomorrow. Get a booster to buyout JH because these kids deserve better than this disorganized weekly crapshow. Everybody we play looks like NCAA champions our guys are not being set up to compete in these games it's obvious Jim does not know what to do to fix this stuff and the contrast between the way our guys are prepared EVERY WEEK verses anybody we play is night and day.
November 7th, 2020 at 3:30 PM ^
We made Fryfogle a lot of money today.
November 7th, 2020 at 3:17 PM ^
Who’s a better developer of Talent? Tom Allen or Harbaugh? Harbaugh has recruits that Indiana can’t even dream of.
Harbaugh wastes it. GTFO
November 7th, 2020 at 3:32 PM ^
Time for Harbaugh to go
November 7th, 2020 at 4:00 PM ^
Is this the season that turns us into Auburn, OSU, Ole Miss? Will the desperation be so great that we will finally throw away our high horse and just pay the players? NIL rights can't get here soon enough.
November 7th, 2020 at 10:46 PM ^
If we field more Peppers, Peoples Jones and Garys we will just be a better looking 10-3 team. UM has now ruined 3 promising coaching careers. Something is going on.
November 8th, 2020 at 5:34 PM ^
There’s not really advantage (other than satisfying your current rage) in firing Harbaugh right now. Better chance recruits stick if we wait until the end of the season to fire him. You can definitely get the search committee started today though.