Matt Hinton/Dr Saturday prognostications re Big 10

Just last week, Brandon said that basing the decision of whether to keep RR solely on the number of wins was silly, but people keep pronouncing that if we go 6-6 he's gone, as though all 6-6 seasons are exactly alike.

Scenario A) UM goes 6-6. Our wins are skin of the teeth variety, and in our losses we get shellacked and play listlessly. The turnovers continue at a record pace, and we play with a lack of discipline, racking up personal foul penalties at inopportune times in all games. There is open, vocal disagreement between coaches on the sideline, players are observed to be bitching at each other, and RR loses his shit repeatedly in ugly displays of rage on the sidelines. We get minimal contributions from the young players, and the upperclassmen are disappointing. The only positive aspect to the season is that we don't lose key players to injury in any significant way.

Scenario B) UM goes 6-6, with convincing blowout wins in our victories and down-to-the-wire, last-second agonizing losses, several in OT. In our losses, we are missing key personnel to various injuries. The turnovers are greatly pruned back, we play disciplined football in terms of penalties, and in all games we play with togetherness, spirit, and intensity. The players and coaches are all on the same page, there's no pouting or sulking or finger-pointing, and RR exhibits the controlled, tough, intensity that made Bo famous. A core of upperclassmen have excellent seasons, and a number of freshmen and sophs make significant contributions throughout the season, with their mistakes being ones of youth and inexperience, not resulting from a lack of character or talent.

I have seen no indication whatsoever that David Brandon would regard the above scenarios in exactly the same way. His various statements have led me to conclude that the way our team plays, and the way our coaches go about their business, will have more influence on his decision at the end of 2010 than the raw number of wins.