Originally Posted by
AustinWolv
Right now, as in the 2010 season?
If the team goes 7-5 or better, he'll be back.
If the team goes 6-6 or losing record again, I think the AD will evaluate how and why that record occurred and make a hard decision, unswayed by the HEAVY hotseat that will be the fans absolutely screaming for a new coach. The new AD definitely seems a strong-minded fellow with a plan for success.
Given how the schedule looks very favorable on paper for 2010, I think 7-5 is pretty much the minimum bar for most.
If the team goes 7-5 or better, I think the hotseat will be considerably cooler, and then 2011 season will ultimately determine what happens. In 2011, if record is solid (9 wins or better), I think he's fine for a while. If record is 8 wins, the rumblings will start back up. If less than 8, watch out.
The thought right now is that the defense will be average at best again this season, mainly because of not being optimistic about the LBs who haven't proven out and being thin at safety. It is the 2011 season being pointed at as having the roster on both sides of the ball and experience in the offense and new defense that will be the beginning chance to truly contend for a conference title. The feeling is that they are at the cusp of upper 1/3 of the Big10 for the 2010 season if the offense progresses as expected and the defense can be average.
See, for most casual fans and those outside the program, they only see the record. They don't see the absolute B.S. that has been working against Rodriguez from the INSIDE of the program and from B.S. like the Detroit Free Press hack pieces conspiring against Rodriguez. Factions have been hard at work on both sides, for and against Rodriguez, but the against side has the advantage right now because the results on the field haven't shut them up. They are quick to point out that the losing records shouldn't have happened, but if one goes back and studies the recruiting classes since ....oh, about 2000 or 2002 perhaps......they've been pretty piss-poor results out of those classes in terms of talent and especially depth at important positions. The roster was truly razor-thin when Rodriguez came to town.....and out of shape and slow.
Some of the comparison pictures of guys in that first spring practice versus what they looked like coming into fall camp was significant. Now looking that them 1-1.5 years later even? Night and day in terms of being trim and cut versus really big with a layer of blubber over their belts.
Results still need to be achieved, but what I've seen in certain aspects of the program is catching up and a desire to match the program results at other successful powerhouses over the past 10 years versus that simply not happening before Rodriguez. Most importantly, that is what the new AD expects and I think he sees that trait in Rodriguez, so he's going to fully support him right now. In fact, the new AD has started to weed out those in the AD who haven't been on board....
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