(09-21-2017 08:41 PM)dredaddy Wrote: In our situation, I don't think a hotshot assistant or a head coach with limited experience can get the job done. We are at the point of a complete rebuild. Yes, our defense is ok, but past that, we are in terrible shape as a program. I look at what Ohio has done and I envy them. They have a terrible football history, but instead of looking for the quick fix, they got Solich by agreeing to invest in the program so that he didn't have to do everything on a shoestring budget. What that initial investment and buy in from the university has done is really amazing considering where they were.
I don't think you can underestimate Solich scheduling philosopy, either. They play a good sked, but really rarely extend themselves very much. Kent OTOH, plays a Charlie Coles sked on turf, if you get my drift. But unlike hoops, it doesn't get a team better, just beat up. So you are always fixing something.
Ohio goes 2-2 in the non-con, then 5-3 in the MAC. And it's not like Solich runs the most imaginative offense, either. Just coach 'em up.
Ohio may never challenge for a New Years Day bowl game ... but Ohio will almost always be in a bowl game; split (2-2) in the non conf coache 'em up and and go 5-3 in the MAC. It's not rocket science. And really pretty easy to do with the right formula. It's not like Ohio has this most imaginative offense, either.
You're going to get injuries, anyway in FB. Why put a team in position to always have more than their share of players sidelined. Other than the perfect storm of 2012, when has this program NOT been impacted by injuries.
Now go back and look at that schedule. Even undefeated Nationally ranked Rutgers (at the time) was a weak "program" with its own perfect storm.
That was an OU-type schedule ... and the type every MAC team should play every season, not just once in awhile, particularly a program that is on the build.