Rumor is, this is Lynch's last season in Muncie.
Check the Am I Dreaming? thread on rec.sport.football.college. Someone has a source in the athletic department.
My bro is a BSU alum and pretty close to things over there..........Lynch was pretty much told before the season that he needed to go .500 this year to keep his job, so any rumors that he may not be back could certainly be true.
Too bad, as I've met Bill a number of times (played golf with him, too), and he's a genuinely nice guy.......just not sure how well he recruits as he talent seems a bit lacking these last few years.
Isn't this usually about the time of year he puts together a string of wins and saves his job for one more year?
I think, absent a complete meltdown by the team over the last four games (WMU, at CMU, Buffalo, at Marshall), that our new AD will be hesitant to pull the trigger.
I believe that Lynch's Won-Loss record at BSU speaks volumes. But I'll be shocked if I don't see him on the sidelines for a ninth year next September.
No inside info here, JMO.
bsudn79_80 Wrote:I think, absent a complete meltdown by the team over the last four games (WMU, at CMU, Buffalo, at Marshall), that our new AD will be hesitant to pull the trigger.
I believe that Lynch's Won-Loss record at BSU speaks volumes. But I'll be shocked if I don't see him on the sidelines for a ninth year next September.
No inside info here, JMO.
I'm not sure what you mean by "meltdown". It's very believable that BSU could lose 3/4 of those games. They could win 3/4 too, but BSU isn't so far up that losing 3 would be a "meltdown" of a successful team.
In other words, I haven't changed my mind that Lynch is in trouble. (But I hear Ohio may be hiring soon)
Don't get me wrong Doc. I'm in the camp of fans that would have shown Lynch the door years ago. But then, no one consults with me on these matters. :)
But after successive 5-6, 1-10, 0-11, 5-6, 5-6, 3-5 (so far) losing seasons, that include a 21-game losing streak and losses to two IAA foes, I simply don't believe that Ball State's new athletic director (who has been on the job about 8 weeks) will have the intestinal fortitude to do the dirty work.
A complete melt down would not, IMO, be losing three of the last four games--which I think is very likely. A melt down would be losing to Buffalo or being blown out (more than 4 TDs) by WMU, CMU and Marshall.
4-8 and hanging close in the last three losses will make it much easier to justify another year with Lynch than 3-8, or, 4-8 with three season-ending blow outs.
Much like Darnell and WMU, BSU has not exactly played chopped liver thus far - Mizzou is not BCS bowl material, but certainly isn't an easy trip (ask Oklahoma, who had a tight one in Columbia), Clemson is a good team despite being smeared by undefeated NC St (IMO, the most underrated team in America right now), and you've lost to the top 3 teams in the MAC West - NIU, UT and BG. Knowing that you wanted to compete for the MAC West, this info is not positive, but knowing that you have not lost to crappy teams should provide some positive spin.
I expect you to win at least 2 of the last 4 - WMU is reeling right now, and getting them at home is excellent timing. @CMU will be tough, but you have the clock controlling O to win. Buffalo is a win. @Marshall, well, that'd provide Lynch with sainthood if you can win that game.
I've always liked Lynch - I think he does a good job with playcalling, but needed more athletic department support to really build a program. He's also on the same cusp that NIU was at the last two years - beating teams he should beat and losing to teams he should lose to.
I don't know the inside of this, but with a change of AD's sometimes comes the departure of few coaches, sometimes as part of the negotiation for the AD job. He becomes a kind of hatchet man for the admin and then puts his own guy in the slot.
What were the circumstances of the AD change?
bsudn79_80 Wrote:But after successive 5-6, 1-10, 0-11, 5-6, 5-6, 3-5 (so far) losing seasons, that include a 21-game losing streak and losses to two IAA foes, I simply don't believe that Ball State's new athletic director (who has been on the job about 8 weeks) will have the intestinal fortitude to do the dirty work.
A complete melt down would not, IMO, be losing three of the last four games--which I think is very likely. A melt down would be losing to Buffalo or being blown out (more than 4 TDs) by WMU, CMU and Marshall.
4-8 and hanging close in the last three losses will make it much easier to justify another year with Lynch than 3-8, or, 4-8 with three season-ending blow outs.
Ok, I see what you mean. I wasn't sure before.
HuskieDan Wrote:...
I've always liked Lynch - I think he does a good job with playcalling, but needed more athletic department support to really build a program. He's also on the same cusp that NIU was at the last two years - beating teams he should beat and losing to teams he should lose to.
Oh Dan. You're being too modest. You're a charter member of the Bill Lynch Fan Club! :)
I'm not qualitied to debate X's and O's with either you or coach Lynch. But the W's and L's have to be part of any coach's evaluation. IMO, Lynch does everything right EXCEPT win games.
Why? Beats me.
Poor facilities? Yep. Historical lack of institutional support? Right again.
But I believe that even Lynch would admit there have been mistakes made on the recruiting trail, in hiring and retaining some assistant coaches, and yes, sometimes even in play calling, schemes, and coaching adjustments.
You got me there!!
You lost a coach a couple years ago to CMU. Do you know why? A big, fat raise. If you don't compete properly with your peers, you're bound to lose to them. If you do, you really can't ask why.....the why is internally created.
I understand fans' frustrations with not winning often enough, but in sports it is difficult to win all the time. You can count the number of teams that have finished in the top 10 for 10 straight years on two hands. There's a reason - it's hard to do.
Quote:You can count the number of teams that have finished in the top 10 for 10 straight years on two hands.
Hey, wait a minute!
You mean there are 10 teams that have finished in the top 10 for 10 straight years?
No wonder there's no room for the MAC!
:wave:
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OVERHERD Wrote:Isn't this usually about the time of year he puts together a string of wins and saves his job for one more year?
I guess so.
And he started it again today with a win against the Broncs to get back to 4-5.....Lynch doesn't satisfy the masses in Muncie but wins just enough (plus runs a clean program and is nice guy to boot) to keep his job. :wave:
I don't want to take anything away from an opponent's well-earned victory, but the Broncos are easy pickings right now. WMU is in the midst of a classic collapse. I'm not even sure they could muster enough confidence to beat St. Mary's School of the Blind right now. It reminds me of that season by Ohio U, where several close-call losses finally did them in (psychologically), and the rest of the season was basically a blur.
Motown Bronco Wrote:I don't want to take anything away from an opponent's well-earned victory, but the Broncos are easy pickings right now. WMU is in the midst of a classic collapse. I'm not even sure they could muster enough confidence to beat St. Mary's School of the Blind right now. It reminds me of that season by Ohio U, where several close-call losses finally did them in (psychologically), and the rest of the season was basically a blur.
I think the Broncos have given up on the season. We have had so many close games that I think they guys wonder if it's worth it to put a fight for 60 minutes. The Bronco players really believed they would be playing for the MAC championship this year.
We need to ease up on our schedule and get the confidence back. Thankfully, we did just that next year. We have some winnable games before the MAC season. Hopefully, Munson (our QB) will have enough experience to get us back on track.
BroncoMD Wrote:I think the Broncos have given up on the season. We have had so many close games that I think they guys wonder if it's worth it to put a fight for 60 minutes. The Bronco players really believed they would be playing for the MAC championship this year.
Well I hope they get fired up for the CMU game. That should motivate them if anything would.
Your Gary reminds me of BG's Gary. Loses 1 big championship game, and the wheels of the program start to fall off. I also can't help but wonder if Novak is recruiting a bit better than Darnell, like Pinkel out-recruited Blackney at times.
The thing is, the MAC needs a strong WMU. You guys draw well, and are in a sizeable market. I'd love to see the West have an outstanding 4-some of BG, UT, NIU and WMU. Winning OOC games and getting media respect.
Congratulations to Ball State!!! I'm sure the Bronco spin will be that they didn't come to play....fact is, you guys just out played them. Good win!!