(05-02-2021 11:25 AM)EagleSam Wrote: I love Creighton, and will always appreciate him turning our program around. We probably wouldn’t have all of the new upgrades, and the massive investments from donors, if it wasn’t for him. He seems like a great guy, and I’ve never heard a bad word about him from players, coaches, family members, and what not.
With that being said, the results have left a lot to be desired, and he needs to be held accountable. We haven’t had a decent defense since 2018, and I really don’t see that changing this season either. For all of his terrific wins against Big Ten teams, we rarely beat anyone good in the MAC. And the obvious elephant in the room is all of the close games he’s lost over the years.
At some point, we have to accept that he is a great program changer and leader, but not a great in-game coach. This is a big year for him. I think I need to see at least 7 wins to have any confidence in him moving forward. Another 4 or 5 win season would be disastrous, and I would think it’s time to move on.
Keith has correctly identified me as an avid Creighton fan. He also made a VERY thought provoking post.
Sam you make solid points. Those Big Ten wins were extremely nice for the national exposure of the program but hardly spectacular, we were playing the bottom of the conference. We are in the MAC, the weakest conference in FBS, competing there is step one for any league program and we have not done so.
Honestly I would have no problem with Wetherbee giving the coach some heat right now. After his two-season disastrous start, he went 7-6 in 2016 with his least talented team in the past five years. Toledo, WMU, Miami and Missouri decisively thumped him that year. He, however, won five one possession games against Wyoming, BG, Ohio, BSU and CMU. He did, however, initiate his futility in OT games with a loss to NIU.
The point is this. Creighton entered 2016 with a 1-15 MAC record and HBO televising a program that suggested EMU drop the football program. Did he play looser then because his back was to the wall and subsequently win those close games? Four years later he had Pittsburgh beaten but chose to run Shaq Vann three times and allowed them to win. The story has been the same for much of every loss since that 2016 season. EMU is in nearly every game they lose, almost never embarrassed, but yet on the short end of the stick far too often including an 0-6 record in OT games. At some point the amazing record of close losses ceases to become coincidence and must be evaluated as a strategic deficiency. The players and coaches in the program, as a result expect to lose these games. That needs to change for sure.
That said, I still love the guy. EMU has played D1/FBS football for 48 years with TEN different coaches, ONLY two could claim success. Ed Chlebek had an overall sub .500 record but did kick ass in 1977 while I was in school and left for Boston College. Jim Harkema would be the "Ben Braun" picture of program success as he led EMU to four winning consecutive seasons, but at the end of the day he compiled a 32-41-4 MAC record and waved the white flag midseason, leaving the program in a very bad state.
Let's face it, the EMU football job probably ranks 130 out of 130 programs in the FBS. An up and coming PJ Fleck is not going to touch this job, EMU is considered a graveyard for head coaches. Creighton, however, embraced the position and has honestly exceeded my expectations as well as many sportswriters. His name often appears in any search for a lower level Power 5 opening.
This is my viewpoint only, but I like Chris Creighton and a .500 MAC record rather than taking a chance on someone else.