What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

(05-17-2023 07:57 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

He doesn't have a lifetime contract, changes can be made.

(05-17-2023 09:58 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:57 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

He doesn't have a lifetime contract, changes can be made.

Yep. Just gotta ride it out. He’s just like Pastner but thankfully they didn’t give him the same silly rollover contract

(05-17-2023 10:49 AM)MemTigers1998 Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 09:58 AM)fsquid Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:57 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

He doesn't have a lifetime contract, changes can be made.

Yep. Just gotta ride it out. He’s just like Pastner but thankfully they didn’t give him the same silly rollover contract

You just know it's coming though. After we have a winning record this season against the power bastions of college football, you just know the powers that be will extend the contract with a raise .

The powers that be have already indicated that 6-6 gets an atta boy-----just imagine if Wokefield actually goes 7-5 or better---statues will be erected

I don't 6-6 cuts it this season, 7-5 may even get him out.

(05-17-2023 12:20 PM)fsquid Wrote:  I don't 6-6 cuts it this season, 7-5 may even get him out.

Frankly Silverfield should have never seen another season at Memphis after two losing seasons in-conference. But he's still here & if he can't actually contend for an AAC title this season - meaning play in the conference championship game, then he should be fired. We're either serious about winning or we're ok with mediocrity & life in the AAC. What happens this season & after will tell the level of play required at Memphis to keep a job. If Silverfield keeps his job but doesn't play in the conference championship game, we all will know mediocrity is the acceptable std under this admin - they should go too.

(05-16-2023 03:14 PM)Unbreakable04 Wrote:  

(05-16-2023 12:38 PM)BluffCityBoy Wrote:  

(05-16-2023 09:28 AM)Unbreakable04 Wrote:  

(05-16-2023 07:55 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-16-2023 07:40 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  Here are the actual projected per school payouts for the SEC (including poor Vandy) - $100M/per yr - see link below. And CFP payments are in addition. Yep poor Vandy but hey we have a chance every 2-4 years to be the biggest midget in G5. THAT'S actually calculated as a .6 chance annually per my link in the post above. And if that's the goal, why even renovate the LB or pursue a conference move up? Some crazy logic being expressed to prefer our G5 status.

https://footballscoop.com/news/data-firm-projects-s ec-100-million-revenue-end-of-decade

Again, I have no clue what stupidities you are talking about when you say that someone prefers being G5. Also, only someone who is completely detached from reality, believes that being in a 12 team playoff for ALL of college football would in any shape or form make us a midget.

If we never make the playoff, then we are in big trouble; but we are positioned to be able to be able to make a decent run at it.

Atlanta prefers going 2-10 with $100 million in the bank than 13-0 or 12-1 and making the playoff. God bless him.

I'd imagine the overwhelming majority of Memphis fans, if given the opportunity, would choose the jump to a larger conference with 15x the revenue stream if it meant having a losing record. The intangibles alone from that cash infusion to our University & City would be a complete game changer. Not to mention opponents visiting our home stadium who are worth a damn and not trying to beat cupcakes as we do now, unsuccessfully, with our coach that has a losing conference record the past two years.

Let's see - play North TX, Rice, MTSU, Charlotte, etc. and "win" 10 games or play high level Universities we can compete with, draw interest and dramatically change the landscape of our City? Doesn't take a rocket scientist, or even a Canadian, to figure that one out.

So yes, I think you are in the minority when it comes to wanting to be the "flagship" G5 over the opportunity to make $100M+ in revenue each year and what that'd mean for our University. And ultimately, if this hypothetical situation ever played out (which it won't, unfortunately), we know our sports team would not be stuck in mediocrity land forever simply due to the cash infusion and what that'd mean.

If it were up to me and the University was offered a P5 spot tomorrow, I'd absolutely take it. That being said, we are in a far better spot as a nonP5 school having that playoff spot. I think as the next few years pass and people see the "best of the rest" get that spot, they will warm up to it more. It would undoubtedly change the University, and honestly city as a whole, to have that P5 money, but having at least one seat at the big boy table could transform a program and I hope it's Memphis. Vandy gets money every year even though they stink, so that's a better option because like Pastner said "winning is hard" and it's nowhere near a guarantee to be in the playoff with this team and staff that struggles to close out winnable games. It wouldn't be P5 media money, but I'd imagine the University would have an infusion of cash if they were to make the playoffs a few times over the next few years along with other benefits like higher enrollment. That, too, would be a huge boost for the University.

I know it's a different sport, but Gonzaga would not be who they were without dominating their league which allowed them to repeatedly go to the NCAA Tourney and build their brand over the past two decades. They wouldn't be getting 5* athletes. Would they rather have Louisville or Cal's P5 money last year? Probably, but as a Zag basketball fan, they have to love their situation and chance to play for a national title every year. They have only gotten as close as we have, but that doesn't mean that they aren't talked about nationally every March and their fanbase having a blast.

Let's hope that Memphis football can parallel that and is always in that playoff conversation and keeps us in the collective national media's mouth over the next few years. That simple playoff spot is a silver lining that didn't exist even a few years ago when UCF had that multi season undefeated run. Chaos looks imminent with the ACC rumblings this week. Let's pray for chaos and play for conference titles!

Lastly, don't speak in absolutes. You say it's never going to happen, but it did! We got to the Big East once, and I know that fizzled quick, but we have absolutely no clue where things go from here and anyone who thinks they do is just making things up!

Never going to happen was referring to a $100M payday similar to the SEC, I do think we will make our way in somehow but it will be a watered down version of a P5 conference once all the dominoes fall.

Yes, having a spot "could" transform Memphis, but that would take immediate results on the field. We've seen what the program is capable of and we've also seen our team erode into mediocrity over the past few seasons, with losing conference records against the cupcakes we have now. So, do you choose a losing conference record (present day reality) with a shot every now & then at the playoff? Or keep the same losing record and receive a payday, brand recognition, conference recognition, actual opponents people will pay to see (you're kidding yourself if you think attendance will all of a sudden double by playing Rice, Charlotte, MTSU, North TX, etc. at home even if we are winning 10+ games, annually), and a cash infusion which will allow our football team, the University & our overall brand to prosper?

It seems like a no brainer to me. Not to mention what that means for every other sport program at the University, facility improvements for both sports & academics and the entire University area as a whole. Yes, we've seen what we can do with $7M annually and it's remarkable what we've done. What we need at this sad state of college athletics is more cash to compete, both from an academic standpoint and on the field. We are kidding ourselves if this mythical shot at a playoff is going to change the direction of our program as a whole. Yes, thankfully we now have an outsider's chance at the playoff, but comparing basketball schools to football is not apples/apples.

For example, FAU going to the Final Four is not going to all of a sudden make them a basketball powerhouse and develop a brand. Yes, they are poised to have one more great year before their coach leaves. Not to mention, putting together a basketball team compared to a football team is night & day based on needs. Flipping a basketball team can be done in one season, football, not so much due to the sheer amount of bodies needed.

We will be in the same boat IF we were to make the playoff as a G5, we've seen it happen with Norvell, coaches want better opportunities and if we were to ever get into a P5 then the days of building a program would be much easier so a coach can get compensated properly, have the resources to (unfortunately) pay players an asinine amount of money and build a program without nickel & diming everything.

I understand your logic and get why having access to the playoff is important, because it truly is, but the goalposts have moved with these TV deals and NIL. If we had this opportunity five years ago I am probably in complete agreement - but since then, every conference's revenue stream has grown substantially and we are stuck. Five years ago the haves/haves nots was not as separated as it is now and this is only the beginning. So yes, I would much rather be in Syracuse, Virginia, Boston College, AZ, AZ State or whoever else's shoes and muddle along in a P5 football conference rather than tout victories over Rice, North TX, Tulsa, Tulane, etc. and hope EVERYONE loses 1 game and we somehow go undefeated to make it to a playoff, because the bigger picture for the University is GREATER by joining a P5 conference, than a hypothetical visit to the CFP 1 or 2 times per decade, to watch us get railroaded by a team full of NIL players while we make 1/15th of what they do from a conference standpoint.

First of all, the FAU program is not Gonzaga. By switching Gonzaga for FAU, you're changing my point completely in that Gonzaga has built their brand over 2 decades with Mark Few, not one shining moment of a magical year that FAU had. (It is funny you pulled FAU out because they are literally moving up in conferences!) I also pointed out that different sports was not apples to apples...My point is that over a period of time IF Memphis were to get to the level Norvell had the football team, and sustain for a few seasons, then it could be a huge silver lining that wasn't present until this point with expanding the playoffs and having a nonP5 spot.

UCF never got the opportunity to play for a title even with their multi-year undefeated run, nor did Boise St with Petersen. Now, just like the team ranked 363 in Kenpom, all 131 FBS team have a path to a national title for the first time ever (at least since the BCS era). The new opportunity for a national title from a non p5 schools is my comparison between sports. That matters, and a scenario of routinely winning the conference and being a perennial contender for that for that playoff spot is the comparison to Gonzaga. You'd be crazy to think that the needle wouldn't budge if we were to do that. Even getting thrashed by the Bama's and OSU's of the world would still have us in a national conversation and a playoff spot big payday, tons of merch sold, enrollment going up, more donor dollars for NIL, etc. I never claimed attendance would go up (although I have to imagine if we were a perennial 10+ win team we would have some level of higher attendance regardless of competition - everyone loves a winner).

Again, I'd take the P5 money today and gladly get destroyed in league play with football (but have to imagine our bball would still prosper). I'm not arguing in the slightest that it is better to be nonP5, just saying that even though the gap of the "have's" and "have not's" is widening substantially, there will be a nonP5 team in the playoffs and at some point one of those teams will even defy the odds and beat a powerhouse to advance. I hope that is Memphis. Would anyone be surprised if the P5 added teams (formerly not P5) and it happens to be teams in that playoff spot? Let's be that team. The only reason we are "stuck" as you put it is that realignment isn't happening this afternoon. We can't force our way into the P5 but we can now control our path with on the field success that never existed before.

Yes, Silverfield has been underwhelming, but we have blown huge leads and always are on the wrong side of OT games. Four conference games last year were decided by a touchdown or less. Will Silverfield have the team learn how to play with a lead or find a way to win a close game? Hopefully, but it's not hard to imagine a few calls here or there different, or just having one receiver or RB like we have churned out to the NFL would have us in a different spot the past couple of seasons. With Boise St and Tulane(after our bye week) at home and no UTSA, it wouldn't be crazy to be 10+ wins headed into a conference championship game this season.

Realignment will continue to happen. Conferences will look to add teams because of $$$. The biggest of the boys (Big10 and SEC) will likely add more programs because of $$$. A raided P5 conference, or banded together current P5 schools remaining, will want to put together a competitive league with good markets, programs with good facilities, and ideally the best academics possible. We achieved R1 status. We are breaking ground on the Liberty Bowl renovations. If we win big over the next few seasons (regardless of Silverfield winning big and moving on), we start checking all the boxes. It be hard to imagine we wouldn't be primed for moving up. In the meantime, let's try and play for a national title because that's actually possible for the first time ever. Probable, likely, guaranteed, or even possible? Probably no, but the current state is not P5 or just accept that we are "stuck".

(05-17-2023 12:32 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 12:20 PM)fsquid Wrote:  I don't 6-6 cuts it this season, 7-5 may even get him out.

Frankly Silverfield should have never seen another season at Memphis after two losing seasons in-conference. But he's still here & if he can't actually contend for an AAC title this season - meaning play in the conference championship game, then he should be fired. We're either serious about winning or we're ok with mediocrity & life in the AAC. What happens this season & after will tell the level of play required at Memphis to keep a job. If Silverfield keeps his job but doesn't play in the conference championship game, we all will know mediocrity is the acceptable std under this admin - they should go too.

Silverfield NOT good enough for Tublanta...

Quote:You whiners turn EVERY THREAD INTO A CRITICIZE THE COACH thread - even when he is clearly out performing JP, the darling of many you. And BTW, I'm far from a Tubby lover, but I'm a fan & support the program. All the whining & complaining & regurgitating everything you don't like about Tubby ad nauseum gets very old - especially when the team is clearly better than anything on the floor for Memphis in the last 3 yrs. Tubby's contract hasn't changed since he came to Memphis & yet another thread to complain - all the while recruits we want tell us critical fans discourage their interest in Memphis.....SMH.

You guys are dreaming, Tubby is here for his contract term. Be a fan, support the team.Then it will be Tubby's decision to leave, IMO. Memphis is not going to fire Tubby if he is winning games (more than he loses). With the way Memphis MBB has been allowed to schedule OOC for the last 6-7 yrs, it is virtually impossible for Memphis to have a losing season. And by all accounts Memphis will be better next year than this year. That gets Tubby to his 5th & last year of his contract. The only other consideration is if Bowen were to find another job (& he's always looking) in the interim. Based upon who might be hired, could change the rationale - but probably not if Rudd remains as president.

Let’s put this new playoff access in context…
If there would have been a 12 team playoff this season, Tulane would have played the #5 seed, UT in Knoxville in the 1st round. If they were fortunate enough to win a brutally difficult road game in Knoxville, they’d get to play the #4 seed, Ohio State in Columbus the following week. Win that game & they likely get #1 seed, Georgia in the semi finals…. And likely Michigan or TCU in the final.

Just to set the record straight, I was never a big Tubby fan. I objected to firing a coach after 2 yrs with a 19-13 & 21-13 record - especially a future HoF coach - who never had a losing record in-conference at Memphis (& he followed JP with the program in sad shape). I would agree we didn't get Smith at his best. He coasted when it came to recruiting & he apparently made enemies among Memphis HS coaches. But that is a far cry from RS who followed Norvell & the program in top shape - yet had a losing record in-conference for 2 straight years at the very time we are desperately attempting to improve our conference situation. So IMO, no comparison between Smith & RS yet RS still has a job.

M

(05-17-2023 07:57 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

Yeah, if we're blowing sparklies in the face of the entire conference 2 out of 3 or 3 out of 4 years sure.

Gonzaga in bb is a perfect example. They dominate the WCC every year with only Saint Marys to challenge them. The rest of the conference is just good enough to keep their strength of schedule from tanking. They sprinkle in a few good ooc games.

Memphis bb has won exactly 0 regular season and 1 conference tournament title in a decade.

We have 2 football conference titles but 2019 is fading into the past and Silverfield while not horrible isn't real good either. In the new AAC 8-4 / 9-3 finishing 3rd or 4th ain't s h I t.

The school should have hit the eject button and gone a different direction at fb coach. This is not the time for patience. There was a nice 3 year gap from the Cotton Bowl year and so I think a coach with a good track record would have taken the job.

(05-17-2023 03:38 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Just to set the record straight, I was never a big Tubby fan. I objected to firing a coach after 2 yrs with a 19-13 & 21-13 record - especially a future HoF coach - who never had a losing record in-conference at Memphis (& he followed JP with the program in sad shape). I would agree we didn't get Smith at his best. He coasted when it came to recruiting & he apparently made enemies among Memphis HS coaches. But that is a far cry from RS who followed Norvell & the program in top shape - yet had a losing record in-conference for 2 straight years at the very time we are desperately attempting to improve our conference situation. So IMO, no comparison between Smith & RS yet RS still has a job.

Tubby wasn’t fired just for his record. But his record was not good. His arrogance and unwillingness to recruit was the big one. But his downplaying of the program was even bigger. He seemed satisfied with 5th place. Sadly I’m hearing some of the same stuff from Silverfield.

(05-18-2023 08:30 AM)Eagleonpar Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 03:38 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Just to set the record straight, I was never a big Tubby fan. I objected to firing a coach after 2 yrs with a 19-13 & 21-13 record - especially a future HoF coach - who never had a losing record in-conference at Memphis (& he followed JP with the program in sad shape). I would agree we didn't get Smith at his best. He coasted when it came to recruiting & he apparently made enemies among Memphis HS coaches. But that is a far cry from RS who followed Norvell & the program in top shape - yet had a losing record in-conference for 2 straight years at the very time we are desperately attempting to improve our conference situation. So IMO, no comparison between Smith & RS yet RS still has a job.

Tubby wasn’t fired just for his record. But his record was not good. His arrogance and unwillingness to recruit was the big one. But his downplaying of the program was even bigger. He seemed satisfied with 5th place. Sadly I’m hearing some of the same stuff from Silverfield.

No doubt there were several reasons. Smith was at a point in his career where he was not hungry, thankful or even energetic about the job - I'd use Kelvin Sampson as an older guy who has stayed hungry & competitive in comparison. Smith also displayed an ego that was a real turnoff to virtually everyone. With all of that, the #1 reason Smith was fired IMO was that attendance tanked & with it revenues. Unfortunately our admin seems to have a high tolerance for losing at times & making easy decisions rather the best decisions - up to the point where revenues are severely effected. And BTW, no where no time did I think or say Smith should get 5 yrs.

(05-17-2023 03:38 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Just to set the record straight, I was never a big Tubby fan. I objected to firing a coach after 2 yrs with a 19-13 & 21-13 record - especially a future HoF coach - who never had a losing record in-conference at Memphis (& he followed JP with the program in sad shape). I would agree we didn't get Smith at his best. He coasted when it came to recruiting & he apparently made enemies among Memphis HS coaches. But that is a far cry from RS who followed Norvell & the program in top shape - yet had a losing record in-conference for 2 straight years at the very time we are desperately attempting to improve our conference situation. So IMO, no comparison between Smith & RS yet RS still has a job.

Quote:Just to set the record straight, I was never a big Tubby fan. I objected to firing a coach after 2 yrs with a 19-13 & 21-13 record

Tubby gets the job and immediately goes on not one, but two vacations with only 7 scholarship players, then declares that Memphis is a has been program and we shouldn't expect recruiting to be great. Tubby does something that is impossible. He fails to recruit a single 4* player in two recruiting classes, and was well on his way to another poor class when his lazy check cashing a$$ was fired.

Year 1, an RPI of 119, no wins against ranked teams; 2-7 in our last 9 games, including losing our last two games by a combined 71 points, BUT...WE HAD A WINNING RECORD!!!

Year 2, an RPI of 108, no wins against ranked teams, and 9 double digit losses, BUT...WE HAD A WINNING RECORD!!!

Tublanta's evaluation of all this is that Silverfield sucks and Tubby was turning things around and deserved 5 years. What a joke.

(05-18-2023 08:52 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(05-18-2023 08:30 AM)Eagleonpar Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 03:38 PM)Atlanta Wrote:  Just to set the record straight, I was never a big Tubby fan. I objected to firing a coach after 2 yrs with a 19-13 & 21-13 record - especially a future HoF coach - who never had a losing record in-conference at Memphis (& he followed JP with the program in sad shape). I would agree we didn't get Smith at his best. He coasted when it came to recruiting & he apparently made enemies among Memphis HS coaches. But that is a far cry from RS who followed Norvell & the program in top shape - yet had a losing record in-conference for 2 straight years at the very time we are desperately attempting to improve our conference situation. So IMO, no comparison between Smith & RS yet RS still has a job.

Tubby wasn’t fired just for his record. But his record was not good. His arrogance and unwillingness to recruit was the big one. But his downplaying of the program was even bigger. He seemed satisfied with 5th place. Sadly I’m hearing some of the same stuff from Silverfield.

No doubt there were several reasons. Smith was at a point in his career where he was not hungry, thankful or even energetic about the job - I'd use Kelvin Sampson as an older guy who has stayed hungry & competitive in comparison. Smith also displayed an ego that was a real turnoff to virtually everyone. With all of that, the #1 reason Smith was fired IMO was that attendance tanked & with it revenues. Unfortunately our admin seems to have a high tolerance for losing at times & making easy decisions rather the best decisions - up to the point where revenues are severely effected.

The #1 reason why Tubby was fired, is that him and his kid sucked; and they were going to suck even more in year 3.

(05-17-2023 07:57 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

As long as "compete for the conference title" is an objective measurement, meaning playing in the conference title game, I would agree. Anything less is simply someone's subjective idea - like playing close games, within a break or two of winning, almost got to the title game etc, etc. And such should not be acceptable for another season. IMO, play in the conference championship game for the conference title or "contending" means nothing especially with this favorable schedule.

(05-18-2023 09:04 AM)Atlanta Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:57 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:51 AM)Stammers Wrote:  

(05-17-2023 07:11 AM)Marc Mensa Wrote:  What makes us think we’d dominate the AAC and regularly contend for a playoff spot? We’re picked 3rd this year in the AAC and have been 3-5 in the conference the past 2 seasons. If this was Mike Norvell’s Memphis program I might share that optimism, but Silverman does not exactly instill that same level of confidence.

I understand the thought of preferring to be in the national playoff conversation instead of P5 purgatory like a Vandy or Indiana, but the financial disparity is starting to take its toll on other sports… ie basketball. We have to move up, if we’re going to maintain both a football program and a nationally competitive basketball program. If we don’t, football will eventually have to go.

I obviously prefer to be P5. The point is that when we get in we will be better than the programs I listed. In the meantime, we are more fun to watch than Vandy and the programs listed, and we have an infinitely better chance at making the playoffs than they do.

I get the premise & I agree with it as long as we can consistently compete for the conference title. Unfortunately, that’s not where we’ve been under Ryan.

As long as "compete for the conference title" is an objective measurement, meaning playing in the conference title game, I would agree. Anything less is simply someone's subjective idea - like playing close games, within a break or two of winning, almost got to the title game etc, etc. And such should not be acceptable for another season. IMO, play in the conference championship game for the conference title or "contending" means nothing especially with this favorable schedule.

I agree with this. We get Tulane and SMU at home. There is no reason why we shouldn't be at least in the AACCG. In theory, we could lose to Missouri and Boise, lose two games in conference and still play in the AACCG at 8-4. I wouldn't call that a great season by any stretch; maybe it is a good season if we actually win the game and then our bowl game to finish 10-4.

Anything less wouldn't be a good season. At 8-4, Silverfield gets at least another season, like it or not. I don't think he deserves to survive at 8-5.

We also have to assume that none of 12 other teams are capable of pulling a rabbit out of their hat as Tulane did last season. I can’t make that assumption.