I'll repeat my message from another thread: Every year we read about how Frank travels around to learn from other coaching staffs. He's willing to question how our guys prepare for games, condition, eat...you name it. But he'll never question the performance of his assistants. The folks at BG, NIU, WMU, CMU and even Kent must be hugely grateful for Frank's loyalty to Tim Albin. And if you were the father of an elite high school QB, would you send your son to play in this system?
"Pitt, Penn State, Marshall, ULM, the system is fine when the players are whole and healthy."
Are these four wins what we're hanging our hat on? Yes, they were good wins, and for our program they were major steps forward, but let's be somewhat realistic. Pitt was a mess that season under Wannstedt (5-6), Penn St. was a terrible mess when we played them, and we beat a second-place team from the Sun Belt playing in their first bowl game. The Marshall wins I will give you as very good, but still....CUSA.
If the discussion is just about whether it's a good program or not, or would we rather have our current situation than the way it used to be then it's an easy debate. If the topic is "Becoming the next Boise State", however, then I think we have to question the progress this program has made the last few years. It's clearly not progressing. Simply making bowl games these days is not a great measure of accomplishment when every program over .500 does the same.
Ohio's record for the second half of the season the past six years. It's not trending in our favor, and you can almost sense what is on the horizon for the back half of this season. It seems to be injuries getting to us every year, but can we blame that every season? Where is the depth?
2009: 5-1
2010: 5-1
2011: 5-1
2012: 2-4
2013: 3-3
2014: 3-3
The program in its current state is not an elite one in the MAC. It is a consistent one, though. We've settled into what I like to call us the VT of the MAC. Frank Beamer built a great program, and they are pretty good year in and year out. They just aren't great. They have a good fan base, good attendance, and make their bowl game every year. The question is it worth risking that consistency to try and achieve the next step? Are sounding like Nebraska fans just before they let Solich go?