After wins against TT and Texas - should Lyons extend DH's contract now or wait?

[GetYaNumbersUp]

A couple of weeks ago most were wondering if he should remain our head coach, now after victories over two very mediocre opponents, we are talking contract extension. What in the world has he done to deserve that? Even if you were not on fire Holgorsen wagon, surely you do not believe beating the bottom of the conference is worthy of such talk. Again I ask, would you be happy with another season just like the one we are having now? If so, apathy has truly set in to our fan base.

IF we go 8-4 next year like I think we will this year, yes I'll be happy, and I don't see how that's apathy setting in. That would mean a winning conference record and winning OOC record.

Next season in addition to the Big 12 slate we play BYU and Missouri, so if we can get through a schedule with 11 P5 teams (yes i'm counting BYU) with 4 losses that's pretty good. Anything better is gravy.

 

[Buckaineer]

A couple of weeks ago most were wondering if he should remain our head coach, now after victories over two very mediocre opponents, we are talking contract extension. What in the world has he done to deserve that? Even if you were not on fire Holgorsen wagon, surely you do not believe beating the bottom of the conference is worthy of such talk. Again I ask, would you be happy with another season just like the one we are having now? If so, apathy has truly set in to our fan base.

Surely you don't actually believe that a coach with a winning record in probably the toughest conference top to bottom is in jeopardy of losing his job? Why would someone want him gone if he is finishing with a good record? The only team left in conference with no losses is OSU and Holgorsen and team took them to OT in a narrow loss.

You "attack Holgorsen win or lose" posters keep talking about beating "mediocre" opponents--Texas Tech has 6 wins already with a double digit win at Arkansas who is now tearing up the SEC west. Texas though down, also beat highly ranked Oklahoma so we know they have talent on that team.

If you use your asinine look at wins and the teams beaten, 90% of every college teams wins are against "mediocre" to bad opponents.

People are coming up with all manner of stupidity in their destroy the WVU program campaign. Claiming Holgorsen is somehow overpaid for the record in a significant P5 conference as a head coach is one such example of that stupidity--as reality shows he is not overpaid at all compared to his peers and his record is in line with the salary paid as well.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

A couple of weeks ago most were wondering if he should remain our head coach, now after victories over two very mediocre opponents, we are talking contract extension. What in the world has he done to deserve that? Even if you were not on fire Holgorsen wagon, surely you do not believe beating the bottom of the conference is worthy of such talk. Again I ask, would you be happy with another season just like the one we are having now? If so, apathy has truly set in to our fan base.

Free anonymous message boards attract a lot of trolls and low information fans ( toiletpaper, go-go boy, low IQ drifter, pushingtin, etc. ) Few fans of a serious and sound nature were wondering about Holgorsen just because he couldn't beat Top 10 conference opponents on the road. The story of this season is now playing out and this team is looking good (and thus the coach is looking good). You can disparage the wins, use selective statistics, denigrate the conference, and so on, but most fans across the country understand that the Big 12 is a quality conference with quality programs. And conference wins are something to be celebrated.

WVU is now in a power conference and if we finish 8-4 with a bowl win then it will have been a very good year and most fans should be happy. And by the way, I don't see a single former Big East team in the top 25 while 40% of the Big 12 are in the the Associated Press Top 11. Could the contrast be anymore glaring? Maybe the apathy was playing a weak Big East schedule all of those years against weak programs and getting little national interest or respect.

 

[TruWVblu]

IF we go 8-4 next year like I think we will this year, yes I'll be happy, and I don't see how that's apathy setting in. That would mean a winning conference record and winning OOC record.

Next season in addition to the Big 12 slate we play BYU and Missouri, so if we can get through a schedule with 11 P5 teams (yes i'm counting BYU) with 4 losses that's pretty good. Anything better is gravy.

This year we have wins over a bad Maryland team, GA Southern, Liberty, Texas Tech and a bad Texas team. If we win out we beat arguably two of the worst teams in Power 5 conferences in Kansas and Iowa State and a down Kansas State team. If you are happy with that, I'm sorry. With that said, that likely does get DH another season, and in light of the amount of jobs open, it may be the right thing. As for next season, why would you be happy with another mediocre season? When can we expect more? The original post was concerning a contract extension. What has DH done to warrant that? Even if you are in the don't fire him camp, should we not expect more before giving him a contract extension?

 

[TruWVblu]

Free anonymous message boards attract a lot of trolls and low information fans ( toiletpaper, go-go boy, low IQ drifter, pushingtin, etc. ) Few of a serious and sound nature were wondering about Holgorsen just because he couldn't beat Top 10 conference opponents on the road. The story of this season is now playing out and this team is looking good (and thus the coach is looking good). You can disparage the wins, use selective statistics, denigrate the conference, and so on, but most fans across the country understand that the Big 12 is a quality conference with quality programs. And conference wins are something to be celebrated.

WVU is now in a power conference and if we finish 8-4 with a bowl win then it will have been a very good year and most fans should be happy. And by the way, I don't see a single former Big East team in the top 25 while 40% of the Big 12 are in the the Associated Press Top 11. Could the contrast be anymore glaring? Maybe the apathy was playing a weak Big East schedule all of those years against weak programs and getting little national interest or respect.

If all we should expect every season, regardless of conference affiliation, is beating teams we should beat and finishing in the middle to bottom of the conference, we are all wasting our time discussing the issue. And while you don't see a former BE team in the Top 25, you do see several AAC teams in the Top 25.

 

[TruWVblu]

Surely you don't actually believe that a coach with a winning record in probably the toughest conference top to bottom is in jeopardy of losing his job? Why would someone want him gone if he is finishing with a good record? The only team left in conference with no losses is OSU and Holgorsen and team took them to OT in a narrow loss.

You "attack Holgorsen win or lose" posters keep talking about beating "mediocre" opponents--Texas Tech has 6 wins already with a double digit win at Arkansas who is now tearing up the SEC west. Texas though down, also beat highly ranked Oklahoma so we know they have talent on that team.

If you use your asinine look at wins and the teams beaten, 90% of every college teams wins are against "mediocre" to bad opponents.

People are coming up with all manner of stupidity in their destroy the WVU program campaign. Claiming Holgorsen is somehow overpaid for the record in a significant P5 conference as a head coach is one such example of that stupidity--as reality shows he is not overpaid at all compared to his peers and his record is in line with the salary paid as well.

You either didn't read my post or ignored its premise. The original post was saying that DH deserved a contract extension. I am not saying he should be fired should he win out, I am merely saying that wins over bad or other mediocre teams is not worthy of a contract extension. Even those of you who are satisfied with mediocrity can see that...right?

 

[thunderstruckatthejoan]

A couple of weeks ago most were wondering if he should remain our head coach, now after victories over two very mediocre opponents, we are talking contract extension. What in the world has he done to deserve that? Even if you were not on fire Holgorsen wagon, surely you do not believe beating the bottom of the conference is worthy of such talk. Again I ask, would you be happy with another season just like the one we are having now? If so, apathy has truly set in to our fan base.

I would be...if we constantly had 8-4 seasons with the 10-2 seasons sprinkled in here and there. That would be awesome. Yes, I am fine how this season is going. You can expect great seasons every year, but reality is you are going to be disappointed if you think that is WVU football. We are a top 30 program with the great years here and there. That is reality. Enjoy the good times, b/c it could always be worse.

Or we can keep firing 8 win coaches every 4 to 5 years and question why we cant get over the hump...like Nebraska, Miami, Washington...

 

[TruWVblu]

I would be...if we constantly had 8-4 seasons with the 10-2 seasons sprinkled in here and there. That would be awesome. Yes, I am fine how this season is going. You can expect great seasons every year, but reality is you are going to be disappointed if you think that is WVU football. We are a top 30 program with the great years here and there. That is reality. Enjoy the good times, b/c it could always be worse.

Or we can keep firing 8 win coaches every 4 to 5 years and question why we cant get over the hump...like Nebraska, Miami, Washington...

Again, if you cared to read it, the thread really is not calling for his firing. It has to do with a contract extension and my contention is he has done nothing to warrant such. To date, there is not reason to believe we will have a 10-2 season sprinkled in as you call it. Once our previous coach's players were gone, his players have not come close to that mark. And don't look now but our hated rival to the southwest is looking for a coach and VT is being touted as one of the two best jobs open in college football. That evil team just an hour north is also getting better. My guess is they are not looking to mediocrity as a guage of success. Recruiting will get tougher if VT hires the right guy.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

He's not going to be fired or retained until after the regular season. If we win out, he should be retained with an extension that does not provide a raise AND establishes a reasonable buyout if we continue to be mired in mediocrity or worse.

Give him an extension through 2019 at his current salary (he certainly has done NOTHING to earn a raise) with the condition that if terminated he will receive a lump-sum equal to six months salary.

If we don't win out, we need to make a change.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

If all we should expect every season, regardless of conference affiliation, is beating teams we should beat and finishing in the middle to bottom of the conference, we are all wasting our time discussing the issue. And while you don't see a former BE team in the Top 25, you do see several AAC teams in the Top 25.

This is only our 4th year in a power conference. WVU just got a decent place to practice and acceptable place for team meetings this year. Our facilities may have been the best in the Big East, but they are average at best in the Big 12. Besides practice facilities, our stadium, sports revenue, coaching salaries, recruiting area, fan support, etc. are in the lower half of the Big 12.

WVU was projected to finish below Texas this year. And since 4 of our 9 conference opponents are in the AP Top 11, you must have expected WVU to knock off a top 10 team this year on the road and are thus disappointed. You might not be calling for Holgorsen to be fired, but by not extending his contract this year increases the likelihood of him leaving. I really don't see any positives to having a head coach with a short term contract remaining and thus this strategy IMO would undermine him and the program.

 

[3xWVUenginEER]

Donald EUGENE Nehlen went to the college football HOF and he didn't average 8-4 at WVU playing weaker schedules than DH.
He was 149-93-4 at WVU (0.616).
He was 202-128-8 overall (0.612).

Patience is a virtue reserved for the wise.

Bottom line DANA will be back as the WVU HBC (barring a total collapse) unless he decides to leave for another job which could happen cause this year there will be many more openings than normal and some ADs see he's limited with resources & recruiting at WVU. And yes he will get a contract extension & salary increase. That is how it works. You don't do 1 without the other nowadays unless you have a Bill Snyder type coach who is literally the reason K State is K State and not known as Kansas's homecoming opponent every other year.

If that bothers some people, they better learn to like it or find another school to pull for.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

He's not going to be fired or retained until after the regular season. If we win out, he should be retained with an extension that does not provide a raise AND establishes a reasonable buyout if we continue to be mired in mediocrity or worse.

Give him an extension through 2019 at his current salary (he certainly has done NOTHING to earn a raise) with the condition that if terminated he will receive a lump-sum equal to six months salary.

If we don't win out, we need to make a change.

"Give him an extension through 2019 at his current salary (he certainly has done NOTHING to earn a raise) with the condition that if terminated he will receive a lump-sum equal to six months salary."

There you go and how could any successful coach refuse this offer. Low IQ drifter has future A.D. written all over him. LOL!

 

[HurdyGurdyEer]

While a late season swoon, like those we have seen, could happen, it appears that this team has not packed it in and is prepared to do their best to grab these last three games. After a murderous October the fact that this team has not quit is a very good sign.

If we close out the season strong Holgorsen will get his extension before the bowl game. If we win our last three games we will finish at least in 5th place in a 10 team conference. That puts us in the top half. Holgorsen's present salary, I think, is about the 7th or 8th largest in the conference. If he finishes in the top half he should get a salary that puts him in the top half.

 

[TexasforevEER]

Swinney is a great coach..he's won 10 or more games every year for the past five seasons ...that first 10 win season that started the streak was when we beat the socks off of Clemson in the Orange..this will no doubt be his third year of at least 11 wins in that time frame..and the man is only 45.

How in the world do you know that Dabo Swinney is a great coach? The Clemson football team has recruited great players and plays in a weak football conference. Would Clemson be undefeated and ranked at the top if they played in the SEC or for that matter the Big 12? I think not! So, King Dabo is a great coach. Really?

 

[TexasforevEER]

"Give him an extension through 2019 at his current salary (he certainly has done NOTHING to earn a raise) with the condition that if terminated he will receive a lump-sum equal to six months salary."

There you go and how could any successful coach refuse this offer. Low IQ drifter has future A.D. written all over him. LOL!

WV should render into Holgs what is Holgs. Nothing more.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

A "successful" coach might have such leverage. We are talking about Holgorsen who, at best, is meeting minimally acceptable standards.

If he claims to have a better offer, tell him congratulations and good luck; we appreciate your service. If he does not have a better offer, he has a choice. He can take what we offer, stick with the current deal or resign.

He can say we'll just stick with the current deal but if I am really good next year either you are going to pay to keep me or I will leave. We can say, fine Dana, deals are about apportioning risk. We've decided not to shoulder all the risk of you continuing to underperform. Should you change that situation with a good season, we'll see what we can do after 2016, but we are not offering anything more now. If you truly have confidence in yourself and the program you have built you should take the extension with the buyout, because either we will have to pay to keep you or you will make more money elsewhere. If you lack such confidence, we understand you wanting to keep the guaranteed money through 2017, and we won't hold it against you.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

A "successful" coach might have such leverage. We are talking about Holgorsen who, at best, is meeting minimally acceptable standards.

If he claims to have a better offer, tell him congratulations and good luck; we appreciate your service. If he does not have a better offer, he has a choice. He can take what we offer, stick with the current deal or resign.

He can say we'll just stick with the current deal but if I am really good next year either you are going to pay to keep me or I will leave. We can say, fine Dana, deals are about apportioning risk. We've decided not to shoulder all the risk of you continuing to underperform. Should you change that situation with a good season, we'll see what we can do after 2016, but we are not offering anything more now. If you truly have confidence in yourself and the program you have built you should take the extension with the buyout, because either we will have to pay to keep you or you will make more money elsewhere. If you lack such confidence, we understand you wanting to keep the guaranteed money through 2017, and we won't hold it against you.

This strategic thinking could possibly reverse the run away salaries paid to college coaches across the country. WVU could lead the way by putting the genie of escalating coaching salaries back in the bottle. A kind of take it or leave it strategy. Very interesting.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

A "successful" coach might have such leverage. We are talking about Holgorsen who, at best, is meeting minimally acceptable standards.

If he claims to have a better offer, tell him congratulations and good luck; we appreciate your service. If he does not have a better offer, he has a choice. He can take what we offer, stick with the current deal or resign.

He can say we'll just stick with the current deal but if I am really good next year either you are going to pay to keep me or I will leave. We can say, fine Dana, deals are about apportioning risk. We've decided not to shoulder all the risk of you continuing to underperform. Should you change that situation with a good season, we'll see what we can do after 2016, but we are not offering anything more now. If you truly have confidence in yourself and the program you have built you should take the extension with the buyout, because either we will have to pay to keep you or you will make more money elsewhere. If you lack such confidence, we understand you wanting to keep the guaranteed money through 2017, and we won't hold it against you.

Great points. I suggest we also warn him that his bathroom privileges might be revoked and internet access limited. If he doesn't like it, simply tell him there are plenty of adequate restroom facilities around campus and the Downtown Library provides complimentary web terminals.

Either you start beating Top 10 teams on the road, or you'll be taking your dumps in Boreman South, buddy.

 

[WESTBGVA]

How in the world do you know that Dabo Swinney is a great coach? The Clemson football team has recruited great players and plays in a weak football conference. Would Clemson be undefeated and ranked at the top if they played in the SEC or for that matter the Big 12? I think not! So, King Dabo is a great coach. Really?

they don't just play ACC teams..in that span he's beaten Auburn twice, Notre Dame this year, Georgia, and crushed Oklahoma 40-6 last year..

 

[Darth_VadEER]

This strategic thinking could possibly reverse the run away salaries paid to college coaches across the country. WVU could lead the way by putting the genie of escalating coaching salaries back in the bottle. A kind of take it or leave it strategy. Very interesting.

I'm with you. Hopefully Lyons is lurking and taking notes. This is why I'm a Mountaineer fan. You just don't see this kind of innovation anywhere else, imo.

 

[MountaineerWV]

Will 9-4?

Consistently, YES! Since joining the Big 12, how many 9-4 seasons has he had?

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Eh, in terms of "innovative" thinking it can't hold a candle to the genius move to throw approximately $17,000,000 in guaranteed money at a rookie head coach, who had essentially matched the unsatisfactory regular season record of his predecessor, based on one good bowl game.

That's pretty much unrivalled in college football history.

 

[TruWVblu]

This is only our 4th year in a power conference. WVU just got a decent place to practice and acceptable place for team meetings this year. Our facilities may have been the best in the Big East, but they are average at best in the Big 12. Besides practice facilities, our stadium, sports revenue, coaching salaries, recruiting area, fan support, etc. are in the lower half of the Big 12.

WVU was projected to finish below Texas this year. And since 4 of our 9 conference opponents are in the AP Top 11, you must have expected WVU to knock off a top 10 team this year on the road and are thus disappointed. You might not be calling for Holgorsen to be fired, but by not extending his contract this year increases the likelihood of him leaving. I really don't see any positives to having a head coach with a short term contract remaining and thus this strategy IMO would undermine him and the program.

Leaving for where? I do not recall him being courted by any of the top programs. In order for him to have leverage, he has to have suiters. I do not see any. And beating OK state at home was not too much to ask. And TCU is not looking so formidable lately.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

Eh, in terms of "innovative" thinking it can't hold a candle to the genius move to throw approximately $17,000,000 in guaranteed money at a rookie head coach, who had essentially matched the unsatisfactory regular season record of his predecessor, based on one good bowl game.

That's pretty much unrivalled in college football history.

Leaving for where? I do not recall him being courted by any of the top programs. In order for him to have leverage, he has to have suiters. I do not see any. And beating OK state at home was not too much to ask. And TCU is not looking so formidable lately.

LMFAO - Just come out and say it, you'll never suppor him. If he doesn't win every game, you'll be right here with your drive-by attacks.

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

He's not going to be fired or retained until after the regular season. If we win out, he should be retained with an extension that does not provide a raise AND establishes a reasonable buyout if we continue to be mired in mediocrity or worse.

Give him an extension through 2019 at his current salary (he certainly has done NOTHING to earn a raise) with the condition that if terminated he will receive a lump-sum equal to six months salary.

If we don't win out, we need to make a change.

why would Dana and his agent agree to a buy out of 6 months salary? I'd imagine both would laugh at that offer.

 

[TruWVblu]

LMFAO - Just come out and say it, you'll never suppor him. If he doesn't win every game, you'll be right here with your drive-by attacks.

I believe if he wins out, he should remain our HC for at least another season. With that said, he has done nothing to warrant a contract extension, and at some point we should be able to expect more. If you want more than that, I guess you are right. I think more of our program than that.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

If he had won 3/4 of all games and 60% of Big 12 games, I'd say he was doing an excellent job and deserving of a substantial rise and extension.

If he had won 2/3 of all games and 55% of Big 12 games, I'd say he was doing a good job and deserved a modest raise and an extension with a greater guarantee..

If he had won 60% of all games and 45% of Big 12 games, I'd say he deserved an extension at his current salary with maybe 2 years guaranteed.

But, he's only winning 55% of his games and 39% of Big 12 games.

That resume is not going to get him a sniff from any Power 5 school, even those with weaker programs, and doesn't really warrant what we are paying him now, let alone additional concessions. It's fairly generous not to cut his salary given that he has indisputably failed by a wide margin to meet the stated goal when he was hired of elevating us to compete for titles. Luck paid for an expected performance that we are not even remotely in the ballpark of achieving at this point.

That some are now exalting a 5th place finish (at best) shows how far expectations have declined from January of 2012. Sure, the Big 12 is tougher, but even if we win out his Big 12 winning percentage will be a hugely mediocre .444 after 4 years, and we will have never been within fewer than THREE games from first place with a 9 game conference schedule or higher than 5th place.

By ISU standards that might be successful. Not by our standards, or at least what they used to be.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Let him laugh at the offer. He can decline it and stick with the current deal. Why aren't we laughing at the insane suggestion he has earned more?

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

Luck paid for an expected performance that we are not even remotely in the ballpark of achieving at this point.

No, he didn't. Luck paid for a coach that has the 7th or 8th highest salary in the conference, which coincidentally is about where we're at. Actually we are a little better than that.

You get what you pay for.

 

[WESTBGVA]

why would Dana and his agent agree to a buy out of 6 months salary? I'd imagine both would laugh at that offer.

why not do what Bama did? In lieu of a salary increase, the boosters paid off the mortgage on Saban's cottage at the lake..then coach wouldn't have to worry about getting his money of it because it wouldn't be his money..The poor guy lived in a hotel room for over two years..a head coach deserves to have a home IMO..goodbye worries about market fluctuations..
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder....that house looks like a bunch of cardboard boxes slapped together, but I understand it's really nice inside and totally energy efficient.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Or, you get less than you pay for , sometimes. Texas and TTU are in the same boat of overpaying for mediocre or worse coaches.

I think Baylor, TCU, OU, OSU and KSU have pretty good reasons for paying their coaches more than we pay. The common denominator for those schools is all of their coaches have been much more successful over a significantly longer period of time.

 

[GetYaNumbersUp]

I wouldn't really say we are getting less than what we pay for. Dana makes the 35th highest salary in college ball, which is about where where we are as a program. He's certainly not over performing, but lets not act like we are getting fleeced like UVA or Penn State.

 

[wbgvwbgv]

If he had won 3/4 of all games and 60% of Big 12 games, I'd say he was doing an excellent job and deserving of a substantial rise and extension.

If he had won 2/3 of all games and 55% of Big 12 games, I'd say he was doing a good job and deserved a modest raise and an extension with a greater guarantee..

If he had won 60% of all games and 45% of Big 12 games, I'd say he deserved an extension at his current salary with maybe 2 years guaranteed.

But, he's only winning 55% of his games and 39% of Big 12 games.

That resume is not going to get him a sniff from any Power 5 school, even those with weaker programs, and doesn't really warrant what we are paying him now, let alone additional concessions. It's fairly generous not to cut his salary given that he has indisputably failed by a wide margin to meet the stated goal when he was hired of elevating us to compete for titles. Luck paid for an expected performance that we are not even remotely in the ballpark of achieving at this point.

That some are now exalting a 5th place finish (at best) shows how far expectations have declined from January of 2012. Sure, the Big 12 is tougher, but even if we win out his Big 12 winning percentage will be a hugely mediocre .444 after 4 years, and we will have never been within fewer than THREE games from first place with a 9 game conference schedule or higher than 5th place.

By ISU standards that might be successful. Not by our standards, or at least what they used to be.

Since the Big 12 has 4 teams in the top 11, a 5th place finish doesn't seem so bad. LOL.

Throw out our second year in the Big 12 ( depleted roster along with injuries that year ) and even your silly troll numbers are achieved.

What would Dana's record be if he got to play an ACC schedule?

 

[thunderstruckatthejoan]

Like I said...just keep firing 8-4 coaches every 4 to 5 years...That has proven to bring success to a lot of programs!

You people with agendas are cute. Life must be tough to always focusing on negatives and what "you" think is best.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

That Dana is not the biggest underachiever in college football is not grounds to sweeten the pot.

The only reason to do that would be the belief he is irreplaceable at his current salary. If he was being paid below the market for mediocrity in the Power 5, he would have leverage. He's not.

How many of the coaches ahead of him in total pay have a resume as thin as he has? How many have been less successful over 5 or more years? Conversely, how many of those with fewer real achievements have had 5 years to earn their stripes?

Of the people above him, you could make a case Strong, M. Stoops and Kingbury have thinner resumes and that London has underachieved in his current job to a greater degree over a substantial period of time. Guys like Butch Jones and Franklin might arguably be similarly unimpressive to date. Other than that, those above him are there for understandable reasons.

I don't think it's a stretch to say that there are more better coaches below him than worse above him.


http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/

 

[Pushingtin]

well the people in the know in the past took the iterim tag off Stewart after a huge bowl win and most likely without the full due diligence of a coaching search.

Dana got this present contract with no buyout after one huge bowl win too. both were reactions to one big win in each instance. both coaches were rewarded for winning with the players of their predecessors.

the people in the know also brought in Dana as the coach in waiting/offensive coordinator under Stewart from what I remember. that was poorly conceived and failed miserably. those events likely hindered Luck's ability to get the Texas AD job. the awkward situation with Stewart put a lot of stress on him I would say. he acted out & had a sad, unfortunate ending.

the athletic department also was highly dysfunctional with Rodriguez which helped lead to his departure as well.

clearly this is a new AD so it remains to be seen how the situation would be handled. there's been a lot of dysfunction & changeover in the last 8 years or so. WV is not the only school to struggle with these comings & goings.

I agree with the dysfunctional part but I gotta admit that the Stew hiring I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about it. I didn't see him as head coaching material but how could you argue against him at least given a shot after holding team together and that great win albeit with a short leash. Even the Dana hire could be justified at the time but the stupid contract extension given to him is just that....stupid. Now you have these clueless nitwits saying to give him another extension......which isn't going to happen

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

Saying his record would be better if we "throw out" the worst is true, but so would everyone else in the world's record. Claiming that you think his record would be better under circumstances that don't and are not going to exist is silly and irrelevant.

We need a coach who can succeed in the position we are in and are going to remain in for the forseeable future.

Unless, we have come to the conclusion that 5th place is our ceiling and we should not expect to finish ranked in the top 25 ever anymore because we are in the Big 12 now, there is no good reason to settle for such mediocrity. Given that the Big 12 has 10 teams it will be very rare for fewer than 3 to finish ranked and 4 will be quite common. 5 would not even be that surprising. Rather than just conceding we should finish behind such teams, we should aspire to be one of them at least half the time.

 

[WVU-SE]

So would you be happy with the same results next year? I mean another year of beating only the teams we should beat and finishing in the middle of the conference again? If so, when should we expect more on a consistent basis. I am really not trying to bash anyone. Just trying to get a feeling for what we are to expect from our program.

To be honest, I would be fine with consistent seasons as this with the occasional creep into the top 10. I don't think we are far away from that. I honestly think at this point if we started over we would be in worse shape. We don't have any bad losses. Sure we are lacking any real quality wins, but that's the way it works sometimes.

This is of course assuming we win the remaining of our games.

 

[TexasforevEER]

To be honest, I would be fine with consistent seasons as this with the occasional creep into the top 10. I don't think we are far away from that. I honestly think at this point if we started over we would be in worse shape. We don't have any bad losses. Sure we are lacking any real quality wins, but that's the way it works sometimes. This is of course assuming we win the remaining of our games.

To be honest, I would be fine with consistent seasons as this with the occasional creep into the top 10. I don't think we are far away from that. I honestly think at this point if we started over we would be in worse shape. We don't have any bad losses. Sure we are lacking any real quality wins, but that's the way it works sometimes. This is of course assuming we win the remaining of our games.

To be honest, I would be fine with consistent seasons as this with the occasional creep into the top 10. I don't think we are far away from that. I honestly think at this point if we started over we would be in worse shape. We don't have any bad losses. Sure we are lacking any real quality wins, but that's the way it works sometimes. This is of course assuming we win the remaining of our games.

 

[Low Mountains Drifter]

"Surely you don't actually believe that a coach with a winning record in probably the toughest conference top to bottom is in jeopardy of losing his job? "


4-5
2-7
5-4
(2-4)

13-20

This is not a "winning record." Even if we win out, the WP will improve only to .444. If we lose one of the last three, we will have endured losing records in 3 of our 4 years in the conference and have a WP of .416. In four years, we have never finished closer than 3 games to a tie for 1st, or higher than 5th.

Excluding the BE year, which we keep getting told counts for nothing whatsoever, we are 23-24 under Holgorsen, also not a "winning record."

NOBODY who is not a homer believes the Big 12 is the toughest conference and even most Big 12 homers would not make such a claim.

We are 1 loss from having the same record we had in 2012, which everyone agreed at the time was a major disappointment and excused by "inexperience" and "transition."

How long can one remain inexperienced? How long should a transition require? (I guess we can ignore the long since discarded boasts that Dana was ideal for the transition to the Big 12 due to his familiarity with it).

Now the excuses are that we are such poor, disadvantaged, hopeless program that it is unrealistic to expect us to do better, so shut up and be happy because it is impossible to do better.

Amazing what 4 years of struggling can do to cause a complete 180 in the "thinking" of some. Joining the Big 12 has gone from a golden opportunity and a potential springboard to ultimate success to an insurmountable burden to even being above average on a frequent basis.

ALL of the Dana fanboys justify his lack of achievement by: (1) Denigrating everything we accomplished prior to him and attacking our prior coaches and teams as paper tigers; and (2) claiming that literally everything other than his coaching is the cause for the current struggles and that we just can't compete at a level above what we are seeing because it's just too darn hard now. That this mindset has infected even a small portion of our fanbase is quite sad.