Article Showing Current Examples Of Winning Within Two Years

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=874022

November 10, 2008

Mike Huguenin

Rivals.com College Football Editor

Monday with Mike: Forget that four-year plan

A second-year coach could win the SEC and play for the national title. Two second-year coaches could win the ACC and play in a BCS bowl game. A second-year coach could win the Big East and play in the BCS. A second-year coach could at least tie for the Big Ten title and possibly play in the BCS. Another second-year coach could oversee a turnaround from 1-11 to 9-3 or 8-4.

Butch Davis is just one coach proving it doesn't have to take long to turn things around.

A first-year coach still has an outside shot at the ACC title and the resultant BCS berth. The same goes for a first-year coach in the Big East.

A third-year coach should win the WAC and could earn a second BCS berth in three seasons.

You want to know why schools are more and more willing to pull the trigger and dismiss coaches, even during the season? There are nine reasons listed above.

A new coach better be prepared for expectations that have him turning around a program in a season or two. A four- or five-year plan? Get real – and we don't mean get realistic.

Nick Saban is in his second season at Alabama. The Tide are 10-0 and ranked No. 1 in the BCS. Butch Davis and Randy Shannon are in their second seasons at North Carolina and Miami, respectively, and each has a shot at the ACC Coastal Division title. Brian Kelly (more on him in a minute) has Cincinnati in control of its fate in the Big East in his second season. Michigan State's Mark Dantonio – whom Kelly replaced at Cincinnati – has the Spartans in the hunt for the Big Ten title. And Minnesota's Tim Brewster still has a chance to see his team finish 9-3 a season after it went 1-11.

Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson and West Virginia's Bill Stewart are in their first seasons, and their teams still have a shot at the ACC and Big East crowns, respectively. And third-year Boise State coach Chris Petersen's team has all but officially wrapped up the WAC title, and is three wins away from a 12-0 record and a likely BCS bid.

That means along with big salaries at schools such as Clemson, Tennessee and Washington will come expectations that those schools will contend for titles in the next two or three seasons. School officials and fans can point to Davis and Saban as examples of coaches who took over mediocre or worse programs and turned them into championship contenders almost immediately.

Obviously, there has been some good fortune surrounding Davis and Saban. The ACC, for example, lacks an elite team, which has helped the Tar Heels climb back to respectability quickly. And the SEC this season isn't as deep as usual, which means the Crimson Tide haven't had to run through the usual grinding conference schedule.

Unfortunately for the new coaches, real-life issues won't matter. The new bosses and the fans will expect results fast. Look at Ron Prince: He got 34 games at Kansas State – less than three full seasons – before his bosses pulled the plug last week.

And not to belittle the K-State program, but the new coaches at Clemson, Tennessee and Washington will be taking over at schools with far greater football histories than K-State's. Fans at those schools are used to winning – a lot of winning, in Tennessee's case.

What happens at those schools if the new guy is struggling in Year Three? Does the plug get pulled and the process start all over? Well, if those schools follow the lead at, for instance, Florida, the answer is probably yes.

After all, Florida gave Ron Zook less than three full seasons before officials gave him his walking papers. Then, two seasons later, the Gators were celebrating a national title. This decade alone, four coaches have won national titles in either their first or second season on the job.

Good luck, new coaches.

The best coach in the Big East is...

Brian Kelly has been successful everywhere he has been.

Our question of the week: Why doesn't Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly get more mention when coaching vacancies crop up?

He's the best coach in the Big East and his resume is a good one: He won two Division II national titles at Grand Valley State (Mich.), he helped get Central Michigan started on its turnaround and he has Cincinnati in control of its destiny in the Big East race this season in his second year at the school.

Plus, consider what he has had to deal with at quarterback alone this season. Returning starter Ben Mauk, who led the Bearcats to a 10-3 record last season, was denied a sixth season of eligibility by the NCAA in August. Then, new starter Dustin Grutza broke his right leg in Game 2. Then, replacement Tony Pike broke his left arm in Game 4. Then, redshirt freshmen Chazz Anderson and Zach Collaros were thrown into the fray. Pike is back now and led the Bearcats to a win Saturday at West Virginia.

The Bearcats (6-2) have four games left, starting Friday at Louisville. The toughest, though, is a home game against Pittsburgh on Nov. 22. Assuming the Bearcats beat Louisville on Friday, a victory over Pitt would all but lock up the Big East regular-season crown and a resultant BCS bid.

Cincinnati in the BCS? Maybe that would get Kelly the attention he deserves.

Edited November 10, 2008 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[Green Mean]

Great stuff Lonnie. It is absurd to think that Dodge cant atleast be competitive in the game on our schedule. Hell I will take the ass whippings from OOC games but what about conference games? There is just not more excuses at this point. Something needs to be done.

[UNT_playmaker]

My number pick to replace Dickey was Butch Davis, former cowboys defensive coach.

[Green Mean]

My number pick to replace Dickey was Butch Davis, former cowboys defensive coach.

Butch Davis? Are you serious? The man can get just about any job in college...and that was before he took UNC's job. He is a an awesome coach and recruiter and Larry Coker benefited most since it was Davis' players that won the national championship in Miami. Unless if we were willing to dish out some serious cash there is no way in hell Butch Davis would have come here.

Edited November 10, 2008 by Green Mean