Yep....and that feels like the most likely outcome. Making a change now won't have any real impact on the current season so just ride it out and make the move at the end of the season.
The worst fear of the diehards who are left is that they will find their way to 7-8 B1G wins and give Coyle enough excuse to drag this out one more year. Making a change early prevents putting them in the position of possibly having to root against the team. It also gives you a jump on the coaching search. And you have an obvious interim option on staff. It's true the broader MN Sports public doesn't care, but there are still reasons to do it.
How, exactly, could this team be more decimated than it already is?
Team can't win playing Westphal ball either. Ultimately, team can't win.
He has such a weak staff- who would be the interim coach?
In state recruiting is Ben’s jam.
Having Thorson as interim would not decimate the team.
Thorson. But they're "thrilled" with the entire staff, so they have many great choices.
I'm sure they'll recover and smoke Bethune Cookman by 8 or 10.
Decimate what? Outside of Asuma and maybe Grove, who is even eligible to come back next year that we care about? The Barn and the program are already completely dead.
You can decide who you care about but Betts and Frank Mitchell can return as well. I agree with you on getting rid of Ben but not now- just for the optics for other coaches. There has never been less to lose in terms of returners and I think Asuma is going to stay here.
Betts is not a B1G player and Mitchell has been a big disappointment. He has no real offensive game and he's a foul machine. Asuma is a nice player, but the cupboard couldn't be more bare going into next year.
To be fair, the cupboard got depleted the day after Ben was hired.
Those athletes were making a statement.
Yes. But he's failed to do anything about it in 4 years.
To get a jump on the coaching search, clarity for the fan base and clarity for the players too. Grinding it out with a dead coach walking isn't better for their morale. Especially on a team with a bunch of seniors. Regrouping with an interim might be a good thing.
I'm not worried about the optics for other coaches. I hope any coach we get would assume that the performance we've gotten in the last 3+ years is unacceptable and fireworthy.
Instead of going 2-18 they might only go 1-19. That's a 50% reduction. Decimating indeed!