Fine, pull the post!
The great thing about disagreeing with a proposal is that you can without retribution or reprisal. Thanks for the input. Some think that Brewster should stay. That's fine. For quite a while I was a strong vocal backer of Mr. Brewster. But, I re-examined my view, and I found a few flaws in my arguement. So, as any critical thinker would do, I changed my mind.
Before the post is pulled, my posting opportunity taken away, let me just add this:
We pay for the right to be entertained, including victories and losses. We also pay Mr. Brewster and for the scholarships directly and indirectly by the purchases we make in support of the University. We pay for taxes which subsidize a portion of the stadium finances. And, some of us even pay for fees which directly pay for the stadium and team facilities. That said, I am all in. Part of my financial resources pay Mr. Brewster. So, I have a financial interest in who is the HC. Certainly, I do not have a fiduciary role in how he conducts his business with the team, so I am limited to communicating with my fellow fans. I suggested a virtual rally. Maybe the Daily was a poor choice. But, the vehicle of protest is a fair one.
I disagree that waiting is a sound idea. First, we can not prove the effect on recruiting if the coach is named prior to the end of the season. Second, recruiting has already stalled. Although it stalled last year at this time in the same manner. So, we can not determine whether or not there is a connection to potential downfall of recruiting or not. Besides, any notes, communication, email, letters, meetings or otherwise with recruits is the property of the University and not Mr. Brewster. Anybody can follow up with recruits and keep them interested and signed with the University as long as it is a University representative. I am sure there are effective recruiters that can be called upon to close the deal with these students.
Communication with the public in any transition is key. First message, we are committed to winning in the long and short term. Mr. Brewster has not accomplished either. In fact, over the next two - three years, it looks highly unlikely, unless there is a change of leadership.
We don't live in an era where time is a luxury. There is no time to develop a winning tradition other than right now. I was at a seminar recently where the speaker noted that the average termination time for non-performing new CEO's is 3 months from the day they take over. Performance is viewed in real-time. We need to upgrade our leadership standards to match the realities of today. By living in standards that are comfortable to yesterday will not move the team forward and will hurt the University financially.
There are a number of consequences that will ultimately rise to the surface in the current fiscal environment. First, overall athletic scholarships will be cut back. Mens and women's sports will be cut. Revenue sports will continue, if only they pay their weight and contribute to the overall financial health of the University. The general revenue money is likely to be pulled back to the educational side with the new president, no matter how sports minded that individual may be. A prudent view of the finances will require that the subsidy be pulled back so that the primary mission not take any more hit than necessary. So, that weighs on the necessity to move to better coaching and player performance. Frankly, if I were the U President, and you may thank your lucky stars I am not, I would require performance standards for athletic scholarships. They should not be offered unless the student exhibits commitment to winning, scholarship, and can help sustain the Athletic Department. I would pull athletic scholarships for those who can not perform and move those athletes into the general student body.
As for the new coach, and I really hope that there is one very soon, the standard is simple, more wins than losses. Rivalries matter. Graduation matters. Performance will be rewarded with continued scholarships and non performance will not. Pay will be commensurate with victories. NCAA violations will invalidate the contract and will be cause for dismissal.
This will be my final post on GH or any other site regarding Gopher Football or Tim Brewster. I wish the GopherHole community well.
