(03-06-2011 02:52 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote: (03-06-2011 02:33 PM)Troy87 Wrote: (03-05-2011 04:16 PM)MTPiKapp Wrote: (03-05-2011 03:53 PM)trojanbrutha Wrote: Clemson is also changing from a pro-style to a spread offense. It will take a while for them to get acclimated to that change. I think that will even the playing field...talent or no...
With all due respect to the Trojans, I may find it difficult to root for you in this game. I don't know if I can support anyone putting another nail in Swinney's coffin as I think Clemson is one of the few schools that Stockstill would absolutely not be able to turn down.
What is this? Six degrees of separation from Rick Stockstill? Just kidding 
Clemson fans are souring on Swinney, I would not be shocked to see a change made after this season if they don't turn things around this year and losing to a Sun Belt school certainly wouldn't be a step in the right direction.
Since day one here, coach Stockstill has drawn comparisons to Florida State and how before Bobby Bowden they were nothing and how he plans to build our program up in a similar fashion. I don't think anyone expected then(or now) for him to turn Middle Tennessee into what Florida State is, but we were excited about the talk and his commitment to staying here, but most of us feared that once he got things rolling here, another school would just come hire him away. Well he's turned down a few offers and continues to say how committed he is to Middle Tennessee and we've obviously shown we're committed to him with the contract we've given him, I really believe the list of schools he would leave for gets smaller every year, I really believe that if a lower tier SEC school could offer him their head coaching job after this season, he would turn it down. This upcoming season will be, I believe, Stockstill's 29th year in coaching, of his 28 years so far, 14 were spent at Clemson and from all indications, he loved it there and the fans and community loved him. If Clemson has an opening any time soon, he would definitely be on the short list.
I think you're right on many of your points in your comments. What is absolutely crucial to building programs from the level the Sunbelt programs come from, is the continuity, consistency and committment of the Administration and the Coaching Staff and AD.
Everyone on here at one time or another takes pot shots about Coach Blakeney and his past at Auburn, but I'll go to my grave believing he fell on his sword for Pat Dye, and even though what he did was wrong in the eyes of the NCAA, it was the right thing to do as a human being.
That being said, and knowing him personally, he is one of the most conscientious men I have met when it comes to how he feels about the staff and players. That, plus the support he continues to get from the fans, and the administration is what has made him successful for 20 years at Troy.
Having the same person at the helm for 20 years has helped, tremendously, establish the success Troy has enjoyed for so long. He has had an offer or two in the past. He's been on a couple short lists for others, but he has remained at Troy. And after a certain age, as well as having seen what he has built, it tends to add glue to the seat of that chair in the Head Coach's office, and makes it more interesting to stay than go.
If Stock stays at Middle for 10 years, it might be hard to ever get him away, especially if he continues to perform well. This past season was a disappointment for many Blue Raiders, and I think the upcoming season will be a rebuilding year too, but he is a good coach who has brought integrity to the program that was lacking under his predecessor. Given a couple more years to see what shakes out with the conference re-alignments, and what additional improvements he can make with the program, and I think there's a good chance he may be at Middle a while.
