Quote:it was inevitable that anyone other than Les Miles being hired was going to be a bit of a downer.
I think if we grew from within -- and kept most of our coaching staff, kept the RTB, and the way Fleck projects himself wore off on the OC & DC who took over as HC, etc... Namely if PJ coached a couple more years and Then was taken by an Oregon/Texas/ND/etc (and not an Illinois, Minnesota, Texas Tech) -- I don't think it'd seem like a downer so much. The only way around hiring within with characters who were making themselves more known, would be a "big name" coach as you point out. But @$800k which is a lot for a G5 when there's also bonus money to be had with it, isn't enough for a big-namer like Les Miles.
So yeah, you're right, no matter what if it's neither of those situations, it's going to be a downer. A feeling of WTF (but not Worst To First). Two things come to mind though:
a) We wouldn't want a PJ "knock off" -- getting some guy without a great resume but either has ties to WMU or was a budding assistant for a big-name team, who is like the exuberant "Juicer". Unless it was someone from within higher up who then took over with that PJ-like "schtick" that wore off on anyone, it'd be a bad thing to chase hoping to repeat. Much like a guy who gets dumped by his GF who has a unique look, and he just chases that similar look that she had, and ends up with a chubby incompatible version of her instead.
b) Separate from that, Lester. In a sense it does bring something -- a guy who knows WMU. He isn't someone any other G5 or even a good winning FCS team would want as a HC. But he has roots here, so in Another way, we're taking a chance on someone else again. We're not getting a hot young OC/DC from some great winning P5 school. Or an FCS HC who's up and coming or even great-winning D2 coach. We're getting someone familiar who Could be good, but brings that comfort zone and that feeling of "Wouldn't that be sweet if we were kicking a$$ in the MAC with him?" The only thing with Lester that Is Solid across the board no matter what -- is knowing how he'll get our QB situation straightened out as good as anyone. And coming into next year, we will definitely need that. But for the long run? To solidify ourselves after dominantly winning the MAC but losing some key O guys where even under PJ a MAC Title wouldn't be a GIVEN, and certainly not being ranked either? Thankfully it's not a repeat gamble of the same nature ("The Juicer!"), but we got someone who's familiar and has potential, even if on paper credentials he wasn't at all a grab-me candidate for any other program.
So right now, it's in such a wait-and-see state. I'm optimistic that we'll have a decent team, at the end of the day. To some though, that's not enough, as I'm talking on the level of being bowl eligible consistently, winning one sometimes, tying for #1 MAC West (but losing out) here and there, and maybe going to the MAC Title game once every 4 years. "Par". As in not tanking, and being over .500 overall under Lester.
I think people want more, but remember this: With PJ, we were 1-11, and there was no reason/excuse for that, even 1st year and all. Next year was how we should have been @8-4, and it was an easy schedule. The next year wasn't better really. It was 7-5. We were on our way to go 6-6, but we ended it upsetting Toledo and then winning a bowl against an equal opponent to ourselves. We ended the season on a High Note. And this year, with the senior laden team + non-daunting schedule, we connected the dots to continue that to make best use of our Peak. But that's what it was. Under PJ, would we be 10-2 this coming year? Definitely a stretch, but sure, maybe -- but going undefeated in the MAC or losing a game to a hot Miami reg-season but beating MSU would be too much to Expect as Standard.
I'm just putting things into perspective. Our Peak year this past year would Not be Every Year under PJ. He still had a lot to prove To make us like how NIU was where 10W+ pre-bowl was Standard. Which is why Oregon and the like weren't chasing him -- but a place like Minnesota would take a chance on him given a nice contract after having a Good year. All in all, our expectations as standard for PJ were Still in the works, is what I'm saying. We know we'd be an 8W+ team, and in a peak year would hit double-digit wins -- OK. Possibly better -- but that was to be proven. So it's not like we lost the next Urban Meyer. Maybe we did, but we don't know that yet.
So if Lester turns out to be, say, another Cubit-level coach without tailspinning -- with a bit better culture to keep things more consistent and a bit better on the field -- that, in the end, I have to be happy with. There's no guarantee At All that PJ would have been leaps & bounds above that, year in year out, and that there'd never be anything to complain about if he Did stay here another 5 years or so.
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Couch Article on Lester Hire
