kirbee if he loses to UGA he's gone. That's my educated guess, but based on what I know and hear, its dead on. I look for an announcement to be made after the announcement of what bowl we will be playing in. I think Chan will go into the bowl game knowing this is his last game while the coaching search is on. I also look for his replacement to be named prior to the bowl game. Obviously, this doesn't happen if we beat UGA, but if we don't this is what I expect.
DRAD knows that if we lose to UGA, even the most ardent supporters of Gailey will be at their weakest and the strongest detractors will be even stronger. If he waits, he gives us the opportunity to ponder the decision and be indecisive.
I think DRad is a very smart man who understands the psychology of programs and hiring coaches. If we lose to UGA, and do not make an announcement immediately, I wouldn't expect one after the bowl game because then you're just hurting yourself in recruiting. We need to be able to salvage a decent recruiting class and you don't do that by not making arrangements to have a new coach on board by the end of the year.
That would make sense to do it right after the UGA wound is open. However, I don't think he'll do it. If he did there will be a loud outcry of "WHY?" from the national media. GT fans will be held up as the latest example of What's Wrong With College Athletics. Does DRad want to go through that? Does DRad want to risk making Tech look bad for decision that isn't clear cut? Is DRad prepared to make that financial commitment?
You really need to look ahead on this one to make the call. Looking back is worthless, really. Unfortunately that's the only thing most Tech fans want to do.
"Chan hurts my uterus waaah." When its all said and done, the record says slightly above average, never beat the rival during its best run in history. It is what it is.
Looking forward, Tech will lose a lot of key players this year to graduation and return a solid group of young untested talent. If you pull the plug this year you can guarantee you ruin recruiting this year. That's a given; nobody's gonna step in and recruit to the top 20 for this year. If you hang on another year, recruiting will continue in a good direction and a desperately needed decent class will be brought in to shore things up for the next few years.
Next year will be a "rebuilding" year. It will also be one less year to pay a coach to sit at home if you keep Chan. I don't think Chan will get 7 wins next year for the first time. I don't think a new coach will be able to turn it around next year either. You know Chan's a decent coach and won't totally run things into the ground. But still, next year looks like a lost cause.
I think his chickens will finally come home to roost. You know he's classy and will do things the right way. So given the choice of hiring an unknown plus killing recruiting plus smearing your school in a bad way, plus Tech's financial situation, you give him all the rope and let him coach next year. He'll either hang himself or build a bridge to the next 5 years. I think things will likely go down hill and DRad pull the plug and move forward. Nobody will disagree. It will be overdue in some people's eyes. There will be I told you so's, and rightfully, maybe. But everyone will be ready and the time will be right.
Then in 2009, you bring in a new guy with an experienced bunch of talent, some new energy, a new system and you could get a really quick swing to the program in the right direction.
Just my thoughts.
