With a few minor exceptions, I really like our current staff and the big 3 assistants (Tenuta, Smith and Kelly) are all doing great, but I still do not have confidence in Gailey. Part of being a successful leader is being proactive. Sure Chan has made changes:
- Replaced abyssmal RC AFTER 4 YEARS
- Hired a real OC AFTER 5 YEARS AND AN ULTIMATUM
- Hired a real STC AFTER 4 YEARS
But being proactive means being able to see the train coming and stepping off the railroad tracks before it runs you over. It just seems like Gailey has resisted every positive change made during his tenure until forced to make a move and that we now have this good staff in spite of Gailey not because of him.
So you blame Gailey for not making changes fast enough, yet you refuse to give him credit for making those same changes. Convenient...
Also, what evidence do you have, other than internet rumor, that "Gailey has resisted every positive change during his tenure" -- yet you only point to one "forced" change, and even that change hasn't been substantiated (to my knowledge) as having been "forced"?
We have also repeatedly seen evidence of bad coaching on the offense and special teams while Gailey was supposed to be directly responsible for those areas and I am not talking about calling draw plays on 3rd & 20 from the 35 at the end of game type coaching. I am talking about being slow getting the play into the huddle, not having the right number of men on the field, not having right personnel in the game, not having the right personnel on the field AFTER A TIMEOUT, not knowing what down it is, back-to-back illegal formation penalties multiple times in the same game, using 2 timeouts before the 3rd play of the game, etc....
How many of those are coaching errors and how many are player execution problems? While it could be argued that all of these errors could be limited by a well-coached team, it could also be argued that each and every one of the examples you cited were simply player snafus.
By way of example, using 2 timeouts before the 3rd play of the game -- was it the coaches that called these timeouts or a certain quarterback who shall remain nameless? A second example, lining up in an illegal formation -- do you seriously think the play was designed to be illegal, or do you think it more likely that a player simply didn't line up in the proper position? Again, was it coaching or player execution that was primarily responsible for these errors/penalties?
This is the first year that we have tried to draw the other team offsides in 4th & short situations before calling the timeout or taking the delay of game penalty. I know that this tactic rarely works, but it is a free opportunity to extend your drive. Why have we not been doing this for the past 5 years?
You answered your own question -- we don't do it because it doesn't work. To wit, when was the last time you saw this tactic work? In decades of watching this tactic attempted, I've yet to see it work....but perhaps you have a different experience.
What we really need to get to the next level is an expanded fan base which will provide for a larger AA budget which will allow for better coaching options, more home games, better media perception (equals more poll votes), and better recruiting due to larger recruiting budget.
Agree 100%, but what's the fastest way to this goal? Personally, I believe that if we start winning, the rest will take care of itself. So the question becomes how to accomplish this -- would it be faster to fire Gailey to get wins, or simply continue down the same path? Given what happens after most coaching changes at GT and/or when a team isn't highly-ranked to begin with, as well as the financial hit should DRad choose to fire Gailey, I would suggest the faster way to accomplish this is keeping the staff unchanged, at least for a few more years.
Gailey seems resistant to being in the spotlight. It seems like all of Gailey's call-in shows and tv spots are placed strategically when the fewest people are watching / listening. I would like to see our HC play a larger role in growing our fan base by reaching out to the community in a more public way. I would also like to see our HC not have so many "foot in mouth" moments as Gailey has had.
I am really torn because I want the staff to stay together, but I just don't feel like Gailey is cutting it as a HC. It just seems like the more involved Chan is in any aspect of our team the worse it performs.
Fair comments and criticisms, although I think that you are incorrect with respect to Gailey's comfort level in the spotlight, you are certainly entitled to your opinion.
That said, I agree strongly with your point about our coach reaching out to our fanbase more -- I remember vividly Bobby Ross visiting our fraternity house in 1989 and asking for our support, and I remember how it made me a fan of Bobby for life -- and I would love to see Chan do something similar (perhaps he already does?).
JTS, I fully realize that my arguments will likely fall upon deaf ears as I believe your mind is already quite made up, but I appreciate the opportunity to present an alternative viewpoint, and I thank you all for listening/reading...Mike
