I thought we'd give Alabama a better run too, but the overreacting around here (typical of any message board) is excessive. While I can agree that Bobby's 2.0 teams have been characterized by penalties and that we have a few too many of his family members on the payroll, I seriously couldn't name 25 coaches I'd rather have.
As many Bobby supporters have rightfully noted, the man has won 8 or 9 games every year he's been here despite the reality that the last 4 years have been our only as a member of a Big Boy League. If you coach long enough, your teams will ebb and flow. Kirk Ferentz at Iowa is an obscure, but prime example. He won 10 or 11 games each year from 02-04, but then won 7,6,6 and 9 the next four years. Then he won 11 again in 2009, but didn't sniff that level of success again until winning 12 in 2015. And Kirk wasn't taking a program into a Power 5 conference for the first time. The point is this: Bobby is still very capable of getting it done here. If he wins 10 or 11 games this year or next, or even the year after,this stretch of mediocrity that began with the Houston game in late-2016 will be all but forgotten.
If you don't like the Kirk Ferentz example, we all know that Jim Harbaugh is 9-9 over his last 18. And what about ole' Chip Kelly losing his debut to Cincy at home? And while we are at it, how about Tommy Herman down in Texas? Freaking Texas has now been defeated by Maryland on opening day two straight years. Those guys make a lot more money than Petrino too. Jeff Brohm may very well be the next viable answer at Louisville, but that time is not now and really not even close to now. I think this team will surprise some people and win 8 or 9 games this year. Considering expectations and losing the best QB in school history, I think that would be a huge success. Let the cake bake.
As many Bobby supporters have rightfully noted, the man has won 8 or 9 games every year he's been here despite the reality that the last 4 years have been our only as a member of a Big Boy League. If you coach long enough, your teams will ebb and flow. Kirk Ferentz at Iowa is an obscure, but prime example. He won 10 or 11 games each year from 02-04, but then won 7,6,6 and 9 the next four years. Then he won 11 again in 2009, but didn't sniff that level of success again until winning 12 in 2015. And Kirk wasn't taking a program into a Power 5 conference for the first time. The point is this: Bobby is still very capable of getting it done here. If he wins 10 or 11 games this year or next, or even the year after,this stretch of mediocrity that began with the Houston game in late-2016 will be all but forgotten.
If you don't like the Kirk Ferentz example, we all know that Jim Harbaugh is 9-9 over his last 18. And what about ole' Chip Kelly losing his debut to Cincy at home? And while we are at it, how about Tommy Herman down in Texas? Freaking Texas has now been defeated by Maryland on opening day two straight years. Those guys make a lot more money than Petrino too. Jeff Brohm may very well be the next viable answer at Louisville, but that time is not now and really not even close to now. I think this team will surprise some people and win 8 or 9 games this year. Considering expectations and losing the best QB in school history, I think that would be a huge success. Let the cake bake.