Jack wrote: ↑Sat Oct 07, 2017 11:35 amWhipple has brought the 2 best recruiting classes ever and early on Whipple's 2018 class is looking to be the best ever featuring legit 3 star players in McClay (TN) and Osagiede (TX) - wave goodbye to them if we stupidly fire the Coach. The stupidest thing this program could do would be to disrupt the consistently improved recruiting we have had under Whipple - that is literally the future improvement of the program right there. The program needs continuity and continuous improvement not disruption and going backwards as is advocated by the "fire the coach" pitchfork crowd.
I respect you have faith in Whipple, and I'm not going to address the majority of your post, only this portion.
2016 was the best class UMass brought in, which was under Whipple, and he and his staff deserve credit for that. 2017 was not as highly-ranked, but did have some talent, and it has potential. Much of that potential has not been seen yet however.
The notion that 2018 "is looking to be the best ever" however is incorrect. The staff like the players they have committed so far, but the lack of on-field success is hindering the recruiting process, there is no way to sugarcoat that. In addition, while McClay is talented, he is a long shot at best to qualify, which means you shouldn't count on him being a member of the class at this stage.
What UMass needs more than anything is wins. They also cannot keep waiting until next year to get them. Whipple took over an complete mess, that is true. The internal culture of the program has improved, which was absolutely necessary. The results however have not, and those are also absolutely necessary.
In-season coaching changes are very rare in CFB, and if UMass were going to initiate one, it almost certainly would have come at the beginning of this long break. They did not, which means that Whipple is likely here for the rest of this season. But don't think for a second that if this team loses to Georgia Southern on Homecoming with three weeks to prepare, who will also likely be winless and are not good, or if they lose to an FCS program like Maine for the second time in 6 FBS seasons (at Fenway Park to boot) that Whipple may not be let go.
Again, I respect that you believe in Whipple, but you also can't whitewash that there are legitimate concerns with this program in Whipple's now 4th season at the helm. The fact that we still cannot kick a field goal consistently is unacceptable. UMass' loss to Coastal Carolina earlier this year, where they were pushed around on top of losing to a team in their first-ever FBS game, is unacceptable. The fact that UMass is 0-6 this season (to this point) is unacceptable.
Taking one step forward only to take two steps back is never going to accomplish anything for the University of Massachusetts. You mention that Ryan Bamford is not a moron, and I agree. He knows very well what it takes to field a successful FBS program, and that his future personal success is tied directly to the UMass football program turning around and becoming a quality, relevant team. He also did not hire Mark Whipple, and he would have no trouble at all replacing him as soon as this season is over if he felt that it was the correct move for the program's sake.
I can't say what will happen once this season ends, but I would urge you to not allow a great season at a lower level 20 years ago to exert too much influence over your thinking. FBS football is a business, and hiring old friends just because they were great two decades ago isn't the most successful way to run a business.
For now, UMass' focus has to be on Georgia Southern, a legitimate chance to get a win. They have an eternity to prepare for this game, and if they lose to a bad team when they've had that much prep time, the calls for change will not get quieter.