It seems to me that there is love fest going on with Ron McBride on this blog site. Some were angry when he was not rehired after changing his mind. But I say, why did he "overreact" and quit? And then expect, that just because he changed his mind, that Weber should have taken him back with open arms. Those actions are not exactly those of a rock solid individual.
Many, including me, are disappointed that Hammer was left in the OC position by Smith and Sears. It is easy to be even more disappointed today than we were when he was retained after McBride's departure. But, I remind you that Mr. McBride is the one who put Hammer in that position to begin with. And he wanted him to continue as OC after his departure. So who should we really blame for this? I submit that McBride has to take at least a part of the blame.
McBride is a fellow who is easily liked. No doubt about it. Has a great personality. No one wishes him anything but the best. But don't forget that a big part of the reason his players loved him (not a bad thing) is that he liked and cared about them so much. It is the same reason he was unable to provide an acceptable level of discipline in them, leading to disappointing results too often. So one of his greatest assets was also one of his biggest liabilities.
McBride was a great recruiter. In fact a much better recruiter than he was a head coach. He may be the best recruiter that Weber State has ever had in their head coaching position. But I submit that he was no better than Mike Price and probably not as good as Sark Arslanian. And a football program cannot flourish on recruiting alone.
The top four football coaches (measured by winning percentage) are:
Four: Mike Price @ .510.
Three: Ron McBride @ .525.
Two: Dave Arslanian @ .530
One: Sark Arslanian @ .666
All on them coached at Weber for at least 7 years. Sark Arslanian was the best in my opinion. Dave Arslanian was second best because of his winning percentage, his performance in saving the football program, the lack of support he received from the Athletic and University Administration, and less money to work with. Ron McBride is probably third best but that is not for sure because his winning percentage in only slighly ahead of Mike Price who coached at Weber when the school had far less funds to put into football and also had greatly diminished facilities compared to today. About the time that Jerry Graybeal became head coach in 1998 is when Weber got better AD's and starting putting more assets into the football program. Anyone who coached after that time certainly had a more smoothly paved road to drive on than the earlier coaches did.
So, my opinion is that Sark Arslanian was the best overall coach when you count football ability and recruiting and management ability.
Dave Arslanian is #2 and was the best X's and O's guy who also ran a tight program. His father beats him out as #1 mainly because I think he was a better recruiter than his son.
McBride and Price are in a dead heat for 3rd place. They both were "personalities, recruiters and not so great at the discipline. Both were adequate football knowledge guys but certainly not over the top. I might give a slight edge to Price because he coached at a time in Weber's history where the football program was not as well funded and supported as when McBride was here.
So, what's with the love affair that so many on this site seem to have with McBride? He was only slightly above average as a coach as far as his results testify to. We need to forget the past, stop pointing fingers and get along with our future. The past is the past and cannot be changed. Lets focus on supporting Bovee and athletics in general. I think he is the best AD Weber has had in the 42 years I have been an avid fan of Weber State sports. Lets hope that he finds a young, up and coming, dynamo who does take us to the next level. I mean to the level where 7-8 wins are the worst we expect in any given year. We will have such a young guy for 3 to 5 years and he will move on to bigger opportunities. Nothing wrong with that. Just leaves us the challenge of finding the "right guy" again. Let's get moving...
Many, including me, are disappointed that Hammer was left in the OC position by Smith and Sears. It is easy to be even more disappointed today than we were when he was retained after McBride's departure. But, I remind you that Mr. McBride is the one who put Hammer in that position to begin with. And he wanted him to continue as OC after his departure. So who should we really blame for this? I submit that McBride has to take at least a part of the blame.
McBride is a fellow who is easily liked. No doubt about it. Has a great personality. No one wishes him anything but the best. But don't forget that a big part of the reason his players loved him (not a bad thing) is that he liked and cared about them so much. It is the same reason he was unable to provide an acceptable level of discipline in them, leading to disappointing results too often. So one of his greatest assets was also one of his biggest liabilities.
McBride was a great recruiter. In fact a much better recruiter than he was a head coach. He may be the best recruiter that Weber State has ever had in their head coaching position. But I submit that he was no better than Mike Price and probably not as good as Sark Arslanian. And a football program cannot flourish on recruiting alone.
The top four football coaches (measured by winning percentage) are:
Four: Mike Price @ .510.
Three: Ron McBride @ .525.
Two: Dave Arslanian @ .530
One: Sark Arslanian @ .666
All on them coached at Weber for at least 7 years. Sark Arslanian was the best in my opinion. Dave Arslanian was second best because of his winning percentage, his performance in saving the football program, the lack of support he received from the Athletic and University Administration, and less money to work with. Ron McBride is probably third best but that is not for sure because his winning percentage in only slighly ahead of Mike Price who coached at Weber when the school had far less funds to put into football and also had greatly diminished facilities compared to today. About the time that Jerry Graybeal became head coach in 1998 is when Weber got better AD's and starting putting more assets into the football program. Anyone who coached after that time certainly had a more smoothly paved road to drive on than the earlier coaches did.
So, my opinion is that Sark Arslanian was the best overall coach when you count football ability and recruiting and management ability.
Dave Arslanian is #2 and was the best X's and O's guy who also ran a tight program. His father beats him out as #1 mainly because I think he was a better recruiter than his son.
McBride and Price are in a dead heat for 3rd place. They both were "personalities, recruiters and not so great at the discipline. Both were adequate football knowledge guys but certainly not over the top. I might give a slight edge to Price because he coached at a time in Weber's history where the football program was not as well funded and supported as when McBride was here.
So, what's with the love affair that so many on this site seem to have with McBride? He was only slightly above average as a coach as far as his results testify to. We need to forget the past, stop pointing fingers and get along with our future. The past is the past and cannot be changed. Lets focus on supporting Bovee and athletics in general. I think he is the best AD Weber has had in the 42 years I have been an avid fan of Weber State sports. Lets hope that he finds a young, up and coming, dynamo who does take us to the next level. I mean to the level where 7-8 wins are the worst we expect in any given year. We will have such a young guy for 3 to 5 years and he will move on to bigger opportunities. Nothing wrong with that. Just leaves us the challenge of finding the "right guy" again. Let's get moving...
hno: