Good questions. Is 2-22 acceptable? Not under ordinary circumstances, but Mike did not inherit ordinary circumstances. He inherited very little talent, a team on APR probation and tighter recruiting restrictions. But here's the thing--it really doesn't matter what my opinion is because Mike doesn't work for me. He was a direct hire of Dr. Vailas and he reports to Jeff Tingey. They are the ones who set the standards they expect Mike to meet, and they are the ones who establish the terms and conditions under which he must work -- including the tougher academic standards for recruits, two "money games a year," new practice field, etc. If they are happy with the progress he's made, including getting the team out of APR "jail" in a relatively short time, then it doesn't matter what the rest of us think.
At some point, of course, Mike will have to start winning some more Big Sky games. Is that this year, with his contract expiring? Could be. But then you have to ask yourself, "if not Mike, then who?" Since Dave Kragthopre left we've tried a local high school legend, two PAC-10/12 assistants, a junior college coach, an NFL assistant and a D-II coach. Unless we're ready to go out and get us a little league dynasty builder , we've pretty much exhausted the possibilities. So if Mike, a three-time Big Sky coach of the year, can't get it done here, who can?
As to the most recent recruiting class, I was underwhelmed. But I do believe Mike has improved the talent level in recent years, particularly on the offensive and defensive fronts. Has it improved enough to win a couple of Big Sky games this year? We shall see.
One last point I will make about ISU football in particular, and ISU athletics in general: winning here is damn tough. In an average year we raise about $400 k a year in donations. Boise State just sold naming rights to their stadium for $650 k. And they are so flush with money they are going to use that cash to up the scholarship stipends for every athlete at BSU. ISU generates so little in ticket revenue (about $250 k a year for all sports) that they have to send their football and basketball teams out on the road to play bodybag games every season so they can afford to run decent programs. And while the football facilities have been gradually improved in recent years , Holt Arena is a dinosaur that desperately needs remodeling, if not complete replacement. So we can all quibble about Mike's recruiting results and whether he should take a few more JC kids, but that's really ignoring the major issues that all of ISU athletics face.
hno:
