...how would you go about it? I know, it's all hypothetical at this point (but maybe academic as well), but what would your process be to begin the journey back to competitive relevance? Here's what I'm thinking (and please add):
- The program begins and ends with the HC in my opinion. There might be some who would wait for next year to come and go before pulling the plug (or reaffirming, though it's difficult to see that at this point), but given the downward trend of the last 7-8 years, I have to believe that the time is now (really past, but we have no reverse in this mechanism). I was a Foley fan for may years until it became clear that many of his decisions, while appearing to be good on the surface, have turned out to be bad to disasterous in the aftermath, but one thing he said that I believe is sound is that "what should be done eventually should be done immediately. Two East titles notwithstanding, time to find better than what we currently have. It may mean hiring someone young or unheralded if we can't find that splash guy immediately, but one thing is for certain, he would have to have the ability to walk in and re-establish the state HS connections that appear to be damaged so that we can get the in-state talent first and he would have to be able to build a staff of solid coaches and recruiters. After that, he has to be a better PR guy with both boosters/contributors as well as the media and be influential with the president and others who run the school. His role should be as CEO/ambassador for the program as much as the head football guy and it's alright for him to gladhand a little, but that can't be his dominant trait. He has to be taken seriously and that is what has lacked in 3 of the last 4 HC's we've had in my opinion.. If the guy we've got now as AD is worth a damn and the right one, he is either formulating or has such a plan ready to institute.
- Part of the brand historically (beginning with SOS and interrupted a few years back) has been a potent, exciting offense. Thus, hiring an OC that can put such an offense together has to be a priority (and it would certainly help if the HC is bent in this direction, but if he's not, he has to get a guy that can get it done). Of late, defense has been the bell cow and while it is hard to find programs that have both of these groups functioning equally well, it should nonetheless be a goal, so hiring a good defensive mind would be 1a in this process and maintaining our defensive status quo has to be important. The assistants have to be competent in their position and within the unit in which they fall and did I mention that they have to be great recruiters? Special teams don't necessarily have to have their own HC, but whoever it is has to have the time and the priority of making this unit both sound and consistent.
- Facilities and other such frills are important and nice, but until the process gets to where they will be remodeled or built to competitive standards (if ever), what will have to carry us is a program in place that wins the games they are supposed to, takes a few that they aren't, and is at least in the race year in and year out for the conference championship and in the conversation for the playoff and NC. the players want nice things, but i believe that they will come to a winning program even if it means sleeping on a cot. Mac has pretty much won most of what he should, but has fallen far short in beating better teams...and he seems satisfied. Not acceptable.
You can probably flesh this plan out even further, but in my mind, these three bullets are the most integral and of them, again, I believe the road to greatness begins and ends with the HC. It will take a combination of research, laying of a foundation, and more money than we currently spend to make the appropriate change. But if football is as important as I still think it is, we can't afford to not pony up and do the due diligence. We have glimpsed the future if we don't change our thinking and our process and it is unfathomable. Again, please add. I'm curious as to not only what others think, but what and who they would prioritize.