If you are trying to get that we are better now, you are correct but that isn't saying much. He has 1 win over a team with a winning record in the 7 years. He should have been let go at the end of lat year but he got an extra year.i like the guy but he has not done enough to keep his job.
I'm disappointed that we didn't go to a bowl, but to be totally honest, we just didn't get it done this year. I wouldn't classify myself as a Bustle hater and he's certainly done as good a job since he's been here as anyone in the recent past. Again, being honest, if we had won those two against UTEP and Florida Atlantic (esp. UTEP at home), we would be a lock for a bowl. The question comes down to who we hold responsible for those losses. Certainly the player are responsible for execution, but coach Bustle made some questionable decisions leading up to those games that may have had an adverse effect on performance. I understand there was an injury issue, and we surely did not want to aggravate those, but I think closer adherence to routine would have helped us pull those games out. I say (like my voice makes a difference) but I say give him one more season to put us in a bowl and if we end up 6-6 or with a losing season, then it may be time to cut our losses and move on. That may be a tall order with Fenroy, Cherry and Desormeaux gone, but it will show us what kind of stuff Bustle is made of.
Sun Belt Conference (2001-2007)
2001 3-8 2-4 (t-4th) Jerry Baldwin
2002 3-9 2-4 (t-4th) Rickey Bustle
2003 4-8 4-3 (t-2nd) Rickey Bustle
2004 4-7 2-5 (t-7th) Rickey Bustle
2005 6-5 5-2 (t-1st) Rickey Bustle
2006 6-6 3-4 (t-5th) Rickey Bustle
2007 3-9 3-4 (t-5th) Rickey Bustle
Or the money.
The calls for firing Bustle on here are total BS because of that. If these posters have the money to ante up to pay him off and the new coach as well then show it to us. Furthermore, if we ever go after a new coach and we don't go after at least a middle rung level CUSA type coach then it's even deeper BS.
Stokely had 7 winning seasons in 13 years. Which seasons were those?
Brian Mitchell years
86 - 6-5
87 - 6-5
88 - 6-5
89 - 7-4
Total - 25-19
Delhomme years
93 - 8-3
94 - 6-5
95 - 6-5
96 - 5-6 Beat A&M
Total - 25-19
How did Stokely do without a marquee quarterback
90 - 5-6
91 - 2-8-1
92 - 2-9
97 - 1-10
98 - 2-9
Total - 12-42-1
Now we have the answer. We don't need a new coach. We just need to find another needle in the haystack.
Interesting that even in the "glory" years of Mitchell & Delhomme we only won 6 games in 5 of the 8 seasons. One season was a losing season. Only two seasons were very good, record-wise (7-4 & 8-3). Even those records weren't exceptional on a bigger scale. Like others have said, I don't think it is necessarily the coach, but our athletic department & university admin. that has been/is the major problem. I know there have been some major changes in the past couple of years (in particular Savoie & Farmer), but is it enough? In my opinion, we are starting to make some progress. But major disappointments like yesterday, the 2 basketball programs so far this year, etc. cloud the situation. It is hard to tell if the motion we do see is us moving forward or others passing us by. I'd like to think we are laying the foundation for future success, but it often doesn't feel that way. BTW, I DO hope we find another "needle"! We've gotten a few over the years, but need more.
Those last years were problematic for more than not having a marquee QB. Stokley took on the AD role, had a thousand distractions, and that didn't work out with he and Dr. A. in any way, shape or form. Stokley was ready for Dr. A to let lose with our potential once he established a pretty good program. Dr. A would not loosen the leash.
But, in reality, we are always hunting for all those needles in the haystacks. The issue is. so is everyone else.
I was actually just kidding about not needing a new coach. As for the needle, I agree that we are and should be looking for them.
I have not been fond of Bustle since his hiring. My main problem with him is that he is not consistent. I understand the massive amount of injuries hurt us this year and I think we would be bowling without them, guaranteeing Bustle another year or more. My issue is how we can play so well against ASU and Mid Tenn and then lay eggs against FAU and Troy. Coaching is what keeps you competitive when injuries happen. If we had at least been competitive against FAU and Troy, then we could at least hope that Bustle had finally recruited some talent and caught up with the rest of the world. But it is those performances that have me seriously worried about next year. I think he needs to go.
And for the record, I have a long memory, and I have never jumped on the Bustle bandwagon after a couple of victories. I didn't think he was the right hire after his first couple of years, even though we were showing improvement. I just don't think he is the guy. Better to let him go now and go find the guy. But like J1M always says, we need a massive private funding effort or we are spinning our wheels.
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