As I've mentioned several, several, several times in the past, results from multiple studies conducted by the NCAA show that athletic teams that undergo head coaching changes almost always see APR scores suffer.
For some student-athletes, they fear change. They don't want to start over with a new coaching staff. Some transfer to smaller-level schools to continue their career. Others simply give up the game. Some quit playing. Others stop going to class.
Once again, there are no guarantees that a student-athlete will stay or be eligible if the head coach is retained. There are few guarantees in life anymore. But NCAA studies show that it is more likely that student-athletes will stay and will be eligible without a change at the top.
Plus, think about this: Say you pay Lee to leave now and then promote an assistant to be interim head coach. You just lost 25 percent of your coaching staff and still have to handle 100 percent of the same workload with one less guy to help. It's a tough adjustment, to say the least. You're also paying the head coach to leave and do nothing and still have to spend more money to hire a new head coach.
Simply put, some of you are making this situation much simpler than it really is. Right now the university doesn't think it's worth the risk, and I don't blame them.
Here's a hypothetical question: How would the same people begging for a change, either back in the spring or now at midseason, respond if the basketball team fell short of APR scores and the entire athletic department suffered? No regionals for softball or baseball, no bowl bid if football finally breaks through.
Most of the same people barking for change would more than likely question why the move was made after that fact.
Right now it's a losing battle. The university cannot win, regardless of the decision that is made.
All of that said, the entire situation will be much better once that horrible 2004-05 score drops off the multi-year average.