For the remainder of this season, we could just keep venting with Fire Phillips and Fire Strollo chants, but we all know that is not going to happen. How about sharing some realistic suggestions for pathways to move out of this mess. I will start with these three ideas.
First, at the conclusion of the season dismiss the dc and all the defensive coaches. Then find the next Jon Heacock, a young, ambitious coach who has proven his ability as a dc at a lower level. Bring him to Youngstown, pay him the top salary for a FCS dc, and give him nearly complete authority to build a competent defense. That includes huge input in the hiring of position coaches and the ability to purge the roster of all the current players who are clearly in over their heads at this level. Phillips won't like having his authority compromised, but he can always resign. Phillips deserves no say in the construction of a defense after the junk he placed on the field this season.
Second, inform the folks who run the Penguin Collective that all funds for the foreseeable future must be earmarked for football and men's basketball. I am a big supporter of women's sports, but they will have to wait until we move through this crisis.
Third, stop splitting so many scholarships. I don't have the exact figures, but we give out too many partials and hope to "develop" unprepared players. Out of the 63 scholarships, about 50 should be full, given to recruits or transfers that we know can play right now. Then take about 30 walk-ons who would try to earn one of the 13 remaining scholarships each year. We don't need 100 players, with the majority "projects" that will never help us.
What realistic suggestions do you have? Please keep the "fire" rants (appropriate as they are) in a separate thread.