Mighty quiet week .., AD ?
I’ll even take rumors ..
Know any moles in the Athletic Department?
Surely something is percolating 🙏
I also had big hopes for Scottie (past tense). Wish it had worked out better at ECU in terms of head coaching ability.
Mighty quiet week .., AD ?
I’ll even take rumors ..
Know any moles in the Athletic Department?
Surely something is percolating 🙏
I firmly believe there will be news at the conclusion of the season.
Listened to the Section 17 podcast last night and they were trying to stay away from speculation about the coaching future, but wandered into it anyway. We're all assuming (maybe hoping is a better word for some) that the deal is in the works and that the conversations are happening, but I haven't seen anything definitive, and we likely won't until it actually happens so let the speculation continue. Anyway, they asked a question I've been thinking about and wanted to throw out.
That question is (I'm making it a two parter): (a) how many wins would it take for you to think Cut should stay (assuming stay = extension b/c you can't recruit with a coach with only one year remaining ), and (b) how do you think Nina would answer question (a)?
Their win triggers were lower than mine, and I'm sure lower than many on this board. I expect many would answer question (a) with something along the lines of "there is nothing he can do, he needs to go now, why is he even still here?" That's fine, lots of reasons for that and I'm not looking to change anyone's mind there. Of course, question (b) is the only one that really matters b/c Nina is the one that has to make the decision, if she hasn't already.
FWIW, my answer to question (a) is 6 wins (so three more) and no losses by more than 10 points. Getting Duke to a bowl game and not getting blown out again is the minimum I would accept for believing that we've turned a corner. Hard for Duke to get in the business of firing coaches who get to bowl games. More than six wins? Seems completely unrealistic even for the biggest Cut believer around, but if that happens, give the man a few more years and let's hope the trend continues. Two more wins or less (so total of 5 on the year), combined with what we've seen over the last few seasons including this one, and it's time to make the change.
My thought is the answer to question (b) may actually be 5 though. Winning two more games (which would be significant upsets at this point) might be enough to convince Nina that Cut has addressed some of the issues, that last year can be written off to Covid, and that we should kick this down the road a few more years and see what happens. Thoughts?
I’m only going to answer Part A.
Bowl eligibility is the key. Finish strong with three wins over final five games to finish 6-6 followed by a win over Directional U in a bowl game. So four more wins is my answer.
Not! Gonna! Happen! The more likely scenario is an 0-5 finish. Apologies for my pessimism.
Bob Green
Impossible not to be pessimistic right now. I think we'll put it all together in one game and steal a win somewhere, but hard to see any more than that based on the way we've played the last few weeks. Maybe there is magic that comes from the bye week, but after two blowout losses and with several teams playing better than those on the upcoming schedule, it's hard to see more wins other than somehow pulling off one upset.
Hard not to be pessimistic! Here are the Football Outsiders and Sagarin rankings for our schedule (minus A&T because Football Outsiders only does FBS), updated after this weekend's games. Offense and Defense rankings are from Football Outsiders. Our easiest games definitely appear to be behind us (remaining games in bold).
http://sagarin.com/sports/cfsend.htm
https://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/ncaa/fplus/2021
Team FO Rank Sagarin Rank Offense Rank Defense Rank Pittsburgh 13 13 21 16 North Carolina 30 55 10 70 Wake Forest 32 26 22 57 Virginia 38 46 13 79 Miami 41 69 48 41 Virginia Tech 48 62 72 29 Louisville 52 61 23 83 Georgia Tech 67 70 67 60 Northwestern 81 75 98 40 Duke 95 110 93 91 Charlotte 110 125 71 125 Kansas 124 140 111 124
Welllll, I'm still disappointed that the Yankees have kept Aaron Boone as manager for another 3 years, so nothing would surprise me if we keep Cut. NOt that there's any relationship between the Yankees and Duke football.
Upside to that is that we keep the 3-star WR from Greensboro that just committed. His biggest reason for committing is his relationship with Cut and the coaching staff, but he specifically mentioned Cut. He plans to enroll in January. Depending on what Nina decides, and when she announces it, de-committment is all too easy.
OK, that's not a reason to keep Cut on. And while severely disappointed, I refuse to go negative. Let's win 3 or 4 more games this season, win a bowl game and make it an easy decision to keep Cut as coach!
Ozzie, your paradigm of optimism!
Go To Hell carolina, Go To Hell!
9F 9F 9F
https://ecogreen.greentechaffiliate.com
A more realistic question for me is in how many of our remaining games will we be competitive in the fourth quarter. I do have a number in mind.
While I tend to agree that 3 more wins and a bowl game (however unlikely) could change the calculus on this, I think the issues go beyond wins and losses. There is just a total lack of enthusiasm around the program right now - from students, older fans, the media, and frankly, the coaches and players themselves. Our crowds and TV assignments speak for themselves, and the Duke sideline rarely if ever shows much energy, activity or buzz. In good times or bad. And efforts like we saw last week against UVA, with breakdowns in just about every phase, are unfortunately not that rare anymore. I have tremendous respect for Cut and what he has done for the program, but the need for change is glaringly obvious.
I’ll answer question (b). One more win gives us 4 total which doubles last year’s total. He then gets an extension, and I hope it’s not for more than a year. Also possible zero more wins is enough as the math is simple; 50% increase in total wins from last year.
Kick the can and hope no one squawks.
0 more wins - a resignation is worked out at the end of this year.
1 more win - Nina has a tough decision.
2 more wins - Cut stays next year. Any extension depends on next year.
3 or more wins a bowl game - a one year extension.