catamount man
October 17th, 2007, 03:06 PM
THANK...YOU...KEITH...JARRETT!!!!!!!!!! Bardo, Smith, and Briggs just got OWNED!!!xbowx xbowx xbowx xbowx xbowx xbowx xbowx
How much worse can – or will – it get for Western Carolina football?
by Keith Jarrett, Columnist
published October 17, 2007 12:15 am
Under the failed leadership of chancellor John Bardo, athletic director Chip Smith and coach Kent Briggs, the program is in as bad a shape as anytime in its 74-year history and has supplanted dearly departed VMI as the doormat of the Southern Conference.
The Catamounts have lost 15 of their last 16 games — most by large margins — and the only victory was the result of fortuitous scheduling of a Presbyterian team that offers half the number of scholarships as WCU.
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When Smith, with the blessing of Bardo, foolishly gave Briggs a three-year extension last season one game into what would be a 2-9 record, he sealed the fate and prolonged the rebuilding mode that this program has constantly stumbled through for more than 20 years.
At the time the extension was given, Briggs - a nice guy who has shown little ability to coach winning football - was in the last year of his contract and had a career record of 20-24, 12-18 in the SoCon.
He had posted a worse record than the previous year in three of his first four seasons, and his only winning record (5-4 in 2005, while he was battling cancer) was partly the result of a 10-game schedule and having a probable loss at Nicholls State canceled because of Katrina.
Since the extension, Briggs is 2-15. The program recently lost 12 straight games and is 0-10 over the past two seasons in SoCon play.
In those 15 losses, the program has given up an AVERAGE of nearly 38 points a game, and the average margin of defeat is 23 points.
Those numbers are somewhat inflated because of three games against Southeastern Conference opponents, but the 12 Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) opponents during the losing run have outscored WCU by an average of 17.6 ppg.
Briggs (22-39, 12-28 in the SoCon) is working within the limits of an under-funded program that has never made the financial commitment to be successful.
He’s also suffered a remarkably high number of injuries each of the past two seasons, but bottom line is, six years into his regime the program is in much worse shape than when he took over.
The current state (1-6, 0-3) includes 11 straight league losses, 12 consecutive defeats on the road and a ranking of last in the SoCon in offense and defense.
In addition to the constant defeats, the program has been plagued by unexplained defections of players and frequent turnover among coaches.
There’s not enough money committed to hire quality assistants and retain them, but if Smith and Bardo have $330,000 to throw away to lock up Briggs long-term, there is a legitimate question as to how wisely that money would be spent if available.
Recently, a task force formed by Smith was asked to look into what was needed to make the football program successful.
Part of the understanding and findings of the committee is that it would not study the qualifications of the head coach – or the athletic director or chancellor.
And there is the main problem in Cullowhee.
Until the right questions are asked about the leadership and accountability is demanded, there will be no answers as to why WCU football is an embarrassment and shows no signs of doing anything but getting worse.
This is the opinion of senior writer Keith Jarrett. He can be reached at 232-5867 or [email protected].
GO CATAMOUNTS!!!
How much worse can – or will – it get for Western Carolina football?
by Keith Jarrett, Columnist
published October 17, 2007 12:15 am
Under the failed leadership of chancellor John Bardo, athletic director Chip Smith and coach Kent Briggs, the program is in as bad a shape as anytime in its 74-year history and has supplanted dearly departed VMI as the doormat of the Southern Conference.
The Catamounts have lost 15 of their last 16 games — most by large margins — and the only victory was the result of fortuitous scheduling of a Presbyterian team that offers half the number of scholarships as WCU.
Advertisement
When Smith, with the blessing of Bardo, foolishly gave Briggs a three-year extension last season one game into what would be a 2-9 record, he sealed the fate and prolonged the rebuilding mode that this program has constantly stumbled through for more than 20 years.
At the time the extension was given, Briggs - a nice guy who has shown little ability to coach winning football - was in the last year of his contract and had a career record of 20-24, 12-18 in the SoCon.
He had posted a worse record than the previous year in three of his first four seasons, and his only winning record (5-4 in 2005, while he was battling cancer) was partly the result of a 10-game schedule and having a probable loss at Nicholls State canceled because of Katrina.
Since the extension, Briggs is 2-15. The program recently lost 12 straight games and is 0-10 over the past two seasons in SoCon play.
In those 15 losses, the program has given up an AVERAGE of nearly 38 points a game, and the average margin of defeat is 23 points.
Those numbers are somewhat inflated because of three games against Southeastern Conference opponents, but the 12 Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) opponents during the losing run have outscored WCU by an average of 17.6 ppg.
Briggs (22-39, 12-28 in the SoCon) is working within the limits of an under-funded program that has never made the financial commitment to be successful.
He’s also suffered a remarkably high number of injuries each of the past two seasons, but bottom line is, six years into his regime the program is in much worse shape than when he took over.
The current state (1-6, 0-3) includes 11 straight league losses, 12 consecutive defeats on the road and a ranking of last in the SoCon in offense and defense.
In addition to the constant defeats, the program has been plagued by unexplained defections of players and frequent turnover among coaches.
There’s not enough money committed to hire quality assistants and retain them, but if Smith and Bardo have $330,000 to throw away to lock up Briggs long-term, there is a legitimate question as to how wisely that money would be spent if available.
Recently, a task force formed by Smith was asked to look into what was needed to make the football program successful.
Part of the understanding and findings of the committee is that it would not study the qualifications of the head coach – or the athletic director or chancellor.
And there is the main problem in Cullowhee.
Until the right questions are asked about the leadership and accountability is demanded, there will be no answers as to why WCU football is an embarrassment and shows no signs of doing anything but getting worse.
This is the opinion of senior writer Keith Jarrett. He can be reached at 232-5867 or [email protected].
GO CATAMOUNTS!!!