Saturday, July 07, 2012

What would Spaz need to do to hold on?

I've been speculating about new coaches all summer, but what if Spaz actually pulls through? Crystal Ball Run thinks it could happen. Ultimately it will come down to our record. In my opinion, this is how it would play out. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

4-8 or worse...
Spaz is gone. Back to back 8 loss seasons would be too much. The diehards are already calling for his head. Another embarrassing and hard to watch season would kill goodwill among the casual BC fans.

8-4 or better...
Spaz is safe. We have the talent and the schedule to be this good. I don't think it will happen, but if it does we will see Year 5 of the Spaz era.

6 or 7 wins...
Spaz "retires." He gets his money. He gets to go out with a winning record. He saves face. This is probably the best outcome for everyone.

5-7...
This is the unknown in my opinion. I could see the powers that be wanting to keep him one more year. Especially if we end on a high note.

16 comments:

JBQ said...

I think that you need to consider the Kuechly factor. Released point spreads are already 3-9 and I don't think that without Cool Hand Luke that we can win at Army. That leaves Maine as the only sure win. I believe that Rettig will show great improvement and that Doug Martin will be a factor. However, I don't believe that it will be enough to offset his loss.

Big Jack Krack said...

There's no question that we could lose the majority of our games.

But guess what, there's also the possibility that we could win the majority of our games or better.

I'm a diehard fan - I'm going with the winning possibilities.

eagleboston said...

I must admit, when I saw Phil Steele's report on the injuries and lost starts from last year, I have to wonder how much injuries played into last year's record. We had the second most starts lost due to injuries in the entire country. Even Urban Meyer and Nick Saban would struggle with that many injuries.

However, injuries were not an issue in year 2 of the Spaz regime and BC still struggled to get to a bowl. This will be a telling year for the program and I believe any fewer than 6 wins should spark a coaching change.

NEDofSavinHill said...

The nightmare scenario is that the unctious dolt ( Gdf) picks the next coach. Of course he would follow ESPN's instructions and BC would get another incompetent. It was said of Tom Dewey that he was a self made man who adored his creator. Similar to the BC AD. Lets hope Spaz can win till Gdf is gone.

JD BC90 said...

I think Spaz is long past his expiration date and should not be the head coach.

But, assuming the current BC AD is still the decision maker at season's end, then Spaz comes back with 4 wins. We have already seen that GDF will use whatever spin or excuse to cover for his and Spaz's failures so reasonableness and "what should happen" are inapplicable.

I also remind the readers of the absolute in your face glee GDF showed when BC beat UM at the end of the year - "Greatest coach in the last 15 years!" That is and was total nonsense. Was he drunk ?

Unfortunately, I see 4 wins being spun as not getting worse and there will no doubt be excuses based on injuries, bad weather, getting used to the new turf and the lack of fan support.

And although I cannot find the exact quote from several years ago that still haunts me, I recall when BC announced that it was playing Army at Yankee Stadium in 2014, GDF offering: "I know Spaz is really looking forward to that game." If Spaz is on the sidelines as the HC at that 2014 game, a really special experience for the BC community (and Tri State area alums in particular) will be ruined.

So, my money is on Spaz coming back no mater what (if GDF is still calling the shots).

If GD is out or iced out of the decision, then I think 2012 is (mercifully) it for Spaz no matter what.

I also applaud ATL and others for keeping the pressure on Spaz even in the off season. BC will only address the problem if people complain on fan blogs, local and national outlets on a regular basis from all directions. If it makes things get better with the current crew then fine, but staying pollyanna no mater what is a sure fire way toward a ruined program.

Knucklehead said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Knucklehead said...

Spaziani is under contract through 2015. That means if he goes 4-8 or 5-7 then you think that Boston College is going to fire Spaz after 2013,pay him for 2014 and 2015, and pay a new coach as well? That is not going to happen. There is not a competent/experienced coach in the country willing to work under the current circumstances at Boston College for that salary. Although Doug Martin comes to mind as I am writing.

The only way that Spaz gets fired is if the team wins < 3 games. Spaz is going 5-7 or 6-6 this season and will be back next year.

Keuchly was great. Duggan, Pierre-Louis and Steele D. are all pro prospects themselves. The linebackers are the stength of the entire team.

We are not losing to Army to this year.


http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/post/_/id/35709/frank-spaziani-gets-contract-extension

mod34b said...

Knuckiehead , I agree. 5-7. And Spaz is a lock to return.

BC is cheap. Spaz is the lowest paid coach in the ACC . GDF has Spaz locked into a cheap salary for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Doug Martin had to have been a cheap hire too. BC is obviously unwilling to invest ACC-level $$$ in the program. why?

Spaz will return even with a 4-8 record if there are a few close loses (moral victories) and the team does not quit. Trying really hard counts (b/c it allows GDF to spin golden excuses from failure)

So long as GDF can BS us with words like "improvement" "progress" "future is bright" and."stability" Spaz is coming back.

chicagofire1871 said...

While Spaz's extension might be through 2015, we don't know if those are guaranteed years or school options. It's possible that Spaz could be gone at the end of this season and BC just doesn't pick up this option. End of story.

Knucklehead said...

Chicago,
Your comment is conjecture. Read the article I attached to my original post. He was extended through 2015. It doesn't say that he had option years added to the contract.

End of story.

EL MIZ said...

Knucklehead, your position is conjecture as well. nobody knows what Spaz's contract says, only that it expires in 2015. there could be a buyout clause or some other option that preserves BC's ability to wiggle out of the contract with limited financial downside.

i also think its too early to jump the gun on the season. i am staying optimistic. the uptick in recruiting has been a major plus (we just signed our 10th kid for next year, well ahead of last year's pace) and could be a sign of different M.O. this year with Martin, Bollman, and Al Washington now involved on that front. if Spaz gave Martin/Bollman the keys to the offense, it would be fair to anticipate much better production versus the pathetic production the last 2 years 3rd & 9quill (asleep at the wheel) and the Interim OC last year.

the O has really been the big problem. things could be better than anticipated if that improves. now if only Gene can slip the "centering the ball before FGs" manual under Spaz's door one night before Spaz goes to bed at 7PM, things may be really headed for a turnaround.

Knucklehead said...

The article says that he signed a contract extension through 2015. It does not say anything about Boston College adding option years to the agreement.

There is no conjecture on my part. I am basing my opinion on the article which makes a point of saying that Spaziani has his agreement extended through the 2015season.

EL MIZ said...

i see the link and read the same stuff you do knucklehead. my only point is that we often lament how BC sports generally or BC football in particular receives scant attention from local or national media. the odds that Dinich didn't press GDF on specific parameters of the contract are fairly high.

regardless, even if there is NO ability for BC to get out of the contract and we are stuck with paying spaz, i don't think that will preclude BC from firing him. we have enough money to can him and get a new coach.

Knucklehead said...

I am basing my points off of the reporting that I provided. There are no other reports saying anything other than Spaz was extended through 2015.

Boston College has the money, in a general sense, to fire Spaz and hire a new coach(whether or not he is under contract or under an option). The bigger point is that Boston College WILL NOT fire Spaz unless he wins less than 3 games(essentially embarrassing himself and the university) because it wants to avoid paying Spaz to leave and paying a new head coach in 2014 and 2015.

All the crap about the POSSIBLE OPTION is conjecture. Of course it is a possibility BC has extended him under an option scenario but the facts in the article do not back it up. In fact that they seem to say that he is under contract until 2015.

So again the OPTION comments are conjecture and frankly BS.

Anecdotally, I have never heard of a college football coach having OPTION years. That is typically done in baseball. It would be counter intuitive in a situation where a University puts out a press release to specifically say that it has extended a head football coach's contract.

Jeff said...

Most college coaches do NOT get fully-guaranteed contracts. Since we don't know the details of Spaz's contract, I don't know why we must assume that it is fully-guaranteed. If we're going to assume anything, let's assume that there is *some* cost to firing Spaz, but that it is somewhat less than his full remaining contract.

We've seen countless examples of coaches leaving or being fired while still under contract. I don't see what makes BC such a special case that we're stuck. To quote Tom Coughlin, “As I have said roughly a thousand times, we’re all on one-year contracts in this business.”

knucklehead said...

I am not saying that the contract is fully guaranteed. I am saying they extended the agreement. That is it. No mention of guarantees and no mention of option years from me.

I acknowledge that the extension can be paid off and the coach and coach can be let go.


I AM saying that Boston College is not going to fire a coach that will be due millions of dollars at the end if this year if they let him go and hire another coach for millions of dollars unless there are extenuating circumstances ie less than 3 wins.