A tough call
By this time next week, you've got to figure that Northwestern State athletic director Greg Burke will have made a decision on the future of coach Scott Stoker and the football program.
I say this time next week because the Thanksgiving holiday will take out the end of the week and this is something that doesn't need to linger.
Burke will face a tough decision on this one.
The Demons have posted back-to-back losing seasons and three consecutive non-winning seasons.
But those back-to-back losing seasons also include games against five BCS opponents. Throw in two games this year where the top two quarterbacks were knocked out by injury and the decision isn't so easy.
It would take some courage to bring back a coach coming off three non-winning seasons in a row. But courage has paid off for a couple of SEC athletic directors - Mitch Barnhart at Kentucky and Larry Templeton at Mississippi State. Those schools have been rewarded for their patience this year.
After talking to Burke yesterday, I got the feeling that he has yet to come to a decision on this one. And after talking to Stoker, I got the feeling that while he wants to come back he understands the nature of the business.
The Demons will have some 20 seniors on next year's team. The NSU coach in 2008, whether it's Stoker or someone else, will probably look pretty good.
I say this time next week because the Thanksgiving holiday will take out the end of the week and this is something that doesn't need to linger.
Burke will face a tough decision on this one.
The Demons have posted back-to-back losing seasons and three consecutive non-winning seasons.
But those back-to-back losing seasons also include games against five BCS opponents. Throw in two games this year where the top two quarterbacks were knocked out by injury and the decision isn't so easy.
It would take some courage to bring back a coach coming off three non-winning seasons in a row. But courage has paid off for a couple of SEC athletic directors - Mitch Barnhart at Kentucky and Larry Templeton at Mississippi State. Those schools have been rewarded for their patience this year.
After talking to Burke yesterday, I got the feeling that he has yet to come to a decision on this one. And after talking to Stoker, I got the feeling that while he wants to come back he understands the nature of the business.
The Demons will have some 20 seniors on next year's team. The NSU coach in 2008, whether it's Stoker or someone else, will probably look pretty good.
posted by Scott Ferrell at 11:15 AM
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