He was the best hire we could have made at the time and under the circumstances.
For anyone inclined to parrot Finebaum, you can't complain about the CKD hire without also naming someone who not only would have been better -- even with the benefit of hindsight -- but also would have accepted. I can't come up with anyone that meets both tests.
Coaches who
might reasonably meet the first test include Sark, Kirby, Lanning, Day, Dabo, Whittingham, Kelly, and Kiffin. We're complaining (yours truly included) about things like team composure/character, and HC sideline clothing style. Yet from amongst this list are at best two who might have accepted: Dabo and Kiffin. Would we do either of those deals even now? Some of us would; I suspect many more of us would not. As for the others, overlooking the unlikelihood of their accepting:
- Sark - Can't seem to stay married. Can he still stay sober? I don't mean to pick on him for getting divorced twice or being a recovering alcoholic; just pointing out that both are risk factors, and the former might indicate a character flaw depending on the circumstances.
- Kirby - ThUGa is the closest thing to late 1980's-vintage Miami we've seen of late. And now he's channeling Woody Hayes (okay, that's a stretch, but it's a fun stretch). Worst haircut in college football.
- Lanning - Proved himself to be of questionable coaching character this past weekend with his abuse of the rules in the waning minutes against TOSU.
[Note - the above coaches are a combined 0-6 against CKD the last 2.5 seasons]
- Day - Nothing bad to say about him.
- Whittingham - Early returns from Utah's playing in the Big XII (no one's idea of a strong conference) are not encouraging. Also 0-1 against CKD.
- Kelly - Imagine the Alabama fan outrage when he (a) admits to being inferior on the day to someone beating us badly, or (b) dances awkwardly with a recruit; or (c) puts a student on a cherry picker to film practice on a windy day.
So, for anyone who doesn't like the CKD hire, what would you do differently?