I’ve asked this question a lot lately, and have yet to get an answer.
Four months ago, we (including me) were all worried about DeBoer leaving for any number of jobs, Michigan being foremost.
The main concern then was who his replacement would be.
So what’s the big stink about a new contract?
IOW, who (not named Anybody) would represent a clear upgrade AND realistically come?
Yeah, Saban was better. Kirby is. Ryan Day is. None of those guys are coming. I don’t know if it’s true or not, but word is Dan Lanning turned us down when Saban retired.
Go ahead and fire DeBoer. Or assume DeBoer grants your wish and voluntarily goes elsewhere.
Who, specifically, is your replacement?
Are you really going to upend the program, risk dozens of players in the portal, and go through a second upheaval in four (or five) years on the chance that Lanning will ignore Nike money?
Or that Phil Knight will die, and his heirs will have different priorities, and we’ll be able to outbid Oregon?
Either (1) make the case that Kirby or Day will come, (2) make the case that Lanning is in that league, and will come, or (3) put forward an alternative name who is such an upgrade from DeBoer that he’s worth paying not only DeBoer’s buyout, but also the new guy’s current deal, and ending up paying him not much less than DeBoer’s new deal.
Any non-Anybody names out there?