Mike Leach did a great job turning a moribund program around, and is a truly great pure football coach, but success in Cougar football, historically, is measured in Rose Bowls and Apple Cup wins, and he did essentially none of it. You need more than good coaching and a good systems, which Leach is and has, frankly. You need better talent as well. There is a reason why Mike Leach led Cougar teams never won the North, never went to a major bowl and lost 7 straight to the Dawgs, all in embarrassing fashion. Flat points it out.
I can do with less Leach type "consistency," a few less Boise, New Mexico, Sun and less than Holiday bowls, if Rolo runs up the score on the Dawgs a time or two, wins the North and/or the Pac-12. That is what Coug fans will remember, long term. Honestly, who here will be happy with Rolo if he continues Leach's Apple Cup beat down legacy, and follows it by a series of underwhelming second and third tier bowl performances?
Mike Leach did a great job turning a moribund program around, and is a truly great pure football coach, but success in Cougar football, historically, is measured in Rose Bowls and Apple Cup wins, and he did essentially none of it. You need more than good coaching and a good systems, which Leach is and has, frankly. You need better talent as well. There is a reason why Mike Leach led Cougar teams never won the North, never went to a major bowl and lost 7 straight to the Dawgs, all in embarrassing fashion. Flat points it out.
I can do with less Leach type "consistency," a few less Boise, New Mexico, Sun and less than Holiday bowls, if Rolo runs up the score on the Dawgs a time or two, wins the North and/or the Pac-12. That is what Coug fans will remember, long term. Honestly, who here will be happy with Rolo if he continues Leach's Apple Cup beat down legacy, and follows it by a series of underwhelming second and third tier bowl performances?
1. You missed the main point that I was making about the Air Raid, Run and Shoot, Price's 1 back, spread offense.
2. Instead you go away from the main point.
3. Your remembrance, selection, etc, of the facts is not good.
4. Price did have a technically higher ceiling, and a semi almost semi near semi wulffian LOW 2,3 win BASEMENT.
5. Price was not only CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT. He was TECHNICALLY a semi consistent at having semi consistent losing seasons.
6. Prices ratio was 1 winning season, 1 bowl per every 2,3,4 LOSING, only 2,3,4 wins, NO BOWL, seasons.
7. And as someone pointed out. Price was 3-11 in the Apple Cup.
8. Now this is not to rag on Price. Price was a good coach.
But this is to COMPARE Price to Leach, since you made the comment you did.
9. Leach only had 1,2, only 3 wins season, unlike Price, and that was because of WULF. If it had been Price that had followed Wulf, Price would probably have had 4,5,6 , 2,3,4 win seasons, and either fired, or would have gotten 6,7,8 wins the next year after that.
10. As Far as bowl games comparison. Yes Price had a rosebowl, but if take away that, Price had:
A. Copper Bowl. B. Sun Bowl C. Aloha Bowl. D. Alamo Bowl
Leach had 2. Sun bowls. 2 Holiday Bowls, 1 Alamo Bowl, etc.
So except for the Rosebowl, pretty much the same kind of bowls fir hoth coaches.
Also even tho Leach Alamo Bowl was the Alamo Bowl, it was a 11-2 season. And Leach, cougs were SNUBBED, as 11-2 shoukd have been a guaranteed NY6 Bowl. AKA the Fiesta Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, etc.
So because of that, even tho Leach's Bowl wasnt technically a TOP BOWL, he should still be given credit for a TOP BOWL SEASON, A PRICE LIKE 10 WIN ROSEBOWL LIKE SEASON.
11. Wh8ch brings me to next point that Price NEVER WON 11 ELEVEN GAMES, like Leach did.
12. Also if it wasnt for the REFS CHEATING LEACH, WSU OUT OF A USC WIN, And if it wasnt for the BLIZZARD APPLE CUP BOWL, WSU, Leach would have been either 12-1, 13-0, and either would have played in the PLAY OFF for a NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP, an or would have at least been in the Rosebowl.
Because of that Leach does, should get credit for that.
So because of that Leaches Ceiling is a Conference Championship, Rosebowl, NY6, playoff.
13. So same ceiling as price.
14. Price was in Pullman longer, at about 11 to 13 seasons. Leach 8 seasons. If Leach had been at WSU for 13 to to 17 seasons, he would have eventually had 1,2,3 conference championships, Rosebowls, NY6, just like Price, in addition to his 11 win season.
Anyway you look at it, slice it, Leach won more consistently. Had more consistent winning seasons, bowl games.
Also if given the choice between 5 to 10 to 15 straight winning seasons, bowl ganes under Leach, or 3 losing seasons, 1 winning season, bowl game, 3 10 win seasons, Rosebowl. I would Take Leach.
Ore State under Riley had 10 TEN STRAIGHT WINNING SEASONS, BOWL GAMES
Many dont realize how good that is, whether its Ore St, or WSU with 4,5 straight winning seasons, bowl games.