Just got home. Leach's hot seat is officially on simmer.

[CougPatrol]

What an awful weekend. Brutally cold weather, a stadium that wasn't properly prepped before kickoff, and a dismal performance by our football team. For those of us who made the trek from Western WA, the 2-hour traffic delay on Snoqualmie pass was icing on the cake. It took us over 7 hours to get home.

I'm still on Leach's bandwagon. I think we're going to improve over the next couple of seasons. Regardless of all that, and despite what any of us think of the state of the program, Leach is on the clock next season. In year 4, you have to show improvement; particularly when you make 3 changes within your coaching ranks. I'm all for the coaching shakeup, as our defense was as bad as I've seen in Pullman. Thing is, if we stumble to another 3-9 record next year, all eyes will be on Leach.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Originally posted by CougPatrol:


For those of us who made the trek from Western WA, the 2-hour traffic delay on Snoqualmie pass was icing on the cake. It took us over 7 hours to get home.

It was awful. I've been a Gorge guy my whole life until this season and I already hate this trek more & it's supposed to be shorter.

 

[SCglory]

I'm assuming you go 84 (south side)....Oregon's freeway and highway system are one giant cluster f**k, and 84 is exhibit one in all that. Huge potholes, small shoulders, trucks in the left lane. Oregon's the only state I know with speed limits which are relics of the Gerry Ford and Jimmy Carter eras--their freeways are 65 tops, and across the river Washington drivers are going the same speed from Biggs to Paterson and beyond on 2 lane highways. Crazy stuff.




This post was edited on 12/1 6:39 AM by SCglory

 

[Coug1990]

Originally posted by CougPatrol:

What an awful weekend. Brutally cold weather, a stadium that wasn't properly prepped before kickoff, and a dismal performance by our football team. For those of us who made the trek from Western WA, the 2-hour traffic delay on Snoqualmie pass was icing on the cake. It took us over 7 hours to get home.

I'm still on Leach's bandwagon. I think we're going to improve over the next couple of seasons. Regardless of all that, and despite what any of us think of the state of the program, Leach is on the clock next season. In year 4, you have to show improvement; particularly when you make 3 changes within your coaching ranks. I'm all for the coaching shakeup, as our defense was as bad as I've seen in Pullman. Thing is, if we stumble to another 3-9 record next year, all eyes will be on Leach.

It was cold. Still, I wasn't too bad except for my feet. I hung out in the bathroom just to thaw out near the end of the game. Leach had nothing to do with a traffic delay. We left Pullman around 8am and made it back to Seattle in 4 hours.

This team will not stumble to a 3-9 record next season. In my opinion, it is set up to make a big jump next season. Hell, if Matt Abramo can kick accurate field goals and kick the ball out of the end zone on kickoffs, this team is already two games better.

Look at CAL, they went from one victory last season to five this season. Look at the women's basketball team. They just beat the 8th ranked team in the country in Maryland. It took years for June to turn the program around, but she has. Good coaches will eventually get it done. There are some programs that take a little longer. Unfortunately, WSU is one of those programs.

 

[CougSinceBirth]

Originally posted by SCglory:
I'm assuming you go 84 (south side)....Oregon's freeway and highway system are one giant cluster f**k, and 84 is exhibit one in all that. Huge potholes, small shoulders, trucks in the left lane. Oregon's the only state I know with speed limits which are relics of the Gerry Ford and Jimmy Carter eras--their freeways are 65 tops, and across the river Washington drivers are going the same speed from Biggs to Paterson and beyond on 2 lane highways. Crazy stuff.




This post was edited on 12/1 6:39 AM by SCglory

I went 84 only because it's more safe. The WA side is more pretty, but can be a bear if you get behind trucks with the 2 lane roads. It sucks 84 in the Gorge is only listed at 65. They need to bump that up 5 MPH, at least.

 

[CougEd]

There is no hot seat. Moos will offer an extension,

and Leach will be owed 10 million after year four.

Besides, who are you going to get ?

They struck lightening in a bottle with Walden and Price, virtual no names. Think it happens a third time. Do you want to take that risk. Sometimes it is better to go with what you know.

 

[CougPatrol]

Re: There is no hot seat. Moos will offer an extension,

Ed, there's always a hot seat. If we continue to post 3-9 records, the snowball effect will continue to build. Recruiting will plummet, fan interest will evaporate, Leach will become even more surly, and the pressure will eventually build.

I don't want Leach to be fired. I think he's going to spring a big season eventually. Wouldn't surprise me at all if we pull a rabbit out of our hat and post a 9-3 record out of nowhere. Frankly, I think that's more likely with Leach than a slow, linear growth curve.

Still, we have to turn the corner. He needs to field a much improved defense and special teams next season. If we do only that in the offseason, we'll probably flirt with 6 wins.

 

[Observer11]

Originally posted by CougPatrol:

What an awful weekend. Brutally cold weather, a stadium that wasn't properly prepped before kickoff, and a dismal performance by our football team. For those of us who made the trek from Western WA, the 2-hour traffic delay on Snoqualmie pass was icing on the cake. It took us over 7 hours to get home.

I'm still on Leach's bandwagon. I think we're going to improve over the next couple of seasons. Regardless of all that, and despite what any of us think of the state of the program, Leach is on the clock next season. In year 4, you have to show improvement; particularly when you make 3 changes within your coaching ranks. I'm all for the coaching shakeup, as our defense was as bad as I've seen in Pullman. Thing is, if we stumble to another 3-9 record next year, all eyes will be on Leach.

There is no seat as long as Moos is the athletic director. That's not a personal attack - simply a statement of fact due to the contract provisions, the absolute unlikelihood of Moos ever NOT rolling over the contract and the AD's position pushing all in on football/Leach.

Unless there is some absolute jackpot unexpected payoff, the finances at WSU limit any move whatsoever.

The only wildcard I see is Dr. Floyd ponying up big bucks to make an absolute overhaul. That is a virtual zero chance of happening as there's no way my crystal ball see him going to the regents with that kind of check request.

Again, not a personal attack - simply pragmatic to what the provisions of both Moos' and Leach's contracts are. Moos is signed through, what, 2019? And Leach has the rollover that I would be absolutely shocked isn't exercised again this year.

Fans can bitch and moan all they want - but he's not going anywhere anytime soon.

 

[CougEd]

Pressure from where? Our 12,500 season ticket holders?

The Pac 12 contract more than makes up for what they will lose. Our big donors? Do we have any?

I don't see how you bridge the gap with worse db play I may have ever witnessed while growing a new QB, and getting them 6-6 next year. 2016--yep.

We just saw what happened to falk once other teams scouted him. He isn't the savior. He isn't going to produce what Halliday did against Oregon and Cal, where Halliday was perfect and still lost. When falk is a junior that is when I expect to go bowling.

 

[Coug1990]

Originally posted by Observer11:

Originally posted by CougPatrol:

What an awful weekend. Brutally cold weather, a stadium that wasn't properly prepped before kickoff, and a dismal performance by our football team. For those of us who made the trek from Western WA, the 2-hour traffic delay on Snoqualmie pass was icing on the cake. It took us over 7 hours to get home.

I'm still on Leach's bandwagon. I think we're going to improve over the next couple of seasons. Regardless of all that, and despite what any of us think of the state of the program, Leach is on the clock next season. In year 4, you have to show improvement; particularly when you make 3 changes within your coaching ranks. I'm all for the coaching shakeup, as our defense was as bad as I've seen in Pullman. Thing is, if we stumble to another 3-9 record next year, all eyes will be on Leach.

There is no seat as long as Moos is the athletic director. That's not a personal attack - simply a statement of fact due to the contract provisions, the absolute unlikelihood of Moos ever NOT rolling over the contract and the AD's position pushing all in on football/Leach.

Unless there is some absolute jackpot unexpected payoff, the finances at WSU limit any move whatsoever.

The only wildcard I see is Dr. Floyd ponying up big bucks to make an absolute overhaul. That is a virtual zero chance of happening as there's no way my crystal ball see him going to the regents with that kind of check request.

Again, not a personal attack - simply pragmatic to what the provisions of both Moos' and Leach's contracts are. Moos is signed through, what, 2019? And Leach has the rollover that I would be absolutely shocked isn't exercised again this year.

Fans can bitch and moan all they want - but he's not going anywhere anytime soon.

Great post. You understand what is going on. I understand what is going on. Yet, it seems as if not to many do.

 

[Observer11]

Originally posted by Coug1990:

Originally posted by Observer11:

Originally posted by CougPatrol:

What an awful weekend. Brutally cold weather, a stadium that wasn't properly prepped before kickoff, and a dismal performance by our football team. For those of us who made the trek from Western WA, the 2-hour traffic delay on Snoqualmie pass was icing on the cake. It took us over 7 hours to get home.

I'm still on Leach's bandwagon. I think we're going to improve over the next couple of seasons. Regardless of all that, and despite what any of us think of the state of the program, Leach is on the clock next season. In year 4, you have to show improvement; particularly when you make 3 changes within your coaching ranks. I'm all for the coaching shakeup, as our defense was as bad as I've seen in Pullman. Thing is, if we stumble to another 3-9 record next year, all eyes will be on Leach.

There is no seat as long as Moos is the athletic director. That's not a personal attack - simply a statement of fact due to the contract provisions, the absolute unlikelihood of Moos ever NOT rolling over the contract and the AD's position pushing all in on football/Leach.

Unless there is some absolute jackpot unexpected payoff, the finances at WSU limit any move whatsoever.

The only wildcard I see is Dr. Floyd ponying up big bucks to make an absolute overhaul. That is a virtual zero chance of happening as there's no way my crystal ball see him going to the regents with that kind of check request.

Again, not a personal attack - simply pragmatic to what the provisions of both Moos' and Leach's contracts are. Moos is signed through, what, 2019? And Leach has the rollover that I would be absolutely shocked isn't exercised again this year.

Fans can bitch and moan all they want - but he's not going anywhere anytime soon.

Great post. You understand what is going on. I understand what is going on. Yet, it seems as if not to many do.

We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile.

.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

Regarding the delay getting home...

This is why I left Pullman at 8am to make sure I got over the pass by noon.

Commute was normal with no delays.

Just an FYI.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

Re: Pressure from where? Our 12,500 season ticket holders?

Ed, Falk didn't struggle due to other teams having "tape". He struggled due to playing an excellent D line.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

There is a hot seat brewing regardless of what anyone on here (or Brand X) thinks. There's still a pretty long window before it reaches a boil though. If WSU isn't in a bowl game again by the end of the 2016 season, Leach will be gone.

That doesn't matter in my mind though. As said above by someone else, I still feel confident in next season. We were a botched punt return, a couple missed field goals, a blown PI call and another missed field goal away from potentially being 6-0 to start this season. Stanford is a team on the edge and we were within a TD of them in the fourth quarter this year. Oregon State is a team in trouble. UW still needs to prove that they can beat teams that are playing with confidence. I can envision us finishing 9-4 next year if the new DC can get the defense to play with more consistency.

That would shut the hot seat down for the forseeable future. Honestly, just beating CSU would have kept the talk away this year. Leach still has a lot of wiggle room, but when you get to the point you have to fire one of your main assistants, you know that someone has fired up the burner. Let's hope we aren't having these conversations next December.

 

[CougPatrol]

I was towing a 35' trailer and had to wait until Noon to leave Pullman, as I needed to remove the snow and ice from my slide outs so I could bring them in.

Thanks for the tip about leaving early though.

 

[wulffbone]

No new DC will turn this team into a 9 win season next year (throw in the good luck/bad luck plays too). Triple the wins next year? The current defensive roster = a 3-4 win team max in the Pac-12. I agree OS might trend down, but Stan is not dropping much and Colorado, Cal are will improve. WSU is really not even in the same area code as UO, UCLA, USC, UW, or the Arizona schools. Utah is a mystery team, up/down.

Leach will get all the time he needs from Moos, WSU can't afford to buy him out. For those who would want CML out, hope for him to tire of losing.