Will anyone defend Coach Tommy West?

Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

Chi-Town Wrote:

the other Greg Childers Wrote:missjtiger, RandyMc, UMTigerfan, tigerjeb, TigerBill......would you like to contribute to the honest, intelligent debate?

I told you to add me to your list.

When is someone intelligent coming by this thread to discuss this with us?

Be very careful. Ve haff you on our leest.

No, vait. Ve DON'T haff you on our leest. Vy do you vant to be on our leest? That is very suspcious. Be careful, or ve PUT you on our leest.

Tigers23 Wrote:

the other Greg Childers Wrote:Just to clean up the boards a bit, I suggest moving the remainder of the discussion about Tommy West and the football program here. There's no need to race across 15 different threads, when we can discuss it here.

I'll agree to keep the discussion polite, and use facts to back up my statements. I recommend that everyone else do the same.

I'll refrain from calling people "happy clappers." I recommend that everyone else refrain from calling me and others who agree as "miserables."

Let's have an honest, intelligent debate about the state of the football program, and do it without animosity. Let's see if we can do it.

We need speed and lots of it. At this current time, we have none.

Agreed, but how is it being addressed?

What does anyone know about Arkelon Hall?

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

This is where I stand with one exception: you have to extend the coach or he cannot recruit. I suggest you rework the buyout as part of the extension.And I think our big supporters are about big supported out unless it's for something special, like an OCS.

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

Based on public statements, it appears that Dr. Raines and RC are not in any hurry to upgrade the facilities. I strongly agree that we need to keep pressure on them to give the football team the same level of commitment as they have for the basketball team. Money doesn't guarantee anything, as teams with smaller budgets have beaten us several times this year, but it is a step in the right direction.

I think we should fire JLD! That would answer all the defensive problems

TigerBill Wrote:

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

This is where I stand with one exception: you have to extend the coach or he cannot recruit. I suggest you rework the buyout as part of the extension.And I think our big supporters are about big supported out unless it's for something special, like an OCS.

I fully agree that denying a coach an extension can hurt his recruiting efforts. However, if we fail to see real improvement we have no choice but to make a coaching change.

I strongly agree that the buyout clause needs to be reworked, so that if we don't see significant improvement in the football program we aren't held hostage to a hefty buyout clause.

Currently, Tommy has no real accountability to speak of.

Dwarren Wrote:I think we should fire JLD! That would answer all the defensive problems

When you go through three defensive coordinators in seven years, I think the problem may be elsewhere.

Wow, could we move this off of our main board?

The "net" of all of this is that there are differing opinions regarding our rate of success. Some of us have tried to be respectful in our discussions until pushed beyond the limits of reasonableness. Everyone has their limits.

This display isn't doing any of us any good on the main board. Let the discussions continue on the miserable board if anyone wants to.

TigerBill Wrote:

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

This is where I stand with one exception: you have to extend the coach or he cannot recruit. I suggest you rework the buyout as part of the extension.And I think our big supporters are about big supported out unless it's for something special, like an OCS.

Instead of extension I should have said raise. I think 900K is enough. Now maybe assistants salaries should be addressed but I am not privy to the amount they are being paid. Seems like we have a lot of assistant turnover every year which may be the main problem with recruiting although IMO we have been lazy in the last few years especially the last 2 deangelo years

Nah Greg it was all JLD'S fault! He didnt get us any players and thats still the reason why the D sucks.

calfan1 Wrote:

TigerBill Wrote:

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

This is where I stand with one exception: you have to extend the coach or he cannot recruit. I suggest you rework the buyout as part of the extension.And I think our big supporters are about big supported out unless it's for something special, like an OCS.

Instead of extension I should have said raise. I think 900K is enough. Now maybe assistants salaries should be addressed but I am not privy to the amount they are being paid. Seems like we have a lot of assistant turnover every year which may be the main problem with recruiting although IMO we have been lazy in the last few years especially the last 2 deangelo years

Raise? No. Okay, $1k just so he can say he got one if that makes an inpact on recruiting. But for Memphis at our current place, $900k seems more than fair. And you're right about the assistants, the head coach is only the start.

oldtiger Wrote:Wow, could we move this off of our main board?

The "net" of all of this is that there are differing opinions regarding our rate of success. Some of us have tried to be respectful in our discussions until pushed beyond the limits of reasonableness. Everyone has their limits.

This display isn't doing any of us any good on the main board. Let the discussions continue on the miserable board if anyone wants to.

I disagree. If we can keep the discussion honest, and without insult, it definitely belongs here. Moving it would only stifle open discussion and unfairly categorize it.

Why are people hesitant to take an honest look at the program?

calfan1 Wrote:

TigerBill Wrote:

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

This is where I stand with one exception: you have to extend the coach or he cannot recruit. I suggest you rework the buyout as part of the extension.And I think our big supporters are about big supported out unless it's for something special, like an OCS.

Instead of extension I should have said raise. I think 900K is enough. Now maybe assistants salaries should be addressed but I am not privy to the amount they are being paid. Seems like we have a lot of assistant turnover every year which may be the main problem with recruiting although IMO we have been lazy in the last few years especially the last 2 deangelo years

I've heard that we have been less than generous with our assistant coaches' salaries, and that definitely needs to be addressed.

At the same time, the program is losing money due to decreased ticket sales. Except for the hardcore base, the average fan has lost interest in the program and something has to be done to increase attendance at the games. Winning usually cures everything, but we lost attendance this year even with an improvement over last year's 2-10 record.

I think Tommy does great PSA's on the Radio. They have helped me to stop drinking and driving.

I vote lets keep him.

the other Greg Childers Wrote:

TigerBill Wrote:

calfan1 Wrote:Look Im not ready to fire Tommy just yet. Nor do I think he should be extended until he gets us to the next level which is IMO a division title. Without a doubt TW needs to do a better job on defense, special teams and recruiting. Also if he is being hampered by our administration whether it be RC or Dr Raines he should do like Cal does and hit the fedexes and other big boosters for support. Without a doubt the buck stops with tommy, but right now this university cant afford a buyout if we can afford any upgrades

This is where I stand with one exception: you have to extend the coach or he cannot recruit. I suggest you rework the buyout as part of the extension.And I think our big supporters are about big supported out unless it's for something special, like an OCS.

I fully agree that denying a coach an extension can hurt his recruiting efforts. However, if we fail to see real improvement we have no choice but to make a coaching change.

I strongly agree that the buyout clause needs to be reworked, so that if we don't see significant improvement in the football program we aren't held hostage to a hefty buyout clause.

Currently, Tommy has no real accountability to speak of.

WHAT IN THE WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS????????

Hey Greg after you are finish with the horse I'll take the carcass.... I need some more glue to help patch the hole in my wall where I have pounding my head all day after reading your babel for the past few days... jeesh are you special... did you not get enough attention over the holidays...

Do you need a hug??? Well maybe some else can give it you.....

I am very happy to see that someone out there at least cares enough to discuss the crumbling of the football program. Memphis has huge potential in football if there was a balls to the wall commitment. What I see is someone stating damn strong facts that the football program is going straight to hell, and others making silly little jokes about it. You f ers need to stop laughing at yourselves so much and realize that we are headed for disaster next year. I bet you comedians won't think it is so funny when Ole Miss pounds us like a porn star will ya? Or when UCF comes up here and hangs another half dollar on us. Or when we lose a few starters and we get the holy piss beat out of us by another piece of crap CUSA cellar dweller. Maybe then there will be some people out there that get sick of this bs, because I know i am already there.

Dwarren Wrote:Nah Greg it was all JLD'S fault! He didnt get us any players and thats still the reason why the D sucks.

I think most people agree that Joe Lee Dunn doesn't recruit. The problem appears to be deeper than that. Here are the defensive points allowed per game for each of Tommy's seven years as head coach:

2001 - 25.5
2002 - 27.3
2003 - 19.2
2004 - 31.3
2005 - 23.0
2006 - 30.4
2007 - 32.2

Except for 2003, none of them were particularly stellar. To put it into perspective 25 ppg allowed would rank 50th this year in Division 1-A football between Purdue at 24.8 ppg and Arkansas at 25.6.

This year they were 93rd out of 120 teams.

TigerBill Wrote:

Chi-Town Wrote:

the other Greg Childers Wrote:missjtiger, RandyMc, UMTigerfan, tigerjeb, TigerBill......would you like to contribute to the honest, intelligent debate?

I told you to add me to your list.

When is someone intelligent coming by this thread to discuss this with us?

Be very careful. Ve haff you on our leest.

No, vait. Ve DON'T haff you on our leest. Vy do you vant to be on our leest? That is very suspcious. Be careful, or ve PUT you on our leest.

That was pretty funny, for you.