If they’re going to let him go, it’s the way to do it. I agree most from a recruiting standpoint. It tends to be Ernie himself more than anything (system, pro prospects), that draws guys in, so knowing he won’t be here next year would paint a better picture.

I don’t think putting Ernie in that situation is the best for the program, for Ernie or the team this year. Look at UW when they did that same thing to Willingham, the players quit, recruits who may have been looking at the school bailed and fans became divided and the program slipped tremendously.

If you want to give a new coach a head start on recruiting and building the program, fire Ernie and let him walk now. If you want to let him finish the season, let him do so in a manner that will allow him to do with his head held high.

Don’t put him in a lose-lose situation where his only option is to hope that he gets some standing ovations and parting gifts.

Allow me to bore y’all with a personal experience.

The day before Christmas several years ago, the CIO of the company I was working for paid me a visit in my office (he was based in another city, so it was a bit of a hike for him).

He let me know that there was a “pretty good chance” that my job would be RIFd , possibly within “the next month or so.” Oh, and “Merry Christmas.”

Had I been so inclined, I could have used that period to wreak unseen havoc on the health care system in my community, leaving no trace. Although a scorched-earth policy would have been totally appropriate, I’m not that type; all I did was act sulky and depressed through the holidays, playing the sympathy card for all it was worth, knowing the ax was about to fall.

Two weeks later, the Chief Irrelevance Officer came in and dropped the ax.

Not only was my morale destroyed during this period, everyone who worked for and with me was aware of the issue; he didn’t tell me not to share, so why wouldn’t I?

Telling someone they’re going to be sacked after N days or weeks is just mean. “We’ll pay you for now, although we really don’t like you enough to keep you around, but go out there and do your best!”

Dumping a coach mid-season for performance reasons is a crazy idea. I think MB is smarter than that. Ernie Can’t is, likewise, smart enough to know his days may be numbered. But as long as he’s got some hope of pulling a rabbit out of a hat, he’ll do the best he can, which will be a LOT better than if he just doesn’t give a shit.

The ONLY reason to shitcan a coach in mid-season is for egregious contract violations, high crimes or misdemeanors. Get pulled over for a DUII with a dead cheerleader in the trunk? Probable cause. Being a so-so coach with a bad recent record and little evidence of a turnaround? Not even close.

Have some class. Show the guy a little dignity, he’s given us 13 years of loyal service.

/rant

PS: Consider how a mid-season firing would look to any potential replacement coaches.

Look, I support getting a new coach after the season, but Ernie has done enough for us to warrant the respect to finish the season. There’s a way of treating someone—especially one who’s been here for 13 years and made our program relevant again.