The "Win at all Cost" Syndrome

#1

CountVolcula

Eternal Vol
Joined
Nov 3, 2008
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#1
This is what we are seeing today in CFB

Its what it has become, even at Tennessee

The win at all costs is what happens when CFB became what it it is. A huge money making extravaganza, brought on by big T.V. contracts and pressure of the fans to always be the best

This pressure has made coaches take risks with players that normally they would not touch with a 10 ft poll. Players that have character flaws, bad grades, criminal backgrounds, etc. They take these risks because they are talented football players, but not normally solid character individuals.

Coaches know that the pressure to win from fans, alumni, and administrators means that if they dont take chances with these players, they likely wont be around long

But there is the catch 22.

Once these players dont pan out, the fans turn on the coaches. They begin to blame them for taking the risk or second guessing decisions of suspensions or dismissals of these players.

You can take a bird out of the flock, but it will always be a bird.

We have helped create this syndrome. The looking over our shoulder and dismissing things because they are talented and can win us some games. It begins before the time they get to JV in High School. Problem overlooked because they run fast and can catch a ball

Until CFB coaches quit recruiting players with issues, this will continue to happen

Might as well get use to it. The game is too big and the reward too great. You take the chance and hope that they behave for 4 years.
 
#2
#2
I dont think its anything new. It's been this way for as long as I can remember.
 
#7
#7
The four JUCO starters on defense and one on offense are also massive academic risks. Unlike DaRick, I hope we will be singing Dooley's praises after 8/31 for recruiting those guys.
 
#8
#8
Its gotten worse

I dont remember too much gun play when I was growing up

Mainly drugs, drinking, and occasional fighting

Nothing has gotten worse, fans are just exposed to a lot more of it. It is naive to think otherwise. Robert Neyland was bringing in players to Tennessee in the 30's and 40's that had no business being college students just like Bear Bryant did at Alabama.
 
#9
#9
I am a UT fan, and I am in no way responsible for whether-or-not a coach recruits a moron.

Sure you are. We all are.

If a coach goes the choir boy route in the SEC, he wont win, we'll all run him out of town, he'll end up out of a job and 7 figure coaching jobs aren't plentiful.
 
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#10
#10
Its gotten worse

I dont remember too much gun play when I was growing up

Mainly drugs, drinking, and occasional fighting

It hasn't gotten worse. You just didn't hear about this crap 10 or 20 years ago because of media and communication limitations. Its the age of instant communication. There is a story, tweet, facebook comment, etc. about every little thing that is said and done. Same ol ****.
 
#11
#11
I am not a Dooley fan until he does something on the field but this is a sign that he may be taking charge of this team. If he had done this last year we would have been in a bowl game and the program would have been perceived as heading in the right direction.

It is time for this kid to grow up or else.
 
#12
#12
Although I agree with what you say Count, it's just the way things work today. It's either evolve with the times or get left behind.

I for one am tired of getting 'left behind' and if it means taking a few risks to get the reward, so be it. 'High Character' is great, don't get me wrong...but look at what others are accomplishing by looking the other way here and there...
I'm sick of UT being left behind for the past decade because Fulmer and others didn't 'evolve' with the way the CFB landscape was changing. 1-7 in the SEC is simply unacceptable, and if it means dealing with a few jackass players to get results, then so be it...

The Rogers situation is just another example of where this team has a lack of leadership. If there were true leaders on this team, they would've put Da'prick in his place by now and it wouldn't be an issue...
 
#13
#13
The problem is that none of this self awareness ever happens until something bad occurs within your program, If Da"rick gets kicked off and we go 14-0, none of us will be worried about the system that is college football. Tuscaloosa has as much dirty stuff going on as any town, and I promise you Bama fans aren't worried about college football. The real problem is the amount of time, energy and effort that we as fans invest in these programs.
 
#14
#14
It hasn't gotten worse. You just didn't hear about this crap 10 or 20 years ago because of media and communication limitations. Its the age of instant communication. There is a story, tweet, facebook comment, etc. about every little thing that is said and done. Same ol ****.

Toting a gat and robbing folks didnt happen back in the day

Just sayin
 
#15
#15
Sure you are. We all are.

If a coach goes the choir boy route in the SEC, he wont win, we'll all run him out of town, he'll end up out of a job and 7 figure coaching jobs aren't plentiful.

The coach is in that position because he chooses to be. The school has a football program because they choose to have one. If they make their decisions based on fans (doubtful) or money (definitely) that's on them, not on us. If they made decisions based on fans, John Gruden would be making $20 mil/year right now.
 
#16
#16
I am compelled to agree with Volcula in that it is getting worse. True, it has been that way to some degree for decades, but amount of revenue that is now involved and the resulting pressure to win is out of control.
 
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#21
#21
Sure you are. We all are.

If a coach goes the choir boy route in the SEC, he wont win, we'll all run him out of town, he'll end up out of a job and 7 figure coaching jobs aren't plentiful.


And if we don't run him out of town, then we're Clemson and we will be perpetually mediocre.

I'll take win at all costs.
 
#22
#22
I am compelled to agree with Volcula in that it is getting worse. True, it has been that way to some degree for decades, but amount of revenue that is now involved and the resulting pressure to win is out of control.


Urban Meyer won two national championships taking the "win at all costs" approach to its extreme.

And I bet you're glad he did. I would be.
 

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