EDIT: Sorry about the article length. Had to break it up into four different parts to post it. Lots on my mind needless to say.
Alright Arm Chair QBs and Playstation Coaches....put down the controllers and listen up.....
Turning Fanboys into Superheroes, High End Coaches, and Elite Commandos since 1996
I'm getting sick and tired of all the Message Board ADs out there who believe they have all the solutions to turning us into an instant elite program. Their ideas not only won't work but they're dangerous to the long term health of this program. Let's recap first though shall we?
As much as it pains me to say, ASU is NOT an elite program, nor do I think we ever truly will be. Now does that not mean we can't be a great program? No I strongly believe we can. But "elite?" Never. Why? I believe in order to be a truly "elite" program you not only have to have boosters with unlimited deep pockets, but you have to have a rabid fan base with decades upon decades of traditions that includes Heismans, Upper-Tier Bowl Games, National Titles, and fans that pass down that tradition from generation to generation to generation. Let's be honest...there are probably only about ten such programs that exist and USC would be the only one in the Pac.
You mean we're not elite?
What we can be however is another Stanford or Oregon (up until their meteoric collapses). Both programs are great programs. They're not "elite" but they are great programs. Both programs however had plenty of things going for them that we do not, nor do I anticipate probably ever will.
First these programs have deep pockets. Stanford with all of its Silicon Valley cash and Oregon with the Nike mint. Next these programs were not built over night. Stanford was pathetic for decades and Harbaugh's teams were a joke his first two years at Stanford and his third year team was mediocre. Oregon went through a lot of inconsistency with Mike Belotti. For every Rose Bowl year they produced, they also had a number of 7-8 win mediocre seasons. (Sound familiar?) Still Oregon stuck through it and the consistency of Belottie lead to the smooth transition to Chip Kelly and put them in place to be a great program. Much could be said the same way Harbaugh transitioned to Shaw. Third these programs have incredible national brand appeal that allows them recruit nationally. Oregon with its ties to Nike and Stanford through its educational reputation. Now what did these programs not do? They didn't call for their coaches heads after every little bump in the road. They didn't piss and moan that they weren't elite programs after three years. (They aren't even today) While Oregon likely will want to get rid of Helfrich, do you think Stanford wants to get rid of Shaw? Not happening.
Gold plated urinals for the new volleyball only facility? Sure! How much?
So for those of you wanting Graham's head let's look at the harsh reality of where this program has been, where it is today, and where it's going:
(continued below)
Alright Arm Chair QBs and Playstation Coaches....put down the controllers and listen up.....
Turning Fanboys into Superheroes, High End Coaches, and Elite Commandos since 1996
I'm getting sick and tired of all the Message Board ADs out there who believe they have all the solutions to turning us into an instant elite program. Their ideas not only won't work but they're dangerous to the long term health of this program. Let's recap first though shall we?
As much as it pains me to say, ASU is NOT an elite program, nor do I think we ever truly will be. Now does that not mean we can't be a great program? No I strongly believe we can. But "elite?" Never. Why? I believe in order to be a truly "elite" program you not only have to have boosters with unlimited deep pockets, but you have to have a rabid fan base with decades upon decades of traditions that includes Heismans, Upper-Tier Bowl Games, National Titles, and fans that pass down that tradition from generation to generation to generation. Let's be honest...there are probably only about ten such programs that exist and USC would be the only one in the Pac.
You mean we're not elite?
What we can be however is another Stanford or Oregon (up until their meteoric collapses). Both programs are great programs. They're not "elite" but they are great programs. Both programs however had plenty of things going for them that we do not, nor do I anticipate probably ever will.
First these programs have deep pockets. Stanford with all of its Silicon Valley cash and Oregon with the Nike mint. Next these programs were not built over night. Stanford was pathetic for decades and Harbaugh's teams were a joke his first two years at Stanford and his third year team was mediocre. Oregon went through a lot of inconsistency with Mike Belotti. For every Rose Bowl year they produced, they also had a number of 7-8 win mediocre seasons. (Sound familiar?) Still Oregon stuck through it and the consistency of Belottie lead to the smooth transition to Chip Kelly and put them in place to be a great program. Much could be said the same way Harbaugh transitioned to Shaw. Third these programs have incredible national brand appeal that allows them recruit nationally. Oregon with its ties to Nike and Stanford through its educational reputation. Now what did these programs not do? They didn't call for their coaches heads after every little bump in the road. They didn't piss and moan that they weren't elite programs after three years. (They aren't even today) While Oregon likely will want to get rid of Helfrich, do you think Stanford wants to get rid of Shaw? Not happening.
Gold plated urinals for the new volleyball only facility? Sure! How much?
So for those of you wanting Graham's head let's look at the harsh reality of where this program has been, where it is today, and where it's going:
(continued below)
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