[Farm93]

Most coaches would in fact wonder about the institutional commitment to football if going 6-6 was just fine.

Oh, I don't know about that one.   I think a good number of coaches would be happy to take a step in their D1 head coaching career at a place with a rich history of 6-6 type seasons and near .500 in conference.

A program with a 6-6 history normally will be delighted if the team can go 9-3 once or twice in a four year contract.  Should the coach get that type of improvement they will then be in a position to pick the best 8-4/9-3 type programs or the NFL as the next step.  (See. Walsh I, Green and Harbaugh).

When Green became coach people on campus were pretty excited about the prospect of Stanford football returning to the edge of the top 25 in a year or two.  I even got promotional pieces as an incoming frosh that made it clear that the mere potential of a decent season was a reason to get season tickets.  At the time the edge of the top 25 implied a 7-4 type season which is the level Green achieved...before he left.

When Harbaugh arrived it had been a few years since the team went to a bowl game or beat its rival.   So I think most would have been thrilled for a few years of 6-6 ball with credible shot at winning the rivalry game.

In both cases taking moving from the basement and returning to 6-6 would be hailed as a success, and in both cases the coaches were literally working to get a new job before the start of their second season.   That's the reality for a 6-6 level program.

A 6-6 program and its hires are best served by knowing their situations.   The 6-6 program hopes to get a coach with grand ambitions, but the coach will leave as soon as they can get that first 8-4 type season unless they have some particular affinity for the school.  (see Shaw and Fitzgerald)

[Farm93]

Most coaches would in fact wonder about the institutional commitment to football if going 6-6 was just fine.

Oh, I don't know about that one.   I think a good number of coaches would be happy to take a step in their D1 head coaching career at a place with a rich history of 6-6 type seasons and near .500 in conference.

A program with a 6-6 history normally will be delighted if the team can go 9-3 once or twice in a four year contract.  Should the coach get that type of improvement they will then be in a position to pick the best 8-4/9-3 type programs or the NFL as the next step.  (See. Walsh I, Green and Harbaugh).

When Green became coach people on campus were pretty excited about the prospect of Stanford football returning to the edge of the top 25 in a year or two.  I even got promotional pieces as an incoming frosh that made it clear that the mere potential of a decent season was a reason to get season tickets.  At the time the edge of the top 25 implied a 7-4 type season which is the level Green achieved...before he left.

When Harbaugh arrived it had been a few years since the team went to a bowl game or beat its rival.   So I think most would have been thrilled for a few years of 6-6 ball with credible shot at winning the rivalry game.

In both cases taking moving from the basement and returning to 6-6 would be hailed as a success, and in both cases the coaches were literally working to get a new job before the start of their second season.   That's the reality for a 6-6 level program.

A 6-6 program and its hires are best served by knowing their situations.   The 6-6 program hopes to get a coach with grand ambitions, but the coach will leave as soon as they can get that first 8-4 type season unless they have some particular affinity for the school.  (see Shaw and Fitzgerald)