02-11-2020, 09:52 PM
(02-11-2020, 08:49 PM)BostonCard Wrote:(02-11-2020, 08:03 PM)Goose Wrote:(02-11-2020, 07:13 PM)BostonCard Wrote: So, what happens if Helton is fired on the Tarmac when coming back from a loss at Utah week five?
BC
Depends on who they hire. If the next day they announce Urban Meyer (not happening, but for example) or the return of Pete the Cheat, they will have a great recruiting class. If it is somebody you never heard of, much less so. The new AD will have some time to plan his approach. I would imagine he is putting out deniable feelers right now just as a precaution.
The last two times they have done so (Kiffin and Sarkisian's firings), they promoted an interim coach and then hired the permanent coach after the season. Sarkisian was hired Dec. 2; Helton was made the permanent coach Nov. 30. National signing day was Dec. 18 - 20 in 2019 (early period), so if past is prologue the new coach will have 2 - 3 weeks to solidify the recruiting class.
BC
I am assuming that unlike the previous cases, the new AD has his act together and if Helton is fired on the tarmac there will already be a guy that can be announced as the successor. That guy may not actually coach the rest of the games, but he will be known. The Toejam faithful will go nuts if the AD isn't ready with a replacement. Given the history, I can't see any way the AD would allow an interregnum with doubts about who will be next. That is why I think there is a search going on right now. If U$C stinks it up in the first three games, it will become offer time to the new guy, and Helton goes two weeks later.
The new AD would get nothing but support from the fan's if he got rid of Helton. That may not be fair, and the new AD may value what Helton has done more than the fan's do. That said, it would be suicidal to be unprepared to replace Helton without much delay. The fan's think it past time as it is.
I don't think the coach really needs to "solidify" the class. I do think guys are reluctant to sign at any school if they think a coaching change is probable and/or they don't like the current head coach. If there is no coach, it is doubly bad. A "big name" coach will cure a lot of doubts, as long as he is in place at least a few weeks before signing day. If it is actually a couple of months, so much the better.