Its all about perception

I hate to post emails two days in a row, because, let’s face it, you don’t pay Bob’s Blog what you pay to read emails, but I did it anyway. We have spent a fair amount of time investigating the love affair with Coach Fran this week, and asking the question, “is he as great as we all thought?” That, of course led to the question, “is he worthy of being paid what Stoopes and Mack get paid?” Which then led to the obvious question, “and why is Mack Brown thought of as a stooge, while Coach Fran is thought of as the next Bear Bryant?”

I am not sure the correct answer. I suppose it is Aggie Faithful wanting him to be good so badly that they cut him slack, while Longhorns fans have become accustomed to being good, and now demand great or else. In doing so, with apologists, it is common to remember R.C. Slocum’s final recruiting classes as a bunch of Special Olympics athletes, and therefore allow Coach Fran some additional wiggle room. Meanwhile, if Mack Brown loses to OU 1 more time, despite being a Top 5 team just about every year, he will be nominated as dunce of the century. Its all about perception, kids.

Here are some pretty solid emails:

Can you imagine the crap storm Mack would endure if he failed to go for two like Fran did? The supposed “better recruiter than Mack and better gameday coach than Stoops” is being exposed.

I think Fran will be fine but remember Mack took over a 4-7 UT team with NO defense and immediately went 9-3 with a Cotton Bowl win. Yes he had Ricky Williams but he also had a freshman QB. They were steam rolled by UCLA and K-State and then turned it around and have never lost less than 9 games. Obviously, I’m a UT guy and Mack certainly has his flaws but how does Fran escape the criticism after going 4-8 and 7-5 and losing to a very average Clemson team that never scored an offensive touchdown and still won.

Derek

We do forget that Mack Brown took over a team that was horrible (66-3 to UCLA) and quickly put them in significant Bowl games and 9 win seasons. You might say Ricky Williams was one of the best players in the nation, but I suggest Reggie McNeal is, too.

Good to see you all ask what’s so special about A&M and Fran especially. For some reason the media loves him and he gets a pass- same with A&M. They are ranked too high every year and once again it shows. They have fallen past TT as the 2nd best team in the state. I don’t remember Tech even missing a Bowl when Leach took over. He has taken a mediocre program and made it up and coming. Of course he is not loved by the media so he gets very little praise.

Look at Fran and A&M
road record: 2-9
overall: 11-14
Mcneal: 9-13 as a starter
Aggies have lost 5 of last 6

Andy

Ouch, 2-9 on the road??? How is that even possible? At Iowa State and at Oklahoma State (both in 2004) are the only two wins away from Kyle Field. And, I would have never guessed Reggie McNeal’s record as a starter.

Sports Sturm:

After all of the Fran man-love expressed on the ticket, I put together some definitive statistical analysis. You guys are right, he really needs to do SOMETHING. Here is a comparison, at their current jobs. Also included are the years immediately preceding their hire.

Key findings (during their current tenures):
1. Mack averages 10 wins a year, Fran 5.5
2. Mack averages end of year ranking 10.86th, Fran has yet to be ranked at TAM
3. TAM won more in the years preceding Fran than UT did preceding Mack, 14 to 12. So you can’t make the argument that he took over a down.

Fran has done a good job at TCU and Bama, but he needs to do something

Sam Elliott

What does this prove? That we all liked Coach Fran more? That Mike Leach doesn't even get discussed because of his personality? That Coach Mack has absurd expectations (including Saturday night when he will be EXPECTED to win a game at Ohio State). Perhaps, all of the above...

Links:

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Tomorrow, a full Cowboys preview…