The problem wasn't keeping RC too long. The problem was the Old Army mentality of "What you have was good enough for me so its good enough for you" and bean counter AD Wally Groff refusing to upgrade facilities that RC was pleading for until it was far too late.

As an example, Mack Brown got a really nice and spacious office that overlooked DKR. Meanwhile, RC was given a room attached to a parking garage that was so small there wasn't enough space to have enough chairs for a recruit and both of his parents to sit.

Hell, the West Side suites STILL have a fricking metal piss trough instead of urinals. One of the sit down toilets leaks enough water that there is constantly a puddle large enough that people flat out refuse to use it for fear of getting their pants soaked. It's been doing this since at least 2010. (although I think it was FINALLY fixed for this last game vs Mizzou)

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Posted by cardboardboxer

Member since Apr 2012

34342 posts

Posted on 11/20/14 at 1:56 pm to Dr RC

quote:
The problem wasn't keeping RC too long. The problem was the Old Army mentality of "What you have was good enough for me so its good enough for you" and bean counter AD Wally Groff refusing to upgrade facilities that RC was pleading for until it was far too late.

Yeah, I can see that. Heck I feel we had such a bad time in the 00's because of that same stubbornness- "recruits either take us as we are or they don't come." When you think like that, they don't come and you are screwed! One thing I will always give Sumlin credit for is fighting that old Army mentality and changing things like our game entrance. Drove me nuts that the Old Army guys would strut around like our program was this major program, but they weren't willing to make the sacrifices needed to actually be a major program and then have the audacity to wonder why the team sucks.

Still I look at that 1996 6-6 year, or his bowl record, or his shutouts late in his career and I get the feeling that maybe RC's success was less his doing and more the fact that during his time the other big programs in our area (LSU, Texas, etc.) sucked.

I mean, I really like RC as a person. He has opened my eyes about the 90's realignment. Just maybe me and others put too much stock on him being let go when he did being THE reason for our 00's problems.

Thank you for the insight.