It’s probably just a small number of people out there on Twitter, and I realize that social media sites can be dangerous places to do any kind of real research.
But I’m going to head down that path anyway because I just don’t get it.
During the past 24 hours I’ve seen more than a few dozen KU fans — I think they are, anyway — jump on Twitter and various message boards claiming that KU absolutely should go after former Georgia head coach Mark Richt, who was fired by the Bulldogs this weekend after a 9-3 season that looked much better on paper than it actually was. Georgia beat just one FBS team with a winning record all season and, once again, fell short of the enormous expectations people have for that program.
So Richt, the 55-year-old veteran head coach who compiled an overall record of 145-51 in 15 seasons, including SEC championships in 2002 and 2005 and runner-up trophies three other times, is out of a job and UGA is moving on.
That doesn’t mean KU should be.
Whether you’re a David Beaty believer or you think he’s the latest in a long line of KU coaches who will go down having got his shot and failed, the one thing I think all supporters and followers of KU football can agree on is that this program is in no position to continue changing head coaches.
What in the world about fielding five head coaches in the past eight seasons sounds so appealing that you’d want to make it six in nine?
As long as he shows progress, for better or worse, Beaty is going to and should get the length of his five-year contract. Giving him — or anyone — that kind of time is the only way to really see if something of substance can be built here. And it’s the only way to find out, yet again, if, when something substantial is built, it can be sustained for any real length of time.
So while Richt, who would be a fine choice to lead any program, will go on to find another job, there’s no reason for anyone around here to think that it will or even should be at Kansas.
For the first time in a long time, it can be said with certainty that KU has its head coach and he’s a guy an overwhelming majority of the fan base has gotten behind.
