As I wrote in a previous thread, demoting McDonald (essentially firing him) mid-season was, IMHO, a major screw up; a really poor decision that we are now starting to see the fallout from with this recent de-commit and other de-commits potentially pending. But to compound that decision with what I believe to be the premature appointment of Lester as permanent OC is equally baffling to me.
Look, recruiting is the lifeblood of any program, which is why Shafer brought in the very best recruiter he could get his hands on (presumably) when he hired McD, a nationally respected and ranked recruiter. But acquiring that kind of talent doesn't come easily or cheaply, so in order to lure him away from the SEC --not Directional Midwest U or Div III Podunk State -- Shafer had to make it worth his while by offering him the OC slot, $$$ and a fancy title (Associate Head Coach). That, my friends, is what's called making an investment and a commitment. It's a football marriage.
And just like in real life, if you have huge wedding, go off on an expensive honeymoon to an exotic locale, and get pregnant only to turn around and file for divorce 18 months later, then that initial decision to get married was obviously a poor one and not very well thought out.
Or for a football analogy: it's like trading up to the 1st round to draft a QB who, despite having a so-so 1st year as a rookie starter, still managed to lead your team to the playoffs. However, in his second season, after a rocky start (which wasn't entirely his fault), you not only decide to bench him, but you flat-out cut him?!
I think most would agree that that would be the height of incompetence and organizational mismanagement. Yet that's essentially what Shafer did by demoting McD (and ensuring his departure). And you can bet that there will be some in the coaching community who will see it as Shafer throwing GM under the bus and view SS unfavorably b/c of it. Good luck luring another accomplished recruiter from a P5 school w/ McD's resume up to Syracuse.
Back to the marriage analogy, Kim Kardashian can get a quicky divorce from one millionaire, then turn around & marry another one b/c she's one of the s e xiest women on the planet. What exactly is Shafer going use this time to lure the "next" McD? $$$? His "fair" treatment of coaches? His fiery demeanor? What? And now the fallout is beginning on the recruiting trail with this recent de-commit, hopefully NOT the first of many.
And for what? The offense still stinks and statistically, Lester has been worse than GM. Yet for some reason, he's already been anointed OC for the future. Why? Based on what? Wouldn't the more prudent thing be to just let the season play out, then afterwards, survey the results and the broader landscape -- meaning seeing what other potential OC candidates become available -- and THEN make a final decision on the OC?
Look, I'm not calling for Shafer to be fired b/c frankly, I really want him to succeed. The last thing this program needs is to hit the re-set button again and start all over. But IMO, dumping McD so abruptly was a short-sighted, reactionary, poorly thought out move; this is chess, not checkers. And now rushing to name Lester OC when he's been just as mediocre as the guy he replaced, is an equally curious choice, especially when there was absolutely no need to make it now. It's that kind of decision making that really only raises more questions for me about Shafer's ability to lead this program.
But in the end, I guess we just gotta hope he gets it all right. An upset over Duke this weekend would be a great start!
