I was all for Coach Allen this whole time. I did not waver. Until the EKU game. It is time for him to go. Only a crazy person would say otherwise at this point. So now we must look forward to getting someone who can actually coach. I feel the standards should be high at Missouri State University. We ask for excellence from our professors and students. We should expect the same from sports teams. The goal should be to build a program that can contend for FCS national titles if we stay at this level. Or it should be someone that can guide us to Conference USA titles if we move up. With that in mind I have made a list of candidates in no real order.
1. Tom Matukewicz, LBS coach at the University of Northern Illinois (UNI). Well regarded fellow who is beloved in Carbondale. Knows the Valley, has high energy. Going to be a big winner someday.
2. Andy Hill, WR coach at Missou. A native of Trenton, MO much like yours truly. Big time recruiter. I despise Mu but this man is legit. He would do well.
3. Tim Beck, Pittsburg State. Long time assistant there. Good, loyal guy.
4. Tim McGuire, offensive coordinator SEMO. My OVC contacts say he is an X's and O's dynamo. The mad, scheming genius of the Ohio Valley. Seems like it might fit in Springfield. Plus he has to be dying to leave Cape Girardeau and live in a place that has a mall and nice restaurants.
5. Tim Brewster, ex head coach at Minnesota. Huge recruiting ties to Texas. Could be a huge benefit if we join the Texas heavy Conference USA.
6. Les Koennig, offensive coordinator at Mississippi State. Has coordinating experience at Texas A&m too. Told he is energetic in his age too.
7. Mark Mangino, ex Kansas coach. I know our last coach came from there and that Mark has had issues with his weight. But he is a staunch disciplinarian and an innovator. We could use both qualtites.
8. Sam Venuto, offensive coordiantor at Villanova. He is an easterner and could be a culture shock from Philly. But I hear he is a good X and O er. Surround him with energetic recruiters and our Bears might march down the field on Saturdays.
9. Jim Tressel ex the Ohio State coach. Let's get the violations at OSU out of the way right now and Youngstown too because he was a known cheater there too. He can handle the heat, I doubt anyhting will come to him for it. I'd have him if he was willing to come to Springfield.
10. Bill Parcells ex NFL. This one is for the WUShock fans who think that he will come out of retirement to resustitate there team. If he'd be willing to come back to his alma matar, then he'll come to Springfield righ? Just kidding of course.
I just kind of threw this together. In hindsight it is heavy with elderly white men which is probably not great. I look forward to others input as we get closer to the End Times for Gameball, Goofy Terry Allen. Get your licks in Valley fans while you can because Change is coming in Springfield and we will turn it around.