Topic: Hung out to dry

[MUWashU]

Given that Bob Pruett has strongly denied that his health played any role in his retirement, saying repeatedly only that "it's time" to quit, I admit to being pretty angry about the timing. Assuming there is no hidden issue at play he should have  made this decision in December when a full search could have been conducted in advance of recruiting.

In the alternative he should have committed to staying with the program through next season. He could have announced today that this will be his last year and that "it's time" to let his assistants be more involved in the day to day aspects of the program this spring and next season. He could have been a football CEO like Bobby Bowden for a year. We would then have plenty of time to work out a succession plan.

As it stands, we are in a complete hole in trying to develop momentum into our new league. The knee jerk appointment of Kueck is not likely to bring stability as many fans will believe the "interim" job should have gone to Gale. I think it is telling that Kueck was the only assistant at the press conference today.  If Kueck is still running things going into the season he'll have to get the interim tag removed or he'll be simply regarded as a lame duck caretaker which does no good for anyone - fans, players or potential recruits.

The options seem limited to removing "interim" from Kueck's title and make him the head coach and hope for the best or complete the quickest search in history and get a new coach in here before Spring ball ends - a pretty tough job given the time of year.

Pruett has done more for this University than any coach I can recall and he will always be remembered for it. I will also remember the way he left and the uncertainty he caused.

[W0lfman]

"Its time" doesn't make any sense to me.  Pruett has moved our University further than anyone has ever done.  He should be there to guide us into a new conference against better teams, he should be on the sideline if we ever get wvu at home, he should be on the sidelines for our biggest home game ever with a BCS team...no coach its not time.  

I think Pruett's leadership is needed now more than ever.  We're at a crossroads, and it would sure comfort the hell out of me knowing that someone as loyal to MU as Pruett is/was was still driving the bus.  Turning the job over to someone else at this stage of growth is unnerving to say the least.

[HerdRocks]

The timing is extremely poor for someone who supposedly cares and cared about the university so much. As has been said , the other shoe has yet to drop

[Liv4daherd]

The thing that concerns me the most is the lack of stability.  As long as you have a head coach with an "interim" tag then stability will cease to exist.  IMHO, we need to conduct a national search and have a permanent head coach before fall camp, preferably sooner.  The longer we prolong this the more recruiting and ticket sales will suffer.  I like Larry Kueck and believe he's a good assistant and good man but IMO we need the best, fresh outside "new blood" we can get.  With Farrell being the interim university president and now Kueck being the interim head football coach, I sincerely hope that "Kayo" sticks around for a few more years for stability purposes and to keep this thing together until we can right the ship.  If Kayo decides to leave anytime soon--we're up the proverbial creek without a paddle.  

Coach Pruett repeatedly told univeristy officals, fans, alumni and boosters about how we needed to step-up and fund the program in order to compete at the highest level.  Maybe this is his way of forcing Marshall's hand by sacrificing the remainder of his coaching career knowing that whoever becomes his replacement that Marshall will have to make an overall committment to funding the program.  Just a thought!