I placed this on the previous thread, but it got lost in the shuffle:
Let me say this: I believe that Marshall has underperformed during Doc's tenure, but just by a bit. I'm not sure where any of us get the impression that Marshall should be winning the East every year under any circumstances. For instance:
1. For those that think MU's resources should allow it to be competitive every year in C-USA, take a look at MU's athletic budget. Its mid-range in C-USA (and would be, by far, the lowest in any 'upgrade' to the AAC). We don't have a large student body to subsidize the athletic budget (unlike FAU or FIU that only have to put a $10 surcharge on their students to raise 1/2 million). The Joan is a mediocre facility, and there are several in C-USA better than what we have - unlike 1-AA or MAC days when it was by far the best.
2. For those that think our talent exceeds our peers, I'd partially agree with that, but that's directly attributable to Doc's recruiting prowess. FAU and UAB have similar talent, FIU should, Southern Miss/No Texas/Middle Tenn/WKU have in the past and likely will again. What makes us so special that you think we should have the best talent year after year? History shows us that its all cyclical, AND success at the D1 level is largely about the QBs that you develop - Cato was a jewel, IG not so much. Looks like we have a potential great one now, but that's not assured from year to year.
3. For those that think our tradition should allow us to win every single year - do you think 18 year old kids care about Chad/Byron/Chris Parker/Doug Chapman? Of course not - they MAY remember Randy, but that's likely only b/c of the "Mossed" segment on ESPN. Once they get here, I think they can be immersed in what MU football means, but its not going to GET them here unless they're local and we all know how limited that pool is.
4. Do you think another coach would necessarily pull Marshall to new heights? Tell that to ECU, Southern Miss, WKU, and Rice, let alone WVU, South Carolina, Penn State, etc.
I bleed green as much or more than anyone on here. I literally grew up on campus, and watched MU football from 1966 on. I don't, however, see the program through the rose colored glasses that a lot of you do, and I firmly believe that we should be thanking our lucky stars that we have program stability and the successes we've had under Doc.