Here's the thing. We know firing Aranda would be very expensive. That's the first point brought up to explain why he still has a job, and it's valid.
But let's say Rhoades has a flash of lucidity and fires Aranda. Now what? The program will need a total rebuild, because the morale is shot, recruits have no reason to think Baylor represents a conference contender let alone a national contender, and the fans have no reason to spend all that money and time coming to see the team unless it first proves it can win, which is going to be rough.
We can go for the flashy guy, but we probably have no shot at the really big names, and anyone with a reputation for titles who
would consider Baylor would demand a contract even more expensive and longer than Aranda's deal. And frankly in our history we have generally succeeded using coaches who were not well known. But it would take a very football-smart AD to know how to get that kind of unknown-diamond-in-the-rough head coach or coordinator, and I just don't see Rhoades as football-smart.
Now I am not a sports genius, but I have turned around failing businesses over and over for four decades. I recognize poor morale, unreasonable promises, stress from failure and other symptoms of a bad work team that are also present in this team. And I have seen successful coaches do the same thing all successful leaders do:
SHOW EMOTION in meaningful ways. ARGUE bad calls, get in close and talk to your team leaders on both sides of the ball, CHEER every score as loud as the best fan, and show fans that you care, each and every f-ing play.
DO NOT ACCEPT EXCUSES. Losing to middling teams is unacceptable, losing at home is unacceptable, and losing Homecoming needs more than a shrug and quiet excuses. Say what you will change, BE SPECIFIC and say how you will measure progress.
ADMIT WHEN YOUR PLANS ARE NOT WORKING. Everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes they are big. You cannot be credible as long as you pretend your plan has a chance of working even after it's obvious you have failed.
DON'T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR IDEAS. Self explanatory.
There is a point at which a leader has to sit down and be clear that the plan is not working, and a new direction is necessary. We were there after the first loss. In business, a boss who is not getting the job done goes on what is called a
Process Improvement Plan where clear goals are stated with consequences for failure. We were there by the 3rd loss.
Rhoades should already have taken those steps, and he needs to make public that he has done so. Vague assurances that Aranda is not going to be fired is the wrong message, not because Rhoades has to do what the public wants, but because the implied message from Rhoades is that losing is acceptable, regardless of how or to what school.
That's how an AD gets fired eventually. It's up to Rhoades if he finds a way to save Aranda by criticizing him in public, he fires Aranda, or he continues to ignore everything until his own seat gets warm enough to force a decision.
That which does not kill me, will try again and get nastier
