I say wait and see. We go to a bowl and have the 25th ranked recruiting class for next year and solid players returning; why jump the gun? Take the money used to replace coach and go shopping for solid players at our weak spots.

1. The buyout is wasted money that could be used to strengthen roster

2. The next coach will take 3 years to turn this around and coach A could do it in 2.

3. The buyout gets cheaper as contract span narrows

4. We are just now figuring out who we are going to be in the new era, how we approach pay for play

5. Coach A seems to be a person of integrity who reflects well the BU culture

6. There are too many openings already and the future of BU football would be even less certain with the level of coach we are likely to attract and the length of contract we would be forced to sign

7. We are not Texas AM; we do not have their resources. Nor do we have LSU resources….

8. Some fans need to stop complaining and write checks

9. Coach has won some big games, and his teams never quitSMU comes to mind, who just beat Miami.

10. We lose nothing by waiting and making an informed choice.


Now I expect to be pounded by rabid fans.

Let's not kid ourselves. Aranda is a failed FBS head coach. If we get rid of him, nobody else is going to hire him in that role...not even UAB. A G5 team is probably going to bring him on as a linebackers coach or defensive coordinator (after looking at his defenses at Baylor, coordinator might be a stretch).

I'm willing to have him here for another year if they are willing to take substantial steps to improve the athletic department. In other words, a new extremely competent AD who can hire a successful head coach next year after Aranda turns in what are very likely to be back to back losing seasons.

I'm aware of the ridiculous number of open FBS jobs (12, which could easily become 14) right now and I have some questions about the wisdom of stepping into that fray.

Also, this article gives some options as far reducing his paycheck and improving our NIL.

Mike Norvell giving $4.5 million in salary back to Florida State in latest evolution of revenue share era

But I want someone fired this year, either Dave or Mack (Mack would be my preference).

I'm not going to going to rail against your thoughts. After all you're entitled to any/all opinions.
But I'll say this. Other openings should have zero bearing on what BU does.
Dave should be out. Beating UCF in Waco shouldn't be a job saver. If it is than that's telling of just how low expectations are, getting to a bowl at 6-6 shouldn't keep his job.
Reeling in a top 25 recruiting class shouldn't either. Recruiting classes mean very little if the kids aren't being developed.
Baylor came into this season with high expectations. Expectations I'll add that Dave himself set. He failed miserably to meet those expectations. He's been given 6 years and endless chances. At seasons end it'll be time to move on imo

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Other openings should have zero bearing on what BU does.

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While I'd like to think this, the reality is that supply and demand matters. Aside from questions about how desirable a specific program is based on intangibles, the contract you're doing to be able to negotiate is directly related to how many others are trying to negotiate one.

Also, if that article is predictive of the future, it's possible that the golden era of FBS head coaching salaries is ending and we're going to be able to negotiate a cheaper contract in 2026 than we can now.

That's why I'm advocating for firing Mack this year, reworking Dave's contract, and getting rid of him next year.

But one thing is clear: Dave has failed as an FBS head coach and no number of additional seasons is going to change that. We know it. He knows it. The media knows it. The only question is what is the right strategy and timing to make that change.

Wait and see. He may win 1, 2, or even 4 more games this year (bowl being 4th)

"the golden era of FBS head coaching salaries is ending"

I think this is 100% the case. Much like in the NFL today, soon in college, the coach will be one of the lowest paid people in the room.

Also I should add point 8 is quite literally the dumbest argument. This is a message board. Whether or not someone writes checks is completely irrelevant in the context of message board opinions.

Only point of any logical value is 1. The rest is nonsense.

College football isn't the same game with NIL. It's really going to be less enjoyable for most teams without sugar daddies going forward.

I respect your opinions, however #2 is pure speculation. Dave has had much longer than 2 years and we are where we are. #4 is an indictment on him and shows he was not prepared to be a head coach in this new era of NIL.

Who has these sort of low expectations. If your company CEO showed these sort of results - they would be fired. He's not even meeting "satisfactory" review status.

If they are afraid of the cost to "buyout" Dave, then they need to fire Mack NOW.

If Mack has a buyout then an alumni of Baylor need to press do a full review of Baylors procedures for contracting. The "value" of my degree with this institution has falling significantly with the current administration.

Do a 3 for 1 and take out Linda, Mack and Dave. Then press the restart button.

Wait and see.

As long as as we keep making bowl games, he's sticking around.

8. Some fans need to stop complaining and write checks.

Said checks will be written when BU leadership and BOR, whether present or future, embrace the truth that a truly great university can simultaneously be an academic powerhouse and a football powerhouse. Not before. Not until.

The college football landscape has changed. Top to bottom, there is only a marginal difference between winning and losing in the Big 12. Mediocrity is the norm.

It sucks, but this is what life in the Big 12 is going to be like now that ESPN, the SEC, and the Big 10 rigged the game in their favor.

Aranda will have ups and downs. If we don't like him, that's fine. But we will need to stick with the new coach through the same ups and downs, with 8-9 wins being the realistic target.

I like conference championships as much as the next guy, but fighting your way through a field of 16 with everyone having the same talent and resources will set you up for disappointment if you're expecting trophies every year.

OP's #6 should be #1:

6. There are too many openings already and the future of BU football would be even less certain with the level of coach we are likely to attract and the length of contract we would be forced to sign.

BearlyBeloved said:

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OP's #6 should be #1:

6. There are too many openings already and the future of BU football would be even less certain with the level of coach we are likely to attract and the length of contract we would be forced to sign.

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Going forward pay the players not the coach. Paying coaches is the old model. Pro coaches make a LOT less than Pro star players who are the real difference makers.

Nah, time to burn it all to the ground and start over, and that includes a new AD. Rhoades' poor judgement is why Baylor football is handcuffed to Aranda in the first place. He can't be trusted to hire the next coach.

The problem is 2025 was the "wait and see" year. Fans waited, saw and are telling you with their absence and opinions that what they've been watching isn't good enough.

It had been my preference all year that Dave Aranda figure things out and get a chance to fix the defense with a new, proven DC in the offseason. I didn't want to throw away all the positives off the field, if I thought he could fix the problems on the field.

The problem is the TCU and Cincinnati games provided further proof that he very likely is just incapable of fixing this team's many on-field problems. And most fans (unlike me, who was willing to wait and see) had already made that determination before this season even kicked off.

You can't keep telling the consumer they're wrong and expect to have people continue buying your product. The fanbase has spoken. The Dave Aranda era is over for them, whether it is for our administration or not. And when fans lose belief/check out, it's only a matter of time until the bottom falls completely out.

TeamPlayer said:

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The college football landscape has changed. Top to bottom, there is only a marginal difference between winning and losing in the Big 12. Mediocrity is the norm.

It sucks, but this is what life in the Big 12 is going to be like now that ESPN, the SEC, and the Big 10 rigged the game in their favor.

Aranda will have ups and downs. If we don't like him, that's fine. But we will need to stick with the new coach through the same ups and downs, with 8-9 wins being the realistic target.

I like conference championships as much as the next guy, but fighting your way through a field of 16 with everyone having the same talent and resources will set you up for disappointment if you're expecting trophies every year.

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That's not just the Big 12, it's all of college football. Georgia and Alabama are squeaking by mediocre teams every week, and the SEC programs that used to be good, but not quite great (like Tennessee, for example) are all going to lose four or five games.

Fans wanted more parity in college football, and we've got it now. I, for one, love it. But you have to adjust your expectations accordingly. Teams aren't just going to line up and destroy everyone on their schedule anymore. It's more like the NFL, where narrow margins decide who wins and loses most games.

fredbear said:

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Wait and see. He may win 1, 2, or even 4 more games this year (bowl being 4th)

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Even if the Bears win out including a bowl game to go 9-4, all of the same people will still be saying he's already proven that he's not worthy, and we're just wasting time. The sun rising tomorrow morning is only *slightly* more predictable.

If Baylor beats Utah, they probably will win out - even if they lose, 2-1 to finish the regular season feels very possible right now, after Houston went down to a pretty mediocre WVU squad.

Bearknuckle said:

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fredbear said:

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Wait and see. He may win 1, 2, or even 4 more games this year (bowl being 4th)

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Even if the Bears win out including a bowl game to go 9-4, all of the same people will still be saying he's already proven that he's not worthy, and we're just wasting time. The sun rising tomorrow morning is only *slightly* more predictable.

If Baylor beats Utah, they probably will win out - even if they lose, 2-1 to finish the regular season feels very possible right now, after Houston went down to a pretty mediocre WVU squad.

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2-1 is a 7-5 season, representing the abject mediocrity that has marked most of Aranda's Baylor tenure.

Most of us are past the point of celebrating mediocrity.

bear2be2 said:

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Bearknuckle said:

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fredbear said:

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Wait and see. He may win 1, 2, or even 4 more games this year (bowl being 4th)

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Even if the Bears win out including a bowl game to go 9-4, all of the same people will still be saying he's already proven that he's not worthy, and we're just wasting time. The sun rising tomorrow morning is only *slightly* more predictable.

If Baylor beats Utah, they probably will win out - even if they lose, 2-1 to finish the regular season feels very possible right now, after Houston went down to a pretty mediocre WVU squad.

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2-1 is a 7-5 season, representing the abject mediocrity that has marked most of Aranda's Baylor tenure.

Most of us are past the point of celebrating mediocrity.

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I know you how you feel, you've been quite clear. We see things differently, and it's a free country. Enjoy your Sundayz

Bearknuckle said:

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bear2be2 said:

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Bearknuckle said:

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fredbear said:

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Wait and see. He may win 1, 2, or even 4 more games this year (bowl being 4th)

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Even if the Bears win out including a bowl game to go 9-4, all of the same people will still be saying he's already proven that he's not worthy, and we're just wasting time. The sun rising tomorrow morning is only *slightly* more predictable.

If Baylor beats Utah, they probably will win out - even if they lose, 2-1 to finish the regular season feels very possible right now, after Houston went down to a pretty mediocre WVU squad.

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2-1 is a 7-5 season, representing the abject mediocrity that has marked most of Aranda's Baylor tenure.

Most of us are past the point of celebrating mediocrity.

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I know you how you feel, you've been quite clear. We see things differently, and it's a free country. Enjoy your Sundayz

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You seem to be trying to make the point that Baylor fans are being unfair to Aranda because they're unsatisfied with 7-5 seasons in "good" years.

I'm just saying that 7-5 (which seems like the best case scenario at this point) is mediocrity by any standard. And it would be silly to expect fans to celebrate that.

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8. Some fans need to stop complaining and write checks

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When leadership demonstrates that they won't take those contributions and throw them into a bonfire, that might happen.

My baseline to contribute is to see Linda, Mack, and Dave gone.

The ceiling at Baylor is Big12 titles. I don't expect to win one every year but I do expect at this time of year to be in the mix for it more years than not. Not fighting to simply make a crappy bowl game.

Kudos indeed to Aranda for the recruiting and retention of last year's core. That being said do we trust this staff to properly develop the talent? If not then it doesn't matter how high the class is ranked. Look at Auburn. Freeze recruited at a very high level and had arguably the top portal haul. He didn't generate the wins and got fired.

I wanted CDA to workout more than anyone. I like the guy and what he stands for but since 2021 this team has been plagued by inconsistent play, poor defense, and rotating coordinators. At some point that has to lead up to the head coach… especially the defensive problems since that's his side of the ball. Again I will bring up Auburn. Their offense is a train wreck and that's Hugh Freeze's calling card supposedly.

As far as not attracting a quality candidate pool that is a defeatist attitude and doesn't line up with recent history. Rhule was a bit out of left field but a quality hire after a double digit win season at Temple. Aranda was a hot commodity when we hired him coming off a national title. We've never been worried about what LSU and Penn State do for hires. We fish in a different pond. The question is where do we think we stack up with Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech. Baylor is viewed as a good job in the coaching community. Sits in fertile recruiting grounds. 90 min drive from DFW and Austin. Houston and San Antonio aren't far either. We pay pretty well, have top of the line facilities for our conference, and are pretty patient. Not many schools would've retained Aranda after that 3-9 season. Kevin Steele, Guy Morris, and Briles were all given time. Good resources, good location, and a patient admin. What's not to like?

You are of course entitled to your opinion but I think the rub here is Bear2 is expressing what many on this board agree with and that is that 6-6 or 7-5 should not be considered a very successful season. You seem to think otherwise which is a take your a free to have. When the head coach at the start of season calls the team the most talented he's had and then that team proceeds to play .500 football it doesn't instill confidence for most people. The Big12 is a winnable league for Baylor and since 2021 we haven't come close. No one expects us to win it every year, just to be competitive and not have to constantly have furious 4th quarter rallies. By competitive I mean in the title hunt come November.

2. The next coach will take 3 years to turn this around and coach A could do it in 2.

lol. He hasn't in 6.

With all due respect, it is all about writing checks. We can all mouth all day long, and, certainly, this is the outlet for carping. But if you really want things to change you have to write checks, big checks. If you want Aranda gone, a couple of you high rollers pony up and provide the payout. If you don't, he is staying. If you want him to stay, wtite NIL checks so he can buy defenders. But talk is cheap. If you really want to have an impact you have to write a check. Ask Cody at Tech about how to truly have the power to shape a program. Useless chat is fun and therapeutic, but leaves us in the same muck and mire. The solution is the same in either direction, millions!

I personally don't think Baylor's AD/Admin are even remotely talking about letting AD go (even if they had the money). I think they are thrilled with 5-4 and the possibility of a bowl game with one more win. This is where we are now, so I will reevaluate my spending on Baylor football. I think Baylor's AD/Admin should be concerned about the current and future crowds (and support) at games. They have totally lost any momentum from 2021. It's only going to continue to go down from here. I am not sure Baylor can continue to withstand alienating another generation of fans.

Bearknuckle said:

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fredbear said:

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Wait and see. He may win 1, 2, or even 4 more games this year (bowl being 4th)

---

Even if the Bears win out including a bowl game to go 9-4, all of the same people will still be saying he's already proven that he's not worthy, and we're just wasting time. The sun rising tomorrow morning is only *slightly* more predictable.

If Baylor beats Utah, they probably will win out - even if they lose, 2-1 to finish the regular season feels very possible right now, after Houston went down to a pretty mediocre WVU squad.

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So much speculation here. Like counseling somebody not to invest all of their money into lottery tickets and them countering with "but what if I win, will you still think it's a bad decision".

I think people are ignoring the fact that Dave straight up got booed at the meet the Bears thing yesterday. And I'm guessing the people that did that aren't just a handful of fans on a message board. Our fan base as a whole is done with this guy.

Any of you piss ants on this board think you have any pull can go cry in the corner and join the BU circle jerk.

College football has changed and Baylor is feeling just the tip of the iceberg starting to penetrate our keister. Get ready boys because now days we can win as few as 3-4 and as many as 12.

Thee University said:

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College football has changed and Baylor is feeling just the tip of the iceberg starting to penetrate our keister. .

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Something tells me that you know firsthand exactly how that feels