I like to compare the Buffs current situation to the situation that the Broncos faced 3 years ago.
Obviously, comparing the the nuances of a college program against a pro program is difficult. However, the organizational philosophy isn't.
One one hand you have the Buffs. You have an administration that plays politics and is utterly incompetent. You have a 'yes man' for an Athletic Director - and man with very little vision, or at least any ability to communicate the vision. You have a department that is unable to connect with fans and donors in any meaningful way. Worst of all, your administration and your athletic department are paralyzed with fear, and they're incapable of learning from past mistakes. They are currently poised to make the same mistake for a 4th time in 7 years by keeping a coach who has clearly shown that he isn't the answer. Barnett, Patton, Hawkins, Embree. Each one has ended up (or will end up) causing further damage to the program.
Conversely, you have the Broncos. An organization that has traditionally sought excellence. After getting mired in mediocrity by holding onto a once great coach, they made an important move. They cut the cord with a Denver legend in Mike Shanahan. They hired a young, up and coming offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels. McDaneils blew the team up - but within 2 years it was obvious to anyone with half a brain that McDaniels was a failure. He wasn't getting it done on gamedays, he wasn't getting it down in the locker room, and he wasn't getting it done with the coaches he hired for his staff. However, it would have been easy for Broncos leadership to say 'well, we need to give him one more year to build his team'. But the Broncos recognized that he wasn't the guy, and that they made a mistake. They also recognized that the mistake was caused by a void in the executive office. They canned McDaniels, hired an eminently qualified John Elway (and not because he was a former Bronco), and then they let him get to work building the team. Since he arrived and began his rebuilding effort, the Broncos have gone 8 -8 with a playoff victory, and so far this year they landed a HOF QB, sit at 7 - 3 with a 3 game lead in their division.
It is an amazing juxtaposition to look at over the past 7 years. One organization has a commitment to winning - the other doesn't. One has developed a coherent vision for the team - the other hasn't. One organizations is willing to make hard decisions (especially with people long associated with the org) - the other organization won't.
Obviously, comparing the the nuances of a college program against a pro program is difficult. However, the organizational philosophy isn't.
One one hand you have the Buffs. You have an administration that plays politics and is utterly incompetent. You have a 'yes man' for an Athletic Director - and man with very little vision, or at least any ability to communicate the vision. You have a department that is unable to connect with fans and donors in any meaningful way. Worst of all, your administration and your athletic department are paralyzed with fear, and they're incapable of learning from past mistakes. They are currently poised to make the same mistake for a 4th time in 7 years by keeping a coach who has clearly shown that he isn't the answer. Barnett, Patton, Hawkins, Embree. Each one has ended up (or will end up) causing further damage to the program.
Conversely, you have the Broncos. An organization that has traditionally sought excellence. After getting mired in mediocrity by holding onto a once great coach, they made an important move. They cut the cord with a Denver legend in Mike Shanahan. They hired a young, up and coming offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels. McDaneils blew the team up - but within 2 years it was obvious to anyone with half a brain that McDaniels was a failure. He wasn't getting it done on gamedays, he wasn't getting it down in the locker room, and he wasn't getting it done with the coaches he hired for his staff. However, it would have been easy for Broncos leadership to say 'well, we need to give him one more year to build his team'. But the Broncos recognized that he wasn't the guy, and that they made a mistake. They also recognized that the mistake was caused by a void in the executive office. They canned McDaniels, hired an eminently qualified John Elway (and not because he was a former Bronco), and then they let him get to work building the team. Since he arrived and began his rebuilding effort, the Broncos have gone 8 -8 with a playoff victory, and so far this year they landed a HOF QB, sit at 7 - 3 with a 3 game lead in their division.
It is an amazing juxtaposition to look at over the past 7 years. One organization has a commitment to winning - the other doesn't. One has developed a coherent vision for the team - the other hasn't. One organizations is willing to make hard decisions (especially with people long associated with the org) - the other organization won't.
