Scalley vs Whitt

[Roy Rangum]

Just to explore a hypothetical: Assuming these are the only two options (which they are not), which do you think is better?

1) Whitt steps down immediately and hands the reins to Scalley, and Scalleys first game as head coach is against BYU
2) Whitt announces this will be his last season coaching and that he will retire at the end of the season, but Whitt continues to stay at the helm for the rest of the season

Personally, I think option 1 is better than 2. I think Whitt has lost the locker room. Moreover, I feel like there are plenty examples of midseason firings where the team then rallies afterwards under a different interim coach. And, it gives Scalley a chance to rally and give hope for next season as I’m sure it’s a lot easier to recruit to a program with an upward trajectory than a downward one.

On the other hand, even if Scalley does take over, I don’t know that it will fix our schematic issues on offense. And if Whitt stays, Scalley doesn’t have to take responsibility for Whitts failures.

[Tony (admin)]

Neither of your 1 or 2 will happen. IF Whitt hangs it up, it will be at the end of the season and he won’t announce it until after the season is over.

[Roy Rangum]

Tony, you’re probably right, which is unfortunate in my eyes.

The other option is if Whitt doesn’t retire this year, I just don’t see how Whitt can hire another offensive coordinator that will be worth having around. (Who would want to take that job?!). I think Whittingham has created a problem on offense that he can’t fix, and the longer he stays, the worse it will get.

[Tony (admin)]

I don’t disagree.

[22Ute22]

This is the better option anyway. Whitt announcing that he will retire right now would be ridiculous, and him stepping down right now would be even worse. Hopefully we make a bowl game and we do what AzUTE said, which is to let Scalley run the bowl practice prep and the bowl game. But making a bowl game is sounding unlikely.

[Tony (admin)]

BOWL? (insert laughing emoji here)

[The Miami Ute]

Make a bowl game? It’s more likely that Utah gets blown out in each of the remaining games. I mean folks, the hard part of the schedule is about to come upon us…we’ve already played all of the cupcakes and lost to them.

[AZUTE]

In a perfect world whit somehow finds a way to win two more games and become bowl eligible and he does what Urban did with him to Scalley. Name him Co-HC for the bowl game the way Meyer named Whit Co-HC for the Fiesta Bowl and then just walk away.

Let Scalley run bowl practice and prep. This might give players who are considering a transfer a chance to see Scalley in action. See what he brings to the table and maybe chance their minds before they leave.

I could see option 2 as an announcement might motivate the players to send him out a winner or it will lead to complete disfunction as players see no point playing for a lame duck coach.

Which is why I don’t see anything until after the end of the last game. Maybe even as soon as the post game presser.

[Roy Rangum]

AZUTE: that’s a nice thought, but without significant changes, I don’t know how we win 2 more games this season.

[EagleMountainUte]

The problems I am hearing leak out both options would be futile. Lockerroom was lost last season.

Option 3 is just stay the course. Get blown out most likely. Watch Barton not contain the edge for a few more weeks on the defense.

[RustyShackleford]

Go on….

[Draper]

Whit will give it another year with Risen and both will go out together

[Tony (admin)]

God no.

[UteManX]

Without saying too much. I can confirm there is some disagreements between many coaches along with Whitt and Harlan. Players all get along, but not all players like some of the coaching and Harlan trying to meddle. Personally I think it starts at the top, get rid of Harlan and things will get back on track. He and Whitt have not been on speaking terms for a few years. Once Whitt is gone, Harlan needs to go and let Scalley do his job and get the people He wants.

[Roy Rangum]

Utemanx: I guess the upside with having a coach in waiting is that we don’t have to worry about Harlan screwing up the next football hire as the choice has already been made.

But unless there’s more going on that I don’t know about (which you’re hinting there is), I don’t see how the presence or absence of Harlan is what is driving our team into the ground. This is on the coaches, and all these coaches had been hired long before harlan.

[2008 National Champ]

You’ve hit the nail with that one. Harlan has already hired the next coach. The only thing we are really discussing is the timing. If Scalley doesn’t work out, then you change the AD and let the new guy hire Scalley’s replacement.

[EagleMountainUte]

Harlan wrote the most recent deal with Whittingham. I do not believe that at all. I think Harlan is meddling with Player deals. Which has lead to the problem.

[NarfUte]

Yeah I was going to say, reading between the lines seems like Harlan is meddling with the collectives and how the coaching staff sees NIL allotments (I know they can’t be involved directly but certainly give their opinion to the collectives)

[Gugstanley]

We need more information on this. Also, Harlan needs to go he is an ass.

[The Miami Ute]

I would prefer number 2, primarily because it’s the only one of the two scenarios that’s plausible. No way, no how that Whitt calls it a day while the season is still on…in his mind that would really tarnish his image/legacy and come across like a turd in a punchbowl.

[2008 National Champ]

It really comes down to whether or not anyone thinks Whitt is capable of calling it a day before there is no shred of doubt left that someone else would be better running the program.

I’m of the opinion that he should get to finish out his current contract if, and only if, he is willing to completely overhaul his staff. I just can’t see him accepting that condition so it’s on Harlan to make the decision for him.

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