A few things here that need addressing. 1. Why did you ever strive to be "them" in the first place? Srsly. If when I die, we aren't better than even in the series, I don't know if I will be disappointed but I doubt I'll be thinking about it. I think about it now but mostly, I'm thinking about the Clemson game.
2. Gus isn't wrong about taking the offense back over. He needs to dance with what brung him. He's a play caller. That's one of his four tays. He can do that and manage the team. Others have and so can he.
3. I agree that the roller coaster of QB situation since he's been oc or hc at AU is very concerning. I don't get why he doesn't just move on from Lash and get an oc that can better evaluate and develop qb's. I suspect he's too loyal.
But we all should forget his releasing Robinson and Duke. Criticize his taking the chance on them if you wish but not booting them. I think they were worth the risk and I'm glad he gave them a chance. They both blew it. Not Gus' fault. He had to do what was best for the team in both instances. It comes with the territory when you recruit guys that are rough around the edges.
"Trying to be them" is a little misleading I guess. I know in my heart and from my own experience that when they aren't allowed to cheat like mad bastards, we own them. It's just when things get like they are now and like they were in the 70s when they roll out all the talent money can buy and it's disheartening. It's boring. I don't really want to BE them, necessarily, I just want to play by the same set of rules. I get tired of watching them brag and boast and steal trophies.
I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you on Gus taking over the play-calling duties. A long time ago when I was first put in charge of a furniture store the owner was down for a few days. He looked around, brought me some new signage, some new displays and gave me some advice on how to redesign the sales floor. I wanted to do a good job and I worked all day moving furniture, assembling stuff, tearing down the old signage and putting up the new. Assembled bedroom sets, put legs on furniture, pulled stuff out of the back. Dirty, sweaty, messed up. Worked my ass off all day, like a dog. Boss comes back in because we're going to dinner to go over some stuff. He was pissed. Best lesson I ever learned. I could either work or I could manage. I could not do both well. So if I was going to rearrange furniture myself, he would hire a manager. Or I could manage and make sure the work was done by others.
Same with Gus. Look at Jacobs as the CEO. He does. Gus is in charge of one division. He's got sales guys (the offense) and support techs (the defense). He CANNOT be the one making the sales calls. If he is, then he's wasting resources.
I don't disagree with him dismissing anybody. His call. I DO have a problem, however, when people who are supposed to be significant contributors crash and burn. Jeremy Johnson got pumped like a motherfucker. In the Heisman conversation prior to last season and Gus did nothing to tone that down. His swelled head destroyed him. Duke had an attitude that wasn't controlled. Now Robinson has some kind of attitude issue. That's almost an entire offense ruined. Add Dyer to that mix. Add him hyping Trotter and Cam as "dead even." Add him struggling to choose between Frazier, Trotter, Moseley. His judgment is fucking suspect. Seriously fucking suspect. And Flashlee's is even worse. That cat doesn't know his ass from a burnt biscuit.
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