My theory is that we have Bob D and Mike Riley because the large OSU donors are living in fear.
These people likely are, or were, successful entrepreneurs, who at some point in their lives took a big risk that paid off. So what happened to that maverick spirit? Did they become advocates of the status quo (not just football, but in life) because they’re afraid of losing everything in the event of a paradigm shift? Did they get old, and grow into the conservative principles that come with age? I don’t know. But something is holding these people back from making the radical changes that are obviously necessary.
We hear over and over that what’s holding back change is Mike Riley’s 10, 20, infinity year contract. But even before that contract was signed, the donors would balk at the idea of change. So I DO NOT believe this is a money issue. Add to that the TV revenue. Bob D constantly talks about money because it’s in his interest to make fans believe there’s a revenue problem. That he and his cronies are the best we can do under such a tight budget. Here are budget figures from 2013. These will increase dramatically over the next four years as the TV deal is back-loaded. Again, the money is there. By coaching standards, Riley should have been paid more the past decade. The buyout could be viewed as fair pay for those years, if people need to rationalize it.
From what I remember, the old Pac-10 deal under Tom Hansen was 40 million total with big market teams getting larger percentages. Okay, under that paradigm Bob D can complain about money. But if he can’t make things work with the current arrangement, then it’s yet another Bob D incompetency. By crying about revenue, he only further exposes his ineptitude.
Back to the original point: living in fear is no way to live. Risk carries no guarantee, but there becomes a point where the risk-reward curve gets skewed in one’s favor, and I think as a fanbase we are at that point. We’ve argued back an forth for years, and it is quite clear after a decade plus of this coach that he is not going to “take the next step”. This is indisputable as far as I’m concerned. If we take a shot at a young coach or a bigger name and it failed, would anyone miss this current regime? The current “mediocrity”. I wouldn’t. We know how this story ends. There is zero excitement, and whenever Riley does just enough to garner excitement, he subsequently lays a massive, ostrich-sized egg.
Donors: not to be a hackneyed ass, but there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Cut this regime loose. You have maverick spirit somewhere inside. Rekindle it!