Fansided

Five college football coaches who should have been fired

By Rucker Haringey

Oct 18, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong reacts prior to kickoff against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas beat Iowa State 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 18, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong reacts prior to kickoff against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas beat Iowa State 48-45. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 2, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; East Carolina Pirates head coach Ruffin McNeil yells at line judge George Geiss in the game against the FIU Golden Panthers at FIU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; East Carolina Pirates head coach Ruffin McNeil yells at line judge George Geiss in the game against the FIU Golden Panthers at FIU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports /

Ruffin McNeill-East Carolina

I have a ton of respect for East Carolina and the potential of their program. I know how good they can be and how they can torment ACC competition with their talent level and edge. Unfortunately, I see both of those things slowly wasting away under their current coach, Ruffin McNeill.

This is one of those instances where you can study the trend if you want to know the direction of a program. McNeill’s sixth season in charge of the Pirates is tied with his second season for his lowest win total (5). What’s more concerning is the lack of quality wins on the schedule. The win at home against Virginia Tech was nice, but there’s nothing in their other four victories to write home about. They only beat FCS Towson by one score and their three FBS wins (SMU, Tulsa and UCF) were among the worst programs in the country. A program that’s built its reputation on big wins just didn’t have any this year.

Instead, the Pirates will likely miss out on bowl season for the first time since 2011. Those close to the program are starting to worry if the loss of Lincoln Riley (left to take over as the Offensive Coordinator at Oklahoma) is going to sink McNeill. I suspect many in the Pirate Nation would trade McNeill for Riley in a heart beat.

All is not lost for McNeill in Greenville, but I have a hard time believing he can make this program truly special. This is a school that has that type of potential and I don’t like seeing it wasted with a mediocre coach. They’d be better off pulling the plug on McNeill and going for greatness this off-season.

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