I see all these comments about Slocum saying he does the best he can with what he has to work with. Well, so did John Robic, and he was not given 9 years. I was not a fan of Robic's, so my coming to his defense is not a case of me supporting a friend. In his 2nd season, YSU won 19 games. Then, in his 3rd season, YSU moved into the HL. There really did not seem to be much empathy toward Robic for being in the position of coaching a "football school" in a conference where none of the other schools played D1 scholarship football. So, why is that an allowable excuse/defense for Slocum?
To those of who with poor reading comprehension, notice I am NOT calling for Slocum to be fired. I am NOT saying he is a terrible coach. I am merely asking why Robic was not allotted the same considerations and excuses many now make for Slocum?
As for being a "football school", many of you need to get a grip. For the majority of people that follow college football, there is little to NO difference between FCS and D3. I now live in Las Vegas. UNLV is terrible in football. When UNLV plays their annual FCS opponent, it is looked at by people as playing a D2 team. I'm quite certain the same can be said most places where there is an FBS football school.
And, for a "football school", how is ONE trip to the playoffs in 13 years acceptable? For that matter, YSU has made the FCS/1AA playoffs 11 times in 33 years of playing at the 1AA/FCS level. Of those 11 trips to the playoffs, 10 were with Jim Tressel as HC. In the 18 years with an HC other than Jim Tressel, YSU has made the playoffs ONE TIME!!!! That is not the definition of a "football school. That is the definition of a school in an area where people are football crazy being fortunate to have an exceptional head coach for 15 years. And, that coach, along with his staff was able to bring in players that helped YSU have a great 15 year run.
So, before trashing Wright State, why not ask how it is that YSU with all the emphasis on football, all the money spent, all the facilities, and being a "football school" continues to be mediocre year after year after year? This may also be a reason why players the caliber of Ryan Weber transfer out, and why it is so hard for the coaching staff to recruit? It's one thing if a "football school" has a powerhouse program. It's another when said "football school" is slightly above average, and then the school and community treat basketball as if it is something to just pass the time until the next football season starts.