A question of sports philosophy: To what is a coach entitled?

What does a person deserve from me on no other basis than that they happen to draw a paycheck from my alma mater?

This topic is not about the quality (or lack thereof) of the college coaching ability of Todd Dodge. But my perspective on the man is what inspires the post. So let’s start by saying that we’ve got at least 7 more games with Dodge as our head coach, and he’ll rise or fall on his own merits. I reference him only as he relates to my opinion on the general subject of “supporting” a coach.

Does a coach deserve my support and alliegance just because he works for North Texas?

I’m not choosy about giving my Mean Green heart away. All a coach really has to do is give me something I can remember with fondness. Easiest example? Johnny Jones is golden for the rest of his life. And whatever happens during this new stretch, Gary DeLoach is forever a defensive genius in my eyes based on his previous success.

Hell, I’ll even go to embarrassing lengths to defend Darrell Dickey’s legacy, and he left this place ugly and angry.

It’s not like I’m some bitter crank who can’t appreciate anything or anyone. Honestly, I’m an easier mark than an altarboy drunk on communion wine.

But does a guy deserve my blind devotion whether or not he manages to produce positive results? I don’t mean giving someone the benefit of the doubt when they first get started… I’d say that even the biggest skeptic should allow a coach a little time to prove his or her aptitude.

And I’m not talking about whether or not to support the team they coach. Despite my many reservations about the coach, I haven’t stopped supporting the team. After a 2-10 season, I was still in Manhattan for the season opener against Kansas State. And even though the coach admitted that he gave up after just three possessions, I still made the trip to Houston for the Rice game. And even though that one was such a disaster that the opposing coach felt obligated to apologize for not being able to stop his team from scoring so many points, I still made the trip to Monroe for the ULM game. And even though THAT game featured a sideline confrontation between coach and a quarterback frustrated over what seemed to be another early surrender, and an opposing defense that was reading our signals and calling out our audibles, and…

Well, you get the picture. No matter how bad things got, I kept going to every single home game and all the road games I possibly could. I brought along innocent people… Women… CHILDREN! I dragged them with me to witness those horrors.

No matter how bad things were, I kept spending money, kept dragging along non-alums and first timers and students and anyone who I could trick, sway, wheedle, sweet talk, or cajole into coming to watch.

I always defended the talent and ability of the guys on the field. And no matter how frustrated I got, I’ve never written on this website, our old website, or any other dark corner of the internet that Todd Dodge should be fired.

But at this point… Shouldn’t a guy be required to have shown me something… ANYTHING… to make me actually believe in him?

I’ll always support the team, but am I morally obligated to lie to myself and the world, and say that I support the coach?

It’s no secret that I’m very, very pessimistic about the prospects for a reversal under this coach. After all that’s happened, I don’t believe he’s going to be able to succeed here.

Saying that doesn’t make me happy. I desperately hope I’m wrong. I want to be proven incorrect. I want to be made a fool. I want every other North Texas fan to point at me and tell me I was an idiot, and I never should have doubted the man.

I want Todd Dodge to succeed, because success for him is success for North Texas. If it could somehow guarantee a winning record and a bowl game, I’d let Todd Dodge spit in my face at the coin toss, kick me in the testicles on his way to the locker room at halftime, and punch my mother in the nose after the final whistle of every game.

And I’d LOVE HIM for it! I’d praise him forever. I’d never stand silent while anyone tried to undermine or belittle that success.

But does a coach deserve that sort of support just because he’s the coach? At some point, doesn’t he have to earn it?

When September rolls around, I’ll be there for every home game. Despite all that I saw last season, I’ll probably find some way to convince myself to drag some friends and loved ones out to Tuscaloosa to watch defending SEC champion Alabama beat us to a pulp. And that probably won’t be the only road game I attend, either.

Obviously, I’ll support a team through thick and thin. But am I obligated to unquestioningly support the coach, too? What does someone in that position deserve? Are they entitled to blind, stupid faith?

And is it really going to be 8 more months before Johnny Jones and company are back on the court again? How will the time ever pass?

Share your thoughts. Bonus points if you can do it without insulting any ethnic groups.

Top Photo courtesy: flickr.com/people/sis/