Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993 TAG: 9312090166
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Jack Bogaczyk
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Expecting a VMI football coach to win is like expecting the Parade Ground statue of Stonewall Jackson to run the option. In Jim Shuck, the Keydets had a good coach. So, they fired him Tuesday. Before Shuck was hired in 1989, Eddie Williamson was a good coach, too. Still is.
He resigned in frustration, and whoever VMI hires as its 26th head coach should be resigned to losing, too. The problem at VMI isn't the coach, it's VMI. The Keydets' struggle includes the school's history and military trappings, its conference affiliation, its lack of funding for athletics, its alumni reliving past glory, its administration trying to grapple now with what they see as a female problem.
The problem at VMI isn't in the football offices of Clarkson-McKenna Hall or the athletic offices of Cameron Hall. VMI's coaches are some of its best ambassadors, its best salesmen. And, even if the university administration thinks the problem is in athletics, then why doesn't it do something - anything - to really rectify the situation?
Athletic director Davis Babb said the sacking of Shuck was an "institutional decision." Why would Babb release Shuck only four months after giving him a contract extension? He wouldn't, and he wasn't the terminator here. If Babb did that on his own, then he should be the one fired.
The fingerprints on this wishbone-headed decision are on the desk of the school's superintendent, Maj. Gen. John Knapp.
It's certain that alumni complained to Knapp and Babb about Shuck's 14-40-1 record. They complained about his wishbone offense that often produced a no-chance situation once the Keydets fell behind in a game. VMI is in a no-chance situation too often even before kickoff. That's not the coach's fault.
Shuck broke the 'bone on occasion this season. Besides, Williamson ran the passing game before he left. What difference did that make? Shuck's winning percentage was slightly better than Williamson's. The fact is that VMI hasn't had a winning season since 1981 and in the last 11 years is 13-54-2 in Southern Conference play.
VMI's administration, having battled without victory in the court fight against coeducation, found a way to show it was in control. It fired the football coach. And some of those people thought Shuck made some bad calls on third down.
VMI will pay Shuck $116,846 for the remaining two years on his contract. There also are whispers that the school will pay its assistant coaches through June. If that's accurate, it's admirable. However, can a school that has cried about a lack of funds afford to dole out about $300,000?
Not only did VMI ask Shuck to compete in the toughest Division I-AA football conference, it asked him to do it with less than his competition. For example, when Shuck arrived, VMI had a similar recruiting budget to its military and conference rival, The Citadel. Now, The Citadel spends $30,000 more.
Shuck's scholarship money was cut, so, to get enough personnel, his staff had to turn to more in-state recruiting to maximize dollars on less costly grants-in-aid. That diminished the potential talent pool.
Shuck was gutsy, too. At what's supposed to be a stand-up place, he did that. He didn't play games, except the ones on autumn Saturdays. He told VMI's leaders what was needed, what was lacking. He was a good soldier, but a tough one. So, he got his marching orders.
When will VMI understand that to compete at whatever level, it has to do more than its competitors. Instead, the Keydets are trying to do it with less. Why is VMI successful in track and field? The Keydets put more into that program than its competitors. Until VMI does that with its so-called "revenue" sports of football and basketball, it can't win.
There are solutions. VMI can leave the Southern Conference and help the Keydets compete. It could go Division III, where the Keydets would still have a recruiting struggle, but at least they wouldn't be spending as much. Or, taking drastic measures, the school could drop football - which would automatically end Southern Conference membership, too.
In the current atmosphere at VMI, Bear Bryant - with Amos Alonzo Stagg and Pop Warner as coordinators - couldn't win. Williamson has rebounded to coaching success as an assistant (now at North Carolina) since leaving VMI. Shuck will, too.
At VMI, if they're wondering where the program's headed, take those questions to the top.
by CNB