All right, let's get real for a second here. The only reason that we haven't been to the Rose Bowl again is because we don't have Gary Barnett here anymore. The guy was a motivational genius on the field, a charismatic recruiter who didn't miss a trick off the field, and a guy who knew how to identify and hire the right people around him to sell his program.
We have "Barnett Lite" here, a disciple of the McCartney/Barnett Church but an apostolic imitator who doesn't bring anything new except that he's an alum with roots here. Our Lite Brew is heavy on motivation gimmicks, too, but they're weak and worn out from overuse ("trust yourself" anybody?--how do you trust yourself when you can't catch the ball?). Fitz admits that he's not too bright but he's always shouting and screaming when a recruit commits. Compare that style with the sparkle in Matinee Idol Gary's eyes. Fitz hires a few guys but mostly keeps the same people he inherited because he was afraid to make his own mark and really move on from Walker, as if it would insult Randy in the grave.
Incendiary thoughts? Sure, but unlike Evanston Cat, who wants to LOSE the right way, I want to WIN and anybody who thinks Gary Barnett didn't know how to bend some rules doesn't know anything. Barney was quite simply an awesome head coach and did what it took, right to the brink. Our guy now is a good MAN but is he a good coach? Maybe a good cheerleader who once was a tremendously heady LB, but he's no Barnett and until we can hire a guy like Gary or Ara again, we will not be going to a Rose Bowl.