Woodward shouldn't have put Sumlin on notice publicly last Spring, but certainly to do it privately was well within his purview as AD. Probably realizing his error, he quickly backtracked the following day and said he was a big fan of Sumlin. As Dale Carnegie advised, "Praise publicly; criticize privately."
Unfortunately, it set a tone for the entire season that Sumlin would be watched with microscopic scrutiny by the administration, big boosters and the media...not a desirable situation for the players or Sumlin by adding more pressure for all the world to see, as if there's not enough with coaching and playing in the SEC West.
Now, with Sumlin's regression compared to last year, we're in a situation with a limited pool of proven coaches to replace him, but the consensus expectation is apparently do just that. So the pressure is now on Woodward to back up his words.
My concern is that he'll make a lousy hire with the leftovers, after Florida and Tennessee get first dibs. They will certainly hire someone before season's end. Unlike a good poker player, Woodward didn't play his cards close to his vest and has unfortunately crossed the Rubicon.
Unfortunately, it set a tone for the entire season that Sumlin would be watched with microscopic scrutiny by the administration, big boosters and the media...not a desirable situation for the players or Sumlin by adding more pressure for all the world to see, as if there's not enough with coaching and playing in the SEC West.
Now, with Sumlin's regression compared to last year, we're in a situation with a limited pool of proven coaches to replace him, but the consensus expectation is apparently do just that. So the pressure is now on Woodward to back up his words.
My concern is that he'll make a lousy hire with the leftovers, after Florida and Tennessee get first dibs. They will certainly hire someone before season's end. Unlike a good poker player, Woodward didn't play his cards close to his vest and has unfortunately crossed the Rubicon.