Brewster deserves a fourth year, but not four more years yet

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley has a theory when it comes to the hiring and firing of coaches: Something that should be done eventually should be done immediately. That was his justification for firing Ron Zook midway through the 2004 season, and it enabled him to start the search process early. He ended up hitting a home run with Urban Meyer.

Those who suggest that it's time for University of Minnesota president Bob Bruininks (who is very involved) and athletic director Joel Maturi to sever ties with head football coach Tim Brewster have plenty of ammunition and could also fall back on the Foley way. He is 0-8 in trophy games; 0-7 in games against ranked opponents. He lacks a signature win, something Washington's Steve Sarkisian (USC), Purdue's Danny Hope (Ohio State), Navy's Ken Niumatalolo (at Notre Dame), Houston's Kevin Sumlin (at then No. 5 Oklahoma St.), Stanford's Jim Harbaugh (USC&Oregon) and North Carolina State's Tom O'Brien (three wins vs. the top-25) all have. The aforementioned list is a group that either took over their current program at the same time as Brewster (2007) or later. Brewster's bunch was No. 1 in the Big Ten last year in penalties committed, and are atop the conference again this year. Worse, the team has been in the news for all the wrong reasons.  

All that being said, I think Brewster should get a 4th year, even if a big-time booster steps forward and is willing to write the buyout check. What Brewster should not get: A contract extension. He hasn't earned it, and it means little. How did former coach Glen Mason's contract extension work out? He was fired a year later. Brewster is said to have a good recruiting class coming in for next year. All those players committed knowing he has just two years remaining on his deal. The No. 1 reason, and it's not close, why a player chooses the Gophers is the chance to play, and more importantly, play right away. That aspect isn't changing anytime soon.

With a fourth year will come expectations. Like improvement, and a possible Alamo (no longer affiliated with the Big Ten after this year), Gator, or Outback Bowl appearance. Hey, we were told medocrity was no longer acceptable when Mason was let go and Brewster has even loftier goals as evidenced by the piece of sod he has from the Rose Bowl on display in the football complex.

Unlike what Brewster told Sid Hartman before the Illinois game, "We've taken a step from Year 2 to Year 3"; they have, but in the wrong direction. Only individuals like receiver/kick returner Troy Stoudermire, fullback Jon Hoese, and linebackers Nate Triplett and Lee Campbell have. Everyone else has either played comparable to how they did last year, didn't play enough last year to form a large enough sample-size (love defensive tackles Jewhan Edwards and Brandon Kirksey, but their snaps were limited last year), or has gotten worse this year. The Gophers' defense is ranked 93rd in the nation in yards allowed and 74th in points given up. In seven Big Ten games, the opponents have converted 54 percent of their third down chances. They rank last in the conference in interceptions.

Offensively, their motto is to "Pound the Rock". They are last in the Big Ten and 104th in the country in rushing (104 yards per game). They rank 8th in the Big Ten and 74th nationally in scoring (26.1 points per game). The offensive line, like last year, has been a disaster. Quarterback Adam Weber, with a new offense (his 3rd since '06), new throwing style, little protection and no running game, has taken a step backward this year.

Here's my logic for bringing Brewster back for a fourth year: Let's see what he can with his own players. His entire starting defense next year will be his guys unless Mason recruits Anthony Jacobs and Ryan Collado somehow snatch starting roles. Same goes for the offense, outside of Weber, although surely MarQueis Gray will get more snaps. Center Trey Davis, guard Chris Bunders and running back Duane Bennett were also Mason recruits, but it's hard to imagine any of three keeping their starting jobs. Bennett, who will be two years removed from ACL surgery, still should be in the mix for playing time.

Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, after three so-so years, went to the Orange Bowl in year No. 4. Former Wisconsin coach Barry Alvarez, like Ferentz did little his first three years, then went to the Rose Bowl the following season. In 2010, it's time for Brewster to win in the Big Ten.