I like Rip Scherer.
Despite a grueling work schedule, the sixth-year University of Memphis football coach is nice to me, he returns my calls and he doesn't hold grudges against reporters who take shots at his coaching style.
Scherer is a people person, a nice guy who assumes responsibility for the success and failure of his football team.
But being a nice guy doesn't get you into a bowl game.
And it certainly doesn't assure you of a winning season.
"Obviously the bottom line is right here, it starts with me and it stops with me," Scherer said recently after his team dropped its second consecutive game and third of its last four.
"But, we'll get this thing done."
After a promising 4-2 start, Memphis will now probably have to run the table to get a shot at post-season play. That will mean three straight wins against Tennessee, Cincinnati and Tulane -- a tough task indeed, but very possible.
If you ask me, it's simple.
Scherer has a record of 22-41 in his six seasons at Memphis.
I say, if Rip can pull his team together and win these games, we should keep him on as head coach.
If he doesn't, we fire him.
Last year, U of M Athletic Director R. C. Johnson extended Scherer's contract because the team appeared to be improving. The Tigers finished the season 5-6, enduring several heartbreaking losses to very good teams.
But consecutive losses this year to Alabama-Birmingham and Houston, mediocre teams at best, have once again put Scherer on the hot seat. It'll get hotter if he doesn't salvage the season with wins against Cincinnati and Tulane.
For now, Johnson is doing the right thing. He isn't answering questions about Scherer's future until the season is over. That's what a good athletic director is supposed to do.
But a good athletic director also knows when the situation becomes hopeless.
The football Tigers may not be so far from that.
R. C., you did the unthinkable and brought in a big-time basketball coach and it's sparked more excitement than anything on this campus has since you've been here.
It may be time to do the same for football.
He doesn't even have to be nice.
