Couple of things are making me wonder.
--In honor of Phil Knight's 80th birthday, they are holding a major 16-team pre-season tournament in Portland. We know this is more than an "honor"; this is business. Major colleges have been among Nike's biggest clients, and the Nike Swoosh on college uniforms has been a major boost for the brand. Thus his major clients are showing up to honor him: Duke, Texas, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Butler, UConn, Georgetown, Ohio State, Stanford, and Texas, together with the major D1 teams from Oregon--Oregon, Portland State, Portland. Oddly, one Oregon team is missing: Oregon State. (Could be Oregon State is not a Nike client? Or Oregon State doesn't want to face that competition?)
--Meantime, Tinks's first nine games are at home, and the competition is hardly daunting. He goes on the road for one game before the start of the Pac12 schedule: Kent State. (He's already lost at home to Wyoming.) This is right out of the Larry K playbook. Remember at Utah how he played cupcakes at home to build up his wins? Our own Travis DeCuire can take on a challenging schedule because his job is safe. But early Krysko at Utah, and early Tinks at Oregon State? This is a sign to me that those jobs are not yet safe.
--Recruiting to Corvallis? This is a tough challenge. Is Tinks up to it? Well, you could arguably say that his three best recruits so far are sons of the Oregon State coaching staff. That talent pool is only so deep. He does have a commitment from a four-star seven footer for 2018, but remember, this is the Pac12, where four-star recruits are a dime a dozen, and the real goal is a five-star. Can Tinks keep up?
I know they love him in Corvallis, as we do at Montana. He's a great guy, and they pretty much gave him a pass on their dismal season last year because of injuries. But one or two more bad years, and I really question whether his job is safe. Two years will tell the tale.
--In honor of Phil Knight's 80th birthday, they are holding a major 16-team pre-season tournament in Portland. We know this is more than an "honor"; this is business. Major colleges have been among Nike's biggest clients, and the Nike Swoosh on college uniforms has been a major boost for the brand. Thus his major clients are showing up to honor him: Duke, Texas, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Butler, UConn, Georgetown, Ohio State, Stanford, and Texas, together with the major D1 teams from Oregon--Oregon, Portland State, Portland. Oddly, one Oregon team is missing: Oregon State. (Could be Oregon State is not a Nike client? Or Oregon State doesn't want to face that competition?)
--Meantime, Tinks's first nine games are at home, and the competition is hardly daunting. He goes on the road for one game before the start of the Pac12 schedule: Kent State. (He's already lost at home to Wyoming.) This is right out of the Larry K playbook. Remember at Utah how he played cupcakes at home to build up his wins? Our own Travis DeCuire can take on a challenging schedule because his job is safe. But early Krysko at Utah, and early Tinks at Oregon State? This is a sign to me that those jobs are not yet safe.
--Recruiting to Corvallis? This is a tough challenge. Is Tinks up to it? Well, you could arguably say that his three best recruits so far are sons of the Oregon State coaching staff. That talent pool is only so deep. He does have a commitment from a four-star seven footer for 2018, but remember, this is the Pac12, where four-star recruits are a dime a dozen, and the real goal is a five-star. Can Tinks keep up?
I know they love him in Corvallis, as we do at Montana. He's a great guy, and they pretty much gave him a pass on their dismal season last year because of injuries. But one or two more bad years, and I really question whether his job is safe. Two years will tell the tale.