Toledo doing good job in spite of Tulane’s record

    The prevailing wisdom is that Tulane has to reach a bowl for Bob Toledo to be the head football coach in 2012.
    Instead, I give you some out-of-the-box thinking. Bob Toledo already has been successful as head coach of the Tulane Green Wave. That’s right, a coach who has won 13 and lost 35 and has won a total of seven Conference USA games in four seasons already has done a solid job.
    The reason I say this is because Bob Toledo is the head coach of Tulane University.
    Tulane’s administration, led by President Scott Cowen, simply will not do what it takes to field a consistent winner in football.
    It can be done, and it can be done without sacrificing the academic reputation of the university.
    Simply, here’s how it can be done: Play by NCAA rules. That is, a student athlete with a 17 ACT/2.5 grade-point-average gets into school. And allow the head football coach to get two or three junior college players in school every year.
    These changes would level the playing field for the head coach at Tulane University.
    A new on-campus stadium will not. That a new on-campus stadium will “fix” Tulane’s football problem is fool’s gold.
    Don’t think so? Go back and check Tulane’s record in its last 24 seasons at Tulane Stadium. From 1951 to 1974, Tulane had five winning seasons. During that period, Tulane beat LSU once (1973). During that period, the Green Wave played in two bowls (1970 Liberty, 1973 Bluebonnet).
    I would ask Scott Cowen this question: Will the student/athlete with superb skills but a 19 on the ACT be able to get in your school? The answer, of course, is no.
    Junior college players shouldn’t be a big part of your football program. But they do fill needs.
    Ask LSU fans how they would feel about the quarterback position in 2012 if the Tigers had not signed Kansas juco quarterback Zach Mettenberger?
    In the meantime, what Toledo has done is take his lumps big time, as he has methodically attempted to build a football program.
    Has he made progress? If you look at the record only, the answer would be no.
    And, to be fair, Toledo has yet to correct what has been a four-year dilemma for his team – atrocious special teams.
    But, I do know this: He has dramatically improved the depth of his football team.
    And you take notice when he signs locals like O. Perry Walker running Robert Kelley and Karr linebacker Matthew Bailey and then adds quality tight end Evan Tatford of St. Thomas More of Lafayette.
    I readily admit I have a soft spot for all Tulane football coaches. They come to campus awash in enthusiasm. But late in their tenures, reality seems to smack them in the face like August humidity.
    If Toledo reaches expectations this year and takes the Green Wave to a bowl game, he has truly achieved something against all odds.
    Ed Daniels can be reached at [email protected]