Three and out

Eight. \nThat's the number of wins Gerry DiNardo compiled in his three years as the head coach of the Hoosier football team. Not exactly the greatest record in the world, seeing as at least 20 teams have already reached the eight win mark this season. \nSo on Wednesday, with a final record of 8-27, newly hired athletics director Rick Greenspan announced DiNardo would no longer be strolling the sidelines of Memorial Stadium. \nBut did DiNardo get a raw deal? You bet he did.\nWhen Greenspan took over as the AD, I warned people DiNardo needed to win, and win now, because Greenspan would want to come in and put his own stamp on the program. \nSo he gave Gerry one year to right the ship. One measly year to do something the Hoosier program hasn't done in a decade -- win. \nOur football team isn't supposed to be good, and when you hire someone to come in and re-build a program, the building process takes longer than the three years afforded to DiNardo. \nTabbed as a top recruiter, DiNardo was barely given the opportunity to see the fruits of his labor blossom. He inherited a program laden with walk-ons and underachievers. A tireless worker, DiNardo said he planned to visit all 314 high schools in the state of Indiana in a display of good faith to those in the state that he was determined to repave the recruiting in-roads some felt the Hoosiers had neglected. DiNardo true to his word, visited every high school in the state, including those that didn't play football. \nIndiana football hasn't been good for 10 years, so what's the hurry? We all know the football team is losing money and costing the University millions, but will a new face on the sidelines put more people in the seats? No, winning does, and I strongly believe wins were on the way. When you hire someone to build a program and give him a five-year contract, at least allow him to finish out his contract to see if the rebuilding phase is progressing. And believe it or not, it was. For the first time in his three years in Bloomington, DiNardo finally had his full allotment of scholarship players as the former LSU head man inherited a bare cupboard from Cam Cameron.\nThe Hoosiers were markedly better this year, despite their 3-8 record. They were competitive and the players were growing into the system. IU suffered close losses against Northwestern, Illinois and Michigan State. A bounce here and there and the Hoosiers are 6-5 and headed to a bowl game. But what's done is done and Gerry is gone.\nNow the task of finding a replacement is underway. Where does IU go from here? Greenspan will be looking to make a splash with this hire, for he may be defined by it. \nSo early in the process, rumors have swirled the last 24 hours and names far and wide have been discussed.\nDoes IU look up north to Tyrone Willingham? It makes logistical sense from an IU standpoint. Now with only two black head coaches at the 117 Division I programs does IU dare hire the third? Greenspan created some trouble for himself this fall with what the Black Coaches Association claimed were "insensitive" remarks he made regarding his hiring practices at Army. What better way to dispel the controversy than to hire a minority candidate? Having a black University president doesn't hurt the cause either. The dramatic lack of black head coaches is startling, so is IU and Greenspan ready to step up to the plate? \nTwo MAC coaches Terry Hoeppner from Miami (Ohio) and Bowling Green's Greg Brandon might be of interest. Former Nebraska coach Frank Solich is a possibility, having interviewed with Greenspan for the vacant Army job last year. Dave Wannstedt's name is being floated around for the sole purpose that his daughter graduated from IU and he's currently out of work.\nBut no matter who the hire is, one thing is for certain: Greenspan's legacy will be tied with his choice for the new football coach for some time -- at least for three years anyway.