It's just not going to happen. According to some posts at a Baylor board, there is a strong belief that Sloan knows there is a problem and probably will make changes. BUT...looking from their point of view, does it make sense to make a change now instead of at the end of the year? When Steele was hired, I'm sure the first thing that was discussed was, "you don't have to turn this thing completely around in 2 or 3 years." Well, it's been only 3 years and they are on the verge of dumping him. I can't believe that they wouldn't handle it as professionally as they can and do it at the end of the season, especially by letting him resign.
In addition, what message does that send to a quality coach coming to Baylor? Take a team from the bottom of the toughest conference in America, improve it drastically, and, by the way, don't loose big in any game against an opponent as weak or weaker. Davie might take it, but will probably be on the short list for the A&M job; O'Leary wouldn't touch it; the Navy coach would probably be well advised to leave it alone as well. It's one thing to have pressure at A&M or t.u. where the salaries are over a mill a year. It's quite another to have immense pressure when you are making a total of $350,000. Finally, if you do find a gem from the assistant ranks, he's gone as soon as he turns the thing around.
I'm afraid that looking at the structure of the Big 12, Baylor might be well advised to be content with being competitive in the bottom fourth of the conference in football, and play well in the other sports where they are on more equal ground. I'm sorry that Baylor fans (like me) don't want to hear that, but unless they find oil under Penland Hall, Baylor won't have the capital to compete in football.
If we get blown out by Kansas at home on Oct 5, he may not see A&M come to town the next week.
As far as what message firing him sends an incoming coach, how about "if you lose 24 consecutive Big XII games by an average of 35 points, you will be fired." Do you (1L) think that's unfair? If the incoming coach thinks it raw, he's not the guy for the job.
Our out of conference under the previous coaches included Miami, Notre Dame, Oregon State, Michigan, USC, Fresno State. On Saturday we play Samford, you are excused if you respond, WHO?. Our most recent win was against D-1AA Southern Illinois. We've beaten North Texas twice under Steele, along with New Mexico, Southern Florida and Ark State. Quite a change, huh?
Also, Steele is not making 350m, his base salary is 455 and endorsements bring him over 600. Let's see, at that rate (455 only) we pay 227m per win. Only Stoopes and Steele are in that range. RC would have made 1.8M on that scale last year.
There is no reason that Baylor can't pay someone big bucks to be coach. The money is there, they just increased freshman tuition by 39%!
I'm puzzled why you think Baylor should settle for being at or near the bottom in football. Miami is the same size, should they settle for the bottom of the Big East? Notre Dame, Stanford, Boston College, Syracuse, Purdue and USC are all private schools that do well in football. Why shouldn't Baylor?