WSU's Doba Fears the Internet

This era of technology can be daunting, especially to our elders. How many of you have helped out Mom and Dad with their computer a time or two? No big deal, they were just raised in a different era and technology can be overwhelming.

But today, more than any other time in college football, web sites and message boards have a strong influence on shaping public opinion regarding teams, players, and especially coaches. Go ahead and Google a head coach of a team that's struggling, and the odds are good that you'll find a "Fire Coach X" website. It's the way it is today, and there really isn't anything a coach can do to stop this phenomenon, other than win games, get to the postseason, etc.

That leads us to WSU. Seems as though Bill Doba is so concerned about this thing called the World Wide Web that he actually believes he could be fired because of it:

"Because of the Internet and all the negative stuff, we have some kids we have offered and I think they want to commit but they want to wait and see if the Internet is going to fire me," Doba said Tuesday.

The Cougars are the only Pac-10 team without a commitment, according to recruiting Web sites.

Doba has become a target for unhappy Cougars fans who use Web sites and message boards to unleash their frustration. There even is a Web site dedicated to getting him fired.

Ok, Doba doesn't actually believe that the Internet will fire him. This is just another one of those weekly quips that he is so good at using in his media briefings. He knows that a fan blog or web site dedicated to seeing him forced into retirement isn't going to be at the top of AD Jim Sterk's list of reasons for making a change. Maybe, just maybe, it'll be everything else? Such as the end-result on the field? Maybe a fourth straight non-bowl season and another lowly-rated recruiting class will be his undoing? Maybe the lack of tangible momentum for a football program that was at an elite level just a few years ago, with a major stadium renovation underway, will be the ultimate reason that a change will be needed?

Maybe the criticism and Doba Must Go websites will disappear if they can get this thing turned around, but even after the UCLA win on Saturday, some serious heavy-lifting is still required to get WSU back to bowl eligibility. The Cougars sit at 3-5 right now, and with just four games left, there is very little, if any, room for error. Jim Sterk has gone on record as saying he will absolutely not give Bill Doba a vote of confidence right now, and only says that Doba's job will be evaluated at the end of the year. Sterk did take an unusual step by posting a blog entry at the WSUCougars.com website defending some things about Bill Doba, as he's obviously got his ear to the ground on the different rumblings about Doba. But Sterk also has a stadium renovation to finish, and right now, phases I and II are paid for, but phases III and IV are still in the fund raising process. Undoubtedly, Sterk's job is all the more difficult in raising money if there is uncertainty and unhappiness regarding a 67-year old coach who has been at the helm of some very difficult seasons of late. As we know, it's a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately theme in college football, and while Doba's first season he was Pac-10 co-coach of the year as WSU beat Texas in the 2003 Holiday Bowl, well, that's a lifetime ago in some people's minds.

A 4-0 finish might be the only thing that can save Bill Doba's job at this point, and it's all the more daunting when you consider that Cal is next on the schedule. Yes, Cal is struggling lately, losers of three straight and they are battling a major injury bug right now. But this Cal team did did go into Autzen Stadium earlier this year and take down the Ducks. The same Ducks that destroyed WSU 53-7. So we know that Cal is loaded with talent, and they have the ability to beat basically anyone in the conference. I don't think you can say the same thing about WSU right now. But we'll see. The UCLA game was a good step in the right direction. In a 2007 season that has seen, well, everything, it's at least possible the Cougars can circle the wagons and fight for Doba's job the rest of the way.