When Scott Downing took over the reigns, the UNC football team could be summed up in just one word - horrendous.
As far back as 2002, students on campus were given a reason to cheer. the University of Northern Colorado soared to a 12-2 record before losing to the eventual Division II National Champion Grand Valley State in the semifinals of the National Championship tournament. Former coach O. Kay Dalton brought a 9-win season to Greeley in 2003. That's when things started to slip.
In 2004, the Bears finished a paltry 2-9, followed by a 4-7 campaign in 2005.
With the move to then-Division 1-A, Downing, pictured right, was brought on board from the University of Nebraska in 2006 to turn the struggling team around. Instead of doing that, he managed only a 1-10 record, including an 0-for-8 mark in UNC's first crack at the Big Sky Conference.
In five years at the helm of the Bears' football program, Downing managed only a 9-47 record. He did, however, record what may be his signature win in his last game when UNC came from behind to defeat Portland State 35-31 on November 13. That win marked just the first time the Bears recorded two wins in Big Sky play.
UNC athletic director Jay Hinrichs has a chance to finally put the Bears on the map again, but he has to hire the right person. Many say the odds-on favorite to win the job is current offensive coordinator Greg
Peterson, pictured left. Peterson came to UNC from Colorado State in 2010, and implemented a new, pro-style offense that was more pass-heavy. With the right quarterback and a good supporting cast, the Bears offense could be very dangerous.
We've already seen glimpses of this offensive power. Junior quarterback Dylan Orms and sophomore wide receiver Jace Davis have shown that with the right conditioning, the two could be one of the most prolific pairs in recent memory. Davis was eight yards shy of a 1,000-yard receiving year, and caught 7 touchdown passes. Orms threw for over 2,000 yards and 15 touchdowns. Those numbers aren't unimpressive.
Students on the campus of UNC, quite frankly, are fed up with a less-than-stellar football team. Sports are supposed to be a source of pride for a school, and even though the basketball and volleyball teams are doing very well, Hinrichs needs to understand that students deserve a football team on par with those other sports. The message here boils down to this: Take your time, Hinrichs. Find the right guy for the job. It's about time Bears football returned to the high level it once played at. We're not asking for a National Championship like in 1996 or 1997, but the ability to stay competitive in one of the best FCS conferences in the country is a must.
