Football: Acadia's Cummins at a 'crossroads'

Acadia coach Jeff Cummins is due a ton of points for candour:

" 'It’s been not a whole lot of fun,' Cummins said of this season to date. 'It's been very frustrating at times. We just haven’t lived up to the expectations we had for ourselves. But we’ve put ourselves into a situation where we have a chance to get into the playoffs; it’s a fresh new start.'

"The playoffs may also mean another opportunity for Cummins to present a case for a new contract.

" 'Obviously, my record over the last couple of seasons would tell you that my job is in jeopardy,' he said. "There’s no doubt about that. I'm at a crossroads right now.'

"Certainly there are challenges in maintaining a contender at Acadia. Once Ontario schools began offering athletic scholarships it slowed the pipeline of Ontario players headed toward the Maritimes. Acadia’s high tuition and academic entrance standards also make it more difficult to bring in marginal students who may excel at football. But such problems aren’t limited to Acadia. They are simply among the roadblocks that many head coaches must learn to get around."

Of course, to pick up on a favourite ax to grind of some commenters, Acadia could beat all those OUA teams whose rosters include all those players Acadia tried to recruit.

Related:
Cummins feeling the heat (Chris Cochrane, Halifax Chronicle-Herald)