I wasn't super geeked about the Simpkins news or how hard and publicly KE is trying to keep the core three either, but I think it makes sense from this perspective: if we're in the PIG this year because we're starting over from scratch with a brand new roster and a first time coach, momentum is lost. The introductory press conference is forgotten and the public statements about being a tournament team look like hot air. Opposing coaches say things on the recruiting trail like "oh you're considering Mason? They went 4-14 in a bad A10 last year. I hear Coach English wins press conferences though."
Return Jordan, Josh, and Tyler and maybe add a couple pieces in free agency... suddenly we've got a respectable year 1 under English that he can point to and say "we're building on this." Much easier to land program cornerstone recruits following a 6th place finish than a 12th place finish, and that's roughly the difference between keeping the guys and starting over.
This is based off of nothing but me doing my best to read the tea leaves. I look around the A10 at Lange, Christian, Howard, and others who come in with hype and momentum and then can just never get out of the cellar, and I have to think they're fighting like hell to avoid that situation. I wonder if Brad looks back on allowing Dave to punt on year 1 as a mistake.
