College Football - Week 6 (Oct. 4)

[snoodmonger]

In this era, being a blue blood program means you can get back to the top faster, but you can still sink pretty low. Tennessee is a great example. Miami, Penn State, Florida, Texas, USC, etc, there's a bunch in recent years. It's hard being consistently good, even with prestige. Really puts in perspective how good guys like Stoops and Saban are, where even their down years are 9-10 win campaigns.

 

Looking at the programs you mentioned, the common theme seems to be poor coaching decisions in the face of a variety of circumstances. Tennessee and Texas had long established coaches who were more or less forced out due to fan/booster pressure, with inadequate replacements coming in. Penn State had the opposite issue, with Paterno overstaying his usefulness (scandal aside). USC had some mediocre years, but even when they were going 7-5, they were beating good teams and not losing by 5 scores like Michigan is.

 

I'm not sure what the heck AD's at these schools are doing, but there is really no excuse for a blue blood program to settle for anything less than the elite coaching options available to them. Rolling the dice on an up and comer or settling for a guy with school-ties is a little dumbfounding.

 

That said, the fans are as fickle as ever. They're already turning on Urban Meyer here in Columbus.

 

Texas is garbage this year, but I think it's a little early to describe Strong as an inadequate replacement.

[Ryne Ween]

In this era, being a blue blood program means you can get back to the top faster, but you can still sink pretty low. Tennessee is a great example. Miami, Penn State, Florida, Texas, USC, etc, there's a bunch in recent years. It's hard being consistently good, even with prestige. Really puts in perspective how good guys like Stoops and Saban are, where even their down years are 9-10 win campaigns.

 

Looking at the programs you mentioned, the common theme seems to be poor coaching decisions in the face of a variety of circumstances. Tennessee and Texas had long established coaches who were more or less forced out due to fan/booster pressure, with inadequate replacements coming in. Penn State had the opposite issue, with Paterno overstaying his usefulness (scandal aside). USC had some mediocre years, but even when they were going 7-5, they were beating good teams and not losing by 5 scores like Michigan is.

 

I'm not sure what the heck AD's at these schools are doing, but there is really no excuse for a blue blood program to settle for anything less than the elite coaching options available to them. Rolling the dice on an up and comer or settling for a guy with school-ties is a little dumbfounding.

 

That said, the fans are as fickle as ever. They're already turning on Urban Meyer here in Columbus.

 

Texas is garbage this year, but I think it's a little early to describe Strong as an inadequate replacement.

 

He's gonna be a bad replacement. Even if he is a good replacement they won't give him the time he will need. Especially because he seems to be taking the "win with good young men" to the extreme.

[Ryne Ween]

And geez. I'm not defending Hoke for being incompetent. I'm just saying it's unlikely he knew he had a concussed player and played him anyway. Besides aren't they saying he passed the sideline test? For Hoke to deserve all this he would have 1) had to known the player failed a sideline test and 2) knowingly played him anyway. I find that To be hard To believe.

[Andy]

In this era, being a blue blood program means you can get back to the top faster, but you can still sink pretty low. Tennessee is a great example. Miami, Penn State, Florida, Texas, USC, etc, there's a bunch in recent years. It's hard being consistently good, even with prestige. Really puts in perspective how good guys like Stoops and Saban are, where even their down years are 9-10 win campaigns.

 

Looking at the programs you mentioned, the common theme seems to be poor coaching decisions in the face of a variety of circumstances. Tennessee and Texas had long established coaches who were more or less forced out due to fan/booster pressure, with inadequate replacements coming in. Penn State had the opposite issue, with Paterno overstaying his usefulness (scandal aside). USC had some mediocre years, but even when they were going 7-5, they were beating good teams and not losing by 5 scores like Michigan is.

 

I'm not sure what the heck AD's at these schools are doing, but there is really no excuse for a blue blood program to settle for anything less than the elite coaching options available to them. Rolling the dice on an up and comer or settling for a guy with school-ties is a little dumbfounding.

 

That said, the fans are as fickle as ever. They're already turning on Urban Meyer here in Columbus.

 

Elite coaching options aren't as cut and dried of a category as you make it appear.

 

Clearly not, but in many cases, everyone can see a disaster coming. Whiffing on Les Miles and settling for Hoke was such a case

It's not as easy as it may seem to find an elite coach, but it's probably not as hard as Goony implies either. The key is substantive, long-term head coaching success. Hoke didn't have that. He only had one great season at Ball State (against a wildly easy schedule), then had two good-but-not-great seasons at SDSU.

 

There aren't guys like this available every year, but the ones who have proven they can do it, often repeatedly, like Urban at BG and Utah and Brian Kelly at CMU and Cincy, generally are the safest bets to have success at the blue-blood level. James Franklin, Charlie Strong and Chris Petersen were all hires from last off-season that fit that mold.

[Ryne Ween]

In this era, being a blue blood program means you can get back to the top faster, but you can still sink pretty low. Tennessee is a great example. Miami, Penn State, Florida, Texas, USC, etc, there's a bunch in recent years. It's hard being consistently good, even with prestige. Really puts in perspective how good guys like Stoops and Saban are, where even their down years are 9-10 win campaigns.

 

Looking at the programs you mentioned, the common theme seems to be poor coaching decisions in the face of a variety of circumstances. Tennessee and Texas had long established coaches who were more or less forced out due to fan/booster pressure, with inadequate replacements coming in. Penn State had the opposite issue, with Paterno overstaying his usefulness (scandal aside). USC had some mediocre years, but even when they were going 7-5, they were beating good teams and not losing by 5 scores like Michigan is.

 

I'm not sure what the heck AD's at these schools are doing, but there is really no excuse for a blue blood program to settle for anything less than the elite coaching options available to them. Rolling the dice on an up and comer or settling for a guy with school-ties is a little dumbfounding.

 

That said, the fans are as fickle as ever. They're already turning on Urban Meyer here in Columbus.

 

Elite coaching options aren't as cut and dried of a category as you make it appear.

 

Clearly not, but in many cases, everyone can see a disaster coming. Whiffing on Les Miles and settling for Hoke was such a case

It's not as easy as it may seem to find an elite coach, but it's probably not as hard as Goony implies either. The key is substantive, long-term head coaching success. Hoke didn't have that. He only had one great season at Ball State (against a wildly easy schedule), then had two good-but-not-great seasons at SDSU.

 

There aren't guys like this available every year, but the ones who have proven they can do it, often repeatedly, like Urban at BG and Utah and Brian Kelly at CMU and Cincy, generally are the safest bets to have success at the blue-blood level. James Franklin, Charlie Strong and Chris Petersen were all hires from last off-season that fit that mold.

 

Add in a long leash if they are coming off a suck cycle.

 

Rich Rod had all the hallmarks of a good hire. He had a history of success at a power 5. His last year at mich was his best. They weren't good played a tough schedule fairly well. Had they stuck with him they'd be in a better place. So ing opinion if you are settling on Hoke and his shoddy resume, keep the proven winner around at least to see if he can get results in that year or if a better option becomes available the next year.

[Guest]

Two points in ongoing discussions:

 

1. Look at the UF schedule, and tell me how they get bowl-eligible if they don't beat Tennessee this week. Losing that easy win against Idaho is going to hurt them.

 

2. There aren't a lot of "up and coming" coaches out there to take over the blue blood programs. We got lucky at FSU that Jimbo panned out, and Texas A&M has been successful, but there are a lot more failures at storied programs with coaches than there are successes.

 

1. Yep, Muschamp might as well put his house on the market if he loses this week.

 

2. The big part of this is lack of patience I think. Those fanbases often have silly or unrealistic expectations for their coaches and can exacerbate the problem. Michigan's dumb 'Michigan Man' obsession for example, even Tennessee has been super quick on the trigger finger although those weren't exactly unjustified either. To compare to my own program, Pinkel was very nearly on the hot seat when I got to school in 2005, and making/winning a bowl game got him some job security, and then 2007 happened and now he's the winningest coach in school history. Elite programs are increasingly unwilling to give enough time to turn things around or account for adverse circumstances out of the coach's control(e.g. Florida's schedule, Penn State's sanctions, etc).

[Ryne Ween]

A guy like Mike Riley might have made sense when they hired Hoke. Patterson makes sense now. He coached TCU into the Big 12 if you can imagine the impact he's had there. Obviously harbaugh if he would do it.

[Guest]

Hatin' Ass Spurrier: http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2014/9/30/6873461/hatin-ass-spurrier-takes-week-5-down-a-peg

[jersey cubs fan]

http://www.everydayshouldbesaturday.com/2014/9/30/6873461/hatin-ass-spurrier-takes-week-5-down-a-peg

 

 

Iowa's gonna win the Big Ten, because the whole conference is an actuarial table and the Hawkeyes are "heart disease."

[sneakypower]

Michigan's response to the controversy

[CubInOK]

It's kind of amazing that a "blue blood" football program can sink as low as Michigan has this year. There have been teams that have been mediocre, but Michigan is getting its doors blown in

You haven't bottomed out until your team has been called for 14 men on the field penalties and gave up a 99 yard pass play and a 99 yard run play in the same season.

[shnsajax]

In this era, being a blue blood program means you can get back to the top faster, but you can still sink pretty low. Tennessee is a great example. Miami, Penn State, Florida, Texas, USC, etc, there's a bunch in recent years. It's hard being consistently good, even with prestige. Really puts in perspective how good guys like Stoops and Saban are, where even their down years are 9-10 win campaigns.

 

Looking at the programs you mentioned, the common theme seems to be poor coaching decisions in the face of a variety of circumstances. Tennessee and Texas had long established coaches who were more or less forced out due to fan/booster pressure, with inadequate replacements coming in. Penn State had the opposite issue, with Paterno overstaying his usefulness (scandal aside). USC had some mediocre years, but even when they were going 7-5, they were beating good teams and not losing by 5 scores like Michigan is.

 

I'm not sure what the heck AD's at these schools are doing, but there is really no excuse for a blue blood program to settle for anything less than the elite coaching options available to them. Rolling the dice on an up and comer or settling for a guy with school-ties is a little dumbfounding.

 

That said, the fans are as fickle as ever. They're already turning on Urban Meyer here in Columbus.

 

Texas is garbage this year, but I think it's a little early to describe Strong as an inadequate replacement.

 

He's gonna be a bad replacement. Even if he is a good replacement they won't give him the time he will need. Especially because he seems to be taking the "win with good young men" to the extreme.

 

He will be given at least 4 years. Thats more than enough.

[Old Style]

I'd bet heavily on the under. I wouldn't be surprised if Strong doesn't see year 3 if Texas only wins ~6 games this year and next.

[snoodmonger]

i wish they'd just fire him now then so we can have him. i think if he's given enough time he'll be successful, though I think he's probably a better fit for the SEC.

[shnsajax]

I'd bet heavily on the under. I wouldn't be surprised if Strong doesn't see year 3 if Texas only wins ~6 games this year and next.

 

Unless your replacing him with Harbaugh, Saban, Carroll, or a guy of that stature it would be pointless. Plus with him being the AD's first hire he won't be that quick to admit mistake. Patterson has too much of an ego for that.

 

Now Strong could very easily drop his OC, that I could see happening.

[dew1679666265]

I'd bet heavily on the under. I wouldn't be surprised if Strong doesn't see year 3 if Texas only wins ~6 games this year and next.

 

Unless your replacing him with Harbaugh, Saban, Carroll, or a guy of that stature it would be pointless. Plus with him being the AD's first hire he won't be that quick to admit mistake. Patterson has too much of an ego for that.

 

Now Strong could very easily drop his OC, that I could see happening.

 

There needs to be one of two things occurring if you fire a coach before year 4 in college football.

 

1) He needs to show definitively that there's no way he can make the program better. And I don't mean stuff like "he got embarrassed in a couple games," it's got to be much more definitive than that. Turner Gill in Kansas and Ty Willingham at Notre Dame were two good examples of that. Derek Dooley could also be an example of that, though I would have gone ahead and kept him for one more year.

 

2) As you said, you need to have a can't miss elite coach lined up. You need to have some definitive knowledge that you can get a Saban, Carroll, Harbaugh, etc before making the move.

 

Coaching changes can be devastating to a program even if they're justified and handled well. It's not a decision you make lightly and should be avoided if at all possible.

[OleMissCub]

I am secretely hoping Cody Prewitt stops being so good so the Bears can take him with their (hopefully late) 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft.

 

You'll appreciate this article.

 

http://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/ole-miss-football/film-study-ole-miss-cody-prewitt-premier-safety-country/

 

http://d3murf.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/woodlayboise.gif

[Splendid Splinter]

I am secretely hoping Cody Prewitt stops being so good so the Bears can take him with their (hopefully late) 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft.

 

I'm secretly hoping Bears will draft him in the 1st. I think I like him more than Collins.

[sneakypower]

that gif's probably a penalty in the NFL

[NOLA]

Curious to if Gary Patterson's luster has worn off from 3 years ago. I wouldn't hate that hire but think they could do better.

Patterson to me is one of the best coaching candidates in the country, and apparently the high school coaches in Texas love him from what I understand. He seems to be really happy in Ft Worth, as is his wife, and TCU just spent a bajillion dollars on new facilities for him.

 

Really, besides NFL guys, who are the top candidates? I say Patterson. Briles?

[UK1679666180]

I don't see Briles or Patterson leaving either TCU or Baylor, there just isn't much there as far as premiere coaches moving up. I would consider Miles and Gundy as two most likely in that category. Maybe Mullen too.

[mul21]

that gif's probably a penalty in the NFL

 

Why? He hit him in the chest/stomach with his shoulder. Or is that commentary on awful officiating?

[Smack]

If Danny Etling starts for Purdue this week I'm not even watching. Maybe he can get his head together at some point in the future but he's a mess right now. Being a double digit underdog to Illinois is rock bottom, right?

[sneakypower]

"hit on a defenseless receiver" is what i'd expect to see called

 

and smack, something i've learned is to *never* ask if your program is at rock-bottom

[rawaction]

I am secretely hoping Cody Prewitt stops being so good so the Bears can take him with their (hopefully late) 2nd round pick in the 2015 draft.

 

I'm secretly hoping Bears will draft him in the 1st. I think I like him more than Collins.

 

Yeah, I'd take him in the 1st too. Especially after last year when 4 safeties went in the 1st. But I said 2nd because I like a bunch of guys projected as 1st round talents too. I was being greedy. But yeah, I preliminarily have him as one of the top 25 players in this draft class.