college football head coach hiring/firing thread, '08

[DeToxRox]

I'm bummed this search ended already ..

I was eaglerly waiting "Ty Williingham is meeting with Auburn officials"

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

I'm bummed this search ended already ..

I was eaglerly waiting "Ty Williingham is meeting with Auburn officials"

Naw, the pinnacle moment was going to be "Report: Weis considering offer from Auburn".

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

Naw, the pinnacle moment was going to be "Report: Weis considering offer from Auburn".

No no. Nothing would have topped "Petrino on a plane heading to Auburn."

[DeToxRox]

Someone on the Rivals main board posted that the AD and school officials got off their plane without Chizik. 20 Auburn fans were there to greet them with boos. Sounds like the deal is all but set though as the AD never denied it.

[Chief Rum]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

No no. Nothing would have topped "Petrino on a plane heading to Auburn."

Oh, no, I got it!

"Saban resigns, in negotiations with Auburn"

[molson]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

FWIW: CollegeFootballTalk.com - Rumor Mill

SYRACUSE HIRES DOUG MARRONE
Posted by Michael David Smith on December 11, 2008, 6:40 p.m.
Syracuse has hired New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone as its next head coach, Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting.

I'm just going to go ahead and decide I'm excited about the hire, even though my brain tells me this is just the offensive version of Greg Robinson, and I don't really see how he "knows the northeast" in a recruiting sense - he spent one year as an assistant at Northeastern 14 years ago.

Still, nowhere to go but up....

[Eaglesfan27]

Not a head coach hire, but USC promotes John Morton to be their offensive coordinator and word is that they are looking to hire Carl Smith to be the QB coach and help mentor Morton. I'm mildly concerned about this hire but will hope for the best.

[MJ4H]

Iowa State Cyclones Football: CycloneReport.com

"Auburn has its man and he is former Iowa State coach Gene Chizik. No, really. Chizik has agreed to a deal with Auburn that will release ISU from it's six-year obligation to pay him one million dollars per conference victory. Needless to say, ISU did not make a counter offer. The powers that be in the Cyclone athletic department will take the buyout money and begin searching for a new head coach, once they quit laughing and toasting Auburn for taking the most unprepared, overmatched and incompetent head coach of the modern era off their hands."

lol wow

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

Iowa State Cyclones Football: CycloneReport.com



lol wow

It says a lot when Iowa State didn't even bother trying to keep him.

[ISiddiqui]

Oh dear... my Auburn friends are going to be pissed.

[dawgfan]

I was dubious when Tuberville was pushed out at Auburn, now I'm highly amused - Chizik is the best they could do? And really, shouldn't they have known better? I guess they got starry-eyed after seeing Saban and Petrino get poached in the last couple of years, but man - Chizik has to be a huge let-down from what they probably expected.

Although I suppose Chizik may end up making us all look like fools by leading Auburn to a string of 11+ win seasons. Somehow I doubt it though...

[Poli]

I sure hope Auburn's on the schedule for next season.

I can't believe those bastards didn't interview me.

[kcchief19]

If Chizik does win at Auburn, I think Iowa State needs to think about dropping down to FCS. And I'm only half kidding. Actually, his reflects more poorly on the SEC -- the best Auburn could do was get the worst head coach from the Big 12? Again, I'm only half kidding.

If I'm Iowa State, I'm calling Tuberville.

[Izulde]

Originally Posted by kcchief19

If I'm Iowa State, I'm calling Tuberville.

Agreed. Hell, if I'm Washington, I'm calling Tuberville. In fact, if I'm any school with a head coaching vacancy I'd be calling Tuberville right now.

With as much success as he's had at Auburn, he really deserved a free pass on one bad season.

[Tigercat]

Tuberville would be great at a school with less resources and expectations for football. Hell, he had Ole Miss playing great football when they were still under serious probation.

Tuberville's biggest problem was that he did not recruit very well. He recruited a few blue chips here and there, but he didn't recruit well for depth compared to other SEC teams. Despite that, he knew how to get talent to develop and play hard week after week. He could easily have a team like Washington in a bowl game every year.

[Matthean]

Originally Posted by Tigercat

Tuberville's biggest problem was that he did not recruit very well.

This considering 'Bama was the NCAA's bitch for so long that he had free reign in the state. Once that stopped happening and 'Bama got a top of the line coach, the streak of Auburn wins over 'Bama was going to be ending shortly and it did in rather lopsided fashion. The good news for Tuberville is that I'm sure the Auburn job will be open when he recovers from his "time off." The bad news is I think is better off in a state where he does have free reign and again, that's not the state of 'Bama right now.

[Crim]

Yup I'm in the Tuberville-to-Washington-makes-a-ton-of-sense camp.


Also, LOL at Auburn.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by Crim

Yup I'm in the Tuberville-to-Washington-makes-a-ton-of-sense camp.

Too late.

And I get what the UW is trying for with the Sarkisian hire - rather than take a safer route with an established head coach, go for the next Bob Stoops, Mark Richt, Jeff Tedford. Roll the dice on a coordinator and hope it pays off big time.

As well, I think the UW also figures Sarkisian is already established as a recruiter on the west coast, and in particular in SoCal, an area where UW recruiting under Ty withered and died. Tuberville has a name, but beyond that, no established connections with west coast recruiting.

And, the UW figures Sarkisian's time under Carroll is a big benefit - already, Sarkisian is saying all the right things about bringing the culture of competitiveness in everything the team does from USC up to UW, and of bringing Carroll's philosophy of open practices (which he believes leads to greater accountability).

Sarkisian has the passion and fire to prove himself that a guy like Tuberville might no longer possess.

I wouldn't have objected at all had the UW pursued Tuberville, but I'm not convinced he would've been the better choice. Safer, but maybe not as much upside. Anyway, who's to say Tuberville would've been particularly interested in the Washington job.

[Eaglesfan27]

The other nice benefit of Sarkasian for UW is that he might bring along some very good coaches. I'll be sorry to see Rocky Sato go, but he'll probably leave as Sark is offering him a promotion to defensive coordinator.

[bhlloy]

Seto is a promising coach, but losing him is way, way better than losing Holt to UT. And Seto is clearly behind Norton in the DC-in-waiting stakes. Not going to miss too much sleep over this one.

On the other hand, John Morton is a bit of a head scratcher to be the new OC. This is clearly Carroll trying to re-assert his stamp on the offense, and I'm not sure I like it. Even if Carl Smith comes back as QB coach/assistant head coach. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts...

[kcchief19]

Rough arrival for Coach at Auburn at the airport.

hxxp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7TxIMAwc1k

[Eaglesfan27]

Originally Posted by bhlloy

On the other hand, John Morton is a bit of a head scratcher to be the new OC. This is clearly Carroll trying to re-assert his stamp on the offense, and I'm not sure I like it. Even if Carl Smith comes back as QB coach/assistant head coach. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts...

I said I was slightly concerned earlier in the thread I believe, but the more I think about it the more concerned I become. I agree that this is a clear move that Carroll is going to get more involved with the offense which concerns me. He is a great defensive mind, but I'd like a great offensive mind to balance him. Morton is already talking about simplifying the playbook and focusing on a core set of plays. I just hope the offense doesn't become even less dynamic, as that is going to hurt with recruiting among other things. I think it is mainly an excuse, but I think Morton's hiring will likely be the final straw in Randall Carroll decommitting.

Edit to add: I definitely agree that losing Seto is better than losing Holt. The only coaches that we absolutely cannot afford to lose are Holt and Norton, IMO.

[Chief Rum]

There seem to be indications that Ball State's Bradley Hoke has been hired by San Diego State, over UCLA's DeWayne Walker.

[miami_fan]

Originally Posted by Chief Rum

There seem to be indications that Ball State's Bradley Hoke has been hired by San Diego State, over UCLA's DeWayne Walker.

Interesting move. I guess he feels he has reached the ceiling for the program.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Interesting move. I guess he feels he has reached the ceiling for the program.

Also, consider that many think San Diego State is a program with a lot of potential. Similar to the recent glut of D-1 schools in Florida tapping into that huge local pipeline of talent and finding success, there's reason to think that with the right coach, San Diego State could also really blossom by landing some of the leftovers from what USC and UCLA leave behind in the SoCal area.

San Diego is a great city - it should be pretty easy to recruit there. And the MWC has been gaining in stature; while a lot of west coast kids want to play in the Pac-10, I think more and more of them are figuring out that a MWC school isn't much of a let-down.

[st.cronin]

That's a really good hire for SD State, imo. Looks like the Mountain West is really taking football seriously, that's three pretty good hires, including the ones at Wyoming and New Mexico.

[Chief Rum]

This is a win-win for me. I want Walker to get a head coaching gig because he deserves it. But if he doesn't get hired, that just mean he brings his bad ass mutha mojo back to Westwood for another year.

I have been hearing he might be in it for the NMSU job. Have they hired a new coach yet? I think the San Diego State job was a better fit, but I guess with his west coast recruiting experience, he can make a go of it just about anywhere west of the Plains (since almost all schools in that region basically thrive off of Cali recruits).

[Poli]

Monte Kiffin has told the Buccaneers he's joining Lane at Tennessee.

In other news, the sky is reportedly blue.

[Butter]

So, having your dad as an underling... how's that gonna work out, do we think?

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Yikes. The lead editor at the Iowa State Rivals website didn't mince words about their departing coach. Normally, this might be written off as sour grapes, but he actually has a lot of very good points.......

CycloneReport.com - Dateline Campustown: Auburn can't count

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

So, having your dad as an underling... how's that gonna work out, do we think?

Steve Alford had his Dad on his staff at Missouri State and Iowa. Seemed to work well. Esp. at Missouri State.

[ISiddiqui]

Great article on the Auburn Chizik hire:

College Football: Auburn Hires Gene Chizik; Big 12, SEC Laugh Together

[dawgfan]

In all seriousness, how can Auburn justify hiring Chizik over someone like Turner Gill? Chizik took over a mediocre program, but one that had been bowling in 2 of the 3 seasons prior to him taking over, and proceeded to go 5-19; Gill took over a horrible program, one that had gone 5-41 in the 4 years prior to Gill, and by his 3rd year there has them at 8-5 and bowling for the first time ever.

I'm waiting for Seth Meyers and Amy Poehler to do a "Seriously?" segment on this...

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

In all seriousness, how can Auburn justify hiring Chizik over someone like Turner Gill?

Presumably his history as Auburn's DC for an unbeaten season and then a national championship as the DC at Texas.

If not for his dismal performance as a head coach, this probably wouldn't look so bad on paper.

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Yikes. The lead editor at the Iowa State Rivals website didn't mince words about their departing coach. Normally, this might be written off as sour grapes, but he actually has a lot of very good points.......

CycloneReport.com - Dateline Campustown: Auburn can't count

I don't know if they did it on purpose, but the picture that they chose for that article is funny. The whole article is about how the guy is just not cut out for running something as complicated as a D1 football team. And that pic seems to confirm it.

It isn't so bad (like him picking his nose or making a face) that you would say that they picked it to make him look bad. But you can see in that picture that the guy just lacks intelligence. He looks like someone trying to understand a waiter explaining the specials at a Chinese resturant and just nodding along because he does not understand everything, but he hopes that he can get some noodles or something, or maybe his wife will just order for him.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Presumably his history as Auburn's DC for an unbeaten season and then a national championship as the DC at Texas.

If not for his dismal performance as a head coach, this probably wouldn't look so bad on paper.

Sure, but he does have that dismal performance as a head coach - that can't be ignored. There's a significant difference between being a coordinator and a head coach, and the evidence so far suggests that Chizik isn't nearly as good at being a head coach as he was at being a defensive coordinator.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

Sure, but he does have that dismal performance as a head coach - that can't be ignored.

Don't blame me, I was just offering what appears to be Auburn's justification for the hire. It looks as though they feel that it can be ignored because it was, well, Iowa State.

[ISiddiqui]

Yeah, I guess they could say that it was done with a group of players that he didn't recruit or something.

[dawgfan]

Well, the reality is that it's probably best for Gill that he didn't get the job - I doubt he would've had the level of support he'd need to succeed there.

[Young Drachma]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

Well, the reality is that it's probably best for Gill that he didn't get the job - I doubt he would've had the level of support he'd need to succeed there.

+1

[Crim]

Originally Posted by miami_fan

Interesting move. I guess he feels he has reached the ceiling for the program.

And I believe he is correct.

[Crim]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Presumably his history as Auburn's DC for an unbeaten season and then a national championship as the DC at Texas.

If not for his dismal performance as a head coach, this probably wouldn't look so bad on paper.

Jon wins the thread.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

Well, the reality is that it's probably best for Gill that he didn't get the job - I doubt he would've had the level of support he'd need to succeed there.

I don't think that is true. The fan base had two favorites, Gill and Charlie Strong. Both were interviewed, both have a much better resume, and either would have been a better hire from both a coaching and recruiting stand-point. The fans and the recruits would have been all over either one.

I hope like hell the rank and file Auburn fan votes with their money, and do what they are threatening in withhold donations/season tickets. A handful of old rich white guys are destroying this football program.

Oh, and Barkley on all this:

ESPN - Charles Barkley outraged by Auburn Tigers' hiring of Gene Chizik

[Crim]

Count me among those who believe that Turner Gill's time is coming, in the next year or two, at a pretty good program. That dude can flat-out coach. I hope he doesn't come to the SEC.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by dawgfan

Well, the reality is that it's probably best for Gill that he didn't get the job - I doubt he would've had the level of support he'd need to succeed there.

He would have got 2 years whether he deserved it or not

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I don't think that is true. The fan base had two favorites, Gill and Charlie Strong. Both were interviewed, both have a much better resume, and either would have been a better hire from both a coaching and recruiting stand-point. The fans and the recruits would have been all over either one.

I hope like hell the rank and file Auburn fan votes with their money, and do what they are threatening in withhold donations/season tickets. A handful of old rich white guys are destroying this football program.

Oh, and Barkley on all this:

ESPN - Charles Barkley outraged by Auburn Tigers' hiring of Gene Chizik

I don't think it's the Auburn fans that are ruining the program, it's boosters (one in particular) and the administration. I think the majority of Auburn fans would've been happy with Gill and fully supported him.

[Balldog]

Originally Posted by GrantDawg

I don't think that is true. The fan base had two favorites, Gill and Charlie Strong. Both were interviewed, both have a much better resume, and either would have been a better hire from both a coaching and recruiting stand-point. The fans and the recruits would have been all over either one.

I hope like hell the rank and file Auburn fan votes with their money, and do what they are threatening in withhold donations/season tickets. A handful of old rich white guys are destroying this football program.

Oh, and Barkley on all this:

ESPN - Charles Barkley outraged by Auburn Tigers' hiring of Gene Chizik

While I agree Gill would've been a better hire, Barkley sounds like an idiot - even more racist than Auburn not hiring Gill. I guess you can't be successful at Kansas State, Notre Dame, Miami or Washington? And he says basically they should've hired Gill because he was black, it would've created a buzz.

Typical Chuck and his diarrhea of the mouth.

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Balldog

While I agree Gill would've been a better hire, Barkley sounds like an idiot - even more racist than Auburn not hiring Gill.

I think he probably takes it too far, but when there are only 4 black head coaches in division 1, then I think there is a problem, and I understand why he's upset. I certainly don't think that's the correct representation of talent.

I guess you can't be successful at Kansas State, Notre Dame, Miami or Washington?

His point is that those jobs were only given to black coaches after they were a complete shithole. Miami had lost everything it built under Butch Davis. K-State had only recently been good, and had fallen down from their peak. Washington was miserable. Notre Dame had fallen on hard times under Bob Davie.

And he says basically they should've hired Gill because he was black, it would've created a buzz.

Nah. He says they should've hired him because he was clearly better than Chizik. The buzz thing is more of a side benefit (i.e. "2nd black head coach in SEC history", it probably helps with recruiting).

[Crim]

Originally Posted by Balldog

While I agree Gill would've been a better hire, Barkley sounds like an idiot - even more racist than Auburn not hiring Gill. I guess you can't be successful at Kansas State, Notre Dame, Miami or Washington? And he says basically they should've hired Gill because he was black, it would've created a buzz.

Typical Chuck and his diarrhea of the mouth.

qft

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

His point is that those jobs were only given to black coaches after they were a complete shithole. Miami had lost everything it built under Butch Davis. K-State had only recently been good, and had fallen down from their peak. Washington was miserable. Notre Dame had fallen on hard times under Bob Davie.

Miami was and still is a good job - it's still right smack in the middle of the biggest collection of football talent in the country, it still has great tradition, it still has good support from alumni and the administration.

Kansas State had slipped from their peak, but were only 2 seasons removed consecutive 11-win seasons.

Washington was not miserable - they had just had a 1-10 season, but prior to that had gone 27 years without a losing season. Ty made Washington miserable - that 1-10 season should've been an aberration.

Notre Dame has always had the most resources and exposure of any school in college football. There's no way that job can be characterized as a "complete shithole".

Now Buffalo, that was a complete shithole. And props to Gill for turning things around there, that's a tremendous job of coaching.