How likely is Dantonio to OSU now?
Obviously Luke Fickell is the coach of the Ohio Buckeyes, and Ohio is very close lipped about where they are going to go after this season regarding their head coaching position. I have to think that the result of The Game will determine Fickell's future. This is merely speculation, but after the events of the past four weeks, the Buckeye eyes have to be keeping a close look on Lansing. The quesiton is, how high has Dantonio moved up on their wish list if they miss on higher profle guys like Urban? A union of Dantonio and Ohio would ensure the resurection of an evil empire in C-Bus. I want to gage how likely the board thinks it is of Dantonio ending up as HC for the Buckeyes?
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:05 PM ^
Probably not very likely
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:28 PM ^
...A new deal where he still makes 1/2 the amount of money he would get at OSU. If OSU offers, Dantonio has already said he would give them a good look. And with the salary bump he would be getting, I can't see him turning them down.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
"Dantonio has already said he would give them a good look"
Link? I couldn't find this in a cursory Googling, but would be interested to hear exactly what he said about the possibility.
October 24th, 2011 at 12:42 AM ^
If offered the OSU job that jerk will likely take it because he knows that he can never win a National Title at MSU.
Michigan State will NEVER win another National Title in football. NEVER.
Saban knew this and left. If MD has an ounce of sense he'll do the same thing if OSU offers him the job.
At OSU he can land the best talent and he could possibly win a NT. There is no glass ceiling at OSU like there is at MSU.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:06 PM ^
1. Meyer 2. Danotio 3. go back to Jim Tressel
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:35 PM ^
Still don't think Meyer will do it. Too much scrutiny on OSU right now. I think Dantonio becomes their main target.
October 24th, 2011 at 3:29 PM ^
If he does, I'll be disappointed. I've finally gained some respect for Urban, despite his vague Ohio past. Maybe he's just like the ugly girl who hangs with uglier girls to look hot, because next to Spielman I would rather listen to anyone.
And now I feel like I just jinxed us into having a Pam Ward/Spielman broadcast. I'll go knock on a ton of wood
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:07 PM ^
I don't know how likely it is, but I don't think there's a chance in hell Dantonio passes on it if its offered.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:21 PM ^
I don't think so either, but who knows what Dantonio is thinking. It's possible he doesn't want more money and a much higher profile program. There are certain coaching jobs that will always be stepping stones to better positions if the coach is successful. MSU football is a stepping stone, not a final destination.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:51 PM ^
We see a lot of coaches who are very good and could have "bigger" jobs opting to stay in their current gigs because in their minds it's better to stay where you are, be a God, and exceed the limited expectations of the program year in and year out rather than move to a pressure cooker situation in which anything less than total victory is seen as a failure. Coaches have caught on and the sometimes poison chalice that is the high profile positions in college football don't automatically get their man any more.
October 23rd, 2011 at 6:02 PM ^
How on earth is MSU a stepping stone? to what? I can't think of a single MSU head coach that's gone on to coach at another BCS school after MSU other than Saban - and he's a special case in every way who was actively using that job to bolt the first chance he got. Bobby? Nope. John L? Please! Perles? nope. Muddy? nope. Can't remember who was between Muddy and Duffy, but don't think they did either, and Duffy sure didn't - and nether did Biggie Munn. So that's back to WWII and I can't think of anyone but Saban who moved up from MSU. for as long as I've been alive it's been more of a coaching graveyard than stepping stone!
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:06 PM ^
He went onto Arizona State and then the Detroit Lions. Most of the recent MSU coaches havent used it as a stepping stone because they got canned (Bobby W., John L., Muddy Waters). Perles is the only decent coach that didnt use it as a stepping stone that could have in my lifetime.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
I think they need a clean blue collar coach and some of the things mark does kinda would go against what direction they wanna go.
October 23rd, 2011 at 2:48 PM ^
C'mon, we're talking about Ohio State here, I really don't think "character issues" will be a deterent when they go looking for a new coach.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:10 PM ^
Why do people think this? What in Ohio State's recent history (i.e., after Woody) makes you think that they care about running a clean, button-down program?
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:30 PM ^
Dantonio might run a loose ship, but narrative is that he is a blue-collar guy who cares about morals; that won't change if he goes to OSU.
I honestly think that he'll get a good luck from OSU this summer; Meyer might be desirable but I'm not sure he'd want to head back up north and take over a program in some disarray when he can just wait around for a better option. Dantonio is a former coach, loves to stick it to UM (don't discount that being a knock against Meyer), and knows the area.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:08 PM ^
It's going to be Meyer. Not "if" Count on it!
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:12 PM ^
Not likely considering he just signed a 5 year extension.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:40 PM ^
The only thing that is relevant about the extension is what buyout clause applies. Other than that it should be pretty obvious that football coaching contracts are made to be broken.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:35 PM ^
I believe RichRod recently signed a long term extension when he took the michigan job.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:13 PM ^
Looking at things realistically, MSU lost to a turnover-prone ND team, beat an improving but not yet elite Michigan team and a very good Wisconsin team who might have been a bit overrated as their competition, including Nebraska, hadn't been stellar. Don't crown the emperor just yet.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:17 PM ^
Considering the perpetually dysfunctional state of MSU football before Dantonio got there, an 11-2 season followed by what's shaping up to be another good season should be enough for Ohio State to give Dantonio a serious look (especially since he was an assistant there). Even Nick Saban only had one good season at MSU before he got the LSU job.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:15 PM ^
With sanctions hanging over tOSU like a bad fart, they'll not get anyone. Plus, and I hate say this, but Fickell is not done. Braxton Miller is maturing, and there is a lot of talent left in the pipeline yet.
I see Dantonio more likely to go to the NFL than tOSU.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
Agreed on Fickell, but if that is not the long term solution for OSU, I'm not sure Dantonio wouldn't be. I don't think sanctions would necessarily deter Dantonio. He could view himself as the guy who comes in and takes over from a "tragic hero." OSU is clearly a higher profile program and he really could recruit nationally and have access to a bigger/better talent pool. Obviously depends on how the severity of the sanctions.
October 23rd, 2011 at 2:33 PM ^
MSU is not a destination job? I don't see him going anywhere.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
And MSU isn't a safety school either. muahahaha.
October 23rd, 2011 at 9:39 PM ^
tsio beat an extremely overrated Illinois team and did it with completing only 1 pass. Fickell may be back ... but only because the sanctions will scare any really good coaching prospect away.
USC .... Booster cheats = loss of 30 scholarships and 2 year bowl ban
tsio .... Head Coach cheats = something greater than Booster cheats
Go Blue!
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:18 PM ^
I was wondering this since obviously Dantonio has do great work with MSU and Fickell is looking lost. I'd say Dantonio is the Harbaugh-to-Michigan of the off-season but I say he either stays in East Lansing or heads to the NFL
October 23rd, 2011 at 11:25 PM ^
I've been saying for months that he's the most likely candidate. I think he's become slightly more likely over the last couple of weeks.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:41 PM ^
What a horrible horrible person, concerned about his own health and family.
/s
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:41 PM ^
Meyer never attempted to re-define "zero tolerance" or let a player go straight from jail to the starting lineup. Also, Meyer refused to partake in the SEC's oversigning shenanigans. That counts for something. If Dantonio were coaching Florida, he would be signing 32-member recruiting classes and handing out medical scholarships like candy, just like his fellow ex-Spartan Nick Saban.
And given the fact that Meyer nearly died at least once, I take him at his word on his health issues.
October 23rd, 2011 at 5:57 PM ^
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:20 PM ^
He won't be their first choice, since he's 55 and doesn't have the reputation of an Urban Meyer. However, he does have Ohio ties and has (unfortunately) had a lot of success against Michigan, so if they can't get their first couple of choices it could happen.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
His age may actually improve his chances. Come in for 5-7 years and be a bridge between the Tressel era and the future. The current state of the OSU program might deter someone who could be their 15 years from making a move. What does the vatican do when they can't decide on a pope? They elect some old guy to bridge the gap and buy some time.
October 23rd, 2011 at 3:09 PM ^
If so, they'll probably want him to groom one of his coordinators as the next head coach.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
....one of those clauses that essentially allows him to bolt without penalty for certain jobs (I believe Meyer had one), then this is virtually a moot point in light of his contract extension.
Fickell, as we've seen in another thread, is the head coach of OSU until January 31, 2012, so basically an "interim permanent position" created out of panic by OSU. I would be shocked if they gave him the job long-term, mainly because they seems to steadfastly believe that anyone would want the job by virtue of which job it is. That being the case, one of their fans could coach the team, right?
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:25 PM ^
Those buyout clauses are mainly window dressing. We weren't deterred by RR's buyout at WVU, and OSU won't be deterred by Dantonio's, if he's their guy. Some big donor will step up if need be.
I think Dantonio has some interest in OSU, but he'd probably want assurances that he is their top choice first. No coach wants to indicate interest in a job and then be left hanging. Glen Mason did that when the OSU job was open in 2001, and it damaged his reputation among Minnesota fans. He never entirely recovered from that.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:29 PM ^
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:22 PM ^
The coach I hate most at the school I hate most,perfect!
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:57 PM ^
I can concentrate ALL of my hate on a single program. I like this.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:23 PM ^
I certainly think it is more likely that Dantonio would take the job than Meyer.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:35 PM ^
At his age, with his health concerns, and with what he has built at MSU, he isn't leaving. I understand that MSU isn't the best program, but it's not a mid-major either. It's still a Big Ten school. Plus I can't see him switching head coaching jobs within the Big Ten. I know everyone likes to paint Dantonio as just that villainous (and I don't like him either, I think he's a douche, etc) but Dantonio to OSU isn't going to happen. He also isn't an NFL coach. He is MSU's coach until he retires.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:44 PM ^
Agree, completely. Dantonio isn't going to the NFL and he's not going to tOSU. He's basically elevating himself to Izzo levels in East Lansing right now and the best part for him is that he doesn't ever need to win a national championship like Izzo. He just needs to compete every year for a Big Ten Championship, which he has shown to do, and beat Michigan. If he accomplishes just one of those per year, or hell, if he does both, he's a god in East Lansing. He'd be a fool to leave.
October 23rd, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^
Every program has it's own goals, some more ambitious than others. The level of expectation at Michigan is perennial Big Ten Champion and occasional NC contender. The expectation at Michigan State is perennial Big Ten Contender, Beat Michigan.
Right now, Dantonio is slightly exceeding expectations and has elevated himself to Izzo status amongst the State faithful. He makes great money, has total job security, and his money is no good almost anywhere within 20 miles of East Lansing.
October 23rd, 2011 at 7:04 PM ^
Be careful, it's dangerous to assumer you know someone's hierarchy of needs and desire... To be a demigod in East Lansing versus the HC at OSU, none of us here know and any rationale, either pro or con, can be supported by reasonable statements.
It will be interesting if the apprentice goes back to take over what his Master left behind.
October 23rd, 2011 at 4:28 PM ^
Exactly. Plus, Izzo loves Dantonio and fully supports MSU football. As long as Dantonio has success (defined as competeing for B1G championships), he'll have a job for life. No coach with a great setup wants to go to a place where the pressure is there to win everthing, every year. UM is a perfect example of this. Michigan didn't come close to hiring its top choice the last two openings because the expectations of success and the realities of winning are two different thngs.
October 23rd, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
When I said that some big time programs are a poison chalice, I'm refering to places where the expectations no longer fall in line with the current realities of the operational environment. Why would a person in Danonio's situation want to alter his reality in such a way?
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:39 PM ^
Sorry, I don't see why O$U would be interested in a 55 y/o coach who's not a big "name."
And, at 55, I don't see why MD would want to start over. He's got MSU to a steady top 25 program. Why would he want to go to a school on probation? (I know that $4-5 million is a lot of good reasons, but for all MD's faults, I don't see him as the type of guy to jump solely for more money).
Also, as a Vest defender, he's probably not happy that O$U fired Tressel.
October 23rd, 2011 at 1:46 PM ^
Anyone who takes the OSU job already has a huge advantage recruiting vs. a school like MSU even if there are scholarship limits or a post season ban. If anything, what would keep him away from OSU (assuming he's offered the job, that is) would be the expectations and stress of dealing with all the boosters and fanbase. I'm sure in that regard OSU would make MSU look like Sunday school. The stakes and expectations are much higher at OSU.