CC: Bob Stoops in play?
http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/travis-haney/post?id=3840
I can only read part of this article, but this is the second article in a matter of days that suggests Stoops ought to leave Norman.
If he does come available than he(in my mind) is 2nd or 3rd on the list. He fields good defenses, runs a spread, and has a national title. If Harbaugh is a no-go than Stoops would be a very strong second option if he is willing to leave Norman.
November 9th, 2014 at 9:04 PM ^
November 9th, 2014 at 11:22 PM ^
He's a midwest guy... who made his bones as the DC at Florida and whose brother is at Kentucky. I'd say Florida is probably a more logical destination for him in fact... in the right hands it is an easier job and is certainly more appealing for a 55 year old man than moving his family north.
If Stoops is looking around, he may well have his eyes firmly locked on Gainesville. And if that is the case, it still serves us by removing our biggest competitor for Mullen.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:35 AM ^
He would also be far more likely to be able to keep some players flowing from Texas at Florida than at Michigan.
November 10th, 2014 at 1:07 PM ^
Why would Mullen come here? I just don't get that. A free agent coach? Sure. A coach who's not happy where he is? Yup. A coach who has his team on a role and is super hot? He's done all the hard work where he is. Why go someplace where there is a ton more risk?
I'm not trying to be negative, I'm seriously trying to understand why people think a guy like Mullen would come. It doesn't make sense to me.
November 10th, 2014 at 5:34 PM ^
Money, prestige, sustainability.
November 9th, 2014 at 9:12 PM ^
who go south and stay south. Just because he's from Ohio doesnt mean he's dying to come back to MI/OH area. Florida money is just as green as Michigan's. Also, he would have a much more fertile recruiting ground in Gainesville than in Ann Arbor.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:23 AM ^
More than half the coaches in the SEC are Midwestern/Northern guys. Toss in Urban Meyer and James Franklin in the past 5 years, too.
November 9th, 2014 at 9:21 PM ^
"Harbaugh or bust" is an oft repeated mantra on this board. Who's "bust"? Some schlump from Podunk U?
Michigan went to extremes with the last two HCs hires selecting an "outsider" followed by a Michigan Man. How'd that work out? Clearly neither was the answer. Maybe the realistic answer lies somewhere in the middle of this Harbaugh or bust mantra- like the best man available regardless of university ties?
November 9th, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
Well Harbaugh would be the best man available.
November 9th, 2014 at 9:22 PM ^
November 9th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^
November 9th, 2014 at 11:34 PM ^
And Stoops is head and shoulders above the other two.
November 9th, 2014 at 10:25 PM ^
Stoops or JH or whomever is coming into a very talented team that is very young. This is what big time coaches wait for. Under preforming team with loads of talent. This team with the right coach and a low mistake QB has everything to leap forward. Hasn't been the case the last two changes.
Edit: probably said this both times before too.
November 9th, 2014 at 10:22 PM ^
There is no story here. The article is completely absurd.
Some guy says "I think Stoops should move on so as not to get stale" . . . and . . . and that's it. Just a guy thinking out loud. Nobody actually heard anything. There's no source saying anything. There's nothing. This is a story about nothing.
Let me have a try . . . I think Saban, having done everything else and always frustrated that he had to live in Michigan's shadow, should leave and go coach for Michigan. Let the dog catch the car.
CC: Is Saban in play?
November 9th, 2014 at 10:42 PM ^
Normally, I agree. But something is up here. Whether it's Stoops trying to get a raise or is legitimately is dissatisfied, but there appears to be an issue in Norman.
Now it probably will be hashed out, but I think this is worth discussing just in case.
November 10th, 2014 at 7:44 AM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 10:34 AM ^
I think any of these guys are worth a try. Our athletic department should vet 5 candidates, rank them, and go after them as hard as they can.
That said... some of the names don't make sense to me. Not because they aren't good coaches, but rather because I can see no reason for them to come. Mullen? Patterson? Sure, we can pay them more money, but if I'm a fifty something coach making a couple million a year already (not including whatever other fees I can get) and I'm in charge of a program I've built, and that looks to have continued success... why go to a program where I have to do at least some serious rebuilding, and the fan base is negatively energized? And where political infighting seems to still lie just below the surface?
Odd as it sounds I think Harbaugh is more realistic in this scenario; The NFL is great, but it can be a huge PITA dealing with the players/GM. And because he could come in like a dictator and his previous Michigan ties would quiet the opposition, he wouldn't have to worry about lack of support or people undercutting him.
Guys like Mullen or Stoops might.
November 9th, 2014 at 10:53 PM ^
Is Belichick in play? If so, do you think he would bring Brady back? That will solve the qb problem.
November 9th, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
November 9th, 2014 at 10:58 PM ^
Get a long-term major program retread? Come on, man. Either get a young-ish proven big-time winner who has yet to find a home, or get an upstart proven winner from a lower division. A retread, someone who is already settled in his career, would be a horrible management decision.
November 9th, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
That isn't old by any means. Calling him a "retread" is...well, stupid.
That you want a youngish(whatever that means) winner from a lower level over a proven winner at the the highest level who is still in his prime makes me question your decisionmaking.
November 9th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
November 9th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
1. Jim Harbaugh (Other than Jim I will be disappointed)
2. Todd Graham (What he did to ND was awesome)
3. Les Miles (The only coach that always give Saban trouble, and 2nd best coach in SEC, that says something)
4. Bob Stoops (I'ds be okay with it, but he seems to lose alot of big games)
5. Gary Patterson
6. Dan Mullen
7. Pray
November 9th, 2014 at 11:35 PM ^
Graham is a good coach, but he has proven far less than Stoops. Miles is also a good coach, but he has ethical issues that Stoops does not. Also, Stoops is not a goofball. Miles is.
November 9th, 2014 at 11:52 PM ^
November 10th, 2014 at 10:55 AM ^
Especially on someone with no coaching experience. I could see him being a great hire for Illinois.
November 9th, 2014 at 11:59 PM ^
Taking Todd Graham over Bob Stoops would be insane.
I'd put Stoops at #2 after Jim H, and Todd Graham at #7 after Patterson and Mullen.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:11 AM ^
coach coming here. I think if the right AD offers Harbaugh in the right way, he says yes. I think he wants to come here and prove that Michigan is not dead.
I also believe Miles would come here if offered and he would do very well adn fill the stadium.
I think Graham would come here and do well. The drop off after MIles is pretty huge. I don't Mullen leaves the SEC and I don't think Stoops leves Norman. Graham isn't as good of a coach as Stoops obviously, but the chances of gettig him are higher. I like Patterson a lot too, but I think he'll stay at TCU.
I just don't see many of these southern coaches wanting to come here and coach in the cold.
November 9th, 2014 at 11:56 PM ^
I seriously doubt he would even try to pull that grayshirt stuff here. Still Miles may be a little flaky, but his record stands for itself. Stoops is a great coach, but I think the chances of getting Miles are infinetly better than getting Stoops.
Why move from a hot bed or recruiting to the cold north where recruiting is so much tougher and the pickings are much slimmer? Until Stoops falls completely at OU like Brown did at Texas, they will do whatever it takes to keep him.
LSU is always 50/50 on Miles and I think Miles' brand of football would get butts in the seats.
Like I said earlier, unless it's Harbaugh, I WILL be disappointed.
November 10th, 2014 at 3:26 AM ^
I would like any of the following:
1. Jim Harbaugh
2. Miles
3. Stoops
4. Mullen
I thin there is a good chance of getting one of these four as our HC for 2015!
November 10th, 2014 at 9:14 AM ^
Give me 10-2 all day.
November 10th, 2014 at 12:00 PM ^
Don't worry, I already put some of his staff together for him.
HC - Bob Stoops
DC - Will Muschamp
DL - Jerry Montgomery
LB - Roy Manning