Bollman hired as MSU OC
@footballscoop: Sources tell us Jim Bollman is expected to accept the Michigan State OC job
So. There's that.
For those of you who don't know, Bollman was Tressel's OC from 2001-11.
February 27th, 2013 at 12:29 PM ^
But I don't thik Costco would allow the Kirkland brand name on someone of Bollman's quality.
February 27th, 2013 at 12:56 PM ^
Agreed. They'd probably have to create a lower quality brand - Morkland.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:00 AM ^
Just wow.
After Roushar gets his golden parachute that allows him to leave the program without Dantonio having to fire him, they go around and hire someone even worse?!?
It's these type of coaching hires that have the rest of the country laughing at the B10.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
A coach of Jim Bollman's caliber and experience will have no problem picking up the pieces of Sparty's offense and forming it into a cohesive, productive, uni.....{snicker} I can't, I just can't do it.... BWAHAHAHAHA!
February 27th, 2013 at 10:01 AM ^
I can't imagine MSU fans are too happy about this.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:03 AM ^
hah
hahahaahah
hAHAHAHAHHAAHAHA
February 27th, 2013 at 10:17 AM ^
Man Getting Hit by Football. I can only hope that was your goal.
February 28th, 2013 at 8:43 AM ^
"But the ball...his groin. It works on so many levels!"
February 27th, 2013 at 10:09 AM ^
I seem to remember Columbus Torch and Pitchfork setting up a sales booth more than once out in front of Jim Bollman's house during his tenure at Ohio. I doubt Sparty's woes with the OC position have ended.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:11 AM ^
this is exactly the kind of crappy hire the B1G specializes in. Let's get OSU's fired OC, who went to Purdue's OL to be MSU's OC. Why can't the conference get stars (or at least up and commers)?
February 27th, 2013 at 10:48 AM ^
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say it's because Mark Dantonio isn't as smart as pundits in the media would have you believe he is.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:14 AM ^
They killed two birds with one stone. Dantonio can't wait til someone, anyone offers him a job at any other University, and they have now hired his replacement. Way to go Sparty!
February 27th, 2013 at 10:20 AM ^
hiring from Mark D's christmas card list
February 27th, 2013 at 10:22 AM ^
Mike Debord as his Running cordinator this will be the best collection of hailarities on one staff ever. Big Tenn!! in my Brian voice
February 27th, 2013 at 10:25 AM ^
MSU apparently doesn't plan on using their new JumboTron scoreboard to, you know, record scores.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:56 AM ^
That brought back some awesome memories...
February 27th, 2013 at 11:37 AM ^
RIP
Never Forget
February 27th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
Awesome. Simply awesome. This news is so good, it almost deserves muppets.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:29 AM ^
Bollman is an upgrade over Roushar.
The hand Bollman was dealt in 2011 was pretty tough. The cloud Tressel left the program under didn't help and everybody in Columbus knew the staff was gone. Including the players. The starting QB was dreadful. He should have been pulled for Braxton Miller much earlier that season. Still, Miller was very, very raw. And the advance gameplanning Bollman executed for Michigan was outstanding. You guys forget that game went down to the wire and Miller was explosive. Bollman did a really nice job of prep with the kid.
I know I'd take Bollman over Roushar any day. Roushar was arguably the worst OC in the B10. Greg Davis was terrible at Iowa but at least he had a lot of injuries - peace be upon AIRBHG - as an excuse. Gus Malzahn or Chad Morris couldn't have turned MSU's offense into a juggernaut LY. But they still have too much talent to look like they did. Bollman for Roushar is a good trade for Sparty.
Look at this from another angle. Tressel allowed Bollman to be his OC for 10 seasons. Dantonio canned Roushar after 1 season. No way this is a downgrade.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:44 AM ^
has been its Defensive Line
system and all that...
February 27th, 2013 at 10:50 AM ^
Roushar was OC for two seasons, and for the 10 seasons that Bollman was Tressel's OC, Tressel was calling plays. Bollman called plays for one season and it was an offensive disaster. While you're right to point out that the situation wasn't perfect, it wasn't a bottom 20 offense bad. There was plenty of talent and an experienced O-line. It just didn't work.
Really, I'd say that Roushar was in a worse situation last season. Had to replace his entire passing offense. His O-line was recked by injuries. Bell, while terrific if given a seam, isn't really a make you miss type back. In games where the o-line was overwhelmed, there really wasn't any tool to turn to on the MSU offense.
This may not be a downgrade for Sparty, but it's hardly an upgrade.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:29 AM ^
... that I couldn't remember 2011. My bad.
No, I'd say Bollman had it tougher than Roushar. The national spotlight was on Columbus and plenty of bad stories leaked out during the season. Roushar was the beneficiary of much better circumstances in EL. He had a boss whose job was safe and who can coach a bit himself. Bollman had Luke Fickell, exhibit 1 for the Peter Principle.
The first starting QB was Joe Bauserman. Bauserman was really, really bad. Bollman had the unenviable task of deciding which QB to play; the limited vet who at least knew the playbook, or the raw but physically gifted true freshman Miller. Handing the job early to Miller would have been a signal to everyone that the new staff was willing to maybe forego a win or two now in order to get more experience for the future. Bauserman had to be allowed to fail first. And fail he did, getting just 5.72 YPA on sub-50% completions.
Bollman did a very decent job with Miller. In 2011 Miller notched 7.38 YPA and a 138 QB rating. In 2012 under the auspices of certified offensive genius Urban Meyer the sophomore had 8.03 YPA and a 140 QB rating. Improvement right in line for a freshman to soph transition. If Bollman was bad and Meyer really good we should have seen a much bigger improvement. Don't forget too that Miller injured his ankle against Nebraska in 2011 and was not 100% for awhile.
I'm not going to claim that Bollman is a certified offensive genius. But he *is* an upgrade over Roushar.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
It doesn't have me shaking in my boots, but Tressel-ball with good defense is basically what Dantonio wants to run. Conservative offense, don't hurt your defense. It's not like he was going to go out and hire Calvin Magee or go all old school Texas Tech on people.
February 27th, 2013 at 12:04 PM ^
Yes, but look at the talent he had. And granted, many of these guys were suspended early in the season, which certainly didn't help Joe Bauserman any. But Mike Adamas and Mike Brewster both started NFL games this season. They had another senior lineman that I believe at least signed an NFL free agent deal. Herron, Posey, and even a freshman Braxton Miller are more talented than a respective trio off of MSU last season. That offense should not have gone for under 300 yards in 4 of the last 7 games.
I just didn't see the same potential out of MSU last season. Maxwell, while better than Bauserman, isn't much of a talent at QB. Bell is solid but works best behind an efficient O-line. The receiving corp was a mess. Sims was also solid, but his biggish numbers were more a reflection of the poor receiving corp. And the line wasn't good or healthy. While I don't think MSU's 2011 season was indicative of what Roushar could bring to the table, I don't think 2012 was either. And I just don't see whow Bollman is an upgrade.
February 27th, 2013 at 1:22 PM ^
OSU averaged just 62 offensive snaps those last 7 games with just 110 attempted passes over that time. You're not going to get big yardage totals like that. The quality is more important then the quantity. 7.38 YPA with a true frosh QB is pretty good.
And you try doing your job with the nation's sports media hovering like vultures over the program. And Urban Meyer too. Good luck with that.
February 27th, 2013 at 3:30 PM ^
while downplaying the suspensions and the turmoil. While Herron missed six games, Posey missed ten. They had other suspensions and injuries too. Sure, Miller is more talented than Maxwell, but talent isn't usually enough for a true freshman QB to excel right off the bat. Maxwell had three years practicing in their system. Most expected MSU's offense to be better than it was last season.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:30 AM ^
Out of curiosity why does the head coach (Tressel) get a show cause penalty, but the assistants do not? Are we just saying that the assistants do not have the responsibility of the entire team as the head coach does? I'd assume the assistants were just as much in the loop of the stuff going on as the head coach, no? I am not tied to either outcome, just kind of curious how the NCAA makes this distinction.
February 27th, 2013 at 12:39 PM ^
February 27th, 2013 at 12:43 PM ^
He was specifically told of the violation by the original emailer and then lied to the NCAA. I don't think there was ever such evidence against any assistant.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:32 AM ^
This makes perfect sense to me. Now that Sparty is in the West Division, they have to keep up with Iowa's and Wisconsin's level of creative play calling.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:26 AM ^
FB up the gut. 5% of the time, it works every time.
February 27th, 2013 at 10:38 AM ^
While the Michigan fan part of me loves to see a rival fall flat with a hire, the SEC hater in me wishes MSU would've done something BOLD. This is somewhat analogous to Wisconsin losing Bielema to Arkansas.
From a conference perspective, MSU is one of those schools that has GOT to elevate itself if the conference is ever going to compete "top to bottom" with the SEC. The Big Ten needs it's "middle teir" teams, i.e. MSU, Iowa, (I can't believe I'm saying this... but) Northwestern, Illinois to get stronger if the league is ever going to develop the cache that brings consistent five stars to the top tier teams year in and year out. This notion that exists with many recruits now; that the SEC as whole is a higher level of competition week in and week out, and will therefore prepare you better (and more quickly) for the NFL, doesn't come solely from the success of Florida, Alabama and LSU. It's also largely a result of the (perceived?) success of South Carolina, Auburn, Georgia and Arkansas.
Arkansas needs an upgrade at HC so they go steal Wisconsin's coach. MSU needs an upgrade at OC and they hire... THIS GUY. I mean, not everyone can just go out and get an Urban Meyer or a Greg Mattison, but Jim Bollman?
February 27th, 2013 at 12:42 PM ^
February 27th, 2013 at 10:55 AM ^
Jim Bollman:
Admiral Ozzel:
I'm just sayin'
February 27th, 2013 at 11:12 AM ^
(no embed skills)
February 27th, 2013 at 11:48 AM ^
Thanks for making me disturb a CAEN lab with my laughter. For real though, I usually just +1 and move on, but good lord, the resemblance...
February 27th, 2013 at 12:08 PM ^
Though... in Bollman's defense, coming out of lightspeed too close to the system really *does* prove that MSU is being intergalactic.
February 27th, 2013 at 1:23 PM ^
But doesn't it also prove that he is as clumsy as he is stupid?
February 27th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
February 27th, 2013 at 2:49 PM ^
Oh, the one that made the hire has jokes and ridicule too.
February 27th, 2013 at 2:54 PM ^
Pleased you are not?
February 27th, 2013 at 5:08 PM ^
Sorry about this, my friend, but its just too enjoyable to resist piling it on you all. Good to hear you are able to handle it with grace.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:02 AM ^
::Jim Bollman:Greg Davis
February 27th, 2013 at 11:21 AM ^
February 27th, 2013 at 11:22 AM ^
God how I missed the days when MSU-Iowa would end in a 3-3 tie. Can't wait to see more of that.
You got me though, no ties, so a nice 6-3 decision.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
February 27th, 2013 at 11:24 AM ^
This is awesome! Good luck trying to run that offense with those players.