October 1st, 2014 at 11:50 PM ^
I am probably the biggest defender on Graham here of people who post a lot so I'll take your question. With the caveat there are not a lot of ppl infautated with him - I think there are 4 people on here who post often who actually support him. There are a few locals (local to Arizona) guys who put some very nice comments about him in the diary I wrote about Graham but they don't post much.
But to answer your question re: UCLA. ASU's defense is going to be horrid this year. They lost 9 starters. Of the 9 new starters 3 are true freshmen. Not Jabrill Peppers type freshmen, they dont recruit like us. They are starting players who would be like Brandon Watson, Chase Winovich, and Lawrence Marshall. Imagine fielding a defense even against horrid Big 10 offenses with those 3 in starting roles, along with 6 other new starters. Then imagine taking that defense up vs Oregon, Arizona, UCLA, USC, Washington State - all offenses that are way more explosive than the sludge in the Big 10.
Also in that game the ASU QB threw a pick 6, and ASU gave up a kick return TD. So the 62 drops to a still bad 48. And ASU had 3 other turnovers - their backup QB was in and it was not a good game. But with their defense this year they will need to win games by scoring 50 pts. But that should not be a reflection on Graham - his defense was 2nd best in the Pac 12 his first year at ASU (behind only Stanford), and 4th best in his second year. This year, he has too many losses to deal with in personnel.
To offset that his offense still put up 600 yards on a ranked team with a backup QB. We put up 200 vs Minnesota.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
Jim Tressel.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:50 PM ^
I like Gundy, and I like him a lot. He's done very well at Oklahoma State and he develops talent. However, I am remembering an article that came out about a certain group of females that "entertained" recruits. I believe the group started with Miles but there was no clear end to the practice under Gundy-that scares me. I do think he is a winner and would win a lot of football games at Michigan.
October 2nd, 2014 at 8:23 AM ^
I believe most big college athletic programs have some sort of formal (Auburn) or informal "Hostess" program.
I've heard similar stories about Michigan,.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:52 PM ^
I don't get the Teryl Austin love, outside of his 3 years at Michigan. He's been a coordinator for a season and 4 games. I guess John Harbaugh, not having been a DC/OC before, is an example of this working.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^
Im with you, i don't think he is HC material and not sure if he is much of a recruiter either.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^
He didn't get a crack at a coordinator position for 19 years, has a year stop there, and then I'm guessing Muschamp wanted his own guy, and he goes back to position coach, and now coordinator. After Florida doesn't concern me, but it took almost 2 decades for him to move up beyond a position coach/defensive asst position? Not sure that's necessairly a negative or positive -- just something to consider.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
it's a bit premature, but if the Lions defense continues to be this strong throughout the season, Austin will be a top contender for an NFL job next year. He's young, smart, a solid leader, good with the press, and a minority candidate. He's going to be a hot name after this season if the Lions defense (especially that atrocious secondary) finishes in the Top 3.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:43 PM ^
Ya, but it's easier to take a gamble in the NFL and cut ties with a guy after a year or two and be able to a make a turn around in a season, rather than in college, where a couple of bad seasons and bad recruiting recruiting classes can take a while to overcome with college aged kids.
October 1st, 2014 at 11:52 PM ^
OT - if you come back to this later, will you change your avatar when Brandon gets fired?
October 2nd, 2014 at 9:17 AM ^
Depends on how lazy I am/if I can find a suitable alternative.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:54 PM ^
I'm on the Teryl Austin bandwagon. For one, his career trajectory has been nothing but trending up. He's been to the highest levels of coaching as a DB position coach, including the Super Bowl twice, and then got promoted to DC at a major football factory, Florida. His stint there only lasted a year because Urban Liar unexpectedly had to take a leave of absense to be with his family--you know, for health reasons. After that, he almost immediately got another DB coaching job in the NFL where he went to another Super Bowl. From there he got promoted again to be a DC (Lions) where he's absolutely crushing it right now. He's turning the talented but undisciplined Lions defense into an efficient machine. The things he's doing with that Lions secondary is short of amazing. He's getting the most out of every player. He has never lost. He's been to three Super Bowls. He's moved up with every job but for the Urban Liar situation at UF. He's relatively young at 49. Oh, and while he was coaching in college, he had to recruit like a mofo or he wouldn't have been hired by the next school up on the ladder--Wake, Syracuse, Michigan, Florida. I think he's a home-run waiting to happen. Also, I don't get why prior head coaching experience is necessarily all that important here in our situation. A track record of success as a HC I suppose is somewhat indicative of future success, but not necessarily--see RR--and every successful HC at one time was an assistant who needed someone to take a chance. Finally, I don't like many of the other names being thrown around--Gundy seems like a huckster who only cares about winning games and will throw a kid under the bus if he has to--and Les Miles seems too old. I want a young world-beater with OCD, not someone on this last contract mailing it in before he retires to the booth. The other names thrown around aren't as intriguing to me as Teryl Austin--Harbaughs notwithstanding.
October 1st, 2014 at 11:00 PM ^
Negged for the Urban Liar lines....seriously otherwise decent post, but we're not 12 around here. Would he Urban Liar if he came to Michigan instead of OSU?
October 1st, 2014 at 11:08 PM ^
URBAN LIAR, URBAN LIAR, URBAN LIAR.
[EDIT: URBAN LIAR!]
October 1st, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
October 2nd, 2014 at 9:18 AM ^
It's the equivalent of saying O$U or Sharty, which is frequently looked down upon.
October 2nd, 2014 at 2:26 AM ^
October 2nd, 2014 at 11:14 AM ^
Here's that article I was referring to about Gundy. It was on ESPN.com, not Sports Illustrated. It's long and I haven't reread the whole thing yet. But here it is:
October 2nd, 2014 at 8:30 AM ^
You just about sold me on Austin, but Gundy is not known to throw kids under the bus.
If I remember correctly, his "I'm a man. I'm 40." rant was in defense of one of his kids. He lost his shit because he was so pissed off at the press for going after one of his players.
October 2nd, 2014 at 11:01 AM ^
As for Gundy, and of course I have no inside information, I'm just spouting off like everyone does on the interwebs, but I seem to recall reading in a Sports Illustrated article that the kid he was supposedly defending during his "I'm a man, I'm 40" rant ended up quitting football and leaving the team. Gundy didn't really care about the kid and his rant turned out to be all show. I'm sure if I'm wrong, someone here will let me know. Also, to me Gundy doesn't seem like someone who takes the academic part of being a student-athleate as seriously as he should. He seems like someone who would do whatever he could plausibly deny to skirt academic requirements if it meant winning a game. Maybe I'm naive, but I still want a coach who at least purports and seemingly sincerely believes in the non-football aspect of his players' lives in college. For all Hoke's faults, I'm elated that he recruits the right kids and seems to get them to buy into being a college student, not just a football player. I like that Hoke doesn't go after every 5 star recruit who isn't also a good person. His next class is filled with high character kids. I just have a feeling Gundy would've recruited Demar Dorsey, Yuri Wright, etc. and put them on the field. As I write this, I'm heartbroken that Hoke is likely gone. I so wanted him to succeed. Damn.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:53 PM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
After concussiongate? not happening even if it was ESPN manufactured witch hunt on Craig James part.
October 1st, 2014 at 11:13 PM ^
October 2nd, 2014 at 8:08 AM ^
He did the right thing in that concussion case, put the person in a poor lit room and sit him out. Craig James now looks like an ass and Leach is still winning games, he's only had 1 losing season at 2 subpar schools.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:55 PM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 10:35 PM ^
No to Pep Hamiilton. He was Rex Grossman's QB coach with the Bears.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:56 PM ^
Urban Meyer. Brady Hoke. Mark D'Antonio. Brian Kelly. Which of these four does not belong?
Now, ask yourself ... who DOES? Whose name replacing Hoke's in that list FITS? Because that's who we need.
Either Harbaugh, of course. Beyond that, the list gets REALLY thin AND unrealistic. We don't need an innovator or an up-and-comer. We need someone who can stand toe-to-toe with those three dudes on the recruiting trail and on the field (in the case of ND, I'm sure a bowl game would love to match us back up someday) and hold his ground.
I don't think Mullen or Gundy belong there. Sumlin and Malzhan do. Miles is getting past his prime. Strong? I don't know ... Shaw, Helfrich and Sarkisian? (Now I'm just throwing names out there "for instance") Not sure. So even Saban seems like he's in the same boat as Miles, beginning to trend downward.
"Those three dudes." You need to find the fourth face for that Mount Rushmore, and we don't seems to even have an athletic director to handle that (sorry) monumental task right now.
I like John Harbaugh a lot but I'm skeptical abut his lack of college coaching experinece. But if he took the job that would me he geniunely wants the job and understands the unique challenges and differences from the pros. I just don't see Jim's ego allowing him to come here vs. an NFL team. Could we out-spend Auburn to lure Malzhan?
So this post is about non-Harbaughs, so I'm saying Malzhan.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:58 PM ^
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October 1st, 2014 at 9:59 PM ^
Why doesnt Gundy belong? In the past 4 seasons his teams have won 10 games 3 times, won a conference championship and been competing for 2 more. In the Big 12.
October 2nd, 2014 at 2:23 AM ^
If Guz Malzahn leaves Auburn I will hijack a plane and fly it into the sun.
October 1st, 2014 at 9:57 PM ^
Im fine with Gundy and of course Les as well.
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October 1st, 2014 at 10:07 PM ^
Midwest ties, but now getting a taste of SEC livin'. Let's see how the Vols do this year.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:31 PM ^
They've sucked for just as long and finally have things going in the right direction. They are where we're gonna be in 2 years.
October 1st, 2014 at 11:55 PM ^
Butch Jones is the 4th highest paid coach in the country as it is. He makes more than Jim Harbaugh. You are going to make a guy who did "solid" at CMU, and "good" at Cincy (but not as good as Brian Kelly) as much as Saban based on 2 years of trying to turnaround Tenn? Butch Jones is not realistic due to his salary.
October 1st, 2014 at 11:10 PM ^
I've ever seen. Gotta love the green index cards.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
Like Briles, Richt. Tell you what though, if Georgia ever fired Richt...
Yeah, Gundy's borderline I suppose. I'm just not sold but if I saw him show that he has a positive perspective of the Michigan traditon (it matters) and is motivated by the challenge, I'd get behind it.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:19 PM ^
I like Richt as a man -- really, he's one of the best men on college football -- but infuriating as a coach. Great recruiter, routinely under achieves.
October 2nd, 2014 at 7:55 AM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 10:03 PM ^
We're missing the obvious name here: personification of the Michigan Man, obvious legacy, historic name, support of the fan and player base, etc. Of course, I'm talking about:
October 1st, 2014 at 10:08 PM ^
Bush?
October 1st, 2014 at 10:14 PM ^
Be seriously.
Gerald R. Washington.
October 2nd, 2014 at 10:46 AM ^
Prince William. He wouldn't wear a visor because of his bald spot. Would definitely rock the Bo hat w/headset look that we all covet.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:00 PM ^
October 1st, 2014 at 10:04 PM ^
I bet Les would do it. He is 61, but is pretty young for that age. He always talks about how much he loves Blue and his wife used to coach at Michigan as well. If they made the right offer, he would probably enjoy closing his career out in AA.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
Makes sense. Too much sense.
October 1st, 2014 at 10:12 PM ^
October 2nd, 2014 at 8:37 AM ^
RE: "recruits some questionable kids..."
I think you answered your own problem with the rest of that sentence - "...like the rest of the SEC"
It's just different down there, man. The standards aren't the same as they are at Michigan. He would understand the difference.
October 2nd, 2014 at 11:21 AM ^
Make Les Miles the highest paid coach in CFB for 6-8 years and allow him to name and train his sucessor.
October 2nd, 2014 at 11:22 AM ^
Pay no mind.