Dan Mullen to Maryland? Talk is heating up!
It's starting to heat up. Maryland people are contacting him and it's becoming a serious deal now.
That's the vibe on twitter. A 247 paywalled article is backing this up and that seems to be where the heat is coming from, apparently.
i say bring em. He had snide comments in the offseason towards us, so it'd be great to beat his ass. Michigan hosts Maryland next year.
DISCUSS
November 24th, 2015 at 4:59 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 6:58 PM ^
And his background fits the area...he's from PA.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:05 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:25 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 10:03 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 11:45 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
I would say Maryland > Mississippi State.
At Miss State you are the clear cut 7th team in the SEC West. You can probably rise up past Arkansas, but you aren't going to get much higher than 6th most years. Your resources are probably close to last in the SEC. You are a solid second to Ole Miss in the state. You are consistently in the bottom tier of the SEC in terms of recruiting. Mississippi State's 2016 class is rated 41st and that comes on the heels of their most succesful season in school history followed by a pretty good season this year.
At Maryland, you can be the clear cut 5th team in the B1G East. If you hire the right coach, you may be able to move up to 4th depending on what happens with PSU (do they continue on with Franklin? Do they make another coaching change?) in the near future. You have alot of resources at your disposal (Under Armour, etc.) certainly in the top half of the B1G. You don't have to compete with a rival in state. You sit in the DMV, which is now the B1G's second most fertile recruiting ground. Maryland's 2016 class is rated 36th in the country, and that comes during a year when Edsall entered the season on the hot seat and got fired mid season.
Other factors to consider: Mullen was born in Pennsylvania, grew up in New Hampshire, went to college at Ursinus (PA). His first coaching jobs were at Wagner (NY), Columbia, and Syracuse. He also coached at Notre Dame and Bowling Green before going to Utah then Florida with Meyer, before heading to Miss State. So he's got alot of connections to the Northeast and Midwest.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:06 PM ^
Sitting in the DMV is pretty much my definition of Hell on Earth. Especially if my ticket number is 96 and the lady calls out "Number 14."
November 24th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
It's best to grab a number then go get lunch. By the time you get back - your wait will almost be up.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:23 PM ^
I think you've made about as good a case as there is. But to me, the question is not just whether Maryland is a better job than Mississippi State, but (i) whether Maryland is better by enough of a margin to make the transition worthwhile, and (ii) whether even better opportunities (than Maryland) are likely to be available to Mullen this off-season.
You've persuaded me that Maryland is better than Mississippi State. But the margin appears pretty small. Either way, you are in a bitch of a division facing opponents with better players, top coaches, and greater resources to recruit and develop players. If I'm Mullen, I'd probably rather stay at the winning program I have developed than undertake a turnaround job at Maryland.
More significantly, this is a coaching change cycle with tons of openings and not a ton of great candidates. Somebody is going to win the Tom Herman sweepstakes, and then Fuente and Babers look like the next guys off the board. Beyond that, good luck. So, I have to imagine there will be openings at schools with more to offer than Maryland that would have interest in a guy like Mullen.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:37 PM ^
The Tom Herman sweepstakes is for second tier Power 5 schools. Fuentes and Babers are good candidates for those jobs, too. Even Maryland is looking for a more established coach. The big time programs all will be too. If Mullen leaves, I could see Miss St going after Fuentes. I don't see schools like LSU, UGA, USCw as possibilities.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
Maryland has a chance to be good at some point with the local talent and deep pockets; MSU is always going to be behind a couple of powers in that division. I mean, there's a world in which Maryland could compete for a conference title out East if they catch a couple breaks; MSU has had an amazing run, practically unprecendented in Miss St. history, and they still lost 3+ games a year and never seem to have a chance.
November 24th, 2015 at 7:11 PM ^
as long as they are willing to spend money. That's been a problem in the past. Doesn't appear to be now.
November 24th, 2015 at 8:07 PM ^
...market?
Sorry, answer to a different why Maryland? question.
November 24th, 2015 at 4:59 PM ^
Were you the guy who said Bill O'Brian to Maryland discussions heating up just last week?
Or was that Converse Man?
November 24th, 2015 at 5:02 PM ^
That was his evil brother, THOUGHTS dude, most likely.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:22 PM ^
He should be "DISCUSSTHENFORGETMAN"...
November 24th, 2015 at 5:35 PM ^
You guys need glasses! That was Discus Man, the MGoUsername of a Track & Field guy.
November 24th, 2015 at 9:49 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 8:11 PM ^
to be fair, those rumors WERE heating up last week
November 24th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
Both are no win jobs right now - SEC West and Big 10 East. Same roadblocks at both and you basically start every year with a guaranteed 3 losses.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^
Maybe 4 if penn state can get its act together.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
Franklin is a tanned, slimmer Hoke. I expect him to be fired in about 12 months. Offense is not going to be measurably better next year and they lose Nassib and Zettel. Another 7-8 win season on the way beating up the bad teams and in dogfights with Marylands of the world just as this year and just as Hoke did.
PSU is going to be starting from scratch in 2017 and then you have to give that new guy 2-3 yrs even if he is a quality coach to do something there. It's going to be a while IMO for PSU to be a threat.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
I didn't think much of the PSU fans' whining and gnashing of teeth since they never understood they would drop off and BoB left before the sanctions really kicked in and the walkons had to start playing. But, after seeing the awful play selection and clock management I don't think Franklin is long for the job. he will get one more year and will most likely lose Hackenberg going into that pivotal year.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:00 PM ^
might leave for 2nd or 3rd round money to be a backup and really develop. He could have a nice career in the right system. Beats getting his head bashed in for another year.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
UM was 5-7 last year with not much hope on the horizon until Harbaugh was hired. PSU might not have their Harbaugh out there, but you never know when the next hire just might be the guy.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:28 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 6:44 PM ^
I think there are about 7 coaches in the planet in Harbaugh's sphere.
If PSU lands one of those 7 I will agree with you.
Tell me Chip Kelly is going to Happy Valley and I will tell you they scare me in 2017. Hell tell me Kyle Whittingham is going to Happy Valley and I will tell you damn they are going to be tough as nails in 2018. Until then, they are coached by Brady Hoke's lil bro.
They have a ton of 4 star talent all over the place and looked just like "old" us. The sum is less than the parts. Just like Hoke teams. They were in a 31-30 dogfight with horse shit Maryland, just like we were in fights with dogshit Rutgers and Uconn and etc etc.
PSU has great potential. Coaching means everything man. We learned that here. We used to think the brand and the tradition was all you needed and you just roll in coaches and you get 9-10 wins a year. So did Notre Dame post Holtz. So did Tennesse post Fulmer. We learned, they are learning now.
November 24th, 2015 at 7:18 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
Spot on. I could not believe how similar State Penn is to what UM was under Hoke. I had horrible flashbacks. Watching the QB's lack of development, the time mis-management, the lack of any offensive creativity, the conservative play-calling, asking the defense to do too much. Add to that all the great recruits they've assembled (per reports), and it's Hoke 2.0 in State College.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
This guy might be available....
Would make things interesting.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:45 PM ^
I dont see Franklin fired this year so unless Les sits out a year laying in the weeds.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:42 PM ^
Not saying Franklin is a good coach, but no way does Hoke have success at Vanderbilt.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:46 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 6:48 PM ^
I wrote this a year ago during coaching search - how Franklin (and Strong) matched up to last year's crops of candidates.
I came away very unimpressed.
http://mgoblog.com/diaries/redux-coaching-candidate-james-franklin
Vandy won with defense. Vandy beat mostly crap teams or down programs (TN) They have a guy named Bob Shoop as their DC. Franklin is supposed to be "an offensive guru". Vandy had very good defenses relative to what they recruit. Shoop came to PSU with Franklin. Guess where PSU has excelled the past 2 years? Defense.
Franklin without Shoop is poop.
p.s. if Durkin gets a job in 13 months elsewhere my first call would be to Shoop.
November 24th, 2015 at 7:32 PM ^
has had one win over a top 25 team in his career. Let's not predent that he was lighting up teams at Vandy.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
Going from Miss St to Maryland? They must have backed up the truck for him.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:00 PM ^
...at Maryland can make them a contender. It would be interesting to see whether that's the case with a good coach.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:02 PM ^
You said it....it's Mississippi St ! Even people in Mississippi don't like MSU
November 24th, 2015 at 5:03 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
But maybe the contract he signed with Miss St (last year?) prevents him from jumping to a SEC team. That's something I'd have put in place if I was their AD.
If I'm Mullen, short of UA dropping millions to make Maryland "Oregon 2.0", I'd rather jump to a place like USC or Miami. Both can be elite programs with good coaching and I think USC might be dying for someone without off-field issues for the job.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:20 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 5:26 PM ^
Oregon 2.0 is not just about money. Its about finding the coach. Oregon was trending up - good not great....and then hit paydirt with Chip Kelly who out of the blue was an elite college coach. That coincided with USC scandal and Pete going bye bye.
They also dont have UM and OSU (and MSU) in their division. They have 1 top 10-15 team to deal with in their division - not 3.
Even if MSU falls back and PSU falls back, Maryland is playing for 3rd and in any 1 year I believe MSU or PSU will be better if not both. So playing for 4th most years ...if not 5th. Maryland is just in the wrong division to make this "Oregon" dream happen...go to the West and we can talk as they'd mostly just have to deal with a broken Nebraska and Wisconsin.
p.s. I agree Miami makes sense - even if they have less institutional support than MD does. The right coach at Miami would be drowning in talent within 30 mile radius.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:28 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 24th, 2015 at 5:39 PM ^
Bellotti was good and led them out of the dark ages but he really only had 3-4 "elite seasons". He set the bar and base... but all that "Nike money" still didnt get them to "Oregon" as they are perceived now.
| 1995 | Mike Bellotti | 9–3 | 6-2 | T-2nd | L Cotton | 18 | 18 |
| 1996 | Mike Bellotti | 6–5[A 2] | 3-5 | T-5th | |||
| 1997 | Mike Bellotti | 7–5 | 3-5 | T-7th | W Las Vegas | ||
| 1998 | Mike Bellotti | 8–4 | 5-3 | T-3rd | L Aloha | ||
| 1999 | Mike Bellotti | 9–3 | 6-2 | T-2nd | W Sun | 18 | 19 |
| 2000 | Mike Bellotti | 10–2 | 7-1 | T-1st | W Holiday | 9 | 7 |
| 2001 | Mike Bellotti | 11–1 | 7-1 | 1st | W Fiesta† | 2 | 2 |
| 2002 | Mike Bellotti | 7–6 | 3-5 | 8th | L Seattle | ||
| 2003 | Mike Bellotti | 8–5 | 5-3 | T-3rd | L Sun | ||
| 2004 | Mike Bellotti | 5–6 | 4-4 | T-5th | |||
| 2005 | Mike Bellotti | 10–2 | 7-1 | 2nd | L Holiday | 12 | 13 |
| 2006 | Mike Bellotti | 7–6 | 4-5 | T-5th | L Las Vegas | ||
| 2007 | Mike Bellotti | 9–4 | 5-4 | T-4th | W Sun | 24 | 23 |
| 2008 | Mike Bellotti | 10–3 | 7-2 | 2nd | W Holiday | 9 | 10 |
Nike money plus elite coach? That was the ticket.
| 2009 | Chip Kelly | 10–3 | 8-1 | 1st | L Rose† | 11 | 11 | |
| 2010 | Chip Kelly | 12–1 | 9-0 | 1st | L BCS National Championship Game† | 3 | 3 | |
| Pacific-12 Conference (2011–present) | ||||||||
| 2011 | Chip Kelly | 12–2 | 8-1 | T-1st (North) | W Rose† | 4 | 4 | |
| 2012 | Chip Kelly | 12–1 | 8-1 | T-1st (North) | W Fiesta† | 2 | 2 | |
November 24th, 2015 at 6:15 PM ^
It was Rich Brooks who led them out of the dark ages. He took them to the Rose Bowl in 1994. He then went to the NFL and his OC, Belotti, took over.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:57 PM ^
I'm just using that term because Maryland fans seem to think that's happening. I'm fairly skeptical myself. I think Oregon in a weaker Pac-10 was able to build up (as you mentioned) before Kelly. Maryland has not had that. They're bad right now and that's with a very weak PSU and Michigan not at 100% yet. When Michigan comes online fully, Maryland would have to develop with 3 elite teams in their division, which is more than Oregon faced in their conference.