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 5:04 PM ^
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November 24th, 2015 at 5:06 PM ^
He'll be available real soon, and cheaper, too.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
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November 24th, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
This would be good for the Big Ten, because it needs a strong Eastern program desperately....however any Maryland success would further tip the balance of power to the Eastern (Bo Division).
Eventually I feel that the Big Ten will need to restructure these divisions. The Bo Division is too top heavy with big time programs that are growing.
Mullen also seems like a bit of an ass, which could make for great fodder to have him as an opposing coach.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:07 PM ^
This would not be a smart move for Mullen, IMO. There are plenty of jobs available, and he is likely to be a good candidate for some of them. Why go somewhere you have a very low percentage chance of winning?
The timing (five days before the Egg Bowl) suggests to me that Mullen may be using this to leverage an extension or pay raise from Mississippi State, rather than serious interest.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:17 PM ^
What are the top jobs out there not named USC and assuming Texas is staying put? Mullen is not a USC candidate.
Maryland and Miami ? I mean there is not a lot of moving up from a 8-9 win SEC team.
Both those programs have very specific issues. I could see Mullen to Miami as the division opponents are the easiest of any "major job" but institutional support and fan base seems to suck.
There aren't that many great step ups out there IMO. A lot of the job openings out there are fine for a Dino Babers or Justin Fuente but Miss State is a decent mid level P5 job, just in a tough division.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:18 PM ^
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November 24th, 2015 at 5:35 PM ^
Yep that would be interesting. Don't change division but change to better pedigree school.
I also forgot about VA Tech.
Honestly if you want to tap that D.C. Virginia Maryland HS market and want to win big you go to VA Tech over MD. ACC Coastal is a crap division; it's the East coast Big 10 West. Much easier to get to 10 win seasons there than Big 10 East.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:56 PM ^
It sounds like VA Tech is open in name only. Feunte appears to be close to a done deal unless something better opens up.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:01 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 6:05 PM ^
Why is Mullen not a USC candidate? After the last two coaches full of bravado and a combined 40-21 record (Sark went 12-6 and Kiffin went 28-15), Mullen might be a great pic. USC can recruit by itself, Mullen can develop talent, and has a solid record in a tough conference.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:31 PM ^
This is a feelingsball answer, but Mullen doesn't seem like the kind of guy who could thrive in an environment like Southern California. He's got that unsophisticated, aw shucks affect. Pumpkin & Honey Bunny would have shot him first.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:47 PM ^
Going off on that, Mullen has no ties to the west coast at all. The closest he got was as QB coach at Utah for two years in 2003-2004
November 24th, 2015 at 5:09 PM ^
Maryland should eventually be a much better job than Mississippi St. Mullen gets the leftovers from a lot of teams going into his back yard to recruit. At least in Maryland he has quite a bit of talent close by and not as much competition. With Beamer and Spurrier out the job should be even more appealing.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:10 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:11 PM ^
Twitter fingers turn to trigger fingers
November 24th, 2015 at 5:14 PM ^
Dan Mullen is gonna be this cycle's Schiano, with his agent just throwing his name out for every opening.
Actually now that I think about it, Schiano is every cycle's Schiano.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:23 PM ^
If Nebraska was gonna hire someone he would have been the one to hire...weak Big Ten east he could do some damage. Why would he go to Maryland...
November 24th, 2015 at 5:32 PM ^
I thought NEB was going to get him last year. They already had his offense installed under Pelini so unlike UM or wherever with pro style you wouldnt need to suffer thru a 3 yr transition. He was not "mean" like Bo P and had some midwest roots from 12-15 yrs ago.
November 24th, 2015 at 5:38 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:44 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:45 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 5:50 PM ^
What comments did he make about us? I missed it.
November 25th, 2015 at 12:53 AM ^
Pissed off about sattelite camps, IIR.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:27 PM ^
I would think that he would be a candidate for the LSU job if they part ways with Les Miles. If James Franklin ends up not working out at PSU, Mullen will be near the top of their list too (he's from Pennsylvania). Why would he have any interest in one of the Big Ten's adopted stepchildren?
November 24th, 2015 at 6:02 PM ^
I would take the Maryland job it would be a smart move. Because he was on the hot seat before Presscott started and basically saved his job and with him going on to the NFL does he the heir apparent of him on the roster and does Mullen have the resources or have backing from the athetic department to hold on to his staff. Because he lost his DC to Florida this past off-season. Also patience when he's having down years.
To me i would take the job if it pays similar or a little more because he could be Les Miles or Richt in two years if he stays. Where as Maryland you can have Penn St in the 2000's years or be a pain in the side like Indiana. And Maryland fans would be happy with that. Plus Under Armor money/stock Rich fertile recruiting areas like DMV,NJ,PA,WV,Del,NY,NC,SC,GA,FLA,and TN. Upcoming new indoor practice facilities.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:32 PM ^
A couple folks here have made the case for why Mullen may consider moving to Maryland. Who knows what will happen, but Maryland seems to be offering at least equal money as his current job and the opportunity to move back to civilization. If he just did his competent, go-to-bowls thing and have Maryland as a solidly nonlaughingstock member of the Big Ten East he would have a pretty high quality of life.
November 24th, 2015 at 6:44 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 9:13 PM ^
Before the Harbaugh talk became real I actually thought Mullen might be worthy of consideration at Michigan. I'm not sure this guy is all that hot to be honest. And boy was I wrong!
November 24th, 2015 at 9:29 PM ^
Brian said he is VERY sure that Mullen was the plan B if Hackett couldn't land The Unicorn, and that Mullen was OK with that. So Hackett thought he worth consideration, too.
November 24th, 2015 at 7:02 PM ^
According to this article from 247Sports - LINK - Mullen is also thought to be a rather serious candidate for the Virginia Tech job, and I would think that he would be an interesting replacement for Frank Beamer if indeed that materialized (we know so little right now, of course).
November 24th, 2015 at 9:08 PM ^
Virginia Tech is a way better job than Maryland. He could win ACC titles and make playoff appearances at VT. Maryland is slightly better than Miss. St. because there is no Indiana/Rutgers at the bottom of the SEC West. If State drops to their usual level and Penn State takes another 2-3 to rebound and you catch OSU and/or us, maybe you can win the B1G.
At VT, you have to contend with Miami (if they get their crap together) and maybe Georgia Tech/UNC/Pitt (on good years).
November 24th, 2015 at 9:11 PM ^
The only way Maryland would ever win the B1G would be if they landed Saban/Meyer/Harbaugh or Carrol. Other than that....it'll never happen.
November 24th, 2015 at 11:08 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 7:03 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 7:20 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 7:23 PM ^
Also - Jimbo Fisher will be the next coach at LSU, Mark that one down too.
Side note - I hope DJ Durkin stays put w Michigan but I have a feeling he's gone after this year.
November 24th, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^
As bad as Maryland's uniformz are, Mississippi State's regular jerseys are 54 times worse.
November 24th, 2015 at 8:17 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 9:05 PM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 9:53 PM ^
Maryland has zero football tradition. It's been an ACC basketball school.
But...
With the right coach (Mullen, Miles, O'Brien), UMD could become a real thorn in the side of Ohio St. , Michigan, Michigan St. and others.
I've seen enough of the UMD program to know that it can become something really close to the best teams in the B1G east--and if the fan base ever gets to thinking that football is just something you do before kicking ass during the basketball season, look out.
This place is all in to try to have really good football. If they get this coaching hire right, everyone in the conference will have a significantly harder job.
November 24th, 2015 at 11:04 PM ^
November 25th, 2015 at 12:58 AM ^
Not a great fanbase though. MD is a commuter school, the campus empties out on the weekends instead of the other way around. College sports are not big in the DC area. Everything revolves around the Redskins.
There is a ceiling on fan support for MD and it is not very high.
November 25th, 2015 at 1:30 AM ^
Sounds like you are in grad school at Maryland right now. As an older alum I would encourage you to not feed the incorrect narrative that Maryland has zero football tradition. Maryland was top-5 during the the Big Jim Tatum era in the 50s with a national championship, was a solid program under Jerry Claiborne in the 70s, and solid-plus under Bobby Ross. Friedgen did take the Terps to an Orange Bowl this century as well.
Maryland has sent a lot of great players to the NFL, including Randy White during the Claiborne era. He is one of the very greatest football players ever, a Hall-of-Famer's Hall-of-Famer. The Len Bias tragedy was a nuclear level event that can not be overstated. Bobby Ross was a helluva college coach and had nothing to do with what Len did but nonetheless was swept out with the tsunami.
On the other hand, I can't say I share your level of bullishness on the potential for the future. Love the enthusiasm though, certainly. There is just so very much to do and going on in general inside the Beltway. It would be a remarkable accomplishment for someone to build the program to that level. Hell, building it to solidly fourth best in the division would be a major achievement.
November 25th, 2015 at 9:00 AM ^
November 24th, 2015 at 9:55 PM ^
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November 24th, 2015 at 10:17 PM ^
is basically the SEC's Northwestern without the stellar academics excuse. He's done a great job there in relative terms.
I'm not as impressed with Mullen as others are.
November 24th, 2015 at 10:46 PM ^
in the BIG. Hell, look at what Meyer has done in his few years there, loadin up SEC style and damn everything but football. Am understandin why he can only handle such stress for a few years at a time as pointed out by Paul Finebaum today. This shit was going on during his last few years in Flordia where the patients were running the asylum. Don't want it. Don't need it, especially given the money MD has access to.