Fitz staying at NU

Submitted by dr eng1ish on
Per @chengelis, Joe schad's Joe schad reports that Pat Fitzgerald is staying at NU.

Resume panicking as normal. I guess a lot of folks didn't want him anyway but, fwiw.

BigT

January 6th, 2011 at 6:39 PM ^

Ignoring the fact that Gruden has 4 years college experience (granted, as GA and position coach), he is a young, experienced, SUPER BOWL WINNING coach from the Midwest who has stated that Michigan is one of his dream jobs.

I'll say it again, give me that over JH.  Now DB, please PAY THE MAN!!!

PurpleStuff

January 6th, 2011 at 6:40 PM ^

Winning record in the NFL over 11 seasons (as compared to Hoke's losing record as a college head coach for 8 seasons).  Never had a losing season with the Raiders.  The Raiders.  Won a Super Bowl.  Incredibly visible due to his time on MNF.  Energetic and still under 50.  Midwestern roots (played at Dayton and grew up in Ohio). 

He is basically Pete Carroll sans probation and with a far superior NFL resume.  Not sure we have any chance, but it would be a home run hire.  Brady Hoke is the equivalent of hitting yourself in the head with the bat.

PurpleStuff

January 6th, 2011 at 7:35 PM ^

To me the two guys seem very similar in terms of personality and pedigree (energetic guys under 50 with multiple head coaching stops in the NFL).  The only difference in their respective hirings would be that Michigan fans would actually be excited to get Gruden while SC fans fumed at settling for their 18th choice. 

Not saying Gruden = multiple NC's and three Heismans the next few years, but from a hire perspective Gruden gets an A+ on initial inspection.  I'm also pretty sure he would run things on the up and up at Michigan.

Though, of course, all of this is almost certainly a pipe dream.

All_In_For_Michigan

January 6th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^

I think it would be worth pulling out the checkbook for Gruden.  We are in a much weaker position than we were three years ago in terms of the attractiveness of the job, but we still have a huge checkbook to go along with state of the art facilities, and I think we should take full advantage of that before we lose it.

I think his national visibility from MNF and his NFL experience/Super Bowl win more than make up for his lack of recruiting experience as a college HC.  Look at the way he talks up every damned player who completes a first down on MNF.  Can you imagine how convincing he could be selling the Big House and winged helmets?

AgonyTrain

January 6th, 2011 at 6:44 PM ^

Amen.  Gruden's name has been offered up for every coaching vacancy (pro and college) since he was fired from the Bucs.  I don't understand 1) the obsession with him, and 2) why everyone thinks he is a natural fit for their program regardless of what offense / defense is being run.

AgonyTrain

January 6th, 2011 at 8:05 PM ^

Did it with dungy's players against a team he knew inside out. If one superbowl winwith no other notable hc success is grounds for being a shoe-in candidate for any job, I am shocked billick is still unemployed. Db better get him on the phone!

Beavis

January 6th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^

In other news - Snoop Dogg is still available.  He's won multiple pee-wee titles and loves smoking weed.  A winner and a pothead.  Perfect for Ann Arbor.

BlueVoix

January 6th, 2011 at 6:30 PM ^

Fitz is a classy guy and a good coach, but I have to wonder if the inter-Big Ten move combined with his only somewhat impressive record would be a bad way to start his tenure.

AgonyTrain

January 6th, 2011 at 6:34 PM ^

Followed the "coach selection" process at MN on gopherhole and the posts there and here are eerily similar.  Same list of candidates, same reactions as names were removed, and I am guessing the same reaction when we hire Hoke as theirs was when they got Kill (although I would gladly trade Hoke for Kill) 

willywill9

January 6th, 2011 at 6:35 PM ^

Im okay with this. I say if it comes down to Hoke, then we beg Lloyd Carr to coach for a year and see how the Coaching outlook appears next year. Seriously though I'm exhausted by all this.

smwilliams

January 6th, 2011 at 6:37 PM ^

I was never aboard the Fitz train. Still prefer Patterson, Paul Johnson, or one of the NFL guys. We need either a big name or an exceptional college coach with a great track record who can deploy Denard while fixing the D.

cheesheadwolverine

January 6th, 2011 at 6:38 PM ^

A bit thread hijacking, but if we cant get a big-name non-AQ guy with a dumptruck of cash, those seem to be the two most likely options for better or for worse (probably for worse) if Fitz and JH are out. 

I don't like either, but Les seem to win at a big name school (God only knows how, but the p-value on being that lucky that often has to be statistically significant).