Future Opponent Watch: UCF hiring Babers?
According to CoachingSearch.com, who credits 247 Sports with the scoop, UCF is set to hire Bowling Green coach Dino Babers as their next head coach. We play them September 10 of next year in Ann Arbor.
http://coachingsearch.com/coaching-search-ticker
Babers has been discussed on the MGoPodcast a few times because of of the Big Ten teams BGSU played this year. He is an Art Briles disciple and to me, this makes this matchup somewhat scary.
According to USA Today's Dan Wolken, however, no deal is done.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^
It will be his first year and all the issues that come with that. He will be matched up with a team that has a very good secondary. It's still should be a blowout.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:03 PM ^
Well for starters, I'm a very pessimistic fan and despite the relative success we had this year I'm still easily scared about losing to opponents we shouldn't. Seems like he's the kind of coach who could install a system with existing players and have success right away.
You're right though. It SHOULD still be a blowout.
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:06 PM ^
Well he is still installing a new system at a program that just went 0-12.... So I don't think there's much he can really do in his first year to make them play up to Michigan's level.
November 30th, 2015 at 3:39 AM ^
Don't be a pussy Brandon.
November 30th, 2015 at 1:03 PM ^
Who's Brandon?
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^
Should this happen, and it probably will since it's been rumored for weeks amongst the BG faithful, I really don't see a huge problem for Michigan next season. The Babers offense relies on a heavy dose of, "FUCK IT GO DEEP". If we do just as Tennessee did to Bowling Green this season, we should be able to wear them down....just like Ohio State did to us on Saturday (i know, it's too soon).
November 29th, 2015 at 8:00 PM ^
He may be a good coach, but he's walking into a disaster that went 0-12 this year.
Similar to Gary Andersen. We're fortunate to play him in year one.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:04 PM ^
Agree with this. Maybe scary wasn't the right word. Interesting would've been better perhaps?
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:08 PM ^
The same UCF who won the American Athletic Conference last year and went to Fiesta Bowl a couple years ago? O'Leary mailed it in this season like Spurrier. UCF could be in a big bounce back year next year like Houston with Tom Herman. Babers offense has been explosive and relies on spacing so Michigan secondary will be tested regardless. It's an uptempo passing spread offense
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:24 PM ^
Were they mailing it in in game 1 and 3 when they lost to FIU and Furman? Most teams at least try a few games before 'mailing it in'.
Saying what they did a few years ago is meaningless in college football. Those players moved on. The year after Ball State had its big year w/ Brady Hoke they fell apart - what did the prior year do too help them with 1 or 2 years down the road. Countless other examples of similar ilk. UCF is not Georgia or hell South Carolina.
Its still a PTSD fanbase man. UM took care of the teams it was supposed to this year because we have real coaches. It lost to two teams with 1 loss and a 3 loss Utah in game on that is top 25. It didnt have close games with complete garbage outfits.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
PTSD fanbase. Nailed it.
This is exactly where I'm coming from.
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:28 PM ^
Not saying Michigan will lose to them but UCF still have athletes. Houston was awful the year before and won 10 plus game under Herman this season.
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^
Babers has done well wherever he's gone. However, just because he's an Art Briles disciple, doesn't mean he's the same as Art Briles. It will be a good game and I have faith that Harbaugh will have our team ready for it.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:32 PM ^
BGSU offense was top 5 in the country according to Football Outsiders so it's pretty damn close
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December 1st, 2015 at 6:25 AM ^
but do they huddle the fuck up like us?
November 29th, 2015 at 8:01 PM ^
But when they get back, they'll be dangerous.
It'll be a lot like the UNLV game this year.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:02 PM ^
It would make the matchup scary if he was going to inherit a good offense. UCF was the 125th scoring offense and 127th total offense. There are 127 teams in FBS.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:04 PM ^
More worried that Durkin would go to BGSU if the MD thing doesn't pan out tbh
November 29th, 2015 at 8:06 PM ^
I would be surprised if he'd go to a MAC school. If he holds out like Narduzzi did I think he could get a much better gig.
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:48 PM ^
it's his alma mater, and where he got his start as a coach. Plus, he could Herrman it up and end up in a better job in no time
November 29th, 2015 at 8:58 PM ^
I'm sure it would still just be a quick 1-2 year stepping stone. I could Maryland as a better landing spot.
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:18 PM ^
So you are scared of a team that went 0-12 due to a MAC coach taking them over? That will travel to Michigan in the first game of that dude's career UCF....to face a team led by Jim Harbaugh in its 2nd year.
Wow some people are seriously PTSD.
Look at Matt Johnson's 2013 season (pre Dino) and tell me what UCF QB that he inherits has that skill set. It sort of helps to have a top end QB to run your Baylor offense.
http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/513573/matt-johnson
The mighty Dino Babers machine lost 68-17 to Wisconsin in his first season at Bowling Green, the only team within an iteration or two of the type of team UM will be fielding next year.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:28 PM ^
I replied to your comment above but you are exactly right. It's PTSD going all the way back to the Carr years. It'll take awhile to shake it off.
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November 29th, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
As Corso would say "not so fast"
RE: reports about Bowling Green's Dino Babers accepting the #UCF head coaching job. Was told by a source it's "not true."
November 29th, 2015 at 8:29 PM ^
That's why I included the Wolken tweet. Didn't want to post as if it was a done deal.
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November 29th, 2015 at 10:12 PM ^
Whew! That means we still have a chance to pull off the upset vs UCF next year!!!
November 29th, 2015 at 8:33 PM ^
He's walking into a situation worse than Harbaugh did back at Stanford. Barbers is a good coach, but to turn a program around as quick as Harbaugh turned around Stanford would be nothing short of a miracle. If the matchup was three or four years down the road, I think concern would be a little more reasonable.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:42 PM ^
Situation worse than Harbaugh? UCF won AAC last year and went to Fiesta Bowl two years ago. They had two consecutive 1st round picks in Bortles and Perriman. Babers will find athletes in Florida and take players who wouldn't get recruited by Florida schools bc of off field issues.
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November 30th, 2015 at 8:44 AM ^
A lot can happen in 2 years. Look at Michigan in 2006, then look again in 2008. How many of the players from UCF's Fiesta Bowl team were even still around this year? How many will be on the team next year? Things can fall off quick, and take quite awhile to recover. Not saying UCF is gonna be a 35+ point route, but I doubt they'll come in ready to pull much of an upset either.
November 29th, 2015 at 8:48 PM ^
BGSU has been a pretty good team and I'd say UCF is only a half-step up from the MAC. I thought a crappier P5 team might get Babers
November 29th, 2015 at 9:22 PM ^
The rumors about me accepting a job at UCF are not true. I am focused on @BG_Football and winning a MAC Championship Friday night.
— Dino Babers (@CoachBabersBG) November 30, 2015
November 29th, 2015 at 9:27 PM ^
Relax...I know UCF inside and out...probably second to Michigan. Worked in that athletics department for many years - better half is an alum so I follow the team. #HouseDivided, we'll be at the game next year. I don't care of Nick Saban is coaching UCF next year, unless they get every 5th year senior in the SEC to transfer to UCF...it's not a big deal.
They're 3-4 years away.
Next year we're likely going to be facing a ton of freshman and sophomores. The roster is horrible. Remember how Lloyd Carr left Michigan? That's what O'Leary did to UCF...only at a much lower level.
They're going to be terrible. They may go 2-10 next year or something like that.
That said, they could easily be 6-6 in year 2 and back towards the top of the American in Year 3.
UCF is a sleeping giant, they could've been TCU if they were managed properly. They still can be, but it'll take some time.
As for the game with Michigan, it'll be like the UNLV game where they're just happy to be there and know they have a young team in a new system.
November 29th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^
Thanks Mr. Yost
I was just hoping we could keep it within 3 scores because #Dino
November 29th, 2015 at 10:16 PM ^
I've been saying for years that UCF could be TCU if they managed it right. Second largest student body in the nation, right in the heart of Florida, and no tradition which in their case is great. They have a relatively new stadium, and a talent oasis in their own backyard.
By 2020 if they hire the right coach, they could be in the talks of going to a Power 5 conference
November 29th, 2015 at 9:34 PM ^
Also in the mix for the job were Geoff Collins, Randy Shannon, Gene Chizik and Mario Cristobal.
November 29th, 2015 at 10:13 PM ^
Cristobal should go to Miami. Dude would kill it there. Chizik is a Sparty hire.
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November 29th, 2015 at 11:40 PM ^
They are very familiar with Mario Cristobal and know his weaknesses. His 27-47 record at FIU can't be ignored.
November 29th, 2015 at 9:40 PM ^
He won't have the weapons yet. Michigan will eat his lunch.
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November 29th, 2015 at 10:17 PM ^
UCF was terrible this year. They could hire Saban, and we'd beat them by 50.
November 29th, 2015 at 10:35 PM ^
Ucf has no talent on offense and defense. They are the worst team in college football. Them winning over us next year would be a bigger upset than App State.
November 30th, 2015 at 12:15 AM ^
Is an amazing indictment of Syracuse, Rutgers, Illinois, Virginia and (maybe, we'll see if they get Durkin) Maryland.
An AAC job in a fertile recruiting area is officially more attractive than a bottom barrel P5 job.