FreeKarl

December 19th, 2012 at 1:18 AM ^

And OSU hired a guy who won 2 national titles in 3 years. The Big East is pretty much a mid major at this point and I don't think there is a consensus that Jones is an impressive coaching hire given that he followed in Kelly's footsteps. He was Tennessee's 5th choice at the highest. Many successful head coaches in non-BCS conferences were hot coordinators just a few years prior. Also, I wouldn't use Mullen(a guy who said he publicly said he would take the PSU job and was turned down) and Richt as examples of all-star coaches. 

maizeonblueaction

December 19th, 2012 at 1:30 PM ^

I understand what you're saying, and I don't even really disagree, but my understanding is that both Purdue and Wisconsin are paying about $2 million a year for their new coaches, and I'm sure there are performance raises in place. Obviously, this isn't the top of the top in pay, but in any job, you won't get paid the most until you prove your value and ability. Also, it is super rare that any coach of a high major program would leave for the same job elsewhere. Most of the time, it's a lateral move. For example, Jim Harbaugh not leaving Stanford to come here. Why do it? The pay isn't much different usually, and there's the awkward transition and no guarantee of success elswhere. At least if you get a head coach that has had success in a lower-tier program, you know they can manage a whole team, as opposed to former coordinators, who might only focus on one thing and not really even do that well. *cough* Bo Pelini *cough*

HarBooYa

December 18th, 2012 at 10:35 PM ^

People who get paid to write should:

"After a little rumor mill back-and-forth, all indicates are Wisconsin will tab Utah State's head coach as their own."



"Indications"?

trueblueintexas

December 18th, 2012 at 11:58 PM ^

I was wondering how long it would take either of the two primary Badger posters to respond to this. Figured you wouldn't want to go outside and turn the generator crank on the ol' www internet thang on a cold winter night. You must be 10 beers warm already. Said in true love of all my Wisconsin acquaintances.

Perkis-Size Me

December 18th, 2012 at 10:38 PM ^

Just another example of the Big Ten getting cheap in finding new coaches. Sorry, but the former coach of Utah State does not sound remotely intimidating.



Then again, neither did Brady Hoke when we hired him. Hopefully it'll work out for the best.

Blazefire

December 18th, 2012 at 10:51 PM ^

He put the hurt on Toledo in the Idaho Potato Bowl, but you can't put much stock in it. Toledo was down their starting QB, starting RB and the nation's leading tackler.

M-Wolverine

December 19th, 2012 at 10:04 AM ^

It was like 13-9 late in the 4th quarter, and then Toledo got winded or something and just couldn't stop Utah State's running back anymore who just kept breaking big run after big run just running out the clock.

Has no real commentary on the hire, but that was a strange game.

WallyWallace

December 18th, 2012 at 11:39 PM ^

1) Good hire as Anderson has rebuilt the state of Utah's 'third school' with little to work with. He now has  Wisconsin's facilities and the momentum of 3 consecutive Rose Bowls so the potential is unlimited! 

OR

2) This ensures Urban and the Poisonous Nuts will win the Leaders Division every year.

 

 

Danwillhor

December 19th, 2012 at 10:31 AM ^

Without division realignment they will walk away with it every year, IMO. Said this the day they were announced and now it is even more so due to one of the only two decent teams over there being nuked for a decade. Heck, one could argue that Wizzy is not the threat on their side that they should be anymore. When Delany was looking out for the "Big 2", whether on purpose or not he threw osu in with an old power that has been average (psu), a consistent threat but rarely dominant Wizzy and then scrubs. Michigan got a few teams in that Wizzy mold, an old power that has been a good team but still not at their old glory (Neb), a team in NW that can beat anyone if you have a bad day and, IMO, one sure fire perennial scrub. Michigan, of the "Big 2", got the harder division and it's not even close.

Skiptoomylou22

December 18th, 2012 at 11:47 PM ^

Hope this doesn't get too critical, but at late point in my evening this had me wondering, would Brady Hoke (whom I admire) have gotten hired without those two years at SDSU? I saw someone say the BIG has been on the low end of coaching hires recently but aside from

Beckmann there aren't many MAC coaches in the B10, no?

justingoblue

December 19th, 2012 at 12:04 AM ^

Todd Beckmann- Illinois (Toledo)

Jerry Kill- Minnesota (NIU)

Darrell Hazell- Purdue (Kent State)

Kevin Wilson- Indiana (Oklahoma OC)

Bill O'Brien- Penn State (New England OC)

Brady Hoke- Michigan (SDSU)

Urban Meyer- Ohio State (Florida)

Pat Fitzgerald- Northwestern (Northwestern LB's)

Kirk Ferentz- Iowa (Cleveland OL)

Gary Anderson- Wisconsin (Utah State)

Bo Pelini- Nebraska (Nebraska DC)

Mark Dantonio- Michigan State (Cincinnati)

RedGreene

December 19th, 2012 at 6:51 AM ^

I don't know if this is a good hire or if their AD is just trying to win a pissing contest.  A coaching hire is usually decided on tradition, do you like to argue with rival AD's  or are you trying to win a pissing contest.  Hmmm...

LSAClassOf2000

December 19th, 2012 at 7:57 AM ^

It doesn't seem like it is particularly easy to go 11-2 and turn around a program that has been in and out of conferences periodically for many years (including two stints as an independent team and one in the Sun Belt), but Andersen managed this, and did just about as quickly as anyone could have. Utah State is also a bit off the beaten path, which seems to make great recruiting difficult, so I think coaching may come into play even more, so there's evidence here that he's pretty good.

I wonder how much of his staff comes with him actually - I know Alvarez said that the style wouldn't change offensively, or something to this effect, but yet they hire someone who at least had spread elements in his offense. It will be interesting to see how they line up under Andersen.

profitgoblue

December 19th, 2012 at 10:34 AM ^

The most interesting piece of the hire is watching how he inserts his spread system at Wisconsin.  If Michigan fans couldn't get behind it, I don't know how Wisconsin fans do.  They were more "MANBALL" on offense than pretty much any other team in the B1G and maybe the country.  It'll definitely be a big transition if he decides to bring the spread to Wisconsin.

Also, how the heck is he going to recruit the Midwest coming from Utah?  Does he have previous ties to the Midwest (kind of like Hoke did)?

mgoaggie

December 19th, 2012 at 2:40 PM ^

His recruiting base here in Utah has always been getting the big Polynesians to play some FOOBAW. I can't imagine that following him to the Midwest. He also has a considerable amount of 21-YO return missionary Mormons, and kids who can play from the valley that like to walk on to the program. I really wonder what his recruiting will look like there.

Maizenblueball

December 19th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^

Gary Andersen knows Defense.  Prior to Utah State, he was a BIG asset for the Univ of Utah's Kyle Whittingham.  Prior to Utah State, he helped Utah to become a good enough team to be admitted to the Pac 12.  For those unfamiliar with Utah State, they have been a tire fire for a number of years, and he turned them around very quickly.  That's not easy to do when you have BYU and Utah in the same state, fighting for recruits.  Good hire for the Badgers.

Tater

December 19th, 2012 at 11:34 AM ^

Andersen did take a team with average talent and dismantle Toledo in a bowl game.  He's done a good job of turning USU into a decent team. He's one of those solid guys that Wiscy seems to like.  I don't know how he will react to being micro-managed by Alvarez, though.

Cromulent

December 19th, 2012 at 1:57 PM ^

Am a little surprised no one has considered Andersen's potential impact on our MANBALL shift.

While Andersen is a great defensive coach, the run D innovation his DC Dave Aranda has pioneered may actually work in our favor. Looking forward to Brian breaking the Xs & Os down next season.

 

mgoaggie

December 19th, 2012 at 2:36 PM ^

People here in Logan are pissed. Just a couple weeks ago (a few days before the Bowl of Idaho Potatoes that became Famous) GA came out and said he's sticking around. He has 2 kids on the team (1 committed), said time and again that the money has nothing to do with his decision, even after getting offers from Cal and Colorado. USU is historically atrocious, and getting a coach to turn around the program from literally bottom 3 in the nation to 11-2 and 8 points total from being undefeated (lost by missed field goals @Wisky and BYU) in 4 years brought some new air into Cache Valley. He's a helluva coach.