Just want to make sure everyone remembers that Urban Meyer team
I remember it so well..The OSU vs Florida NC game..The Bucks came in with the offense that nobody could seem to stop..and Florida had the fast spread offense useing 2 QBs..but during that game a different thing stood out to me.
The Florida defense tore the OSU offense apart..not only from a players being faster aspect but from a just plain had a coaching gameplan aspect..Florida was always one step ahead and made Troy Smith look as uncomfortable as skinny jeans appear to be..It got to the point that Troy Smith would not even look downfield..he was too busy figuring out where he was going to get hit from.
Well that Defensive Cordinator was Greg Mattison..and not only did he help Meyer win his 1st NC but im sure he learned a thing or two about Meyer from practice everyday and coaching his defense..just some food for thought
November 21st, 2011 at 5:59 PM ^
but yes, Greg Mattison is a top-flight defensive coordinator.
He also coached this team called the Ravens. I've heard they play defense at times.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
I've heard a lot of fans (mostly Buckeye and Sparty) say that Mattison was basically forced out of Baltimore. I live right outside of Baltimore and am surrounded by Ravens fans and a lot of them are pissed about the way the defense has been playing this year. Yesterday's game was the 4th in a row that the defense has given up more then 20 points. In addition, last year's defense gave up over 30 points 1 time comapred to 3 or 4 already this season.
All that to say that it's prettty clear Mattison did a great job last season and wasnt being forced out by Harbaugh.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
I can't remember where I read it but it was along the lines of "You can't leave" to "You have to leave it's Michigan fergodsake."
November 21st, 2011 at 6:58 PM ^
I remember this article too, although I don't remember where I found it (99% sure it was linked from this site tho). Harbaugh really wanted to Mattison to stay, but I believe once he saw what it meant to Mattison to return to UM he was happy (although it was probably bittersweet) to see him take the job.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:10 PM ^
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/10/07/greg-m…
Harbaugh made the decision easier. A day after he told Mattison he couldn't leave, he gave Mattison his blessing to take the Michigan job. "That," Mattison said, "doesn't happen."
November 21st, 2011 at 6:22 PM ^
I don't believe Mattison did poorly at all with the Ravens defense last year; rumors he was forced out are nonsense to anyone but the blindest of MSU/OSU slappies.
There was a great SI piece about it; his draw to Michigan was obviously all about family; if not for his daughter it is very unlikely (even given his love for UM) that he would be here right now. Glad to have him, and happy that his NFL experience is helping out the defense; that "line up six on the line and drop 2 into coverage" non-blitz on Martinez in the 4th quarter was beautiful; Martinez panicked and his receivers were covered at the same time.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:48 PM ^
The main point is that Mattison is at his best coaching college players. He is obviously fantastic at influencing, coaching-up, mentoring, and developing young players. (Not to mention recruiting) I think in the pro's, it can be very hard to motivate multi-millionaire prima donna's. I don't know Coach Mattison personally, but I'd make a wild guess that he's MUCH happier coaching at Michigan right now.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:06 PM ^
Ray Lewis wasn't playing yesterday...
November 21st, 2011 at 8:18 PM ^
Mattison also was the one who recruited Tebow to Florida, which without him Urban would've had what, a team with a good defense and no offense? Wait....that sounds like Ohio
November 21st, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^
November 21st, 2011 at 6:05 PM ^
I think we're undefeated against Florida, too.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
Ohio lost Ted Ginn after he took the opening kickoff to the house. Mattison is still a God though.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
Ted Ginn would not have helped Ohio's O-line block against defensive ends. Smith was run ragged all night; it was really the coming out party for the SEC's recent stranglehold on the national championship.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^
Also, Ginn's more of a straight-line burner. Those routes don't help when you have less than 2 seconds to get rid of the ball.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
But also to be fair, he was injured by his own over-exuberant teammates piling on him with reckless abandon.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:32 PM ^
I laughed my ass off when that happened. OSU shot themselves in their own foot by being clowns and dumbasses.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
He was also the DC at Michigan in 1995 and 1996, both wins over undefeated OSU teams.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^
.....and it is another reason I was elated with the Mattison hire. When the news broke, somehow that game came to mind almost immediately.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:08 PM ^
I guess Meyer threads are the new flavor of the week.
As others have said, we have Mattison. The guy who set up Meyer's NC level defense, the top recruiter at Florida, and a guy who knows Meyer's offensive tendencies. A guy who could be a headcoach in his own right. I don't think I'm going to panic.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:11 PM ^
but Meyer would be one hell of a coup for OSU. Meyer is a brilliant coaching mind, and has done nothing but win everywhere that he's been.
An epic Border War II between Hoke and Meyer would be a great thing to see! This rivalry could use some revitalizing, and that starts with pulverizing OSU on Saturday and doing it a few more times to even the scales for the past 8 years of futility.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
I dont think i am going to panic .... those were the words i was looking for
November 21st, 2011 at 6:12 PM ^
I dont care if they get Meyer. It cannot be worse than Tressel. Tress was 9-1 against us, won 7 B1G titles, 8 10 win seasons and won a NC. I dont think Meyer will be able to match that.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:16 PM ^
I really wish Tressel didn't have to go just yet. We never got to squash that portion of this rivalry on our own terms.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:14 PM ^
He's a great coach who's gotten the defense to rally behind Michigan football and gets them ready to play sound fundamental football every week. Whether it's Urban Meyer, Chip Kelly, or Brian Kelly I fully expect the Michigan defense to come out and play sound football, and I trust Mattison to make schematic adjustments if there's some glaring weakness like he has a couple of times this year. We hit the jackpot.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:18 PM ^
SC is running there yapper right now about Meyer possibly to Ohio. I would not touch that job till after the NCAA hands down punishment (take your time) and before that logic says Smith should be canned first
Good for him, I hope Ohio blows smoke up whomever asses about the punishment then after they sign wham two year bowl ban and 25 schollies.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:23 PM ^
Wow, I didn't know that. Thanks for the post. I'm shocked I didn't know this. Gotta read up clearly
November 21st, 2011 at 6:25 PM ^
I don't want to panic. But when you consider how Mattison bolted Michigan for Notre Dame the first time around, is there legitimate reason for concern? I want to say his daughter (or was it his son?) was starting school at ND so that was a major factor, but wuld he follow his buddy Urban Meyer, with whom he won a MNC, to Ohio? I don't think it's likely, but someone please give me a virtual xanax and tell me these thoughts in my head are complete lunacy.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:43 PM ^
He left for ND because his daughter went there to play sports. That was the only reason he left, and it won't happen again.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:56 PM ^
#1 He loves Brady Hoke
#2 He's said this is his last job
#3 He hates Ohio...he and Meyer just had mutual respect for the midwest and he made his way down to Florida (both also have ties to ND)
#4 He's just getting started here
#5 He's recruiting all these kids to Michigan, how "honest" is he if he goes to OSU a year later
#6 Luke Fickell is rumored to be the DC, if not...Heacock stays
#7 He's only got 4-5 more years of coaching left
#8 His grandchildren live in Michigan
#9 Michigan is better
#10 Bo Schembechler
November 21st, 2011 at 6:57 PM ^
Thanks, doc. I'll be back for more virtual xanax in a month or so.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:09 PM ^
It was his daughter, his son went to Iowa. ND does the free tuition for children of employees program, so her cost of education wasn't going to be coming out of his paycheck.
He's already one of the highest paid assistants in the country. He was only co-defensive coordinator at Florida, and i'm not sure Meyer would qualify as his "buddy." At least not any more of a buddy than Hoke. Be most worried if a Harbaugh comes calling, given that he worked for the old man at WMU and Jack in Balitmore. I wouldn't be surprised if he ended up at Florida because of Charlie Strong; they coached together at ND.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:14 PM ^
I can't see him going back to Baltimore, considering he just left that DC gig to come here. And with the 49ers amazing season, I don't forsee any coordinator openings there. I'm not too concerned with the Harbaugh's at this moment. Except for wanting to see Jim laid out by Schwartz at some point for his ridiculous ass-slapping victory celebration.
November 22nd, 2011 at 8:10 PM ^
November 21st, 2011 at 7:15 PM ^
to work with Bob Davie, who he worked for at Texas A&M.
I always got the impression that Mattison wishes he hadn't gone to ND.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:27 PM ^
Mattison was and still is better as a college d cordinator.
November 21st, 2011 at 6:33 PM ^
I would think Mattison has more freedom under Hoke than Meyer. Meyer seems very controlling. Like a guy that can lash out on one of his own coaches when things don't go his way.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:00 PM ^
He didn't control Mattison at UF...also, he's said just yesterday that if he does get back into coaching he's learned the balance between coaching and life and trusting your coordinators and assistants. I think you'd see him hire some top notch guys and do a lot more managing than doing the work himself. He used to work from 4am to midnight at UF...he knows he can't do that anymore. Look for his assistants to have much more control.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:11 PM ^
Well, he sort of said that, right? He said that he knows there is a balance and that other coaches do it. And yet, he's never really done it himself and my guess is that he won't be able to do it. And, if by some miracle he did learn the balance, I think he wouldn't be as good a coach.
Coaching is hard. It's been Meyer's life. I do not begrudge him in the least to wanting to come back and I wish him well no matter what he chooses.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:27 PM ^
Urban is a good coach - but why do so many freak about another team having a good coach. I would rather have the Bo-Woody type wars than the crap that has gone on.
Hoke and Mattison and the other coaches will continue to do their jobs and recruit Ohio well - even if Urban is coach. OSU will do well because their boosters will ensure it regardless of who is coach.
Too much whining and worrying....
Go Blue!
November 21st, 2011 at 7:45 PM ^
Who is worried or whining about Urban? Maybe I'm missing something but most Michigan fans I've talked to say the aren't concerned at all about Meyer. Mosts posts I've read are pretty much the same -- Urban is a good coach but big f'in deal. We finally have a coaching staff who can recruit and coach against any team in the country, and IMO is the reason why most Michigan fans aren't worried or whining or freaking out about Urban to Ohio.
November 21st, 2011 at 7:48 PM ^
But definitely concerned. Meyer is the best free agent coach in college football.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:03 PM ^
But M beat him, he had a ton of guys arrested, he won with Zook's guys, beds a star DC, had FL to recruit from, and his "health" is a question. Oh yeah, he had Teabow at QB for 4 years.
November 21st, 2011 at 9:35 PM ^
He isn't going anywhere. He will not follow Meyer or anyone else. This guy is close to retirement, he just wants one more good run with a team that he believes in and a chance to work with his old friend Brady Hoke. This guy is not at the stage of his career or of the state of mind to go running after other gigs. He was doing well with the Ravens and as a Ravens fan I can say that no one wanted him out (though they did complain that he wasn't aggressive enough, which is kind of funny now).
If anything, think about what might happen if/when Michigan loses him in 5 or 6 years, but that is a while off and a lot can happen.
I cannot believe we are talking about this, but no. Mattison would not leave U-M for any other job until that job is sitting on his front porch taking it easy.
November 21st, 2011 at 10:19 PM ^
took this job to spend time with his grandson, and left an NFL job that he was doing very well at to take it.
I really don't see a transition to any other CFB program, and wish him the best in his years at Michigan.
November 21st, 2011 at 11:29 PM ^
Michigan will have a great coaching staff and recruit 25-28 highly-rated players per year. Ohio will have a great coaching staff and recruit 25-28 highly-rated players per year (okay, maybe 15-20 for a few years! HA!).
Both schools being great is just more fun for the fans. Another 1 vs. 2 game with the entire nation watching would be fabulous.
November 22nd, 2011 at 1:47 AM ^
in a perfect world OSU and Michigan are both undefeated heading into The Game. I always pull for any B1G school ( cept MSU their fans and player comments the last 2 years have pissed me off) because the more respected our opponent is the better we look when we beat them.
The big ten was built on Ohio State and Michigan teams backs anyone who says different is fooling themselves. the conference is'nt right unless both of those teams are doing well.