MSU fans want Fickell
Luke Fickell appears to be the #1 choice for MSU fans. I am not sure how realistic this option is but it would be a perfect fit. MSU can position themselves very well when it comes to recruiting the state of Ohio.
Considering the back and forth between Fickell and Harbaugh over the James Hudson saga, it could be an interesting matchup between the two.
I personally believe that he is their best option and it's not really close. How likely is it that he ends up as their next HC?
February 4th, 2020 at 4:16 PM ^
Fickell wont even waste his time picking up the phone if State calls, hes waiting on USC.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^
They are hiring Fickell. I said last year they would be hiring Fickell, and some scoffed, but he will be their next coach.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:52 PM ^
But Cincinnati is a better job than MSU.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:58 PM ^
It's a better school than MSU, and a nicer place to live. But it may or may not loom as a better football location in the mind of such an inspired coach. Fine with me, though; the man is a mediocrity, and a mediocre school and fan base may desire him.
MSU's best bet would be to obtain a really clever, very young coach who could build the school's reputation back through the bad years that are coming. They will face too much pressure to get someone with name recognition, anyone with name recognition, and that will be fine for the UM, too.
February 4th, 2020 at 5:21 PM ^
Michigan state is in the mid 30's according to US News and World Report and UofC is 64. I know UofC has a good industrial design program, but other than that I've never heard of them as a highly ranked school. 64 isn't bad. https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities/top-public?schoolName=University+of+Cincinnati
February 4th, 2020 at 6:04 PM ^
I recently spent a good deal of time in Cincinnati and I'm just going to have to go ahead and disagree with you on the "nicer place to live" bit.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:24 PM ^
Cincinnati has much more of that "big city" vibe. I'd much rather live there than EL
February 4th, 2020 at 7:11 PM ^
Sorry, these are just rivalry blinders here. MSU is a very good school. It's not Michigan, but it's not a regional trade school, either. The campus is good. And, in job terms, it's a Big Ten program with a good history. It is absolutely a better job than Cincy.
If Fickell is offered and he passes, it's because he thinks there's a good chance that he'll get an even better job a year later (or an equivalent job but one that won't have the combined pall of potential sanctions and three superior programs in the same division). It would be a desirable step up.
I tend to think Narduzzi is likelier, but Fickell wouldn't surprise me at all.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
I don’t doubt they would want him, but would he take the job? It would be a small short term raise but will be a very tough gig for the foreseeable future. My guess is he’ll have better options soon than to rebuild MSU.
February 4th, 2020 at 5:11 PM ^
He would be wise to turn it down, and I'm sure he's going to have better options soon, but he definitely wants that job.
The only thing I think can change that is his perception of the Blackwell case. If he thinks MSU will get in any kind of trouble, or that he would have to deal with problems of that nature, then that could change his mind. He definitely wanted the job as of last year though.
February 4th, 2020 at 11:03 PM ^
Jesus man, you’re inferring his internal thought processes. You don’t know anymore than anyone else.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:04 PM ^
Is Shea still 1st team ALL BIG TEN QB ?
February 5th, 2020 at 7:55 AM ^
He's got a great roster at Cincinnati vs. MSU's depleted roster and a recruiting class this cycle that is ranked around where MSU is except he has three 4 stars to MSU's zero.... in the AAC. It seems like he's better off running it back at Cincinnati for a year and waiting for the coaching carousel next year
February 4th, 2020 at 4:46 PM ^
but what about urban meyer....?
February 4th, 2020 at 4:57 PM ^
University of Southern Cleveland?
February 4th, 2020 at 5:16 PM ^
LOL. There is no way USC would hire Luke Fickell based on his current resume.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:12 PM ^
Fickell is a diehard Midwestern though, I highly doubt he'd want to uproot his family and move them out west.
Honestly, Michigan State is Fickell's best option if he wants to stay in the area like he has said in the past unless the Notre Dame job opens up soon.
February 4th, 2020 at 8:45 PM ^
No one even knows what shit is still coming msu way. No way Fickell is going to leave a decent job for a decent job that might get scholarship reductions and bowl bans.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:16 PM ^
I’m guessing they hire narduzzi
February 4th, 2020 at 4:45 PM ^
I doubt he's a realistic option. He has a better chance to win games where he is than he would in the B1G East. Also, Pitt doesn't have the negatives that are surrounding MSU right now. Beyond issues of reputation, one of the most important negatives is the possibility of NCAA sanctions rising out of the Blackwell lawsuit.
February 4th, 2020 at 5:32 PM ^
My best friend coaches at the school Jalen Mayfield is from. MSU told one of their kids they are recruiting that Tressel will be the interim coach. Guess we'll find out soon enough.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:02 PM ^
I heard they told a recruit that they were going to announce Jimmy Johnson as the interim and expect to have Vince Lombardi locked up by Friday.
Then they're going to fire him the following Thursday so they can bring in a bottle of Jergen's lotion who will become their all-time winningest coach.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:24 PM ^
You do realize that it is Mike Tressell right?
February 4th, 2020 at 4:16 PM ^
Unless Fickell is looking for a short term raise while he looks for something better I just don't see it. Huge risk if he goes to MSU as a stepping stone (which it would be) and has a couple bad years with all the starters they lose from this year's team and horrible recruiting class they are bringing in. His name would no longer be the hot name at that point. I see Fickell being smarter than that and not taking that risk for a short term money gain. He is already 47, he can't exactly afford trajectory setbacks. Narduzzi or someone on their current staff is much more realistic. Mork's better years have made MSU fans somewhat delusional of the caliber of coach they can actually get.
February 4th, 2020 at 10:42 PM ^
Agreed, and don't count out the fact that their program MAY get sanctions based on the results of this deposition/trial with Blackwell.....unless he is bought out to be quiet. That still may not be enough to get the NCAA more involved.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
Our rivals always seem to get exactly what they want and nothing they deserve in complete defiance of any karma-related payback, so, probably a lock.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:22 PM ^
"Our rivals always seem to get exactly what they want and nothing they deserve in complete defiance of any karma-related payback"
So, given that, Urban Meyer is going to East Lansing.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:31 PM ^
That wouldn't even surprise me a tiny bit.
February 4th, 2020 at 5:01 PM ^
I mean we got Harbaugh...
February 4th, 2020 at 5:46 PM ^
To be fair, what MSU really wants is to hire John Harbaugh, so that they can claim "big brother" status in the rivalry.
I highly doubt they will be getting exactly what they want.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:02 PM ^
This comment is very underrated.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:17 PM ^
MSU is a dumpster fire right now. Fickell would be wise to stand pat and wait for another opportunity. It's not like he has ties to the university anyways.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:11 PM ^
My thoughts exactly. MSU's roster is garbage. Going to be at least 3 years before they are competitive again.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:19 PM ^
Fickell is probably their best realistic option (lots of folks at RCMB also want Narduzzi) but my guess is Fickell wont want them.
He's hot right now as a HC and will prolly have his choice of better gigs in the next year or so. MSU, with a depleted roster and shitball incoming recruiting class looks to be down for the next several years at the very least. Would be surprised to see him walk into a situation like that.
Personally I think they'll end up with Narduzzi. He's not set the world on fire at Pitt, has MSU roots and this would definitely be a step up for him.
February 4th, 2020 at 5:00 PM ^
Couldn’t agree more. Given the state of their roster, the strength of the B1G, and the series of scandals around MSU, there are far better jobs available for quality coaching candidates on the rise. Most likely will be someone at a MAC level or similar that isn’t getting a lot of looks for major jobs or someone like Narduzzi who has been a mediocre head coach already
February 4th, 2020 at 5:12 PM ^
Teams aren't looking for coaches when everything is perfect. If Day had bombed, Fickell may have waited. Anyone who thinks a Big Ten coaching job is second rate is fooling themselves.
February 5th, 2020 at 9:23 AM ^
Anyone who thinks a Big Ten coaching job is second rate is fooling themselves.
This point can't be understated. B1G head coaching positions don't grow on trees and given that every other program seems pretty set for the next 2 or 3 seasons, the MSU job may be too good of an opportunity to pass up. That said, Fickell may do the math and decide the reclamation project at East Lansing is too much of hill to climb.
February 4th, 2020 at 7:01 PM ^
Yep, seems like the most likely scenario is Fickell turns them down and Narduzzi comes over. They'll probably have to overpay for Narduzzi but you're correct that no one else is knocking on his door so he'd probably take it.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:20 PM ^
I feel that Narduzzi would come back to MSU.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:22 PM ^
Would love to see MSU hire Narduzzi, proven to be a mediocre at best coach, and UM owes him some payback for the dirty shit his defenses pulled. Honestly I really don't see MSU as much of step up from Pitt though, MSU could probably pay more but they are both second tier major conference programs behind a rival in their state.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:24 PM ^
He could do better.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:27 PM ^
Why would he want to get buried in the B1G East and face his alma mater every year?
February 4th, 2020 at 4:28 PM ^
They should get that guy who was fired from GVSU for praising Hitler. Perfect culture fit.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:29 PM ^
I want a mid engine vette
February 4th, 2020 at 4:30 PM ^
Cincinnati is in-line to have a very good team next year. Also tomorrow is projected as their best recruiting class ever.
I'm not sure Fickell leaves all that, especially with it being 1 day prior to signing day. He'd be leaving quite a bit, plus it's doesn't look good from a PR POV either.
What would be funny if Fickell did leave MSU, and it resulted in Coombs leaving OSU to go to Cincinnati. That's not completely far-fetched.
February 4th, 2020 at 6:49 PM ^
I would be on board with that all the way around.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:33 PM ^
They’ll probably promote Tressell because they’ll want to keep it in house... lol
Bunker mentality MSU!
February 4th, 2020 at 5:46 PM ^
This is what I am hearing. Not surprising....
February 4th, 2020 at 4:34 PM ^
Honestly I would probably be willing to bet eating a bag of lemons that Fickell is not going to walk into that situation next year.
February 4th, 2020 at 4:35 PM ^
Coach Klein of South Central Louisiana State University seems to be the board of regents' preferred choice.