OT: If he leaves, who follows Tressel?
Obviously rumors+allegations don't necessarily turn into verified violations, and even then, they don't necessarily turn into specific penalties, so Tressel may not be going anywhere after this year. But there is a chance he will, at least. If he does leave, who becomes their next coach? Some candidates:
1. Urban Meyer. Odds: 10-1
I think it's too early for Meyer to return to football, since he said he was going to spend time with his family. Plus he's not going to leave retirement for a program riddled with sanctions anyways. I just don't see this as likely, though the likelihood rises if Tressel sticks it out another year and/or OSU's penalties are light.
2. Luke Fickell. Odds 3-1.
If Tressel does get the boot this year, they'll likely pick a very solid, unspectacular, bean-counting, squeaky-clean true believer. Fickell is many of those things. If Fickell is not implicated in whatever causes Tressel to hypothetically leave, he's one of the prime candidates. If not, they'll have to look elsewhere.
3. Darrell Hazell. Odds 5-1.
Here's another possibility. Though he was on the program until recently, he will have been away for the Tatgate shenanigans fallout. Has most of the upside of Fickell too. Only problem is that he was literally just hired as Kent State's coach, and a one-and-done flight to OSU could create more attention than a hypothetically beleaguered OSU athletic department, conceivably seeking stability, wants.
4. Mark Dantonio. Odds 20-1.
I know some OSU bloggers are suggesting Dantonio, which would be funny in some ways, and not in others. He had no compunction leaving Cincinnati for MSU, so I doubt loyalty would be a factor. But I just don't see him leaving a stable MSU situation for an unstable OSU one (which is what it would be, in this hypothetical scenario).
5. Someone else. Odds 4-5.
As you can see, I think Fickell and Hazell are the most likely candidates, but both are almost certainly to be tarnished by whatever tarnishes might tarnish Tressel to the point where he goes. So I don't give them more that a 41.67% chance of becoming the next OSU coach...unless the violations end up not being as bad as the allegations and Tressel stays on. Then that likelihood increases.
But if, indeed, they are, then I think the chances of looking outside, perhaps for a former OSU assistant or another successful lower-division coach rises. Who are the likely candidates?
I think that he will step in. He knows the systems and he knows the kids. No big name coach is going to want to follow the mess that Tressel is going to leave in his wake.
Fickell or Einhorn?
Einhorn or Fickell?
I wonder (getting ahead of myself hoping for Tressel being fired of course) how much 'image' will be a part of a new hire at tsio ... like if they can just go for the coach that they think will bring them the most success, or if they will really sit down & consider which coach will bring a combination of success + good image in the wake of tatgate.
I'm just curious because we had such a good dichotomy set up with the sweater vest + glasses Jim Tressel vs. 'point & toughness' Brady Hoke, & it's always interesting to make characters out of the faces of the programs
I feel he wants to move up to a more powerful position at OSU.
That's only if Tressel doesn't fire him.
Please not Urban Meyer.
Please not Urban Meyer.
Please not Urban Meyer.
Please not Urban Meyer.
that is all.
Why should we be scared of him?
I think Michigan can handle Meyer, if need be.
It was a great game, and a lot of fun, but it was Meyer's weakest team. And it's not like Michigan really stopped their offense that well. Neither Michigan nor Mattison has really ever stopped the spread when executed with high-quality, experienced personnel. If Meyer takes the TSIO job, it's going to be another shitty decade.
I have two ardent hopes:
1. Dantonio applies for the job, doesn't get it, and MSU finds out.
2. Fickell takes the job and continues Tressel's conservative playcalling.
If the above things happen, Hoke continues to delegate offense to Borges, and Borges turns out to be a very good offensive coach, it's going to be a great decade. Especially if it takes Fickell five years to dig out of the ever-growing hole Tressel is leaving at TSIO. Having TSIO and lil' bro in simultaneous turmoil while Michigan is on the upswing would be the best of all possible outcomes.
If the Perles and Saban eras taught us anything, it's that not getting a better job is the best way to get a raise and more power in East Lansing. They were always interviewing somewhere... And denying it.
I was being glib with my previous post, but in all seriousness, why do so many people assume Meyer going to OSU means doom for UM?
He's a good coach and built two high profile, very successful programs, but idea that Michigan categorically can't compete against Meyer is a weirdly fatalistic. Meyer isn't god, if he ends up coaching OSU, it's not a forgone conclusion that UM will lose for a decade.
Wasn't the 2010 squad Meyer's weakest team?
I think Meyer is a great coach, but his great success at UF was, in my opinion, in large part due to having St. Timmy. The two years that Meyer coached at UF without Tebow his teams were solid but not great (9-3 and 8-5). Much like RR at WVU with White, Tebow helped make Meyer look great.
But that doesn't explain his going 22-2 at Utah. Also, Tebow was strictly a situational sub during Meyer's first national title at UF.
What you could maybe argue is that Meyer's success was due in part to certain assistants he had. But even then, I don't know how convincing that argument is.
"chicken little pansy-ass" moderate option.
UM also lost to a I-AA team and got murder fisted by Oregon that year. Quit being a massive vagina. Meyer didn't even run the spread that UM has historically had troubles with. Man up, you panty waisted waver of private parts.
Meyer barely lasted half that at Florida, what makes you think after retiring, twice, he'd be up for 10 more years anywhere?
I'm wondering if anyone else thinks we will see that type of offense this year, only with more QB runs? It was kind of a hybrid spread with a lot of passing and some running out of the spread formations to keep the defense honest.
I'm sure certain situations will be more power running based, but I think we could be successful with that type of an offense for this year. Our personnel would fit very well.
I can't say it'll be the same as Florida's (Denard is a very different type of runner than Tebow), but Borges has said that they'll keep some of the spread stuff (I think for a combination of help-with-the-transition and fit-the-current-personnel). Obviously we don't know what exactly Borges will do, but hopefully it's a potent hybrid of what the team did well last year mixed with what they want the team to do in the future.
It made it even sweeter than it already was. The next work day was glorious as we had a ton of Florida alum civilians that worked with us.
I dont care, I hope he stays this year so we can kick his ass.
How about RichRod? Cue the orchestra of Doom.
Cue Josh Groban
Same thing.
Fickell only beat Michigan once while a player, didn't he?
I like the direction this is moving...
joke = hoke, autocorrect
Stoops is just a Buckeye fan's pipedream. Those Stoops comments were taken out of context, like Jon Gruden saying that he always wanted to coach at Michigan.
What is it about Bob Stoops that makes everyone think he's so eager to leave the perennial Top-10 program he's built in Oklahoma? Even if he wanted a change, why move into a program that could potentially be riddled with crippling sanctions?
Seriously, why is he mentioned for every big opening?
I agree, no way any other coach comes in this year. It is way too late and JT has not even resigned yet. If JT resigns this season (and I think he will; no later than August, but probably sooner), Fickell will be the interim HC for the entire 2011 season. That is what I wrote in my original post. Also, I think Fickell was named HC because much of this was forseen in February. The decision to make Fickell interm HC instead of one of the coordinators, especially Heacock who has been there forever, came out of left field. I think Heacock either was in the loop on some of this stuff or is considered too close to Tressel. If Tressel is fired/resigns, Heacock can't be far behind.
W.r.t. a replacement, I am talking about 2012 and beyond. So Oklahoma's #1 ranking this year is irrelevant. Stoops can have his cake and eat it too. But after 2011, I think he would seriously consider the job. Everyone has their price. Frankly, I think Meyer is approached first (let's face it, he already has been on an informal level), but he is young, has an impeccable record, wants to sit out more than one season and this is just a bit too messy right now. Maybe he takes it, but I don't think so. Just a gut feeling.
The question then becomes, who next? Will OSU really stick with Fickell? We are talking tens of millions of dollars per year at stake here. Look at what happened to UM when we hired a coach who did not work out. Look at other programs (Alabama, Miami, Nebraska, ND) who hired the wrong coaches and ended up wandering the wilderness for many years. Gruden? Really? He is mentioned for every job more often than Stoops. IMO, Gruden will never coach another day in his life.
Bottom line: if you were the Athletic Director, what would you be looking for? I would be looking for as close to a sure thing as possible. The closest thing I see with Ohio ties is Bob Stoops. Maybe he says no, but I think he can be convinced. If I were AD, I would back up a dumptruck full of cash for Stoops before I hired someone like Dantonio. Maybe you go for Malzahn or Mullen or Peterson or Patterson, but each of those has at least as many question marks as Stoops. That is my logic.
The decision to make Fickell interm HC instead of one of the coordinators, especially Heacock who has been there forever, came out of left field. I think Heacock either was in the loop on some of this stuff or is considered too close to Tressel. If Tressel is fired/resigns, Heacock can't be far behind.
Pickell is 25 years younger than Heacock. To me, that says they picked a guy who could become HC for the long haul.
I never said Stoops would leave for any program. I think there are a small number of jobs most top tier coaches would consider and OSU is one of them. But it is a small list. Now that I think of it, I should also have mentioned Saban. If anyone thinks Saban wouldn't leave Alabama for another top tier school for enough money they are crazy.
And, obviously, who really knows. I thought we were going to hire Les Miles for God's sake.
But, you mentioned a coach I have never heard of, the coach for Marshall. Look at all the disruption that has happened at UM from having a coach for only three years. OSU will not be looking for a placeholder coach. They will be looking for the next Woody Hayes.
Maybe the Marshall coach is really that good, IDK. If I were hiring a new head coach, however, I would be looking for the right guy for at least ten years. Meyers. Stoops. Patterson (I think he is waiting for the TX job to open up), Peterson (he will move at some point, just like RR out of WV), Kelly (Chip, not Brian, but OSU will have to outbid Phil Knight), Mullen, Malzahn. I would not be looking for someone I would likely have to replace in 2-4 years.
The Sooners had pretty much been irrelevant for the 90's, after getting hammered by corruption in the 80's. He didn't build the program, but much like Bo, he rebuilt it. Oklahoma's records-
1992- 5-4-2
1993 9-3
1994 6-6
1995 5-5-1
1996 3-8
1997 5-6
1998 5-6
That was not a good football program. A sleeping giant to be sure. But there were people wondering if he was better off taking the Iowa job. He certainly deserves credit for bringing them back to relevance, no doubt.
Have you ever been to Norman?
I have been to Norman, about 5 times when I was growing up, long story , but we went there every summer during my 'teen' years and stayed in un-occupied dorms for a week. Honestly, back then I was never very excited about going to Oklahoma, but it really wasn't that terrible, pretty fun actually.
Leaving Norman to go to COLUMBUS.
While it's technically correct to say that Oklahoma was a top 10 program before Stoops got there, that was several years before he got there. They were way down when he arrived.
The second greatest? Stoops really doesn't have so many years left to move up that roster, but he can where he's at, where he has a program already ranked #1, rather than one about to get sanctioned (which is the only way he gets the job). Every program has thought a boatload of money would make him leave. Ask Notre Dame. But not being an OSU grad or anything (like half your examples below), I just don't see the motivation. But your guess is as good as any, I guess.
I think the point is, Oklahoma had an outstanding, albeit shady history long before Stoops was even born. Oklahoma was a dominant power in the Big 8, usually owned rival Nebraska, and competed for national titles. The 90s were down for Oklahoma as they sought to clean up after Switzer (who was probably no more corrupt than those who preceeded him) and some bad hires (Schnellenberger who was tired and Blake who as the token alumni hire).
It would be more appropriate to say the Stoops restored or resurrected the Oklahoma program and tradition. That said, he isn't leaving anytime soon.
The Big 12 is NOT dominated by UT. One conference championship every four years is not domination, particularly when Oklahoma is the program winning the other three. If Oklahoma can pay his salary, it's a great ticket to the BCS title game if he can go undefeated.
The realistic best case for Bob Stoops at OSU is Oklahoma. Seriously, they're basically the same program in terms of results (ignoring last year).