I respectfully disagree, I think it's a tremendous hire. Could also be a guy that lasts for 5+ years

Sorry your lofty fantasy of John Harbaugh ditching the Ravens to come be our DC didn't work out.

I don't mean to be too critical of your opinion, but I sense that Brown's age bothers you. You seemed entirely focused on younger up and comers, and you are much less enthused by Brown despite his Orlando-esque resume. You just said yourself that he did a good job with a D he inherited from Orlando (and you omit Orlando's ranking in 2010, which suggests that Brown actually improved the D). You think you might be biased against Brown because he reminds you of Mattison -- a defensive lifer, no real desire to move upwards and onwards to HC gigs? Honest question. EDIT -- I was right. Orlando's last two FEI were 56 and 40, respectively. Not including them but including the 2012 BC FEI is a bad look. Hurts credibility.

Also, were you OK with Coach Rod implementing his offense to disastrous results in 2008? I ask because most people were, with an eye on using that (bad) season as a spring board for better offenses in the future. That looks mighty similar to Browns BC in 2013. A new coach implements a new scheme that may or may not fit with the current talent so as to get the system in place. Bad season ensues. Better seasons follow. I honestly cannot see how anyone can look at those numbers and find something not to like. Me, I'm not bonkers about the hire because I disagree philosophically with a D that blitzes too often. Holes in the running game, asking college DBs to do too much. BUT, the results speak for themselves. AND, it would seem to really fit our talent next season - strong man cover DBs, young LBs that you can just throw at the QB and not rely on in coverage too much, and a rampaging DL.

Alum--certainly appreciate your perspective, but it feels awfully slanted.  I'm not saying we just got Nick Saban as our DC, but we did not just get GERG either.  Not sure why you are so sour on this one.  He obviously was not an expected name, but has also done more with less than most coaches.  Let's go point-by-point:

• First of all, jumping 30 spots in FEI D is a vast improvement
• Second, you are looking at the worst possible stats you can find...his S&P rating was 80 in '13 (same as it was in '12), then jumped to 36 in '14, then 3 in '15.  That is marked improvement every year, and, considering BC's talent level, pretty impressive.
• How about some more numbers?  BC was #102 in total defense in '12 (year before DB arrived).  Up to #93 in '13, then #11 in '14.  Of course, #1 in '15 thus far.
• Agree, he outdid Orlando when he took over at UConn.
• Yes, it feels like YOUR third or fourth choice.  Not sure that's true for Harbaugh.

Here's where I will agree with you: this is not a hire that has me dancing in the streets.  He seems like a sound, accomplished coach.  And while there are some up-and-comers that might have made bigger splashes, they also might have left after a year or two.  Some continuity could do wonders.

My take is that this is a very, very good hire, but not a dream hire.

Lastly, a point you've made many times is that Mattison turned around our defense right away, and to that I would say two things:

1. Mattison inherited a vast amount of talent when he arrived--Brown has never had that luxury.
2. Mattison took over a defense that had not had competent coaching prior to his arrival.  As you have noted, DB has followed some decent or even good coaches.

All that said, I appreciate a balanced approach and that someone has some counterpoints...but man, it sure feels like you went searching for data to support your bias rather than searching for data to find your conclusion.

Harbaugh also had 3 mediocre defenses at Stanford in years 1 thru 3 (yes with far poorer talent than UM).  It not until he got Vic Fangio that his defense was very good in year 4, and at San Fran.  So he needs a top end DC to go with him as he is not a defensive coach.  This guy is not Vic Fangio in my mind.

Hope to be very wrong.

Can't find too many spread teams BC played in 3 years because everyone is obsessed with stopping OSU but BC gave up to 42 to Rich Rod in 2013 which is probably the closest thing to a spread BC played.  Also gave up 30 to PSU last year in a bowl - a pretty impotent offense.  Again 2015 he did very well but I get worried about 1 year of burst like that following 2years of meh.

When was that tweet?  Because even from the OSU side they don't seem optimistic about Gary.

Why do you think that is such a great hire? The man could not get any looks for head coaching jobs anywhere despite being available for two years.

I am sure you were fist pumping when you heard the name...

Thank you. This guy had the #1 defense with 0-3 stars and a horrible offense. Let's watch him with 3-5 stars and a good offense.

People like to complain generally. I'll admit that 60 something guys aren't my cup of tea at DC generally, but he's not a retread by any means and did a great job with BC.

OK.....if your choices were Durkin, Schiano or Brown, how would you rank them based on their respective bodies of work?  Remember, the guy we lost was a recruiter with an in to the state of Florida, a high enery guy, and whom, prior to his time at Michigan, was the DC at a top program with so-so results but a very good defense.  And you'd be doing somersaults?

and football.