dcasslem

January 8th, 2011 at 5:45 PM ^

one of his best assets might be his age--he's 47, the same age as JH and ten years younger than LM.

I agree though that he's probably not coming. We've heard these rumors of JG-to-college before.

But can he manage a college team?

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 83

SFBlue

January 8th, 2011 at 6:29 PM ^

Fair question, because in college you work nearly year-round with spring ball, camps, a long season, university duties.  Plus you manage a roster twice as big, filled with teenagers who need supervision.  NFL jobs are less of a year-round grind.  But Pete Carrol managed to do it.  And Sherman is doing OK.  Gruden is young and enthusiastic.  I worry, however, that he has already "made it" by winning a Super Bowl and may not be as hungry (same goes, to an extent, for LM).

Joined: 11/02/2009

MGoPoints: 15699

neoavatara

January 8th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^

I have never been one of his biggest fans.  He took a Bucs team that Dungy built and took it to the Super Bowl.  He then had varied success until fired.  

I asked this of Hoke a while back, and no one came forward, but lets see...someone sell me on Gruden.  Frankly, why is he better than Hoke, for that matter?  Just because of the ring?  That won't mean much if he can't coach on the college level.  

Joined: 08/01/2009

MGoPoints: 1726

Gustavo Fring

January 8th, 2011 at 6:06 PM ^

For starters: Who did Tampa Bay beat in the Super Bowl?  The Oakland Raiders, who, incidentally, had Bill Callahan, a first-year head coach who took over for recently departed JON GRUDEN.  If you're going to take away credit from Gruden for taking a team that "Dungy built" (of course, Dungy clearly called all the plays for Tampa Bay that year too, right?  Those 12 regular season wins and 3 in the playoffs were 100% the players), then you also have to give Gruden credit for Callahan's success with the Raiders (he made the Super Bowl before driving that team into the ground).

Also, very few NFL coaches have done more with less the way Gruden has.  Who were his quarterbacks in Tampa?  Brad Johnson?  An aging Jeff Garcia?  Yet they made the playofs quite a bit. 

Overall Gruden's record in the NFL is 95-81 (38-26 at OAK and 57-55 at TB), including 5 division titles and one Super Bowl(and it probably would have been two if not for that stupid tuck rule game against Brady's Pats).

Gruden is also a student of the spread.  He is already known as a very innovative offensive mind (learned the WCO under Mike Holmgren) and combining that with his rigorous study of the spread could take next year's offense to the next level.  His defenses were also quite good, both at Tampa (yes I know he had Monte Kiffin but he was still the head guy and deserves credit) and Oakland.  Finally, he also has the charisma to succeed here, as he has coached in hostile environments in Philly, Oakland, and TB.

DEFINITELY better than Hoke and I'd take him over Les Miles too

Joined: 09/29/2009

MGoPoints: 5175

PurpleStuff

January 8th, 2011 at 6:19 PM ^

It isn't college football.  Dungy didn't recruit those guys or sign them up in the draft.  The GM put together a team that Dungy couldn't get over the hump with.  He's just not as good a coach as Gruden.  If it weren't for getting 7 tries with Peyton Manning and a matchup against Rex Grossman, Dungy doesn't have a ring.

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 15969

umchicago

January 8th, 2011 at 6:13 PM ^

he would bring instant credibility and provide a huge spark to the program and potential recruits.  he is probably also very well connected and put together a great coaching staff while hopefully sprinkling michigan men.

even if he's gone in a few years, if he brings some success, he will put UM in a better position to name a solid successor.

i'm all in for this.  spend the money.

Joined: 02/05/2009

MGoPoints: 33628

Bluesnu

January 8th, 2011 at 5:48 PM ^

I can't post this because I don't have the points yet... But why has Skip Holtz not been named a candidate yet? He has a decent resume, is likely willing to move, and being a Notre Dame guy, understands the whole higher standards and alumni aspects....

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 381

meghan

January 8th, 2011 at 6:04 PM ^

And the word on the street was contract negotiations fell through b/c Gruden wanted to have his brother take the position if he left. Miami said no and they went their separate ways.

Joined: 06/30/2008

MGoPoints: 190

davelewis21

January 8th, 2011 at 5:50 PM ^

And praying this is true. 

After hearing Gruden on MNF I love him.  He's got a passion for the game that comes out, I can see kids flocking to AA to play for him. 

This is the best news of the weekend, here's hoping and praying something comes of this

Joined: 11/21/2009

MGoPoints: 645

SanDiegoUmFan

January 8th, 2011 at 5:51 PM ^

to hire Hoke, I think it would have already happened.  He knows Hoke would accept and he knows it would help recruiting and end the speculation.  Therefore, I think he is out scouring every big name he can get a hold of.  DB might also be doing what he did with leaking the BIG 10 divisional thing and see that Hoke would not cut it with the fan base.

He knows anything less won't make up for having lost Harbaugh.  How sweet would it be to get a huge name and pay him more than harbaugh is getting with the 49ers showing everyone that M is serous about winning and getting the right coach!

Joined: 01/06/2011

MGoPoints: 38

Old School

January 8th, 2011 at 5:52 PM ^

He has national name recognition (common guys, DB is a marketing guy and we are talking Big Ten network and the MIchigan brand which is a key player in that network, before folks begin to cancel subscriptions = $$$, which is what keeps our athletic department going), kids who grew up in the 2000s and are now being recruited recognize his name and would die to play for him, he knows the game and has no UM baggage, unlike Hoke and Miles, and, if I recall, he was in Phoenix when an M plane landed. So, darn logical to me.

Joined: 09/01/2009

MGoPoints: 135

BH5

January 8th, 2011 at 5:54 PM ^

Thought was too much about this and think he is the perfect hire

Why I think he would be interested ...

-Has said he wants to get back into coaching at some point and still watches a ton of film
-Has already been sucessful in the NFL - doesn't need to prove himself (a la Carroll)
-Likes complete control (which he could get in college)
-Has midwest ties
-Has new buddy Mike Tirico to show him around Ann Arbor (ok - this is a stretch - but still)

Why it would work ...

-Only a year older than Harbaugh
-Would immediately have cache with any top recruit
-Apparently loved by players at Senior Bowl in past and likes helping out at local high school
-Supposedly learning new spread offenses and could experiment with Denard

Just think about it ...

Joined: 11/24/2009

MGoPoints: 91

RoxyMtnHiM

January 8th, 2011 at 6:03 PM ^

Wait, Carroll had success in the NFL before going to USC? Has the definition of "success in the NFL" changed?

(Gentle tip: Cachet, unless you mean that top recruits are drawn to squirrel- or computer-like traits in coaches.)

Joined: 04/21/2009

MGoPoints: 1892

Ty Butterfield

January 8th, 2011 at 6:00 PM ^

Good gosh, let me just say I hate twitter. I don't know if anyone has actually tweeted anything related to the coaching search that has even been close to accurate. Seems pretty clear that David Brandon is keeping everything on lock down and not releasing even a morsel of information. The way this thing is playing out so far either DB is a freaking genius and is going to unleash an amazing unexpected hire, or he is the biggest idiot ever. There is simply no in-between.

Joined: 09/07/2009

MGoPoints: -81685

IPFW_Wolverines

January 8th, 2011 at 6:07 PM ^

the interview must be him interviewing DB. All DB should be doing is printing out the contract and putting it in front of Gruden if he is actually interested. 

 

Hmm Hoke or Gruden...

Joined: 10/03/2010

MGoPoints: 2581