OT: Ole Miss to Fire Houston Nutt... Hire RR?
http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/7202990/mississippi-rebe…
After this season Houston Nutt will be "let go" as head coach of the Fighting Akbars... Rich Rodriguez might be a nice fit for them and I'm sure we'll hear discussions as much in the next month.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:09 PM ^
Ole Miss biggest rival just whooped the tar out of a RR team in the bowl game.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:42 PM ^
Yet you don't recall the strong defenses he fielded while at West Virginia? Check out the rankings assembled here. (Sorry: Bleacher Report. I know, I know, but they had the goods.)
Besides, offensive-minded coaches have been successful in the SEC. One need look no further than the other coach that is brought up on this board as a candidate for every prominent HC opening: Urban Meyer. Then, of course, there are Steve Spurrier, Gene Chizik, and Bobby Petrino.
November 7th, 2011 at 8:12 PM ^
This might be off-topic, but why did Rich Rod struggle defensively in 2008? He probably had more talent on that roster than he was used to having at West Virginia, Rich Rod's 2008 defense, which had 8 returning starters, including future NFL guys Brandon Graham and Jonas Mouton, gave up 347 points during the 2008 season, whereas in 2007, the defense gave up 243 points. Was it all just because Shawn Crable, Chris Graham, and Jamar Adams graduated? I don't think the defensive breakdown in 2008 can be attributed to a lack of talent on the field.
I think Rich Rod's ability on defense is majorly in question after his record at Michigan. Right after he got to Michigan, the defense got way worse; right after he left, it's gotten way better. I see comments like "Rich Rod is the best coach out there with the exception of Urban Meyer" and I just don't really see it. Maybe he's one of the best offensive minds out there, but the record of his defenses at Michigan is terrible and cannot simply be explained by lack of talent on the field.
November 7th, 2011 at 9:04 PM ^
Could be because all of that returning talent didn't give a shit and actively worked against RR. I am not saying that RR was a good defensive coach, but when your senior leadership is called out by current players after they graduated for giving up and not really caring, that doesn't sound like a good situation to walk into. Players buying into what the new coach is teaching plays a big role in the makeup of your defense.
Also, the depth sucked ass.
November 7th, 2011 at 1:48 PM ^
November 7th, 2011 at 3:50 PM ^
My college football knowledge does not extend earlier than 2005; what succesful CFB head coaches have ever used Ole Miss as an effective springboard? I suspect 0 in recent history, so perhaps RR would be better off at a school in an easier conference. UCLA or Arizona really seem like an amazing fit. RR with a Cali recruiting backyard plus his connections in the Southeast would be a bonanza for talent.
November 7th, 2011 at 1:50 PM ^
BREAKING NEWS: RICH RODRIGUEZ TO COACH EVERY DIVISION I FOOTBALL TEAM WITH A JOB OPENING IN 2012
THIS COULD CAUSE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST WHEN UCLA PLAYS ARIZONA IN PAC-12 GAMES. RICH RODRIGUEZ HAS SAID, HOWEVER, "MY STAFF AND I WILL BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN OBJECTIVITY AND COACH A FAIR GAME FROM BOTH SIDELINES."
November 7th, 2011 at 2:27 PM ^
Rodriguez Violates NCAA Rules, Accepts Multiple Coaching Offers
November 7th, 2011 at 3:48 PM ^
NCAA To Rosenberg: Get A Life
November 7th, 2011 at 1:52 PM ^
Disclaimer--I haven't read the book yet! Only the excerpts published here. There's just not enough time for pleasure reading before xmas break. I do feel, though, that I have an adequate understanding of how the relevant actors (RR included) are portrayed.
Does anyone else think 3 and Out might hurt RR's chances at a big-time gig? It doesn't seem like Bacon paints RR as a bad guy or even necessarily a bad football coach. It does seem, however, that he shows RR as unready for a high pressure/high exposure position. I would think that's why RR was so pissed about the final product.
It's unclear as to whether AD's across the country would pay attention to a book like this, but you never know. Ole Miss is a definite pressure-cooker environment. Does anyone think the publication of this idea that RR wasn't cut out for the pressure and hostility of a program of this caliber might hurt him?
I certainly hope not.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:25 PM ^
November 7th, 2011 at 3:45 PM ^
I really feel like everyone (Brian included) is blowing the "RR reacts badly under presssure" meme out of proportion. Yes, he swears when he loses. Sometimes he throws chairs after a field goal kicker misses and we lose to Toledo. Is that really outside the norm? Perhaps the Groban incident was the only thing that was actually damaging, but nothing else in 3 And Out even made me raise an eyebrow. Though unless I read incorrectly, it was weird that he was screaming "FUCK" in the shower after a game while Dave Brandon was waiting in the locker room for him to get out and discuss his job security.
All 3 and Out tells an AD thinking about RR is that he needs some Belichick PR training: The answer to every question is either "I don't worry about ___, just the games," or "Credit to the ____, they do a great job," or "We're just focused on ___, all that other stuff is just noise," etc. etc.
No humor, no banter, no getting things off your chest in front of the national media. Just bone-dry answers. Let your win record do the talking-- it will in the end anyways.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:47 PM ^
If I were an AD I'd do my due diligence and review the book. Only 100 PGs in, but he's coming off as a competent, good guy in a really bad situation.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^
This way Rich can get embarrassed by Mississippi State every year
November 7th, 2011 at 2:00 PM ^
This way Rich can get embarrassed by Mississippi State every year
November 7th, 2011 at 4:35 PM ^
It was very thoughtful of you to give people two opportunities to downvote your comment.
November 7th, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^
Good thing I care so deeply about points. You know what, I agree with you now. Rich Rodriguez should be the top candidate for every D1 job opening.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:05 PM ^
Why would he want to go play Alabama and LSU every year in the SEC West? I know every program has their up's & down's, but it seems real likely that those 2 teams will be elite for at least the next five years, barring a Tressel-like scandal. Those would v likely be two automatic losses every year.
Beyond them, Arkansas (a team that does well in the SEC sans-defense) is probably the third best team in the whole conference. Oh, and the defending National champion, Auburn, also is in that division.
I think RR would be better for Arizona (out of the likely BCS jobs opening up if he HAD to take a job and he was offered all of them, hypothetically). He got Lewan and Roh from there, and the competition, while tough, wouldn't be literally the toughest in college football.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:06 PM ^
the irony might just kill me.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:36 PM ^
I can see RR having success at his next stop at any school if three things happens.
1. Hire Casteel
2. Don't meddle with the defense (I guess that would be if #1 doesn't happen)
3. Don't hire Tony Gibson
November 7th, 2011 at 3:44 PM ^
I'm not sure if Casteel is quite as good as he used to be. Giving up 38 to Louisville at home is not really that impressive.
November 7th, 2011 at 8:50 PM ^
They are still 23rd in total defense on the year. Pretty solid, regardless of the poor showings against Syracuse and Louisville.
http://web1.ncaa.org/football/exec/rankingSummary?org=768&year=2011&week=10
November 7th, 2011 at 4:03 PM ^
4. Don’t hire GERG
November 7th, 2011 at 2:40 PM ^
Seriously the guy had one of the greatest backfields in college football history and won 8 games while he was at arkansas.
November 7th, 2011 at 2:53 PM ^
who would take a job in the SEC? watching bama and LSU convinces one: avoid at all costs.
pac-12 would be much better.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:34 PM ^
The Pac-12 makes no sense for him. He's never coached out there, and he has no pipelines west of the Mississippi. If anything, the ACC would be the better alternative to the SEC.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:44 PM ^
I'd say BC needs a coach from what I saw in person last thursday night. Just not sure they'd go after him. They should though, that would be a steal.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:58 PM ^
That would be a great move for them, but, since he didn't fit in with the culture here, I can only imagine how it would work at BC.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:03 PM ^
he can find a good DC this time. That was one of his biggest un-doings at Michigan. That and probably some poor recruiting.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:07 PM ^
November 7th, 2011 at 3:39 PM ^
His run at Arkansas was pretty impressive; it was really the OTL drama that did him in.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
I think RR is going to have a hard time getting any job at a major because of the M debacle.
Where would he get a staff, all of his WVU crew has moved on or is selling insurance (as they should be). It was pretty clear in his hiring of staff that not many outside of his circle want to work with him or enjoy it.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:38 PM ^
Is that clear? Why do you say that? After firing Schafer in 2010 it wasn't a cultural fit; people didn't want to work with RR because he had gone 3-9 in his first year and was being referred openly to by a U of M regent as "Dead Man Walking," among other reasons.
I think RR could get a fine staff, but history does tell us that he should be careful to select the right people for the job...
November 7th, 2011 at 8:19 PM ^
I suspect a bigger reason people didn't want the DC job after Schafer is that they weren't interested in having their job security and future career propects tied to the performance of Tony Gibson and Jay Hopson.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:22 PM ^
RR might not want to take a job that has as much drama around it as SEC football, especially at Ole Miss. The drama is what doomed his job here, and I don't think he's going to jump into a similar situation.
November 7th, 2011 at 3:31 PM ^
Give RR a good DC and he'd be a tough out for any team in the SEC. He's a good coach, and with that talent from Nutt he should be able to win quickly. Plus, the Ole Miss crowd seems more accepting of outsiders than RR, if for no other reason than the team has consistently struggled to stay competitive.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:03 PM ^
RR is going to Penn St.
November 7th, 2011 at 4:26 PM ^
And to solve the DC problem he's going to hire Sandusky to be his DC.
November 7th, 2011 at 5:02 PM ^
November 7th, 2011 at 5:07 PM ^
I actually think that might be a good fit for him. It's close to a talent base he knows and I see him as adequate in the SEC. I wonder, however, if he wouldn't prefer a quieter corner of the world to make his re-entry though - the SEC is like "Friday Night Lights" except at college and sometimes on Thursday or Saturday.
November 7th, 2011 at 6:20 PM ^
IF Rich Rod learned anything from his experience at Michigan it's that he needs to fit the culture. UCLA would be an awful fit for him. Another top academic institution with an alumni base that is as conceded as Michigans. No way that would be a good fit for him.
He would fit right in at Mississippi. The people in Mississippi are as uneducated as his fan base in West Virginia. Sorry I hate WVU had to take the shot.
I really do believe he will end up in the ACC.
November 7th, 2011 at 6:26 PM ^
Let RR go drive another program into the ground.
November 7th, 2011 at 6:31 PM ^
I would not want that job. Ole Miss is a perennial also-ran in an absolutely brutal SEC West.
November 7th, 2011 at 7:42 PM ^
RR is not a "great" coach. He is an excellent offensive mind; however, he is very flawed as a coach. He continually showed poor judgement in Ann Arbor, including coach selection, poor delegation, and foot in mouth disease. That said, I really hope he does well in his next job because I believe he is a good guy who made some mistakes. And, I loves me a good comeback story.
November 7th, 2011 at 8:46 PM ^
Maybe he wants to collect a mid to upper 6 figure salary (maybe even 7?) doing a TV gig? Is there any indication or comments by RR that he wants to step back into coaching? I honestly don't know so if someone could point me in that direction (if it exists) it'd be appreciated.
November 7th, 2011 at 11:42 PM ^
Right at the end of the book, RR himself says he didn't want to take a year off. He wanted to be a head coach this year. Obviously that didn't work out the way he planned.
November 7th, 2011 at 11:41 PM ^
RR may not bring Ole Miss championships if he coached there but I can promise you he would get the support from administration/alumns unlike he did at Michigan. He was set up to fail from day 1.