Moving on from the FSU coach, who do you guy want and why? Kevin Sumlin: Great recruiter, great offensive mind, pretty damn good record in the "best conference in America" Mike Leach: Fun offense, good recruiter, turned a shitty program around Mario Cristobal: Elite recruiter, head coaching experience, players want him Jim Leavitt: Great recruiter, great passion, head coaching experience, players would like him Tony Dungy: Instant cred to the program, son went to U of O, would probably be a good recruiter Bryan Harsin: Up and comer, good recruiter Jeff Tedford: Pac 12 experience Justin Wilcox: proven at every stop, would likely be his dream job These are some names that will be considered. I know I'm missing some, so add them, or give your opinion on the one's above. If we don't hire Cristobal or Leavitt, they likely leave. Leavitt is going to leave for K State when it opens up. He was also fired for assaulting a kid. That may not play well with boosters.
I'd just had the reigns to Cristobal right now. Hopefully the stability will help us keep most of the recruiting class. Leavitt is a big key to the defense. If they fail, then look elsewhere.
I think Leach, for whatever reason, really likes it in the Palouse. There have been numerous articles about the "fit" and "cowboy offense" and "walks through the gardens to his house" and stuff. I don't know Cristobal from Columbus, other than he's considered a recruiting demi-god by SEC fans. Is that enough? I don't know that Dungy (or Gruden, for that matter) will come to college to deal with all the headaches, recruiting, etc., but I would've said that about Herm Edwards last week also.
Hmmm... . Anyway, Sumlin probably offers the most promise. He has a wide open offense that would work well in the Pac-12. You just have to make sure you got a Johnny Manziel type in the driver's seat because he's a QB whisperer. Leech I like his quirky style but he we would never beat the Huskies again if we hired him. That Air Raid offense falls apart against the good defense as UW continually shows. Plus, Leech tends to go after lesser athletes and 3 star guys anyway. Two others names to consider would be Jeff Brohm of Purdue and Tee Martin, OC at USC. Martin will probably get interviewed. I think any chance Cristobal has will be tied with how well the bowl game goes. Jim Leavitt is already 60, it would be akin to Rich Brook's tenure at Kentucky. I honestly think Sumlin probably gets the job.
Sumlin would bring Chavis with him unless Chavis ends up at Tennessee somehow. Chavis is every bit as good as Leavitt HOPEFULLY this search doesn't focus on the recruiting class, and instead focuses on long term success. If that's Cristobal over Sumlin then fine
My main problem with Cristobal is that the last team he coached was in CUSA and I don't think he's experienced enough. That's why he came to Oregon to be an OC. If we are mainly hiring him to keep the recruiting class together or the players happy that is stupid. We can do the same thing with Leavitt who has much more experience. I hate that vinegar douchebag Canzano but he's right about this one. Mullins can't fuck this next hire up or it will break the program.
I think we only hired Taggart because of his recruiting. We have a great coaching staff right now, and keeping Cristobal may help keep it together. I don't think subtracting whatever Taggart was bringing to the table coaching wise is going to affect this team much. Is there some can't miss coach available right now that we wouldn't be able to get later if this current regime fails?
Taggart was brought in because he was a program builder and a great recruiter. Whether he can beat Clemson, Miami or even Duke next year remains to be seen. But I am not interested so much in a recruiting Ferrari if the person driving it wraps it around a telephone poll. The problem with winning in the Pac-12 North isn't so much winning with talent as winning with coaching AND talent. You are facing Shaw, Petersen and Leech every year, you better be able to make adjustments on the fly. That's why I think Cristobal's performance against Boise State will be closely watched.
Coaching is important indeed, but I give credit on the defensive improvement to Levitt. As far as the offense....well, the Oregon offense has been good for years, as long as it has had a decent QB, and of course Hebert played great last year, and the offense sucked without him. How much credit does Taggart get for that? None of them were his guys. The offense was already coached up pretty good before he arrived. I think the offensive line coach played a role as did Cristobal. What does subtracting Taggart do coaching wise? Only those close to the team really know. The players seem to want Cristobal.
That backup Qb to Herbert this year whatever his name is was Taggart’s recruit and he flat out sucked and literally showed no pulse whatsoever
I wish we could hire Leavitt and Cristobal as co-head coaches. Otherwise, I would hire the one who is most likely to leave if he isn't hired.
Great post. I like Sumlin a lot and think he'd fit in well in the Pac 12. But if I had a top 3 in no particular order it would be: Cristobal Wilcox Leavitt or Sumlin No Poll?
Took this from a Miami Hurricans board..... there is only upside with this move. if he becomes a terrific head coach down the road, we can hire him away if things go sour with richt (i pray that it doesn't as i do like richt). (on Cristobal) So yeah Mullens, you better get this one right and put a ridiculous buy out clause on the end of it. Or your fired!