Bullshit. We could have hired the offensive coordinator for 5-7 Cal, or the offensive coordinator for 10-2 UW. Seems simple enough to me. This idea that Baldwin was some amazing candidate is iffy at best. His predecessor at EWU (who also won big in Cheney) was Paul Wulff. WSU hired him. It was a disaster. Winning at EWU does not necessarily equate to being an awesome PAC-12 coach.
I'm guessing Baldwin knows he's going to have better offers in a year or two. Why take a "career killer" that is full of downside and very little upside unless this is your only shot at a D1 gig? Smith has ties and probably wasn't at the top of anybody's short list, so this might have been his only chance. If he fails, he can probably go back to being an O-coordinator somewhere and chalk it up to being too green for a head coaching gig and in a very tough position to succeed. Baldwin on the other hand seems to have a lot more to lose, in terms of reputation.
The Taggert to FSU rumors are really only being talked about by our local media... Kinda like how they were dangling the carrot for us to panic about him leaving for the Florida job. He would be leaving a program that is on par with the FSU program going to an overall weaker conference or at best lateral conference in the ACC to a team that was 5-6 this past season. He already has a QB that will make a lot of national noise next season and (depending on the ratings site) the top recruiting class or at worst top 5 recruiting class in the nation. He also has a "Dream" Coaching staff in place at Oregon. I just don't see the reasoning for him to go.
A lot more passionate and fiery than I expected him to be. My perception of him has always been of a Mike Riley type; seems like he might be more like Mike Gundy.
Sure, but if he fails at FSU (which is highly likely because their standards are insanely high that they don't even like Jimbo all too much after winning a title), a lot of teams will be hesitant to hire him as HC again. He will have the homie hopper Lane Kiffin stench on him.
Beavs just announced they are bringing on Mike Riley as an Assistant Coach. Interesting move.. I wonder what type of offense we will be running next year...
I’ve been a pretty loyal Beaver fan for most of my life but the Anderson hire left me completely cold. I never “got” it (I thought the guy was tremendously overhyped) and the decision drove me away from even caring about OSU football during his regime. Hiring Jonathan Smith (far and away my favorite Beav of all time.....with apologies to ‘Quizz) has me ecstatic. Bringing Riley on board is just the icing on the cake. Love him or hate him, the guy is a class act and I think OSU is on the right track again after the absolute train wreck/debacle of the Anderson regime. I can actually say I am looking forward to the college football season again.
I agree with all of this except for Smith vs. 'Quizz. I actually had two classes with JaQuizz when I attended there and he's a really good guy. So he gets the nod for me. As for Gary Anderson, good riddance. Ready to start a new era with our former walk-on, 5'11", 4 year starting quarterback, as the head coach.
So wait, Mike Riley is an "Assistant Head Coach" and Jim Michaelczik is "Associate Head Coach"? Are they going to hire Dennis Erickson as "Auxiliary Head Coach"?
