NCAA Football Coaching questions

[hifigator]

Ok, football is finally in sight, at least with a binoculars, so here are a couple of questions for the board:

1. Who do you think has the "hottest seat" going into this season?

2. Who retires first, Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno? For the sake of this argument, please disregard "forced" retirement, such as NCAA sanctions or health reasons. Just purely from the football standpoint, who bows out first?

3. Most everyone seems to think that the BCS title game will likely match up some combination of Oklahoma, Texax, USC, Ohio St. and Florida. There are certainly other possibilities, but those 5 are at the top of most peoples' lists. If you had to pick another team to make the title game who would it be?

4. If you were starting your team right now and had to choose a coach to lead your college program who would it be? For this question, factor in everything from recruiting, age and both short and long term success.

4b. If long term success is disregarded, would your choice change? In other words, if you had to pick a coach to come in and turn your program around the quickest -- say 2 years -- who would you choose?

5. A lot of pundits are picking Notre Dame as somewhat of a surprise team. Do you agree?

[whatmaroon]

1. Unusually, I can't think of any guys who are really on the hot seat. Would Auburn or Tennessee fire Chizik or Kiffin after a year? Mike Sherman will get more than 2 years at TAMU. Bill Snyder was brought in to save KSU's athletic department. I've given up on Al Groh Job Watch, since he seems to be immortal. Bill Stewart's buyout is too expensive, plus WVU is screwed up. Mike Stoops, maybe, if Arizona tanks. Steve Kragthorpe should be, based on what UofL has done, but I don't know what they're like.

2. Paterno is retired in everything but name-Galen Hall runs that team. He can continue like that until and after he's in the grave. Because of that, Bowden, simply because Jimbo Fisher will want his name on top of the marquee.

3. Penn State, who plays Ohio State and has an SEC-worthy non-conference schedule. Georgia, who may be able to survive a loss with a surprisingly legit non-conference schedule and a softer SEC sched than the Gators. Boise, if they need go undefeated and every major conference team has a couple losses a la 2007.

4/4b. I have no team, so this is a hypothetical question. If I want long-term success, I want somebody who can recruit and manage an elite-level program-Pete Carroll would be a good choice if I have corrupt fans and need a coach to look the other way. Nick Saban's good at running off kids if my old coach recruited too many bad players, and skirting the GA rules is pretty neat, too. Tressel's won a lot for the past two decades, and is in the perfect spot for him. Urban's put in nice work at BGSU, Utah, and now UF, but has a different challenge staying at the same school and seeing people respond to his tactical innovations (see Joe Tiller, post-Rose Bowl/Drew Brees).

If I'm running a lesser BCS school, I probably start by looking at Kyle Willingham at Utah. That Sugar Bowl performance was a very impressive job of gameplanning.

5. Notre Dame has sucked since 1993, and will continue to suck. Even when people think they're good, they're really just a middle of the pack Big 10 team with an easy schedule (quality-wise, they were basically Minnesota in 2005). If the schedule shakes out, they'll go 10-2 or 9-3, make a quality bowl, and get hammered. There's always that last to keep us happy.

[hifigator]

good points and I wouldn't argue much. I understand your sentiment, but I don't think this is a year that sets up for a 2 loss team to be in the title game. There look to be too many strong teams that will finish with 1 loss at most. If Ohio St. beats USC, then I don't see them with more that 1 loss. The winner of Texas-Oklahoma will almost certainly have no more than 1 loss, if any. Florida would have to fall on its face multiple times to have more than 1 loss.

As for other teams, your Georgia pick is an interesting one. Since they lost Stafford and Moreno, they are sort of flying under the radar. No one is really expecting elite status from them, but their schedule sets up pretty well. As you mention, they have a solid OOC schedule, but all the games are winnable and Ga. will probably be favored in all of them. The SEC east looks to be down this year. South Carolina and Kentucky look to make a serious push for second or third place in the SEC. If Georgia can beat Florida in Jax. (I don't think they will and certainly don't want them to, but still), then they could easily sneak their way into Atlanta and if they do get by Florida, more than 1 loss is highly unlikely and a 12-0 isn't out of the question. Another SEC team that I would look at is Bama. They were undefeated last year going into Atlanta. They did lose their 3 year starter at QB, John Parker Wilson, but he was just a efficient functional quarterback. The guy coming in has been in the system for years, as a redshirt Junior, and I don't think it's a stretch to expect him to at least duplicate Wilson. Julio Jones is a stud and Bama has continued to put top classes together. Plus, their schedule is very favorable. They open in Atlanta against Va. Tech. in what is a great early season matchup. The winner will be a 2nd tier candidate for the Title game for sure. If Bama does get by that game, then they will almost certainly be 5-0 going into a key matchup in Oxford against Ole Miss. Houston nutt has done a tremendous job and Ole Miss looks to build on the success of their 9-4 campaign last season, which included a win over the eventual National Champion Gators as well as a shellacking of highly regarded Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl. If Bama gets by that game, they have 4 of the last 6 at home and the only road games are against lowly Miss. St. and a rebuilding Auburn team led by first year coach, Gene Chizik. Bama definitely has a shot to get back to Atlanta, even with an unblemished record.

As for the coaching question, I honestly would choose Meyer for the long term. I know that he has bounced around and that's certainly a concern. But if you look at it, he wasn't just bouncing around as say ... Larry Brown does. He was moving rapidly up the ladder. In that regard, it would be more like "Mean Mark" who wrested in Florida Championship Wrestling back in the day, for all of about an hour and a half. I remember being really impressed with him and then he was gone ... for about a month. Then he showed up in WWF as ... The Undertaker!

When Meyer was at Bowling Green, he turned them around almost immediately. Utah beckoned, and he answered. In 2 years, he led them to dramatic turnarounds in addition to a perfect season, not to mention grooming an unknown Alex Smith into the NFL's #1 draft pick -- bust though he has been. Finally, Florida came calling and he answered again. We've all seen what he has done here: 2 Natty Tites in 4 seasons as well as a Heisman to go with 4 consensus Top 10 classes and 3 consensus top 5 classes.

If I had to win today with the players I already have, I might look at Les Miles. I don't know why but he is a good coach who also seems to have a golden horseshoe up his a$$ at times. Eventually, you have to admit that luck might actually be the result of some degree of skill. I still can't figure out what he does that works, but so far, he has done that. But I don't see him as the long term success that a Meyer, Stoops or Carroll have proven to be.

Lastly, I was reading Phil Steele's magazine and he is especially high on the Irish this year. I'm like you, and don't like to see them have much success, but I think he's right. Let's face it: the Irish will get the benefit of the doubt. They will be higher ranked than most other teams with the same resume'. And when you combine that with their schedule, I see them having a fairly big year. They play USC in South Bend, and if they manage that upset, then who knows. Also, Pitt is a home game as well. I think they also play an emerging Stanford team, but for the most part, Notre Dame will be favored in all but 1 or 2 games. Unfortunately, I think Steele might be right, although I also think you are. We will get to see Notre Dame lose in a upper level bowl -- like they always lose in bowl games anyway.

[AustinHoya03]

Way too early for a thinly disguised preseason CFB thread. Talk amongst yourselves -- I haven't even purchased Mssrs. Steele and Campbell's annual mags yet. See y'all in August.

[DFW HOYA]

1. Who do you think has the "hottest seat" going into this season?
I-A or I-AA? (For the former, Mike Sherman.)

2. Who retires first, Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno?
Bowden.

3. If you had to pick another team to make the title game who would it be?
Never count out LSU.

4. If you were starting your team right now and had to choose a coach to lead your college program who would it be?
Gary Patterson.

4b. If long term success is disregarded, would your choice change? In other words, if you had to pick a coach to come in and turn your program around the quickest -- say 2 years -- who would you choose?
Bob Stoops.

5. A lot of pundits are picking Notre Dame as somewhat of a surprise team. Do you agree?
It's eight wins or bust this year.

[RDF]

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

Ok, football is finally in sight, at least with a binoculars, so here are a couple of questions for the board:

1. Who do you think has the "hottest seat" going into this season?

Charlie Weis

2. Who retires first, Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno? For the sake of this argument, please disregard "forced" retirement, such as NCAA sanctions or health reasons. Just purely from the football standpoint, who bows out first?

Bowden--especially if NCAA upholds the ruling that he loses those victories and his buddy TK Weatherall is leaving and he was having to tell boosters that Bobby wasn't leaving. Now the boosters will get what they want--Fisher. Which I don't think is good--always be the guy to replace the guy who replaces a legend.

3. Most everyone seems to think that the BCS title game will likely match up some combination of Oklahoma, Texax, USC, Ohio St. and Florida. There are certainly other possibilities, but those 5 are at the top of most peoples' lists. If you had to pick another team to make the title game who would it be?

BCS Title Game is easy to figure out--think geographically. If USC is in contention this year--they will get in no matter if it's deserved or not. I'd be willing to bet that one of USC/Texas is in the game for certain-because Texas has been part of 2 great Rose Bowls, travels well, and didn't scare the traditionalists with their appearance like Oklahoma fans did. If Florida loses 1 game they should be out with that horrific non conference schedule, but I see them in it easily unless Tebow gets injured or they actually try to show he can play from under center. Let the NFL figure that crap out and let him do what has worked.

Darkhorse-Texas Tech---(not really, but thought it'd be fun to say this before the national media gushes about them and their new 20 million yard passer who is an average player and the Evil Genius that is Mike Leach. Complaining about "lack of respect" by 5th or 6th game this year?

4. If you were starting your team right now and had to choose a coach to lead your college program who would it be? For this question, factor in everything from recruiting, age and both short and long term success.

This is easy--Grandpa Clappy Larry Coker. Seriously--either Urban Meyer or Pete Carroll.

4b. If long term success is disregarded, would your choice change? In other words, if you had to pick a coach to come in and turn your program around the quickest -- say 2 years -- who would you choose?

Butch Davis--and I'd give him 3 years. He'll get you players in a hurry.

5. A lot of pundits are picking Notre Dame as somewhat of a surprise team. Do you agree?

Look at their schedule--and it's also why answer #1 was Weis--if he doesn't win 9 games with this schedule--he will be fired. Has a team that took nearly 3 quarters to get a 1st down in their last game of year (USC game) ever had that overlooked more just because of the game they had in a bowl that used to be "beneath" them? I do think ND has gotten better players lately--but I still think their best QB is backing up Clausen--Dayne Crist is guy who will be their QB when they are contending legitimately again.

[kghoya]

i think penn state has scheduled themselves to be in the mix

8 home games...including osu

4 non big ten games are syracuse, akron, temple, and 1aa eastern illinois

[AustinHoya03]

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

1. Who do you think has the "hottest seat" going into this season?

The flames are hottest under the seat of Steve Kragthorpe. Nobody else is in real danger of being fired right now, but on the BCS level I can see Dan Hawkins, Mike Stoops, and maybe Ron Zook getting fired if their teams fail to deliver this season. Strangely, it seems as if every single coach in the SEC is safe for 2009.

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

2. Who retires first, Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno? For the sake of this argument, please disregard "forced" retirement, such as NCAA sanctions or health reasons. Just purely from the football standpoint, who bows out first?

Bowden. Penn State has performed much better on the field than FSU the past few seasons, so Paterno's not in danger of being forced out. Paterno also seems to have at least some involvement with the team as well -- Bowden has been a total figurehead for at least five years.

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

3. Most everyone seems to think that the BCS title game will likely match up some combination of Oklahoma, Texax, USC, Ohio St. and Florida. There are certainly other possibilities, but those 5 are at the top of most peoples' lists. If you had to pick another team to make the title game who would it be?

Alabama (they don't have to play Utah in the regular season).

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

4. If you were starting your team right now and had to choose a coach to lead your college program who would it be? For this question, factor in everything from recruiting, age and both short and long term success.

Where's BuffaloHoya been this summer? This question is just begging for a Turner Gill slurpfest.

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

4b. If long term success is disregarded, would your choice change? In other words, if you had to pick a coach to come in and turn your program around the quickest -- say 2 years -- who would you choose?

Saban.

Jun 26, 2009 15:37:55 GMT -5 hifigator said:

5. A lot of pundits are picking Notre Dame as somewhat of a surprise team. Do you agree?

Is the dude under center still named Clausen? Then no.

___________

Coaches poll should be released this Friday...

[HoyaTejano]

Just an aside point, DFW is dead-on. Sherman is on the hottest seat in the country. If A&M loses to Baylor again this year, he is done -- he would need to beat OU, Texas, AND Tech.

[hifigator]

Austin wrote:

Bowden. Penn State has performed much better on the field than FSU the past few seasons, so Paterno's not in danger of being forced out. Paterno also seems to have at least some involvement with the team as well -- Bowden has been a total figurehead for at least five years.


I agree with you as far as Bowden goes, but from what I hear, it's pretty much the same thing at Penn St. Joe Pa sits in the press box and radios a little stuff down to the sidelines, but from everyone I have talked to and everything I have read says that Galen Hall is really the coach and most expect him to be a "coach in waiting," just without the catchy title.

Incidentally, I heard an interview with Jimbo Fisher last week, and I must admit that I was impressed. As most know, I despise FSU with every fiber of my being so it's very painful to give them any credit at all, even when it's deserved. Thankfully, that is very rare. But, at least from one short interview, I have to admit that it was very hard to not like the guy.

[AustinHoya03]

Aug 6, 2009 14:32:12 GMT -5 hifigator said:

it's pretty much the same thing at Penn St. Joe Pa sits in the press box and radios a little stuff down to the sidelines, but from everyone I have talked to and everything I have read says that Galen Hall is really the coach and most expect him to be a "coach in waiting," just without the catchy title.

I don't disagree Hall is mainly calling the shots in Happy Valley, but if memory serves me correctly, Bowden doesn't call ANY plays, and has admitted he doesn't know the names of most of the guys on the team. If Paterno radios down "punt it" from the press box on 3rd and 23, he's doing more work than Bowden does on Saturdays.

[AustinHoya03]

Aug 5, 2009 23:53:56 GMT -5 HoyaTejano said:

Just an aside point, DFW is dead-on. Sherman is on the hottest seat in the country. If A&M loses to Baylor again this year, he is done -- he would need to beat OU, Texas, AND Tech.

Well...the Baylor game's in College Station this season, but I wouldn't bet the farm on an Aggie win.

Normally, I think TAMU would give a coach three years to achieve results. But the same people who OK'd the hiring of Mike Sherman are the same people who hired Elsa Murano and pushed her out the door a year later, so...

[hifigator]

Aug 6, 2009 20:19:29 GMT -5 AustinHoya03 said:

Aug 6, 2009 14:32:12 GMT -5 hifigator said:

it's pretty much the same thing at Penn St. Joe Pa sits in the press box and radios a little stuff down to the sidelines, but from everyone I have talked to and everything I have read says that Galen Hall is really the coach and most expect him to be a "coach in waiting," just without the catchy title.

I don't disagree Hall is mainly calling the shots in Happy Valley, but if memory serves me correctly, Bowden doesn't call ANY plays, and has admitted he doesn't know the names of most of the guys on the team. If Paterno radios down "punt it" from the press box on 3rd and 23, he's doing more work than Bowden does on Saturdays.

Incidentally, I had the pleasure of meeting Coach Hall ... I know that doesn't sound surprising on the surface, given that he coached the Gators for nearly 4 years, beginning in Sept. '84 ... But what's surprising is when and where I met him. I didn't meet him during his tenure at Florida, nor did I meet him anywhere near here. I met him in Memphis. He was the Coach for the Orlando Rage of the XFL and a friend of mine and I were assigned to cover the Rage for a local radio station. That was supposed to be home games I expect, but we decided to take advantage of the opportunity when the Rage played the Memphis Maniax in Tennessee. I think we just might be the only people who EVER covered an XFL road game for a radio station. But it was a lot of fun. My friend commented that it was "just another typical Florida-Tennessee football game." Incidentally, they "loved" us up there.

[hoya9797]

Please, tell us more.

[hifigator]

Aug 7, 2009 21:04:09 GMT -5 hoya9797 said:

Please, tell us more.

Ok, you smell kind of funny, too.