SPORTING NEWS RATING OF NEW COACH HIRES

[hskernation]

What makes a good coaching hire? Just ask me

 

 

Michigan got it right. Nebraska and Texas A&M didn't. Arkansas? Check back in two years. Want the definition of a good hire? Just ask me

 

Lloyd Carr used to have a dictionary on a stand outside his office, and before players came in to see him, they had to look up a word they didn't know and explain its meaning. Maybe Rich Rodriguez can get a book on The Game, plop it on a stand in his office and thumb through it every day.

 

So what if Rodriguez has plenty to learn about Michigan history? He knows how to coach, and yeah, he knows he has to beat Ohio State. Isn't that enough?

 

Sure it is -- and give Michigan credit for making the best hire of the offseason.

 

Grading the hires for the top six jobs:

 

1. Michigan: Rich Rodriguez, A. The spread option -- and variations of it -- has become the offense of choice in college football. No one knows it/teaches it like Rodriguez. And for the stodgy Blues with their undies bunched because Rod's not a Michigan Man, I give you these facts about West Virginia football in 2007:

 

It is fourth in the nation in rushing offense with 292.9 yards per game. It has run the ball on 589 of its 835 plays (70.5 percent).

 

It is fourth in the nation in total defense (291.9 yards allowed per game). That's a strong running game and a strong defense. That's Michigan football at its best, people. Maybe this won't be such a drastic change after all.

 

2. Nebraska: Bo Pelini, C-. The depth of failure in the Bill Callahan era: an abominable showing on the field, fear of change off it. You don't settle for Pelini because he spent one year in Lincoln and knows "the Nebraska way." When Jim Grobe says he wants to hire his own staff, you say "whatever you want" and close the deal.

 

3. UCLA: Rick Neuheisel, A. Forget about the past baggage at Washington and Colorado; it's overplayed. He's a charismatic coach who will be aggressive against Pac-10 king USC on the field and in recruiting. This was the hire USC didn't want to see.

 

4. Texas A&M: Mike Sherman, D. Deep-pocket boosters, a passionate fan base, terrific facilities and ... Mike Sherman? For the last time: Pete Carroll's NFL-to-college success is an anomaly specific to his personality.

 

5. Arkansas: Bobby Petrino, A/F. Two ways to look at it: 1.) The Hogs landed the best offensive mind/play-caller in the game. 2.) The Hogs will be looking for another coach in two years. Then again, it's worth the risk -- Petrino is a program-defining coach -- if Arkansas wins its first SEC title.

 

6. Georgia Tech: Paul Johnson, A. Really, how much different is Johnson's flexbone offense from the spread option? Both are based on zone-read plays and both require a dynamic quarterback. Johnson is popular with the state's high school coaches from his days at Georgia Southern, and he will significantly upgrade recruiting.

 

Six more hires, by grades:

 

Houston: Kevin Sumlin, A. A terrific recruiter, he made great strides as co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma. He has the personality and temperament to be a successful head coach.

 

Baylor: Art Briles, B. A sharp X's-and-O's guy, Briles wanted a BCS job and landed the hardest of all. His Mike Leach-based offense will help only so much if he can't recruit mid- to upper-level talent to Waco.

 

Duke: David Cutcliffe, B. Organized and disciplined, he's just what Duke wanted. Now if the administration relaxes entrance requirements, he could take the Devils bowling.

 

Washington State: Paul Wulff, B. A Wazzu alum, he was a charismatic and successful coach at Eastern Washington.

 

Mississippi: Houston Nutt, B-. He did more with less at Arkansas for years, but one nagging fault stood out: He never developed an elite quarterback. Mediocre passing attacks kept his teams from winning the SEC. The Rebels are loaded with skill players, including former Elite 11 quarterback Jevan Snead.

 

Southern Miss: Larry Fedora, C+. This is a tough spot for one of the game's top young offensive minds: He follows a Southern Miss legend and must sort through internal politics that fractured the fan base.

 

 

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=332276

[MCAT800]

I think he was just making the point that NU is a prestigious program and hiring a unproven head coach when you should have your pick at any HC you want is presumptuous.

I hope in the coming years this author eats a big plate of Crow.

[zoogs]

Good analysis, but if he was going to use this line to grade one hire, he should apply it to all of them, because I think it's the only grade that's spot on:

 

"check back in two years."

[hskernation]

"check back in two years."

 

god that sounds like what i was saying 4 years ago with our "other" new coach

but i understand what you're saying

[huskeraddict]

No matter who you hire, someone will think it's good and someone will think it's bad. Oh well, we shall see.

[BleedHuskerRed]

UCLA got themselves an A alright, one big ol' A. The author makes a good point, never mind the trail of sh#t that follows this A everywhere he goes, it's overplayed.

 

I'll take our C- thank-you.

[hack]

he had me right up until...

 

 

3. UCLA: Rick Neuheisel, A.

 

 

*spit take* *wipe off monitor*

 

 

Forget about the past baggage at Washington and Colorado; it's overplayed.

 

 

holy nutbunnies.... does he actually BELIEVE that?

 

 

He's a charismatic coach who will be aggressive against Pac-10 king USC on the field and in recruiting. This was the hire USC didn't want to see.

 

 

yes. yes, i guess he *does* believe that.

 

wow.

[EbylHusker]

One problem is, Nebraska isn't the super uber elite coaching job some people think it is. And I wouldn't consider Pelini an automatic great hire. He's a "time will tell" guy for me.

 

I see where the author was going with his assessment, but his stupidity ending up getting in the way.

[CornHunka]

Anyone who says that hiring of Skippy Neuheisel is an 'A' hire loses all creditability.

 

Who cares what this guy thinks? We know what we have in Pelini.

[HUSKER 37]

he had me right up until...

 

 

3. UCLA: Rick Neuheisel, A.

 

 

*spit take* *wipe off monitor*

 

 

Forget about the past baggage at Washington and Colorado; it's overplayed.

 

 

holy nutbunnies.... does he actually BELIEVE that?

 

 

He's a charismatic coach who will be aggressive against Pac-10 king USC on the field and in recruiting. This was the hire USC didn't want to see.

 

 

yes. yes, i guess he *does* believe that.

 

wow.

 

I actually like Skippy for UCLA.

 

I still don't understand why UW got after him for taking part in a Basketball pool..(I've even done it myself).

All I remember about his time at CU was that he couldn't seem to beat Tom..Which I really liked.

 

I hope he can start taking some of USC's recruits away to help level the playing field for the rest of us..

 

I wonder if Jay Norvel will stay as O.C.

 

2. Nebraska: Bo Pelini, C-. The depth of failure in the Bill Callahan era: an abominable showing on the field, fear of change off it. You don't settle for Pelini because he spent one year in Lincoln and knows "the Nebraska way." When Jim Grobe says he wants to hire his own staff, you say "whatever you want" and close the deal.

 

Still not sure why so many are high on Jim Grobe..A career 50% winner.

[westgatehusker]

he had me right up until...

 

 

3. UCLA: Rick Neuheisel, A.

 

 

*spit take* *wipe off monitor*

 

 

Forget about the past baggage at Washington and Colorado; it's overplayed.

 

 

holy nutbunnies.... does he actually BELIEVE that?

 

 

He's a charismatic coach who will be aggressive against Pac-10 king USC on the field and in recruiting. This was the hire USC didn't want to see.

 

 

yes. yes, i guess he *does* believe that.

 

wow.

haha that's something robin would say to batman. "Holy nutbunnies batman!"

[BigRed95]

3. UCLA: Rick Neuheisel, A. Forget about the past baggage at Washington and Colorado; it's overplayed. He's a charismatic coach who will be aggressive against Pac-10 king USC on the field and in recruiting. This was the hire USC didn't want to see.

 

I didn't make it past Ricky. He ruined 2 programs and is considered an A. Cally must be an A+ (an A+++ if he retains Cos).

 

Thanks, that is 3 minutes I'll never get back.

[Husker stuck at kstate]

2. Nebraska: Bo Pelini, C-. The depth of failure in the Bill Callahan era: an abominable showing on the field, fear of change off it. You don't settle for Pelini because he spent one year in Lincoln and knows "the Nebraska way." When Jim Grobe says he wants to hire his own staff, you say "whatever you want" and close the deal.

 

Still not sure why so many are high on Jim Grobe..A career 50% winner.

 

 

Because he took a basketball school, gave them a football team and won the ACC. He is a good coach and i love bo pelini, but i would have taken paul johnson or jim grobe over him. GT is going to be good in a few years

[melscott62]

This was the hire USC didn't want to see.

 

I'd love to hear what our USC posters have to say about this......if they can stop laughing long enough to type

[Huskerballz]

These guys don't have any more credibility than we do, they just get paid to express their opinions on paper. This nutjob doesn't know a thing about what Pelini is capable of, and probably doesn't care. He's just blowing smoke.