Landlord
Banned
I looked at the top 15 winningest programs and how they operated during their dark years with bad coaching hires, for some semblance of what has been done in the past and how it's worked out. Keep in mind, however, that we're already in pretty uncharted waters because many of these schools didn't get rid of 9-10 win coaches prior to. For ease of research and also to keep this discussion grounded in relevant, recent history, I only went back to 1990.
Michigan - Lloyd Carr "resigned" in 2007 with the pressure to head out, finishing with a 9-4 season ranked #18. They hired Rich Rod, who went 3-9 (worst season in school history), 5-7, and 7-6, and was then fired. They then hired Brady Hoke, who led them to a Sugar Bowl victory, but then didn't do much better. Despite really good recruiting, his staff (which was almost all former WVU staffers under him) was accused of not having a good atmosphere surrounding their program. Also of note, Bill Brandon was their AD who hired RR, then Dave Brandon was the AD who fired him, then hired Brady Hoke. Dave Brandon was fired last year for being a complete piece of crap.
Notre Dame - Lou Holtz "retired" amidst rumors of knowledge of serious NCAA violations, ending with an 8-3 season ranked #19. ND promoted Bob Davie, who was their DC at the time, and who went 7-6, 9-3, 5-7, 9-3, and 5-6, and was fired. It seems fans were never excited about the hire to begin with. He was playing with sanctions and probations, and another case of a coach being hired by one AD, and fired by another. ND hired George O'Leary, who resigned a few days later in disgrace when inaccuracies were found in his resume and biography, and then they hired Tyrone Willingham, who went 10-3, 5-7, 6-6, was fired, and then replaced by Charlie Weis, who went 9-3, 10-3, 3-9, 7-6, 6-6, and was fired.
Texas - Can't find anything really relevant for Texas, except for Charlie Strong, which is still in progress.
Ohio State - These a$$hole$ have always been great.
Alabama - Gene Stallings went 70-16 from 1990-1996, and resigned after the 1996 season. Partly due to sanctions, but following this, Mike DuBose was hired and went 4-7, 7-5, 10-3, and 3-8, after which he was fired. The last season was akin to our 2007 season, with preseason national championship aspirations. He actually tried to offer his resignation to the AD a few games in, but the AD would refuse, only to fire him a few games later but let him finish out the season. Alabama then hired Dennis Franchione, who, again, was hampered by NCAA violations committed before him, but went 7-5, and 10-3, and then left for Texas A&M. Alabama then hired Mike Shula, who went 4-9, 6-6, 10-3 (with all 10 wins vacated), and 6-7, and was fired, leading the way for Nick Saban.
Oklahoma - Gary Gibbs was hired to clean up Oklahoma's image, which he succeeded in, but was forced to resign after 6 decent seasons without signature big victories. OU hired Howard Schnellenberglerhage;i in 1995, who went 5-5-1, following the two previous seasons of 9-3, and 6-6 beforehand, but he unexpectedly resigned after the first season, saying, "in recent months a climate has developed toward the program, understandably in some cases and perhaps unfairly in others, that has changed my outlook on the situation. A change could help improve that climate." OU then hired John Blake, who went 3-8, 4-8, and 5-6, was fired, and led to the hiring of Bob Stoops.
Penn State - Nothing to see that is comparable here at all.
Tennessee - Phil Fulmer is Tennessee's version of Lloyd Carr, who led them to great and unprecedented success, but tailed off in the later parts of his career, and was eventually asked to graciously resign. Tennessee then hired Lane Kiffin, who went 7-6, and bolted for USC after one year. They then hired Derek Dooley, who went 6-7, 5-7, and 5-7. He was obviously fired, and replaced by Butch Jones, who has so far gone 5-7, 7-6, and 4-4 so far this year.
I've got a work meeting but I can look at more schools later, namely USC, Georgia, LSU, and Auburn, unless someone else would like to.
Michigan - Lloyd Carr "resigned" in 2007 with the pressure to head out, finishing with a 9-4 season ranked #18. They hired Rich Rod, who went 3-9 (worst season in school history), 5-7, and 7-6, and was then fired. They then hired Brady Hoke, who led them to a Sugar Bowl victory, but then didn't do much better. Despite really good recruiting, his staff (which was almost all former WVU staffers under him) was accused of not having a good atmosphere surrounding their program. Also of note, Bill Brandon was their AD who hired RR, then Dave Brandon was the AD who fired him, then hired Brady Hoke. Dave Brandon was fired last year for being a complete piece of crap.
Notre Dame - Lou Holtz "retired" amidst rumors of knowledge of serious NCAA violations, ending with an 8-3 season ranked #19. ND promoted Bob Davie, who was their DC at the time, and who went 7-6, 9-3, 5-7, 9-3, and 5-6, and was fired. It seems fans were never excited about the hire to begin with. He was playing with sanctions and probations, and another case of a coach being hired by one AD, and fired by another. ND hired George O'Leary, who resigned a few days later in disgrace when inaccuracies were found in his resume and biography, and then they hired Tyrone Willingham, who went 10-3, 5-7, 6-6, was fired, and then replaced by Charlie Weis, who went 9-3, 10-3, 3-9, 7-6, 6-6, and was fired.
Texas - Can't find anything really relevant for Texas, except for Charlie Strong, which is still in progress.
Ohio State - These a$$hole$ have always been great.
Alabama - Gene Stallings went 70-16 from 1990-1996, and resigned after the 1996 season. Partly due to sanctions, but following this, Mike DuBose was hired and went 4-7, 7-5, 10-3, and 3-8, after which he was fired. The last season was akin to our 2007 season, with preseason national championship aspirations. He actually tried to offer his resignation to the AD a few games in, but the AD would refuse, only to fire him a few games later but let him finish out the season. Alabama then hired Dennis Franchione, who, again, was hampered by NCAA violations committed before him, but went 7-5, and 10-3, and then left for Texas A&M. Alabama then hired Mike Shula, who went 4-9, 6-6, 10-3 (with all 10 wins vacated), and 6-7, and was fired, leading the way for Nick Saban.
Oklahoma - Gary Gibbs was hired to clean up Oklahoma's image, which he succeeded in, but was forced to resign after 6 decent seasons without signature big victories. OU hired Howard Schnellenberglerhage;i in 1995, who went 5-5-1, following the two previous seasons of 9-3, and 6-6 beforehand, but he unexpectedly resigned after the first season, saying, "in recent months a climate has developed toward the program, understandably in some cases and perhaps unfairly in others, that has changed my outlook on the situation. A change could help improve that climate." OU then hired John Blake, who went 3-8, 4-8, and 5-6, was fired, and led to the hiring of Bob Stoops.
Penn State - Nothing to see that is comparable here at all.
Tennessee - Phil Fulmer is Tennessee's version of Lloyd Carr, who led them to great and unprecedented success, but tailed off in the later parts of his career, and was eventually asked to graciously resign. Tennessee then hired Lane Kiffin, who went 7-6, and bolted for USC after one year. They then hired Derek Dooley, who went 6-7, 5-7, and 5-7. He was obviously fired, and replaced by Butch Jones, who has so far gone 5-7, 7-6, and 4-4 so far this year.
I've got a work meeting but I can look at more schools later, namely USC, Georgia, LSU, and Auburn, unless someone else would like to.
