December 06, 2006
Johnson? O'Brien? Bueller?
850 The Blog was reporting earlier today that things were heating up between Paul Johnson and NC State. Later, they updated it to say that now things were cooling and that maybe Tom O'Brien was leading the pack (get it?). The O'Brien thing strikes me as funny because despite having things rolling pretty nicely in Boston, he sure seems to be trying hard to get out. Evidently he lobbied for the Carolina job and now State.
As for Johnson, I've gone back and forth about whether I think he'd be good. I think I'm on the "no" side again. While I think he'd do well in the short term, I wonder how he could recruit against Butch Davis (and others) with that offense. Sure, he'd probably throw more at State than he does at Navy, but a leopard doesn't change his spots. You can win with run-based offense, but if recruits get the idea that what you're doing won't translate to the NFL, you're going to fight an uphill battle.
Frankly, I'm not overwhelmed by O'Brien either. He's proven to be a very good coach, sure, but he's pretty clearly defined his ceiling. BC is always good, but never the best. If you hire him, you can be sure your team will compete, but you can be pretty sure that you won't dominate. On the other hand, he's never had quite as much talent at BC as State has had. Maybe he'd win more with their talent. Or maybe the talent will start going to Chapel Hill instead.
We'll see ...
Comments
I'm not sure whether your concerns about Paul Johnson are accurate or not. Yes, he has run the wishbone at Navy and Georgia Southern, but when he was the offensive coordinator at Hawaii they ran a spread passing offense. At Hawaii, you can recruit a star quarterback, by showing him warm weather and girls in bikinis. At Georgia Southern, you can recruit some of the best option quarterbacks in the nation, because they're not in demand in Division I. At Navy, well, the wishbone does quite well with disciplined but mediocre personnel.
So, I feel confident that he will fit his recruiting to the personnel he can get. But, I don't know how good a recuiter he is, or what kind of recruits State can attract. It doesn't really have any football history.
So, I feel confident that he will fit his recruiting to the personnel he can get. But, I don't know how good a recuiter he is, or what kind of recruits State can attract. It doesn't really have any football history.
I'll look it up again tonight, but I don't think he had a spread passing attack at Hawaii. They ran a ton.
Actually, he did have a spread attack at UH. It's a moot point, though. NCSU hired O'Brien. Not sure how I feel about pilfering another ACC head coach, but it is what it is....
<p>Frankly, I'm not overwhelmed by O'Brien either. He's proven to be a very good coach, sure, but he's pretty clearly defined his ceiling. BC is always good, but never the best. If you hire him, you can be sure your team will compete, but you can be pretty sure that you won't dominate.</p>
That seems like a very succint summary of O'Brien, Dave. I'm really quite surprised State went this route- seems very conservative.
That seems like a very succint summary of O'Brien, Dave. I'm really quite surprised State went this route- seems very conservative.
By the way, is it just me, or does 'preview' actually submit for everyone?
| Matt wrote: |
| Actually, he did have a spread attack at UH. It's a moot point, though. NCSU hired O'Brien. Not sure how I feel about pilfering another ACC head coach, but it is what it is.... |
Once again, I learn news on my own site! I have to go read about this now.
As a UNC fan, Paul Johnson at NC State scares me more than Tom O'Brien at NC State. I thought that NC State would try to hit a homerun like what UNC did, but I guess they settled for a double. *shrug*
I'm shocked. Tom O'Brien? I'm not even sure that's a double. He looks like a singles hitter to me -- doesn't strike out a lot, has a decent average, but never hits any home runs.
Think about the coaches in that category and see how excited you get. He could be the next Chan Gailey! He's the football equivalent of Herb Sendek!
Seriously, why would you make this hire? He doesn't strike me as someone who will start a fundraising bonanza, and he doesn't strike me as someone who will lead you to a championship. I see a future of consistent 7-5 and 8-4 teams for State. OK, I suppose that's progress. A steady diet of Meineke Car Care bowls!
This is the ultimate safe pick -- an established head coach that your fans are already somewhat familiar with. But there's no upside. You shouldn't expect any better results at State than he had at BC.
Think about the coaches in that category and see how excited you get. He could be the next Chan Gailey! He's the football equivalent of Herb Sendek!
Seriously, why would you make this hire? He doesn't strike me as someone who will start a fundraising bonanza, and he doesn't strike me as someone who will lead you to a championship. I see a future of consistent 7-5 and 8-4 teams for State. OK, I suppose that's progress. A steady diet of Meineke Car Care bowls!
This is the ultimate safe pick -- an established head coach that your fans are already somewhat familiar with. But there's no upside. You shouldn't expect any better results at State than he had at BC.
Hmmm. I think I spoke without doing my research first. Apparently BC has won 9 games 4 of the past 5 years, and it looks like he'll be able to bring his staff with him. Yeah, 9-3 on a regular basis would be a big leap up for State.
It sounds like the reverse of what I said was true. Tom O'Brien got tired of winning 9 games and having to go to the Meineke Car Care bowl. The same record at State should result in a nice holiday destination. Well, Jacksonville, anyway.
It sounds like the reverse of what I said was true. Tom O'Brien got tired of winning 9 games and having to go to the Meineke Car Care bowl. The same record at State should result in a nice holiday destination. Well, Jacksonville, anyway.
...and now it seems that 'the U' has its head coach as well:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489
This screams "Carl Torbush" to me, but I'm just scarred from the disastrous experience. Hopefully, he'll field successful (and scandal free) football teams.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489
This screams "Carl Torbush" to me, but I'm just scarred from the disastrous experience. Hopefully, he'll field successful (and scandal free) football teams.
| SuperJew wrote: |
| ...and now it seems that 'the U' has its head coach as well:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2690489 This screams "Carl Torbush" to me, but I'm just scarred from the disastrous experience. Hopefully, he'll field successful (and scandal free) football teams. |
Yeah, how weird is it to fire a head coach for not getting the job done and then hire one of his assistants to take over? Wasn't this guy at least part of the problem you were trying to solve?
Well, in his defense, it was always the offense that doomed UM and the players always push for the coordinator to be promoted.
I dunno. It's an interesting choice and it allows another black coach to break into the profession, which is always a good thing publicity-wise.
I'd like to hear from a rational UM fan and their thoughts on the whole process, especially with the Schanio snub, but I don't think many exist.
I dunno. It's an interesting choice and it allows another black coach to break into the profession, which is always a good thing publicity-wise.
I'd like to hear from a rational UM fan and their thoughts on the whole process, especially with the Schanio snub, but I don't think many exist.
| SuperJew wrote: |
| I'd like to hear from a rational UM fan and their thoughts on the whole process, especially with the Schanio snub, but I don't think many exist. |
tieguy?
Well, he's actually a Duke fan, but originally from Miami. I think he was a fan of the U before going to Duke. He sticks up for them when I pick on them.
When I read "Schiano snub," I thought--"One can read that two ways..." I choose to read it, "Schiano showed character and issued a wake-up call for the U."
A coach stays in an improving situation rather than deal with the sketchy situation for bigger bucks (although I'm sure Rutgers sweetened his deal there)--who woulda thunk it?
In addition to salary, apparel contract, clothing/auto allowance, broadcast money, and summer camps, I wonder if the conract at Rutgers includes "thick envelopes of used $20s from a guy in a nice jogging suit..." Enough stereotyping!
A coach stays in an improving situation rather than deal with the sketchy situation for bigger bucks (although I'm sure Rutgers sweetened his deal there)--who woulda thunk it?
In addition to salary, apparel contract, clothing/auto allowance, broadcast money, and summer camps, I wonder if the conract at Rutgers includes "thick envelopes of used $20s from a guy in a nice jogging suit..." Enough stereotyping!
I meant it as "Good coach that has ties to a national powerhouse in College Football decides to stay at current, rising, program, unlike what many people figured that he'd leave his current situation."
Sorta like the Rodriguez-Alabama situation, only except if Rodriguez was the O Coordinator for Alabama. Or the first Roy Williams-UNC situation.
Posted by Dave at December 6, 2006 02:20 PM
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Sorta like the Rodriguez-Alabama situation, only except if Rodriguez was the O Coordinator for Alabama. Or the first Roy Williams-UNC situation.
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