Gerad Parker - Troy Head Coach :)

[Domina Nostra]

I think we put too much blame/praise on the coaches. Just a quick example- why was Andy Ludwig's offense great in 2022 and terrible in 2023? He didn't forget how to coach/gameplan/call plays- he just didn't have the players to execute

Why is X. Watts so much better than DJ Brown? It's not because O'Leary ignores Brown and only coaches up Watts. Player quality/recruiting matters a ton in college football

It's 80% about the players, 20% about the coaches

Hartline isn't at the top of my wish list but I'd be intrigued with the prospect of bringing in 5-star WRs every year

I completely agree that so many of these conversations are wildly over-simplified based on this years W-L records.

They boil down to this:

2022
OP: Screw Reese, he's terrible. Give me someone like Garret Riley.
P2: Do you even watch football? Garrety Riley is trash, give me Andy Ludwig or Josh Gattis! Those guys are proven.

2023:
OP: Screw Parker, he's terrible. Give me someone like Ludwig or Gattis!
P2: Do you even watch football? Ludwig and Gattis are trash. Give me [FILL IN BLANK]. He's proven.

- Rees in 2022 did VERY well with an extremely limited QB.
- Parker was in his first year and did pretty well with an extremely limited WR room, and his worst point in the season, the WR was nearly bare.

 

[T Town Tommy]

I was able to hear Parker’s introductory presser today. Troy thinks they got a good one. I wanted to raise my hand to object but somehow knew they would never see me through the radio. Always wish people well so I hope Parker is successful.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I just want an offense that unstoppable and a defense that is unbreakable. why is this so hard?

Human beings being coached by millionaires that overthink everything.

 

[DomerInHappyValley]

I completely agree that so many of these conversations are wildly over-simplified based on this years W-L records.

They boil down to this:

2022
OP: Screw Reese, he's terrible. Give me someone like Garret Riley.
P2: Do you even watch football? Garrety Riley is trash, give me Andy Ludwig or Josh Gattis! Those guys are proven.

2023:
OP: Screw Parker, he's terrible. Give me someone like Ludwig or Gattis!
P2: Do you even watch football? Ludwig and Gattis are trash. Give me [FILL IN BLANK]. He's proven.

- Rees in 2022 did VERY well with an extremely limited QB.
- Parker was in his first year and did pretty well with an extremely limited WR room, and his worst point in the season, the WR was nearly bare.

I freely admit I wanted rid of Tommy, though my reasoning was simple.

Bama Tommy and even Kelly Tommy, 2 coaches who I assume he respects highly, and Freeman Tommy.

Freeman Tommy was so extra it hurt.
How many times did he make a play call that didn't fit the situation or just give up on drives once we got behind down and distance?

With Freeman being so young and let's face it naive on offense. Give me someone like Golden for the offense.

 

[stlnd01]

I'm sorry, I just don't really understand the appeal of Hartline for this job.
We don't need a WR recruiter as an OC. We need someone who's designed and run a good offense before.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Who's he going to take with him coach wise?

 

[Grahambo]

For MF to be a serious contender next season, he needs to hire the offensive Al Golden (Denbrock in this case). We cannot go through a patchwork OC with Hartline calling plays and Gino/DMC pitching in.

I also could see Gino/DMC getting pissed for being passed over for an unproven OC. With Denbrock, they have no argument.

 

[stlnd01]

Who's he going to take with him coach wise?

Parker? Who'd go? Maybe a GA or analyst who's ready for an on-field role. I guess he could hire Stuckey.
But otherwise even a coordinator job at Troy is probably a step down for any of our assistants - most of whom are going up the ladder not down it.

 

[BeatSC]

Congrats to Parker, couldn’t be happier for him!!

Happier for us

 

[dublinirish]

Big BK FAHMULY vibes here Parker ratcheted up his southernness a good 400%

 

[MacIrish75]

Big BK FAHMULY vibes here Parker ratcheted up his southernness a good 400%

Idk bro I feel like that’s authentic. Might not have liked GP as a coordinator, but he definitely always came off as genuine.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Idk bro I feel like that’s authentic. Might not have liked GP as a coordinator, but he definitely always came off as genuine.

Agreed. He did come off as genuine and sincere. It's not like he strived to be subpar at ND.

 

[T-Boone]

An intrasquad scrimmage would tear a hole in the fabric of reality.

Would 11 step out of it?

 

[T-Boone]

I think the whole press conference was great. Parker is a champion. Surely he isnt coaching them against Duke in 3 days?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I'm sorry, I just don't really understand the appeal of Hartline for this job.
We don't need a WR recruiter as an OC. We need someone who's designed and run a good offense before.

You're exactly correct.

Hartline's reputation as a recruiter, at Ohio State, makes him appealing to many in this fan base in particular corners of the Internet. Add in that he is an Ohio State alum like Freeman and all the dots connect minus the one that truly matters most.

If Hartline got bait and switched by Ryan Day as some are alleging, that's not Marcus Freeman's problem unless he decides he wants it to be. Hartline got a nice raise and he's a Buckeye through and through. Keep it.

 

[Katzenboyer]

I'm in agreement with Hartline not being a good choice. Great recruiter? Sure. But OSU's offense was ranked lower than ND's this past season, even though they played an easier schedule and he had five stars all over his receiver room.

The brains behind OSU's offensive operation when it was humming was Kevin Wilson, not Ryan Day or Hartline. OSU's offense has taken a step back ever since he left. Hartline should not be on the list, IMO.

 

[Kingbish01]

Yep, someone (maybe even you) mentioned Wilson not being able to pass the vetting process at ND. That's the guy I'd like them to land at OC.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Yep, someone (maybe even you) mentioned Wilson not being able to pass the vetting process at ND. That's the guy I'd like them to land at OC.

I'm not sure Wilson's style will work in the era of free transfers.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

In case anyone has missed it - Prister reversed coarse and said that Parker was "encouraged" by "the Gug" to look for HC jobs....

Still not saying if it was Freeman pushing or other forces.

 

[allenm5333]

In case anyone has missed it - Prister reversed coarse and said that Parker was "encouraged" by "the Gug" to look for HC jobs....

Still not saying if it was Freeman pushing or other forces.

when did he say this?

 

[dublinirish]

when did he say this?

i dont think this is what he said. it was more like folks inside in the gug where unrealistically hoping parker would get a G5 HC gig and then were ecstatic when it happened

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

In case anyone has missed it - Prister reversed coarse and said that Parker was "encouraged" by "the Gug" to look for HC jobs....

Still not saying if it was Freeman pushing or other forces.

The II pod was kind of weird about this. Sampson sounded like his departure was a surprise that came together in a short period of time. Loy made it sound as if Parker’s departure was expected.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I believe that Fortuna might have said "guys were really hoping Parker would get a G5 HC job" on the Independent

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

The II pod was kind of weird about this. Sampson sounded like his departure was a surprise that came together in a short period of time. Loy made it sound as if Parker’s departure was expected.

Correct - like I said, they reversed course. They got new information. This is as of this morning.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

I believe that Fortuna might have said "guys were really hoping Parker would get a G5 HC job" on the Independent

Correct
Pete/Matt got new information after the Monday II pod.
Tim/Tim also got new information
Tom was probably the earliest correct.

All parties now believe that (via someone(s)) that Parker was asked to look around.

This is really encouraging to me. Someone (whether Freeman, Pete B, etc) is not playing around and accepting mediocre play.

 

[Kingbish01]

Correct
Pete/Matt got new information after the Monday II pod.
Tim/Tim also got new information
Tom was probably the earliest correct.

All parties now believe that (via someone(s)) that Parker was asked to look around.

This is really encouraging to me. Someone (whether Freeman, Pete B, etc) is not playing around and accepting mediocre play.

I thought the same thing. All this time I though MF was soft, but maybe he just knows how to control optics for friends. It's not like this move put him behind the 8 ball. It's not even Christmas and he's in the market for an OC. I have a feeling he lets the kids have today.....But an OC will be announced sometime soon. Just a guess, no real knowledge.

 

[Pops Freshenmeyer]

Correct
Pete/Matt got new information after the Monday II pod.
Tim/Tim also got new information
Tom was probably the earliest correct.

All parties now believe that (via someone(s)) that Parker was asked to look around.

This is really encouraging to me. Someone (whether Freeman, Pete B, etc) is not playing around and accepting mediocre play.

It does make me wonder how the Stuckey situation went down.

 

[ThePiombino]

If it's true (that GP was encouraged to look elsewhere) then my faith in MF and co. will be FULLY restored.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Based on what I have seen of Freeman from the surface, it would not surprise me whatsoever if he told GP to look around and this all got kept quiet for the purposes of having to avoid the departure involving the word "fired". Helps everyone save face in the end.

Freeman has been an HC two years and his OCs ended up at Bama as OC for Saban and at Troy as a G5 head coach. You can spin that in a media guide quite easily.

 

[Some Irish Bloke]

I just want an offense that is unstoppable and a defense that is unbreakable. Why is this so hard?

and a Brian Mason coached special teams