Out Of Left Field Good Hire For Notre Dame

[ACamp1900]

I just saw someone mention Mike Golic...

lol

 

[Iron Machine]

How about Dan Mullen? His MSU team played everyone tough this year, and had a killer of a nonconference sched (Georgia Tech and Houston) to go along with playing both Florida and Alabama, and he just murdered Ole Miss. Used to be a grad asisstant at ND, developed both Alex Smith and Tim Tebow. He'd be a good 2nd tier hire if ND can't get the top tier. Also, he had a top 25 recruiting class last year in both Rivals and Scout, and that's at a shit school like MSU.

 

[mick2]

i got it, how about pat hill from fresno state? that would be out of left field! his teams are tough, and they graduate, and its not very often they are flat.

 

[fitz_bu47]

My out of left field candidate is me, my nd teams are bad-ass on my NCAA 10, plus I am only 29, so I can relate to these kids.

 

[connor_in]

Latest Unsubstantiated rumor (started by me)

Latest Unsubstantiated rumor (started by me)

My good friend Lucky the brown squirrel told me he saw Dick Vermiel crying & talking with Swarbrick at the Grotto last night.

 

[GoIrish41]

Bud Foster from Va. Tech would be my OOLF pick. Come to think of it, I think he'd be a better candidate than many if not most of those swirling around the media. Great defensive coordinator who has long been associated with teams that play incredible special teams.

 

[jason_h537]

Mariucci?

don't bring up his time in Detriot because it was Detroit.

I am talking about him at the 49ers before the team got sold and went to shit

 

[tabbykiki]

Has anyone considered a shocker like Poodle or Tressel?

Has anyone considered a shocker like Poodle or Tressel?

Both have been pretty successful at their respective schools. Poodle has had a down year and OSU fans seemed to have turned on Tressel this year.

I think Carroll would do good at ND but I just don't think the fans would back that. Tressel doesn't have much of an air attack type of offense... But I just have a feeling it will be a name we haven't heard much of in the media speculation.

 

[Aerosmith777]

If Pete Carroll ever wanted to leave USC, it would be back to the NFL, not for another college program. Especially not for Notre Dame, who it seems he hates.

Tressel I doubt would ever leave OSU either. Seriously, why would anyone want to leave programs like that for Notre Dame right now? They've built something where they are, have wonderful traditions and resources at their own respective schools, and are well compensated for their work. The only reason a guy like Kelly would come is for more money and a chance to win a NC.

I could see it being a name we haven't heard yet (look at the last coaching search), but I don't think it will be a big name like that.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

I've heard Tressel once, and Carroll's name should never be brought up. Coaches won't go from SC to ND or vice versa.

 

[IrishAddiction]

Not going to happen. by the way, probably should have been posted in the million other coaching threads instead of starting a new one.

 

[JefMaj]

At least he didn't start a Bilichek thread.

Poodle bites, poodles chews it.... not a speck of cereal......

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Aerosmith, I disagree TO AN EXTENT.

Although, I agree with you that neither Petey or Tressel will come to ND, the only reason to come to ND isn't just money and to win a NC. These coaches all have big egos. I don't care what people may say, they all have strong pride and a desire for the glory. The ability to return the most storied program in all of college football back to a level of glory would be a big enticement for these guys. None of the top tier guys are hurting for cash and many already have a NC. But being able to do something no one has been able to do would secure their place in history.

I am not saying money and the NC aren't factors at all, I just mean that ego does play a huge part with these guys. I still don't think that Carroll or Tressel would consider it, but I would be willing to bet that somewhere in the back of their mind, they know they would be immortalized if they could bring the Fighting Irish back to national prominenece.

 

[DCirishfan]

WE have now discussed the Gambit of every coach in america. We can all retire and enjoy our golden years.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Not going to happen. by the way, probably should have been posted in the million other coaching threads instead of starting a new one.

Ask and ye shall receive. Merged.

 

[JefMaj]

My out of left field candidate is me, my nd teams are bad-ass on my NCAA 10, plus I am only 29, so I can relate to these kids.

Out of left field!!!!!! I've seen you on a lot of BleacherReport lists.... way back after the Pitt game.

 

[timm3117]

Bear Bryant

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Rockne's ashes.

 

[Junkhead]

A cardboard cutout of Knute Rockne.

 

[HoosierMP]

 

[IBLEEDB&G]

How about Dan Mullen? His MSU team played everyone tough this year, and had a killer of a nonconference sched (Georgia Tech and Houston) to go along with playing both Florida and Alabama, and he just murdered Ole Miss. Used to be a grad asisstant at ND, developed both Alex Smith and Tim Tebow. He'd be a good 2nd tier hire if ND can't get the top tier. Also, he had a top 25 recruiting class last year in both Rivals and Scout, and that's at a shit school like MSU.

I was thinking the same thing, but he misses the mold that we're supposedly seeking in the fact that he was an offensive guy and the fact that he hasn't built and maintained a nationally prominent program this being his first season. I see big things for him, though.

 

[Aerosmith777]

Aerosmith, I disagree TO AN EXTENT.

Although, I agree with you that neither Petey or Tressel will come to ND, the only reason to come to ND isn't just money and to win a NC. These coaches all have big egos. I don't care what people may say, they all have strong pride and a desire for the glory. The ability to return the most storied program in all of college football back to a level of glory would be a big enticement for these guys. None of the top tier guys are hurting for cash and many already have a NC. But being able to do something no one has been able to do would secure their place in history.

I am not saying money and the NC aren't factors at all, I just mean that ego does play a huge part with these guys. I still don't think that Carroll or Tressel would consider it, but I would be willing to bet that somewhere in the back of their mind, they know they would be immortalized if they could bring the Fighting Irish back to national prominenece.

I see what you're saying, but here's the thing to me. Pete Carroll is already immortalized imo. Seriously, 20 years from now Pete Carroll is going to be talked about among the greatest coaches who ever lived, right up there with Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, and our own Ara Parseghian. And while I'm not sure Tressel's quite in that pantheon yet, he's already going to be remembered to be on par with guys like Bo Schembechler, Steve Spurrier, and even our own Lou Holtz. And all he probably needs to break into that upper echelon is 1 more national title. From the looks of things at the moment, where is that more likely to happen, Notre Dame or OSU?

I agree with you that whoever the coach is that brings ND its next national title will be instantly immortalized. But the thing to me is, you can be an immortal coach at places other than Notre Dame. At a lot of other places, in fact. Being a great head coach & winning national championships at OSU, USC, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, and Michigan (just to name a few) gets you just as much recognition for posterity as at Notre Dame, so why would a coach at any of those schools who's already built something there want to leave? Maybe I could see it with guys like Stoops or Meyer, who are mid-western guys to begin with, but even with them I highly doubt it. But with a guy like Tressel, he's already in the mid-west, and then Carroll, I mean, have you ever seen a coach fit more perfectly into the setting of his school than Pete Carroll? I mean, he was born in San Fran, he's a complete flake, when he retires he's going to be the Bill Walton of college football imo. The guy's perfect for Southern California! I understand pride and whatnot, but I can't see a guy like him coming to ND just to prove it can be done. Not when his legacy is already so set at USC.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

I see what you're saying, but here's the thing to me. Pete Carroll is already immortalized imo. Seriously, 20 years from now Pete Carroll is going to be talked about among the greatest coaches who ever lived, right up there with Bear Bryant, Woody Hayes, and our own Ara Parseghian. And while I'm not sure Tressel's quite in that pantheon yet, he's already going to be remembered to be on par with guys like Bo Schembechler, Steve Spurrier, and even our own Lou Holtz. And all he probably needs to break into that upper echelon is 1 more national title. From the looks of things at the moment, where is that more likely to happen, Notre Dame or OSU?

I agree with you that whoever the coach is that brings ND its next national title will be instantly immortalized. But the thing to me is, you can be an immortal coach at places other than Notre Dame. At a lot of other places, in fact. Being a great head coach & winning national championships at OSU, USC, Oklahoma, Florida, Alabama, and Michigan (just to name a few) gets you just as much recognition for posterity as at Notre Dame, so why would a coach at any of those schools who's already built something there want to leave? Maybe I could see it with guys like Stoops or Meyer, who are mid-western guys to begin with, but even with them I highly doubt it. But with a guy like Tressel, he's already in the mid-west, and then Carroll, I mean, have you ever seen a coach fit more perfectly into the setting of his school than Pete Carroll? I mean, he was born in San Fran, he's a complete flake, when he retires he's going to be the Bill Walton of college football imo. The guy's perfect for Southern California! I understand pride and whatnot, but I can't see a guy like him coming to ND just to prove it can be done. Not when his legacy is already so set at USC.

Again, you are absolutely right. However, Carroll is not a laid back flake people think he is. Look what they did to UCLA. Take a knee then throw a bomb? That is a dick move. But, seriously, you are right. However, even though he will probably be mentioned as a great coach I think it will merely be in the context of "for his time". However, in order to be mentioned in the same breath as the legends, you would have to do something truly legendary.

For example, hypothetically of course, if Carroll were to take the winning record he has against the Irish and leave SC for ND and then turn it around and have a comparable winning record the other way...I just think there would be no comparison. The guy has an ego the size of Texas. And he has to know if he went to ND and turned the program around, no one has done that or probably will do anytime in the future. Just my opinion.

My main point was that I don't believe the top tier guys like Carroll, Meyer, or even Stoops really have the cash on their minds. Between endorsement deals, shoe contracts, speaking engagements, AND their university salary to boot, none of them are hurting for cash. So what if another school can offer them a few milliion more? It would be a drop in the bucket for those guys. What I think really fuels them is vanity and pride.

I don't ever see Carroll leaving SC, but I would bet all my Vbucks that somewhere in his mind, there is that twinkle of "What if..." regarding the ND job. As much as I hate SC and I do not like Carroll on or off the field, but the idea of him at ND would definitely pique my curiosity. There is something to be said for being the ONLY guy to do something and truly being mentioned along the legends of the game.

 

[Gipper]

Bill Cower!

 

[Aerosmith777]

Again, you are absolutely right. However, Carroll is not a laid back flake people think he is. Look what they did to UCLA. Take a knee then throw a bomb? That is a dick move. But, seriously, you are right. However, even though he will probably be mentioned as a great coach I think it will merely be in the context of "for his time". However, in order to be mentioned in the same breath as the legends, you would have to do something truly legendary.

For example, hypothetically of course, if Carroll were to take the winning record he has against the Irish and leave SC for ND and then turn it around and have a comparable winning record the other way...I just think there would be no comparison. The guy has an ego the size of Texas. And he has to know if he went to ND and turned the program around, no one has done that or probably will do anytime in the future. Just my opinion.

My main point was that I don't believe the top tier guys like Carroll, Meyer, or even Stoops really have the cash on their minds. Between endorsement deals, shoe contracts, speaking engagements, AND their university salary to boot, none of them are hurting for cash. So what if another school can offer them a few milliion more? It would be a drop in the bucket for those guys. What I think really fuels them is vanity and pride.

I don't ever see Carroll leaving SC, but I would bet all my Vbucks that somewhere in his mind, there is that twinkle of "What if..." regarding the ND job. As much as I hate SC and I do not like Carroll on or off the field, but the idea of him at ND would definitely pique my curiosity. There is something to be said for being the ONLY guy to do something and truly being mentioned along the legends of the game.

Oh yeah, I don't think the guys like Carroll and Tressel are motivated as much by money anymore, I agree with you there. I meant the guys like Kelly are still following the money largely imo. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the idea of being in the pantheon of Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian, Devine, and Holtz is enticing for a guy like Kelly as well. I just meant that I don't think he's already raking it in at Cincinnati to the point where money isn't going to be a huge influence in his decision to stay or leave.

I just meant that for a guy like Carroll, even the motivations of vanity and pride would lead him to stay at USC at this point in his career. Largely because he already did do something that many were questioning could be done, he revived USC. It sounds funny to say it now, but after Hackett a lot of people were openly wondering a lot of the same things about USC that they wonder now about Notre Dame. Could it ever be on top again? Had the program fallen into irrelevancy? Could any coach get kids to want to go the school (which a lot of people forget, is in the middle of the ghetto)? I think that's already made him a legend, I really don't think 20-30 years from now we'll be saying he was only a great coach of his own era. I really think the majority of people who have no rooting interest in the school for or against are going to think of him right up there with Bryant, Hayes, Rockne, etc. Could coming to Notre Dame and winning advance that reputation even more? Sure, but why would he risk it? Because, and this is where the vanity & pride comes into play imo, if it doesn't work out, it'll hurt his rep more than it could've helped. To borrow a line from the movie "A Beautiful Mind," is there really that much of a difference between genius and most genius?

I understand what you're saying, I just think that, paradoxically, its that same pride that drives him that would lead him to never leave USC for fear of damaging that precious reputation and place in the pantheon of great coaches.

 

[jason_h537]

Dick Labaeu (sp)

Hows that for a defensive coach

 

[INFIDEL STRONG]

Dick Labaeu (sp)

Hows that for a defensive coach

There is none better then that man...

 

[JefMaj]

Whew... dodged a bullet. Blue Gold . com has a headline : Harbaugh Out of the Mix?

Anyway:

Notre Dame Football - Myth Of The Home Run Hire

 

[tko]

Gus Malzahn maybe? we could get Mitch Mustain to tranfer in!

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Oh yeah, I don't think the guys like Carroll and Tressel are motivated as much by money anymore, I agree with you there. I meant the guys like Kelly are still following the money largely imo. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure the idea of being in the pantheon of Rockne, Leahy, Parseghian, Devine, and Holtz is enticing for a guy like Kelly as well. I just meant that I don't think he's already raking it in at Cincinnati to the point where money isn't going to be a huge influence in his decision to stay or leave.

I just meant that for a guy like Carroll, even the motivations of vanity and pride would lead him to stay at USC at this point in his career. Largely because he already did do something that many were questioning could be done, he revived USC. It sounds funny to say it now, but after Hackett a lot of people were openly wondering a lot of the same things about USC that they wonder now about Notre Dame. Could it ever be on top again? Had the program fallen into irrelevancy? Could any coach get kids to want to go the school (which a lot of people forget, is in the middle of the ghetto)? I think that's already made him a legend, I really don't think 20-30 years from now we'll be saying he was only a great coach of his own era. I really think the majority of people who have no rooting interest in the school for or against are going to think of him right up there with Bryant, Hayes, Rockne, etc. Could coming to Notre Dame and winning advance that reputation even more? Sure, but why would he risk it? Because, and this is where the vanity & pride comes into play imo, if it doesn't work out, it'll hurt his rep more than it could've helped. To borrow a line from the movie "A Beautiful Mind," is there really that much of a difference between genius and most genius?

I understand what you're saying, I just think that, paradoxically, its that same pride that drives him that would lead him to never leave USC for fear of damaging that precious reputation and place in the pantheon of great coaches.

An uber-intellectual post like this one, so early in my morning hurts my head. Awesome post. You worded it better than I ever could. I think we really are two heads on the same coin. Just a slightly skewed difference in our thinking.

I believe my SC bias gets in the way of me thinking of Carroll in the same way as Bryant, Rockne, and Hayes. That is my own hang-up. You're right that if it didn't work out, Carroll would have his rep damaged, but imagine if he came to ND, led them to a NC or two - WOW! He would be able to claim resurrecting two of the most storied college football programs of the modern era.

The true colors of SC are really starting to show in both the football program and the head coach. Carroll is at a crossroads right now and the next few years could determine how he will be remembered. If this season is a hiccup and he rights the ship next year, then he will have no problem. However, if this is the start of a slide and other problems start to pile up, it will tarnish his legacy. When you aren't winning as much, people will be less likely to forgive transgressions such as disciplinary problems, academic problems, and poor sportsmanship (i.e. taking a knee, then long bomb).

I am off on a Poodle tangent now. Sorry. Like I said, great post. I will leave it at that. It has been a lot of fun discussing this with you.