Coaching Carousel

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Would Drinkwitz want that OU job if it opens?

 

[SoIll]

Cignetti is one arrogant dude. I get most of these coaches are, but there is absolutely nothing subtle about Cignetti. He wears his arrogance on his sleeve with every post game interview, every presser. He gives off the "It's all about me" vibe. The kids, the school, the program all come after.

If Penn State, Florida or whomever throw everything at him and more, who knows what he'll do.

Probably win?

 

[calvegas04]

Is anyone tracking flights?

 

[arndtjc]

NEW: Irish Envy poster @arndtjc plans to take a couple of big swings during the dating process. One name that he may make a run at is Hollywood's Ana de Armas, sources tell @PeteNakos_ 👀

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think that’s just part of taking a big time job. Every top 15 program thinks they should be performing at their historical apex as a matter of course. These coaches understand that and get the huge buyout in place for when it eventually goes bad (which it almost always does).

Bingo. Championships are everyone's God Given Right.

Many of these current day negotiations always start with the buyout. The worst case scenario. "When you fire me, what do I get?". I was told by a couple of WMU alumni that this is exactly where Fleck started negotiations with Minnesota. Most of these guys' agents start there as well now. "If you keep winning 7-9 games a year and it isn't good enough, just let us know what we get if that's the case and you want to make a change."

It's crazy to think that so many of these guys get fired with winning records and decent to high graduation rates but get paid tens of millions to go away. Fisher is still the highest buyout ever. Franklin is second and could wind up third if FSU ends up making a change.

It all feels a lot more gross than ever before.

 

[Bane]

If the goal is to build a CFP team?

Cignetti went last year! And his team is going this year! What else does he need?

Seriously, IU just went into Oregon - a high school recruiting powerhouse - and soundly beat a team who hadn't lost at home in two seasons. He's doing it already. And I expect that to continue, which would result in better recruits, better transfer portal additions, and IU's continuous presence in the CFP.

There's nothing the Penn State gig gives him that he doesn't already have at IU, with exception of a bigger stadium. IU just built an $86 million football facility, they're investing millions in the program, they trust Cignetti, and he doesn't have the pressure of "national championship or bust." He's basically guaranteed a CFP appearance every year at IU until he retires if his teams perform up to snuff.

He's not walking away from that for PSU.

Everyone says this kind of stuff “oh why would he leave? He has everything here.” Yet, DeBoer took UW to a national title game and left for Bama a few weeks later. I get PSU is not Bama but the same arguments about expectations and resources some of you are making re: Cig to PSU or Florida could be applied to that scenario as well.

Cig took a G5 tier schedule to a playoff appearance and got his ass kicked. They came into this season with 2 tough games on the schedule (PSU fell apart but not their fault) and one non-walkover (Illinois). Hats off to Cig for doing that well at IU but they are at their ceiling or maybe slightly above it.

Building exclusively off the portal is how you get Mike Norvell swings from year to year.

 

[Bane]

Cignetti is one arrogant dude. I get most of these coaches are, but there is absolutely nothing subtle about Cignetti. He wears his arrogance on his sleeve with every post game interview, every presser. He gives off the "It's all about me" vibe. The kids, the school, the program all come after.

If Penn State, Florida or whomever throw everything at him and more, who knows what he'll do.

I have nothing constructive to add, I’m just a hater at heart so I want to agree and amplify. 🫶

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Ohio State is going to expose Cignetti again. That may make PSU fans and everyone else think twice.

 

[rikkitikki08]

PSU AD- “hey Marcus we are looking for a head coach with an excellent hair line, are you interested?”

 

[Bane]

Bingo. Championships are everyone's God Given Right.

Many of these current day negotiations always start with the buyout. The worst case scenario. "When you fire me, what do I get?". I was told by a couple of WMU alumni that this is exactly where Fleck started negotiations with Minnesota. Most of these guys' agents start there as well now. "If you keep winning 7-9 games a year and it isn't good enough, just let us know what we get if that's the case and you want to make a change."

It's crazy to think that so many of these guys get fired with winning records and decent to high graduation rates but get paid tens of millions to go away. Fisher is still the highest buyout ever. Franklin is second and could wind up third if FSU ends up making a change.

It all feels a lot more gross than ever before.

I also think people are delusional in terms of how humans expectations work. Sure Indiana fans are all fine and dandy now, but if Cig goes 1 and done again they’ll start to get a little restless. If they decline slightly next year they’ll be calling for his job. Dabo delivered the golden age to Clemson winning 2 titles and going to a couple more title games and all of that 2 bucks will get him a cup of coffee.

 

[SportsingHard]

Ohio State is going to expose Cignetti again. That may make PSU fans and everyone else think twice.

What Cignetti has accomplished is incomparable. OSU will probably pummel IU again, and Cignetti will remain a god.

 

[Free Manera]

Based on what I have gathered from the PSU insider posters:

Cig might not be a fit because of the control he will demand (may already be demanding in reality).

They are making Saban, Freeman, Elko, etc. say no then will move on to the next tier.

That second (realistic) tier includes Rhule, Al Golden, Eli Drinkwitz, and other similar guys.

Urban Meyer reportedly would take the job but the reasonable PSU people in charge are rightfully saying wtf no that's a terrible idea. The less reasonable, namely Jay Paterno, is pushing for Urban because he is certain Urban would give him a job on staff lol.

Rhule is far and away the leader in the clubhouse. Rhule is a PSU guy, he is literally best friends with their AD Kraft, and they worked together before at Temple. Kraft has wanted to reunite with him ever since. But there is always a chance something else shakes loose.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I also think people are delusional in terms of how humans expectations work. Sure Indiana fans are all fine and dandy now, but if Cig goes 1 and done again they’ll start to get a little restless. If they decline slightly next year they’ll be calling for his job. Dabo delivered the golden age to Clemson winning 2 titles and going to a couple more title games and all of that 2 bucks will get him a cup of coffee.

Right. People are fickle. Especially sports fans. Plenty of examples we can throw out there. Dabo is a great one. Cignetti could steadily win 8 games a year at IU and that should be absolutely golden for them, but it won't be. He's set the bar very high right out of the gate. Things fell apart quickly for Ed Orgeron after he won his title at LSU.

What Cignetti has accomplished is incomparable. OSU will probably pummel IU again, and Cignetti will remain a god.

I'm not arguing that. He's a god at IU for sure. That's fine. Penn State fans seem to be coveting him but it remains to be seen what he can do against Ohio State and Michigan. Matt Rhule hasn't beaten either of them yet either.

James Franklin could not beat Ohio State and Michigan. If you're paying him $48M to go away and throwing more millions at finding someone to replace him, you'd better find the guy who can equal what Franklin did PLUS beat those two programs. Rhule and Cignetti have had a smaller sample size but haven't done it either.

 

[NDWarrior]

An article last night stated that ESPN is positioning coaches they think are in play for the PSU HC role, and Brian Kelly is mentioned.

Do you think he would run from LSU before things collapse there for him and go to PSU which might be a better fit for a Northeast guy?

 

[arndtjc]

Based on what I have gathered from the PSU insider posters:

Cig might not be a fit because of the control he will demand (may already be demanding in reality).

They are making Saban, Freeman, Elko, etc. say no then will move on to the next tier.

That second (realistic) tier includes Rhule, Al Golden, Eli Drinkwitz, and other similar guys.

Urban Meyer reportedly would take the job but the reasonable PSU people in charge are rightfully saying wtf no that's a terrible idea. The less reasonable, namely Jay Paterno, is pushing for Urban because he is certain Urban would give him a job on staff lol.

Rhule is far and away the leader in the clubhouse. Rhule is a PSU guy, he is literally best friends with their AD Kraft, and they worked together before at Temple. Kraft has wanted to reunite with him ever since. But there is always a chance something else shakes loose.

It's funny around these parts (Omaha) because I'm not sure there is a more delusional fanbase than Nebraska. They are fully convinced Lincoln is the better job at this point and there is absolutely no possible way that Rhule would leave to take the PSU job or any other job

One of the worst fanbases in the country

 

[Katzenboyer]

Everyone says this kind of stuff “oh why would he leave? He has everything here.” Yet, DeBoer took UW to a national title game and left for Bama a few weeks later. I get PSU is not Bama but the same arguments about expectations and resources some of you are making re: Cig to PSU or Florida could be applied to that scenario as well.

Cig took a G5 tier schedule to a playoff appearance and got his ass kicked. They came into this season with 2 tough games on the schedule (PSU fell apart but not their fault) and one non-walkover (Illinois). Hats off to Cig for doing that well at IU but they are at their ceiling or maybe slightly above it.

Building exclusively off the portal is how you get Mike Norvell swings from year to year.

I've been on record, and have said so in this thread, that Cig would leave for the right job (Bama or Michigan would be my guess). Bama is probably the best job in CFB; no one in their right minds thought Deboer would turn that down. KD is also 15 years younger than Cig.

PSU/Florida aren't at that level, and Cignetti has a very, very good thing going with IU right now. He could leave Bloomington, but it won't be for PSU.

 

[Huntr]

Based on what I have gathered from the PSU insider posters:

Cig might not be a fit because of the control he will demand (may already be demanding in reality).

They are making Saban, Freeman, Elko, etc. say no then will move on to the next tier.

That second (realistic) tier includes Rhule, Al Golden, Eli Drinkwitz, and other similar guys.

Urban Meyer reportedly would take the job but the reasonable PSU people in charge are rightfully saying wtf no that's a terrible idea. The less reasonable, namely Jay Paterno, is pushing for Urban because he is certain Urban would give him a job on staff lol.

Rhule is far and away the leader in the clubhouse. Rhule is a PSU guy, he is literally best friends with their AD Kraft, and they worked together before at Temple. Kraft has wanted to reunite with him ever since. But there is always a chance something else shakes loose.

Dying. 🤣

Jay Paterno is so garbage.

 

[Bane]

BK is gonna do whatever is best for him. The question is, would PSU want the white James Franklin when they just fired the black Brian Kelly?

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

BK is gonna do whatever is best for him. The question is, would PSU want the white James Franklin when they just fired the black Brian Kelly?

I can't possibly see Penn State fans being happy with this, and knowing that cult of people, there would be a Knoxville Schiano type of revolt.

Dying. 🤣

Jay Paterno is so garbage.

He hasn't coached in 14 years. It makes no sense.

 

[greyhammer90]

I see it's "pay me" season already.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I also think people are delusional in terms of how humans expectations work. Sure Indiana fans are all fine and dandy now, but if Cig goes 1 and done again they’ll start to get a little restless. If they decline slightly next year they’ll be calling for his job. Dabo delivered the golden age to Clemson winning 2 titles and going to a couple more title games and all of that 2 bucks will get him a cup of coffee.

I agree about the overall theme of the post about human expectations.

I disagree about IU folks getting restless with another one and done or if they decline slightly next year that they would be calling for his head. Unless this is hyperbole, I find it laughable.

Now if you threw in a couple more years of being a top 10(ish) program in between, I can buy what you are selling.

 

[SportsingHard]

If you're paying him $48M to go away and throwing more millions at finding someone to replace him, you'd better find the guy who can equal what Franklin did PLUS beat those two programs.

I think we all know that's extremely unlikely on an ongoing basis. Cig would be well-armed there, but Penn State is probably going to look dumb in the long run regardless of what they do.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think we all know that's extremely unlikely on an ongoing basis. Cig would be well-armed there, but Penn State is probably going to look dumb in the long run regardless of what they do.

Which brings me back to the point. If you're unlikely to get any better, love the one you're with.

I'm not a Franklin fan at all and I think it's hilarious he can't win big games, but now they are going to have to upgrade and that's going to require finding someone who they believe can beat Ohio State and Michigan. The two top candidates showing up in the click bait have not done it.

 

[Bane]

I agree about the overall theme of the post about human expectations.

I disagree about IU folks getting restless with another one and done or if they decline slightly next year that they would be calling for his head. Unless this is hyperbole, I find it laughable.

Now if you threw in a couple more years of being a top 10(ish) program in between, I can buy what you are selling.

I’m saying IU fans will be calling for his head in general not that it would be seriously entertained. Clemson fans have been calling for Dabos head for like 4 seasons now. Expectations are a wild thing. IU fans are starting to obtain them.

 

[ab2cmiller]

I’m saying IU fans will be calling for his head in general not that it would be seriously entertained. Clemson fans have been calling for Dabos head for like 4 seasons now. Expectations are a wild thing. IU fans are starting to obtain them.

I’m saying that is laughable.

 

[Irish#1]

Cignetti is one arrogant dude. I get most of these coaches are, but there is absolutely nothing subtle about Cignetti. He wears his arrogance on his sleeve with every post game interview, every presser. He gives off the "It's all about me" vibe. The kids, the school, the program all come after.

If Penn State, Florida or whomever throw everything at him and more, who knows what he'll do.

Being arrogant, doesn't mean "it's all about me" or that he doesn't care. The players are playing like they like their coach.

 

[Bane]

I’m saying that is laughable.

You have a higher view of humanity than I do. There were people on this forum calling for Freeman’s head after the Aggies game.

 

[Irish#1]

I’m saying IU fans will be calling for his head in general not that it would be seriously entertained. Clemson fans have been calling for Dabos head for like 4 seasons now. Expectations are a wild thing. IU fans are starting to obtain them.

I don't think so. Clemson is known as a FB school and has had some history of being competitive over the years and has a recent NC. IU's FB history has very few decent season's. Prior to last year, they had never had a double digit win season, only two 9 win seasons and six 8 win seasons. That's going back 125 years.

 

[TorontoGold]

You have a higher view of humanity than I do. There were people on this forum calling for Freeman’s head after the Aggies game.

Those people are dumb as dogshit. If IU fans expect anything more than a consistent 8 win program then they are smoking meth. They're going to be recruiting behind - OSU/Oregon/UM/USC/PSU/UW consistently. If you're topping out with the #7 recruiting class in the B10 then good luck trying to roll the portal dice perfectly each and every year. Oh, and that's assuming Nebraska/Wiscy/UCLA/MSU don't hire their own upstart coach to do a "Cig".

Look at 2026 - they shouldn't "expect" to win against OSU/USC/UM/UW. If they go 1 for 4 out of that group they should be ecstatic.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Being arrogant, but that doesn't mean "it's all about me". The players are playing like they like their coach.

They typically go hand in hand.

He's both, but I'm sure they love him.