Coaching Carousel

[Ndaccountant]

The big winner here is private equity. The deepest pockets always win.

 

[calvegas04]

 

[BoredIrish]

Josh Pate thinks LSU first call is Marcus Freeman and I hope Marcus hangs up. If he says no to LSU I dont think he'd even take Ohio State

MF's wife already said no to LSU once. For a family oriented guy, it would actually be a really bad fit.
Hard to believe, but places like LSU make ND fans seem warm and cuddly. Especially after BK's flameout, coaches really have to look at fit before chasing $'s.
I think that as long as Freeman has school age kids, it will be a tough pull to get him to leave ND.

 

[BoredIrish]

It's funny because BK ended up getting half a season more than Ty Willingham did at ND.

 

[NDPhilly]

PSU has a better win % than both UF and LSU over the last 50 years. Understand there is more talent in the south and they both won titles more recently, but the way these southerners talk about northern programs besides OSU just bother the fuck out of me.

Also in a world with NIL, who do we think has the richest donors of the 3? I’d probably go PSU.

 

[ulukinatme]

Josh Pate thinks LSU first call is Marcus Freeman and I hope Marcus hangs up. If he says no to LSU I dont think he'd even take Ohio State

Freeman may be their first call, but I doubt he entertains the offer. The path at ND is somewhat easier most years, although recruiting is still easier at LSU. Josh Pate may be right there, but he's generally a dumbass when it comes to picking games.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Freeman may be their first call, but I doubt he entertains the offer. The path at ND is somewhat easier most years, although recruiting is still easier at LSU. Josh Pate may be right there, but he's generally a dumbass when it comes to picking games.

They're definitely giving him a call; but I also don't know how plugged in Pate is on the ND side. He has LSU sources for sure who are telling him that.

 

[stlnd01]

PSU has a better win % than both UF and LSU over the last 50 years. Understand there is more talent in the south and they both won titles more recently, but the way these southerners talk about northern programs besides OSU just bother the fuck out of me.

Also in a world with NIL, who do we think has the richest donors of the 3? I’d probably go PSU.

Penn State has a huge alumni base and probably wealthier donors overall, but LSU seems to pour money into its athletics programs in a way Penn State has not. Look what they've done in womens basketball for instance.

Anyway, I think LSU is probably a smidge better job than Penn State, but it's close and Penn State would be the better job for a lot of coaches for fit reasons. Florida's definitely third of the three.

 

[allenm5333]

I don’t get why most people think LSU is a better job than UF. Feel pretty comparable to a Yankee like me. I think I’d prefer UF tbh.

There is a joke that if you go to Louisiana championship weekend that half the teams are wearing purple and gold, the other half have a tiger as a mascot. LSU is THE school in LA....in Florida you got three fighters

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

There was a time when, per capita, Louisiana had the most Division I talent in their state per capita. Florida had the most in terms of quantity.

To @allenm5333 point above, LSU is the one big program in their state. When you have a lot of talent and don't have to share, for the most part, that's a big advantage. They've also been more relevant than Florida in the last 15 years.

 

[allenm5333]

There was a time when, per capita, Louisiana had the most Division I talent in their state per capita. Florida had the most in terms of quantity.

To @allenm5333 point above, LSU is the one big program in their state. When you have a lot of talent and don't have to share, for the most part, that's a big advantage. They've also been more relevant than Florida in the last 15 years.

Had some good connections to Texas in the past too

 

[IrishLax]

Woodward responsible for two of those lol

 

[IrishLax]

The two idiots at Split Zone Duo did it the other day and ESPN did it in this BK article today. For the love of god can the media manage to stop acting like ND isn’t a top program and that Freeman might want to “move up?” This team played in the national Championship last season. They have the number 5 recruiting class. How in the hell is this not an elite job?
It pisses me off too that Lanning is never brought up in these articles. The whole argument is if ND got poached once it can happen twice, happened with Oregon too and last I checked ND was better than them last year

ND didn't even get "poached" either. Kelly went to Swarbrick after the playoff run in 2020 and asked for a big extension with guaranteed money. Swarbrick told him absolutely not. Then a year later LSU offered him $100M guaranteed money to retire on. It's not like ND got outbid here, maybe top 5 smartest move Swarbrick ever made was refusing to negotiate with Brian Kelly / give him an extension with huge guaranteed money. After a decade you know what a guy is and isn't, and they (correctly) felt that they could find a comparable coach or an upgrade with the $$ not spent on BK. They ended up gambling on Freeman as a high upside guy and it worked.

 

[KPENN]

ND didn't even get "poached" either. Kelly went to Swarbrick after the playoff run in 2020 and asked for a big extension with guaranteed money. Swarbrick told him absolutely not. Then a year later LSU offered him $100M guaranteed money to retire on. It's not like ND got outbid here, maybe top 5 smartest move Swarbrick ever made was refusing to negotiate with Brian Kelly / give him an extension with huge guaranteed money. After a decade you know what a guy is and isn't, and they (correctly) felt that they could find a comparable coach or an upgrade with the $$ not spent on BK. They ended up gambling on Freeman as a high upside guy and it worked.

IIRC, II had an article out shortly after the Freeman hire and BK’s agent went to ND after the Wisconsin game in 2021 and was shot down again.

 

[Irish4life]

Josh Pate thinks LSU first call is Marcus Freeman and I hope Marcus hangs up. If he says no to LSU I dont think he'd even take Ohio State

Gotta pump up engagement, I'm sure that clip is gonna do numbers on twitter/youtube shorts/tiktok/instagram reels/etc.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

ND didn't even get "poached" either. Kelly went to Swarbrick after the playoff run in 2020 and asked for a big extension with guaranteed money. Swarbrick told him absolutely not. Then a year later LSU offered him $100M guaranteed money to retire on. It's not like ND got outbid here, maybe top 5 smartest move Swarbrick ever made was refusing to negotiate with Brian Kelly / give him an extension with huge guaranteed money. After a decade you know what a guy is and isn't, and they (correctly) felt that they could find a comparable coach or an upgrade with the $$ not spent on BK. They ended up gambling on Freeman as a high upside guy and it worked.

Didn’t ND even waive BK’s buyout that LSU should’ve had to pay?

 

[IrishSpartan]

Didn’t ND even waive BK’s buyout that LSU should’ve had to pay?

no it was reduced a lot I believe and it wasnt some large amount

 

[NotKoon]

I know this seems crazy with what’s going on at Wisconsin, but if I was in charge of the search at a school like VT or OK State I think I’d take a hard look at Fickle. I still think he’s a pretty good coach who misread the landscape and made an awful decision. He thought staying at Cincy as they went to the Big 12 would ruin his career, whereas if he stayed he’s probably one of the top candidates right now. Definitely a high risk/high reward move, but given the market, I think you have to take a risky swing if you’re one of these lower end P4 jobs

 

[Bane]

I know this seems crazy with what’s going on at Wisconsin, but if I was in charge of the search at a school like VT or OK State I think I’d take a hard look at Fickle. I still think he’s a pretty good coach who misread the landscape and made an awful decision. He thought staying at Cincy as they went to the Big 12 would ruin his career, whereas if he stayed he’s probably one of the top candidates right now. Definitely a high risk/high reward move, but given the market, I think you have to take a risky swing if you’re one of these lower end P4 jobs

I would only look at Fickell if I was short on other options even then I would question his judgement deciding to install an Air Raid style offense at Wisconsin.

 

[IRISHDODGER]

PSU has a better win % than both UF and LSU over the last 50 years. Understand there is more talent in the south and they both won titles more recently, but the way these southerners talk about northern programs besides OSU just bother the fuck out of me.

Also in a world with NIL, who do we think has the richest donors of the 3? I’d probably go PSU.

if you think SEC fans are going to go back any further than the BCS era, you’re wasting your time. They think CFB began in 1998 (other than Bama of course who is a blue blood). For a lot of Tigers fans, their entire identity is LSU football (& baseball). Forkbeard can speak better to it but just b/c you have the richest donors doesn’t guarantee they give a shit about the football program. At LSU, the Tiger Athletic Foundation is the nonprofit arm that funnels private gifts to LSU sports. You may be right about PSU having richer donors & they have no problem raising money but my perception is LSU is more committed to winning than even a PSU. Factor in the milder weather & fertile recruiting area & it’s hard to compete with.

 

[Bane]

if you think SEC fans are going to go back any further than the BCS era, you’re wasting your time. They think CFB began in 1998 (other than Bama of course who is a blue blood). For a lot of Tigers fans, their entire identity is LSU football (& baseball). Forkbeard can speak better to it but just b/c you have the richest donors doesn’t guarantee they give a shit about the football program. At LSU, the Tiger Athletic Foundation is the nonprofit arm that funnels private gifts to LSU sports. You may be right about PSU having richer donors & they have no problem raising money but my perception is LSU is more committed to winning than even a PSU. Factor in the milder weather & fertile recruiting area & it’s hard to compete with.

Football is important to PSU, it is life to LSU (to UF too, for that matter).

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I would only look at Fickell if I was short on other options even then I would question his judgement deciding to install an Air Raid style offense at Wisconsin.

I would examine that he didn't get it right versus wanting to change the offense. I don't understand why Wisconsin should be expected to run the Barry Alvarez offense for the rest of time. Virtually all of the original midwestern Big Ten programs are running some version of the modern spread.

He didn't get it wrong trying to change. He just got it wrong.

 

[SportsingHard]

There is a joke that if you go to Louisiana championship weekend that half the teams are wearing purple and gold, the other half have a tiger as a mascot. LSU is THE school in LA....in Florida you got three fighters

Exactly. Ohio State in the middle of SEC territory.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think whoever lands Jon Sumrall wins the Coaching Carousel. That's just my opinion and time my prove me wrong, but I'm trying to hire that guy if I have an opening.

He's a Kentucky alum and there is a lot of clamoring among their fans (I guess they have them, yes) to fire Stoops now so they can get Sumrall before Auburn or someone else does.

 

[Bane]

I think whoever lands Jon Sumrall wins the Coaching Carousel. That's just my opinion and time my prove me wrong, but I'm trying to hire that guy if I have an opening.

He's a Kentucky alum and there is a lot of clamoring among their fans (I guess they have them, yes) to fire Stoops now so they can get Sumrall before Auburn or someone else does.

I agree, I think he’s a great coach. LSU looks down it’s nose at G5 coaches and UF has been snake bitten by its last 2 so I’m not sure either goes for him but it UF doesn’t land Kiffin I think he would do well there.

 

[Wild Bill]

Initial reports were that LSU is NOT handing out a huge long term contract for a "proven" coach, so I assumed they may already have something cookin with Sumrall only b/c it makes sense logistically.

Guaranteed big money often breed complacency. We see it all the time with players, and coaches aren’t any different.

If LSU can land Sumrall with a 4 year deal at a reasonable price, bring in a competent GM to manage the roster, and frame it as a way to secure a strong coach while keeping more money available for players, fans will be far less likely to question hiring a G5 coach. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t - but I think it's a smarter play.

 

[Dale]

Posts on UCLA site that indicate they were shot down by Fisch, Lea, and Sitake

I’m not sure who UCLA thinks they are lol

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Initial reports were that LSU is NOT handing out a huge long term contract for a "proven" coach, so I assumed they may already have something cookin with Sumrall only b/c it makes sense logistically.

Guaranteed big money often breed complacency. We see it all the time with players, and coaches aren’t any different.

If LSU can land Sumrall with a 4 year deal at a reasonable price, bring in a competent GM to manage the roster, and frame it as a way to secure a strong coach while keeping more money available for players, fans will be far less likely to question hiring a G5 coach. Maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t - but I think it's a smarter play.

I honestly wonder how much interviewing, vetting and conversation actually happens with these hires. I think LSU didn't get their first couple of choices and moved right onto Brian Kelly.

I agree with you. Do your due diligence and find the young up and coming guy who is hungry. Who is ready now. Sumrall, Dillingham, Silverfield, Golesh, etc. Take a shot on a talented coordinator with no HC experience IF....IF....the guy gives you a solid plan as to how he'll structure things knowing he's never been an HC before and how he'll work around that.

Busting out big money to swing Lane Kiffin is a fabulous PR move, but you get all that comes with it. Both past and present.

 

[Armyirish47]

Posts on UCLA site that indicate they were shot down by Fisch, Lea, and Sitake

I’m not sure who UCLA thinks they are lol

Chip Kelly really did a number on them.

 

[BleedingGold]

UCLA called my trash man, I guess he has the type of experience they need. He turned them down, too toxic even for him.