Gerad Parker - Troy Head Coach :)

[T-Boone]

The hire is done, no use shitting on the guy now it isn't his fault he was hired. Let's try and support him until it's time to tear him down.

100% unless he gets the same lazy recruiter reputation Rees had his first few years he has my full support.

 

[irishog77]

Apparently you don't get it, because you keep repeating crap like Freeman has "abandoned his mantra" and took the "easy hire".

No, I’ve maintained for a couple of days, across several threads, that something in the initial report about Ludwig seemed fishy and we needed more info or context. But your mantra for several hours, across several threads has been,
“Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless.”

Despite you bringing up rogue agents and phantom Utah office menaces, I’ve even conceded that the admin deserves some blame and your responses are more drivel about “Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless.”

Now you’re telling us that Parker was always a serious candidate and one MF was always going to seriously consider. Ok, fine. But if so, then why did he wait to interview the dude until yesterday? That would have been easy! It’s his buddy and his office is around the corner. Why would he not have just interviewed him last week? Or what is it we’re missing about Parker as an OC candidate that has led to no other interest from other programs about him? But yet again, it’s “Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless.”

Freeman reportedly valued experience as a play caller. Parker barely has more experience than you calling plays, but somehow your mantra of “Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless” doesn’t even allow you wonder why others find the contradiction confusing.

Your mantra of “Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless” has blinded you to at least some confusion, or perhaps even doubt about the entire process of hiring Parker. You selectively use reports (that have been thin and few) that fit your mantra and dismiss any of the reports that don’t meet your mantra.

Some of us have just been trying to read the reports, make sense of them, then factor in what we know about MF to draw conclusions. It’s ok to admit that the admin hasn’t handled this well, and acknowledge that Freeman himself hasn’t handled it well. Both things can be true. But I, and many others, aren’t married to the belief of “Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless.”

You’re so committed to your mantra that I’ve brought this up to you now for the 3rd time, yet you won’t respond to it.

Who else did Freeman offer that Swarbrick (or the BoT) balked on him hiring? If MF limits his coaching searches to 3 guys, that’s on him. That’s not on the administration. He’s known HH has been leaving for awhile. TR almost left last year. He’s known he may leave again for awhile. So the timeline of interviews and hirings are somewhat on Freeman. He doesn’t receive absolution because it’s been difficult. As I pointed out earlier, the timeline with these hirings isn’t far out of the norm in college or pro football.

When MF hired Parker last year, there were rumors it was an insurance policy against TR leaving. It was well-known TR would leave sooner rather than later. So MF was thinking about Rees leaving a year ago. But now, in the present, his search for an OC was basically Klein, Ludwig, and Parker- the guy he hired a year ago as an insurance policy about the eventuality that did, in fact, occur.

So again, I don’t absolve MF for “being stuck” with Parker when he should have already had some candidates in mind and/or interviewed more guys.

If you want to believe MF was screwed over on Ludwig, fine. But nobody at ND screwed him over for not having other candidates to interview.

Respond to it. Or don’t. But quit preaching to us about “Admin bad, Freeman good. Admin wrong, Freeman right. Admin to blame, Freeman blameless” if you can’t or won’t even entertain the notion that MF has had some role in the hiring of Parker…and the confusion and doubts people have of the hire.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Yes, Parker was always a legitimate candidate and a name that was thrown around as one by multiple sites. That's not exactly breaking news. His name has been posted by several people who cover ND as a legit name since Rees departed. I never said he was the leading candidate or the primary candidate. Just that he was a viable option.

I don't really understand why you're having that much trouble comprehending that.

I wouldn't be having to go on about this if you didn't pull absolute garbage out of your ass like Freeman "betraying his mantra".

As for your other take. Where are you getting that Freeman limited his search to 3 guys? That may have been the number of guys he brought in for in-person interviews, but based on several accounts, the list wasn't just 3 guys. But like I said, Parker was part of that list. So obviously, Freeman had him fairly high up there and I can see the justification as to why. He wanted Ludwig. For whatever reason, that didn't happen. He needs to move on and spring practice is weeks away. You already know two of your top candidates are not happening. Ultimately, Freeman is going to own his staff. That's what coaches do.

But at the end of the day, we know that Ludwig was the guy and the administration, for whatever reason, didn't allow it to happen. Whether it be unwillingness or incompetence, the ADMIN blocked Freeman from getting his guy. So when you put up these nonsensical tangents about Freeman, it shows that you clearly don't understand the gravity of this situation and how this situation can't be realistically expected to fall on Freeman, when his bosses interfered with his hiring process.

Is that answer enough for you?

 

[Giddyup]

Well Freeman had a good run. Onto the next.

 

[Giddyup]

Maybe in 30 yrs another winner like Kelly will fall in our laps.

 

[BeauBenken]

I'm not thrilled with the hire, but there was quite a bit working against us with this process.

1. The bureaucracy and their penny pinching ways. -- We are cheaping out in a literal arms race.
2. Timing. -- Lax mentioned it, but if Bama had to end up taking Rees, it's not because they are dumb but because that's the best they were going to get at the time. We got stuck looking for someone after that. Spring ball is around the corner. etc.
3. Playing style. -- This is really big. Freeman clearly wants to lean on our strengths which is using tight ends (and at times multiple tight ends) and running the ball. He brought in a couple of well respected people in the profession, but most of them do not have experience successfully running that type of offense. (Andy Ludwig did which is why letting him leave was an issue.)

All of this together makes this hire make sense. In particular, Freeman probably does not see the point in hiring an OC with experience only in spread systems and trying to make them lean into our strengths (square peg, round hole). Instead, Parker has probably been able to spend the last few weeks coming up with a plan just for this team and Freeman knows that they have the same vision.

It isn't sexy. And it may end up being a terrible choice. But it makes sense.

Fucking BOT.

 

[BoredIrish]

Fwiw Guidugli has more experience as an OC and calling plays (I think he called plays last year) than Parker. Makes me think this might be a more collaborative approach.

I think if Guidugli was hired as the OC, the fan base would be less upset. Yet MF knows both very well and if thinks Parker is a better option, then let's just hope he is right

 

[MacIrish75]

Wow, impressive resume. Demoted as OC at WVU and 0-6 as interim HC at Purdue.

To be fair, nobody was going to win with that Purdue team he had. They were arguably more competitive with Gerad as HC than they had been with Hazell even though War Daddy didn’t win a game.

 

[FWIrish4]

I absolutely hate how we ended up here, but it’s wait and see mode now.

@IrishLax - any idea of what the money saved from BK’s salary to Freeman’s salary and Rees to Parker is being used for? I would imagine this is a couple million PER YEAR that is not being spent from just 2 years ago.

 

[Huntr]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I cannot believe a grown man actually sent this tweet.

 

[irishff1014]

Well, Marcus seems to be going with the "culture approach" as opposed to hiring superstars. Personally, I have no problem with this. So often the "superstars" are products of their own culture and the team around them. Some are great, but fail to mesh with a new system, culture or coach.

Marcus must see himself as his best self when surrounded by the guys who helped him land at ND to begin with. He has always struck me as a guy who leads with a "team" approach to his staff anyway, if that is the case he is probably best suited to be surrounded by guys who will respect him from day one and buy into his culture/approach which they already know from previous time together. Personally, I am up for it. We'll see how it shakes out one way or another in the long run (or short run, lol).

To me, these moves indicate Marcus making it HIS ND team.

Aka Brian Kelly

 

[irishff1014]

Memphis isn't P5

Just because West Virginia is in a power 5 conference means they deserve the title. West Virginia is a trash football program and has been for a long time.

 

[irishff1014]

Yes, Parker was always a legitimate candidate and a name that was thrown around as one by multiple sites. That's not exactly breaking news. His name has been posted by several people who cover ND as a legit name since Rees departed. I never said he was the leading candidate or the primary candidate. Just that he was a viable option.

I don't really understand why you're having that much trouble comprehending that.

I wouldn't be having to go on about this if you didn't pull absolute garbage out of your ass like Freeman "betraying his mantra".

As for your other take. Where are you getting that Freeman limited his search to 3 guys? That may have been the number of guys he brought in for in-person interviews, but based on several accounts, the list wasn't just 3 guys. But like I said, Parker was part of that list. So obviously, Freeman had him fairly high up there and I can see the justification as to why. He wanted Ludwig. For whatever reason, that didn't happen. He needs to move on and spring practice is weeks away. You already know two of your top candidates are not happening. Ultimately, Freeman is going to own his staff. That's what coaches do.

But at the end of the day, we know that Ludwig was the guy and the administration, for whatever reason, didn't allow it to happen. Whether it be unwillingness or incompetence, the ADMIN blocked Freeman from getting his guy. So when you put up these nonsensical tangents about Freeman, it shows that you clearly don't understand the gravity of this situation and how this situation can't be realistically expected to fall on Freeman, when his bosses interfered with his hiring process.

Is that answer enough for you?

I disagree. Freeman has preached since he got here that he wants the very best coaches that recruit well. And he is going against that. Parker had 0 interest from any other school in college football. Zero 0. He has very limited experience and Freeman has 1 season of being a head coach and dealing with the offense. That’s a disaster in the making.

Oh and his recruiting that people are starting to praise after he got hired as an OC is Cooper Flanagan and according to 247 he is a secondary recruiter for Cooper. Come on now. And in the 24 class he has Jack Larson good too 150 TE but nothing world shattering.

 

[MacIrish75]

I disagree. Freeman has preached since he got here that he wants the very best coaches that recruit well. And he is going against that. Parker had 0 interest from any other school in college football. Zero 0. He has very limited experience and Freeman has 1 season of being a head coach and dealing with the offense. That’s a disaster in the making.

Oh and his recruiting that people are starting to praise after he got hired as an OC is Cooper Flanagan and according to 247 he is a secondary recruiter for Cooper. Come on now. And in the 24 class he has Jack Larson good too 150 TE but nothing world shattering.

Okay, but also I’ve been told he is a War Daddy.

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

The next most important hire is OL. We have Parker as our OC, we have a new QB coach who may serve as "passing game coordinator" or work with Parker as he creates his blueprint for this fall.

We need a dominant OL, I'm going to defer to Freeman but I really hope they pick up a huge name and then add 3+ new coaching/analyst positions to help this team maximize talent.

Parker certainly has the element of surprise working in his favor. No idea what to expect from him.

 

[notredomer23]

When he puts up 60 against Navy and 90 against Tennessee State, can we change the thread title to read “the savvy,

 

[rtrn2glory]

This is a win/win for me. I totally expect this to not go well and when it does I can say I was right. And if I'm wrong that means something miraculous happened and we had a good year. Odds are in my favor though unfortunately as they stand. I'll root like hell, but probably not see the result we're hoping for.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Just because West Virginia is in a power 5 conference means they deserve the title. West Virginia is a trash football program and has been for a long time.

Not since Rich Rod.

 

[notredomer23]

This is a win/win for me. I totally expect this to not go well and when it does I can say I was right. And if I'm wrong that means something miraculous happened and we had a good year. Odds are in my favor though unfortunately as they stand. I'll root like hell, but probably not see the result we're hoping for.

Odds really aren’t in your favor assuming Hartman stays IMO. ND should have an elite offensive line, stud running backs, a group of receivers that showed some promise towards year end, and an absolutely elite QB. One of us should be able to coordinate this team to 35+ PPG. My problem is in 2024 when he’s likely going to be breaking in a new LT, QB, and C

 

[irishff1014]

Okay, but also I’ve been told he is a War Daddy.

Where was this vision of him last season or even 2 weeks ago? No one has reported him as a “War Daddy” or even an average recruiter until yesterday after his promotion.

 

[irishff1014]

Odds really aren’t in your favor assuming Hartman stays IMO. ND should have an elite offensive line, stud running backs, a group of receivers that showed some promise towards year end, and an absolutely elite QB. One of us should be able to coordinate this team to 35+ PPG. My problem is in 2024 when he’s likely going to be breaking in a new LT, QB, and C

Don’t matter how many studs you have if you can’t game plan and call a good game you aren’t gonna do well.

 

[notredomer23]

I assure you guys 2023 will not be a problem for Parker and we will have false confidence in him going into his second season

 

[rtrn2glory]

Don’t matter how many studs you have if you can’t game plan and call a good game you aren’t gonna do well.

I hate to resort to it, but if BVG could screw up our defense in 2015.....nothing is impossible to screw up.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I assure you guys 2023 will not be a problem for Parker and we will have false confidence in him going into his second season

IF the false hope results in any combination of beating Ohio St and a natty/elite bowl win I'd take it sadly.

 

[MacIrish75]

I assure you guys 2023 will not be a problem for Parker and we will have false confidence in him going into his second season

 

[Irishdrunk]

Apparently you don't get it, because you keep repeating crap like Freeman has "abandoned his mantra" and took the "easy hire".

He did do that… because Swarbrick didn’t want to pay to be competitive. Case closed.

 

[Irishdrunk]

The next most important hire is OL. We have Parker as our OC, we have a new QB coach who may serve as "passing game coordinator" or work with Parker as he creates his blueprint for this fall.

We need a dominant OL, I'm going to defer to Freeman but I really hope they pick up a huge name and then add 3+ new coaching/analyst positions to help this team maximize talent.

Parker certainly has the element of surprise working in his favor. No idea what to expect from him.

You can “Defer to Freeman” all the fuck you want but this is Swarbrick’s team, not Freeman’s. Get a fucking clue.

 

[Irish#1]

He might end up doing well, but I've never been more convinced that the University isn't interested in competing for championships.

Any success the football program has is a happy accident bought from the fortune of past glory overcoming the current disinterest from the administration.

Agree.

I hope he nails it, but when you (not you specifically Grey) get ready to dump a truckload off crap on him, remember he didn't hire himself.

 

[Irish#1]

If it’s watt I’ll George Bailey this shit

I think we got your position on Watts after the first ten posts on him.

 

[IrishSpartan]

Let’s be real guys War Daddy will be IE favorite coach now