Mike Elko - Defensive Coordinator

[Katzenboyer]

Florida.

I think if Florida fires Napier, they go big game hunting first and foremost (most likely Franklin), but then turn their eyes towards Kiffin or Dan Lanning at Oregon. Not sure they'd even look at Elko.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think if Florida fires Napier, they go big game hunting first and foremost (most likely Franklin), but then turn their eyes towards Kiffin or Dan Lanning at Oregon. Not sure they'd even look at Elko.

You have to think Kiffin makes a great deal of sense. He knows how to recruit Florida, he was at FAU for three years and his buyout probably comes with less trickiness than Franklin and Lanning.

Franklin would be the most expensive on the list, and hypothetically speaking they will have just fired Mullen and Napier on the heels of another hire going into the 2024 season. I know Florida is a free state, but in this instance, this starts to add up rather quickly and the turnover doesn't lend itself to roster continuity with the portal and recruiting.

Now if I'm hiring someone to give me a quick Deion Sanders CU type of rebuild, that's Kiffin. All day long.

 

[Katzenboyer]

You have to think Kiffin makes a great deal of sense. He knows how to recruit Florida, he was at FAU for three years and his buyout probably comes with less trickiness than Franklin and Lanning.

Franklin would be the most expensive on the list, and hypothetically speaking they will have just fired Mullen and Napier on the heels of another hire going into the 2024 season. I know Florida is a free state, but in this instance, this starts to add up rather quickly and the turnover doesn't lend itself to roster continuity with the portal and recruiting.

Now if I'm hiring someone to give me a quick Deion Sanders CU type of rebuild, that's Kiffin. All day long.

Pretty much. It seems to me as if Kiffin is a bit tired of playing second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) fiddle in the SEC West, and would view the Gators as the better opportunity. There's always the possibility that he holds out for the Bama job once Saban retires, though.

The thing is, Florida absolutely CANNOT mess this up if they can Napier. They'd be going on three straight losing seasons (most likely, since they aren't firing Napier if he has a winning record this year), and I just don't think Elko would fit the bill as "can't miss," even though I think he's actually a really good fit for what they need and a really good coach.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Pretty much. It seems to me as if Kiffin is a bit tired of playing second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) fiddle in the SEC West, and would view the Gators as the better opportunity. There's always the possibility that he holds out for the Bama job once Saban retires, though.

The thing is, Florida absolutely CANNOT mess this up if they can Napier. They'd be going on three straight losing seasons (most likely, since they aren't firing Napier if he has a winning record this year), and I just don't think Elko would fit the bill as "can't miss," even though I think he's actually a really good fit for what they need and a really good coach.

If two years is now the standard, this is going to really start to get expensive for these universities if coaches don't even get the third year let alone a fourth. It just seems very premature to even be discussing getting rid of Napier let alone doing it at the end of the year.

 

[Cackalacky2.0]

This is all a lot to process predicated on Elko having coached 14 games at Duke and Napier having coached 14 games at Florida. Florida has a top five recruiting class verballed as of now.

Call me old fashioned but you need to give a guy more than two years to build a program unless there are very serious issues there. Elko has proven he can coach, but a Jersey guy with an Ivy League degree going to Gainesville, FL is a lot of culture shock. They're all just jobs to these guys, and if he comes in with his own way of doing it and they don't like it, it's going to end quick.

This hypothetical situation is being prompted by Duke beating what might be a finally wobbled Clemson program. I'm going to assess after Thanksgiving what this all looks like.

I hope to be whistling a far different tune when Notre Dame kicks Duke's ass in a few weeks, but for now there is other business to attend to.

I think those days are done and dusted for the most part with the transfer portal and NIL now at everyone's disposal. There is zero reason why a team cant instantly upgrade at specific positions on an as needed basis within a year. A new coach at a powerhouse school like Florida should be able to hit the portal and along with NIL....upgrade and strengthen the team almost immediately

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I think those days are done and dusted for the most part with the transfer portal and NIL now at everyone's disposal. There is zero reason why a team cant instantly upgrade at specific positions on an as needed basis within a year. A new coach at a powerhouse school like Florida should be able to hit the portal and along with NIL....upgrade and strengthen the team almost immediately

There is something to be said about continuity and allowing a guy to build a program, even in today's modern game. Not to mention it's going to cost Florida a shit load to get rid of him.

Napier has a $31M buyout on top of the $12M they owed Mullen and will be paying him in installments until 2027. Then you have to pay your new guy. Franklin and Kiffin both make about $10M a year, so that's going to cost you.

It's ludicrous these guys are getting these kinds of deals and we have to listen to yokels like Dabo Swinney talk about how he's going to get out of the game once players start getting paid. 4-5 year deals max. Napier got a 7 year contract.

 

[Bluto]

There is something to be said about continuity and allowing a guy to build a program, even in today's modern game. Not to mention it's going to cost Florida a shit load to get rid of him.

Napier has a $31M buyout on top of the $12M they owed Mullen and will be paying him in installments until 2027. Then you have to pay your new guy. Franklin and Kiffin both make about $10M a year, so that's going to cost you.

It's ludicrous these guys are getting these kinds of deals and we have to listen to yokels like Dabo Swinney talk about how he's going to get out of the game once players start getting paid. 4-5 year deals max. Napier got a 7 year contract.

A state school potentially flushing 43 mill down the toilet…shit is mind blowing.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

A state school potentially flushing 43 mill down the toilet…shit is mind blowing.

Then they raise tuition. Again and again.

It's more disgusting than mind blowing. It absolutely would not shock me in the least bit. We live in stupid, norm shattering times when it comes to sports. And most other aspects of life.

 

[stlnd01]

What makes you say he needed more DC time?

He appears to be doing pretty well as of now…maybe even excellent.

I meant if he wanted to move “up” when he was our DC. He’d only been a major program DC for one season at that point. Needed a couple more years before he was ready for a HC job - at least one worth taking - which he went and got at A&M instead of Notre Dame. Which turned out fine.

 

[NDLS_USMC]

I meant if he wanted to move “up” when he was our DC. He’d only been a major program DC for one season at that point. Needed a couple more years before he was ready for a HC job - at least one worth taking - which he went and got at A&M instead of Notre Dame. Which turned out fine.

Makes sense!

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I meant if he wanted to move “up” when he was our DC. He’d only been a major program DC for one season at that point. Needed a couple more years before he was ready for a HC job - at least one worth taking - which he went and got at A&M instead of Notre Dame. Which turned out fine.

Agreed. His time at TAMU made him more prepared than he would have been after 2017.

To go from the wild west recruiting situation at College Station to Duke is truly something. So far so good for Elko.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Just heard that Elko has a $50MM buyout, so it might be a bit before he's poached...

 

[stlnd01]

Just heard that Elko has a $50MM buyout, so it might be a bit before he's poached...

He signed an extension this summer that goes through 2029. Seven years. So that would suggest he's making at least $7M per? Not bad, Mike. Not bad.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Duke has beaten Clemson (perceived to be in decline) and Lafayette.

If Duke had beaten TCU and Nebraska, what would the perception of Elko presently be? Less? More? Same?

 

[KMac151993]

Duke has beaten Clemson (perceived to be in decline) and Lafayette.

If Duke had beaten TCU and Nebraska, what would the perception of Elko presently be? Less? More? Same?

More...Colorado has a slightly better strength of schedule right now plus they beat TCU on the road, Duke beat Clemson at home.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

Just heard that Elko has a $50MM buyout, so it might be a bit before he's poached...

"Hold our beers."

 

[zelezo vlk]

"Hold our beers."

Well John Brice later said that it was much lower so I was just flat out wrong lol

 

[ThePiombino]

"Hold our beers."

Hahahah A&M paying over $120 to transition coaches is so on brand for a major Texas school.

 

[texbender]

just another Friday night ante at the poker table.

 

[Luckylucci]

FWIW, it was reported yesterday that the number was $5M.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

FWIW, it was reported yesterday that the number was $5M.

Scraps from Longshanks' table these days.

 

[Bantry19]

"Can't they just hire the Tight Ends coach?" - Savvy Jack, probably.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I'm betting on big success for Elko. Just always had the feeling that he brought special coaching insight to the game.
Now he DOES have to face the resurgence of Texas and Sarkisian unfortunately for him recruiting-wise (and probably LSU),
but I'll bet he's better than what they've had at HC. Hard to be an instant great success in that part of that conference.
A&M DOES have the money to make things happen, though --- maybe as much as anybody.

 

[dublinirish]

seems like they have had a lot of guys transfer out or go pro

 

[RipWheeler]

seems like they have had a lot of guys transfer out or go pro

And I’m ok with that

 

[NDohio]

seems like they have had a lot of guys transfer out or go pro

For sure. With Elko, that defense will still be good, but they've lost a lot of their defensive talent.

 

[T-Boone]

If Golden is with us we should get it done

 

[IAIrish]

seems like they have had a lot of guys transfer out or go pro

Ya love to see it

 

[LifelongFan]

Like applying for jobs, its important to make sure the place you are headed will hand you checks that don't bounce. Some of these kids learned the hard way.

 

[Lberry]

Im still not counting our chickens. They've had two 5-star DL transfer out of that 2022 class. Problem is they signed six 5-star DL that class.