Tressel or RichRod

[Darth_VadEER]

He's way more seasoned as college athletic department executive than Luck was when he made the move. He also doesn't have the double disadvantage of the free rein to go solo which Luck had combined with Luck's misplaced confidence that he was so brilliant that it wasn't necessary to think it through.

Straight from JR's playbook.

 

[GoWVU]

I think Dana survives another year by pure default.

You may be the first person I saw to lay out this possibility, and with each job opening elsewhere it only increases that likelihood. Of course, a 5-0 or 0-5 finish makes the decision for Lyons, but the most probable finish is somewhere in between.

I don't worry Lyons "botches" a new hire. So far he's given us no substantive reason to doubt his abilities. I worry more that he does everything right and the current market still boxes him into taking a 7th or 8th choice.

Like you I greatly enjoyed watching RR's spread option, although I don't care what system we run in general. However, a few people have made a valid argument that using essentially the same offense as half the other teams in the conference--but running it with lesser or at best equal recruits--is probably a losing strategy over the long haul.

It may not be a coincidence that one of the few Big 12 schools who has consistently run something different and had success far beyond their recruiting rankings for years is Kansas St. Since they're the program whose achievements we're probably most capable of emulating, it might be worth investigating a shift in offensive philosophies (not necessarily to theirs, but one of our own) during the next regime to see if we can gain a competitive advantage.

 

[Darth_VadEER]

You may be the first person I saw to lay out this possibility, and with each job opening elsewhere it only increases that likelihood. Of course, a 5-0 or 0-5 finish makes the decision for Lyons, but the most probable finish is somewhere in between.

I don't worry Lyons "botches" a new hire. So far he's given us no substantive reason to doubt his abilities. I worry more that he does everything right and the current market still boxes him into taking a 7th or 8th choice.

Like you I greatly enjoyed watching RR's spread option, although I don't care what system we run in general. However, a few people have made a valid argument that using essentially the same offense as half the other teams in the conference--but running it with lesser or at best equal recruits--is probably a losing strategy over the long haul.

It may not be a coincidence that one of the few Big 12 schools who has consistently run something different and had success far beyond their recruiting rankings for years is Kansas St. Since they're the program whose achievements we're probably most capable of emulating, it might be worth investigating a shift in offensive philosophies (not necessarily to theirs, but one of our own) during the next regime to see if we can gain a competitive advantage.

Easy - He hasn't done anything yet. I'm not sure he's been out of his office.

Bashing Luck doesn't take much effort for The Apostles of Hank (Low Mountain Drifter). He fired and hired multiple coaches (football, wrestling, baseball), removed WVU from an athletic conference and negotiated entrance into a top conference, ended deals with crooked good ol' boys that existed for decades, ousted Athletic Department parasites, had a baseball stadium built, and spearheaded facility upgrades - all that in a couple years.

When we fire Dana, someone else will hire him. Hopefully we hire a good coach. Not sure we will (most will want Terry Bowden).

 

[GoWVU]

Easy - He hasn't done anything yet. I'm not sure he's been out of his office.

Guess we differ on that point. I don't necessarily view inaction as a negative. Nothing wrong with keeping that tenet from the Hippocratic Oath in mind: "First, do no harm."

When we fire Dana, someone else will hire him.

Naturally. It's a little unusual for these guys to wash out of the profession entirely. Whether it's as head coach or OC is another matter.

Hopefully we hire a good coach. Not sure we will (most will want Terry Bowden).

Come now, I don't think anyone but the most provincially-minded fans want that. They're typically very easy to identify and dismiss as being misguided. The number on here who would seriously stump for him seems tiny indeed.

More importantly, I strongly doubt anyone in a position of power with the administration is foolish enough to think so small-time.

As you pointed out, we've already seen a shift within the athletic department in recent years from the Stone Ages to a more progressive operation in many areas. Now that it's in motion, the apparatus is highly unlikely to stop suddenly and turn back the clock to the days of shady backroom deals for old cronies cut in smoke-filled rooms.

I can't imagine they would consider Bowden under any circumstances.

 

[Papillion]

I was not a fan of RR when he was first hired at WVU. I thought the program took a tremendous integrity hit from Nehlen to Rodriguez. With that said, some things just fit together and looking back, I think RR fits with WVU. He will likely never win as big anywhere else as he did and still could at WVU. These are just my opinions of course. I don't think we will ever know how he would do here again however. I think he is going to be the next head coach at VT. I remember when Nehlen announced his retirement mid-season in 2000 after the Syracuse game. He did so to allow us to go out and get the coach we all desired at the time, RR. He knew if he waited until the end of the season, the deal likely would not have happened. I think that deal was in the works when Nehlen announced his retirement, just as I think one is in the works to get him to VT now.

I think this will be a tremendous loss to WVU if he does go to VT. Again, I think RR and WVU are just a good fit. We just will not make a move quick enough to be in the running for his services. This actually takes a lot for me to even say, because I did not like him at all before or the way he orchestrated his departure.

As for Tressel, I have never been a fan, and the fact that he would have to serve a lengthy suspension right off the bat is a deal killer in my book. I think there are other good candidates out there, but there are also some other good jobs available. Hopefully, Lyons would already have something in the works should he pull the plug on the current coach. Personally, I would not be opposed to entertaining the idea of Doc Holliday. The knock on him previously was that he did not have HC experience and had not been a coordinator. That is different now. Not saying he should be the coach, just possibly considered. I'm also not sure how he would do in the Big 12.

What stands out about what you said is directly linked to why RR was shopping himself around in the first place, BEFORE he even left. And that quote of you saying he's a fit for WVU struck me because RR is the one who couldn't figure that out and why he probably felt too good for WVU. The idiot could have built a dynasty here, or if you want, a "dynasty." Either way he could have built winning teams here for a long time, I'm guessing. But he would have hit some serious bumps with the Big 12 transition, I think. Plus, others are running his offense and doing it better. He also choked in big games where he was the favorite. Even when he won those type games it always seemed to be nip and tuck except for UConn 07.

 

[TruWVblu]

What stands out about what you said is directly linked to why RR was shopping himself around in the first place, BEFORE he even left. And that quote of you saying he's a fit for WVU struck me because RR is the one who couldn't figure that out and why he probably felt too good for WVU. The idiot could have built a dynasty here, or if you want, a "dynasty." Either way he could have built winning teams here for a long time, I'm guessing. But he would have hit some serious bumps with the Big 12 transition, I think. Plus, others are running his offense and doing it better. He also choked in big games where he was the favorite. Even when he won those type games it always seemed to be nip and tuck except for UConn 07.

I don't disagree with you, but I believe RR will be going to VT and he will be successful there. Worse yet, it will be right in our backyard and he will impact our recruiting. This will put even more pressure on Holgorsen and the program if he is still here or the next coach. In my opinion, the AD should do everything in their power to get him back here. It is likely he may now even see how good the fit was with WVU but still wont pass on VT for something that may never happen here. By the way, it pains me to say I think he should be back at WVU.

 

[tigeer]

Not sure that RR is a good choice. And I understand the concern over 1st year struggles but at WVU and Michigan those were complete identity changes which led to struggles. I don't think that's the case with our current personnel. At the end of the day, I think if a change is made then someone with a clean slate might be the wise choice.

Whoever coaches our team next year is going to have troubles. We lose a ton on defense, and the backups have not looked particularly good.

We won't lose much on offense but the QB and OL issues are going to persist unless we manage to get a graduate transfer QB who can get up to snuff very quickly and the linemen make dramatic improvement.

The schedule is tougher. BYU and Missouri will be much tougher than Maryland and GSU.

Now, if by some chance Rodriguez came in and immediately turned us around, you might have a point. If he struggled, even slightly less than Holgorsen has struggled, many people would be on the warpath from the first struggle.

Rich's record in his first year with programs is not great:

2001: 3-8 (team was 7-5 previous year)
2008: 3-9 (team was 9-4 previous year)
2012: 8-5 (team we 4-8 previous year)

Our last two coaches have been under the microscope from day 1 due to the manner in which they were hired (not their fault) and, more fairly, lack of experience. Obviously, Rich does not lack experience but he would have people waiting to pounce just because they don't like him. It's not a question of whether that is fair; it 's a question of whether that would be good for the program as opposed to bringing in someone with a clean slate and a "grace period" so to speak.

 

[Papillion]

I don't disagree with you, but I believe RR will be going to VT and he will be successful there. Worse yet, it will be right in our backyard and he will impact our recruiting. This will put even more pressure on Holgorsen and the program if he is still here or the next coach. In my opinion, the AD should do everything in their power to get him back here. It is likely he may now even see how good the fit was with WVU but still wont pass on VT for something that may never happen here. By the way, it pains me to say I think he should be back at WVU.

But I think what's interesting is that how quickly he turned to winning ways at WVU (2nd year) when it took him much longer at Michigan-with arguably the same type schedule. The Big East wasn't as easy as some may think. But i do as many others, if he was given one more year he would have won big at UM. But that's besides the point.
I think many people should look around at other examples. They fired John Robinson at USC in his second go around after winning a nat'l champ there. Also, Johnny Majors at pitt failed miserably his second time around. pitt fans fail to realize why he/they won the first time with him in the 70s because what has pitt done since the scholly limitations? NOTHING.
There's other examples and don't forget, RR would be jumping right into the Big 12 with much stiffer comp than the Big East.
Plus, I do think there's too many concessions for him to overcome...too many admittances if you will that i think he's not willing to conceded. He just doesn't have plain and simple common sense and logic. Why in the world was he trying to leave BEFORE the 07 season? Doesn't make any sense at all.