. . . and assuming I have a blank check to go get any coach available right now, this is what I do.
1. Contact Urban Meyer. Listen, he may have his problems, but the guy can flat out win. I do my best to convince him that with next year's team and this years recruiting class, there should be no reason he doesn't win the championship. His legend status will be cemented as "THE COACH THAT COULD WIN IT ALL ANYWHERE." I know a lot of these type A people, they care more about themselves and their accomplishments than anything else. Use that to your advantage to lure him to ND. This would really appeal to him, especially since how Jacksonville is turning out. I think we're all at the point of let's get an NC by any means necessary.
If that doesn't work out, I go to option number 2
2. Luke Fickell. He's proven he can win and be competitive with less talent. I think he has more upside than a lot of the more recent coaches jumping from smaller to larger programs (PJ Fleck, Tom Herman, Scott Frost to name a few.) He beat Kelly, in Kelly's house. This would be a top notch hire. I would be surprised if ND wasn't contending for a championship next season with him at the helm if he could keep the team together. Only downside is him being an Ohio State alum will always make me question how much pride he would take in becoming the coach at ND.
If that doesn't work out, I go to option number 3
3. Marcus Freeman. Look, I know he is young and doesn't have head coaching experience. But there is something special about him. What he brings to the table in regards to recruiting is worth the price tag, especially since today's game is so heavily dependent on recruiting. If you don't have talent, don't expect to consistently make the playoffs, let alone win in the playoffs. Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson have all proved this to be the case. This would not be another Bob Davie hire. It just wouldn't. Again we have the whole Ohio State alum conundrum, but something feels different about Freeman.
If that doesn't work out, I go to option number 4
4. David Shaw. One coach that has impressed me more than anyone else in the last 10 years has been David Shaw for what he was able to do at Stanford. He had competitive teams. He won major bowls. That's more than what Brian Kelly can say. I know he has been struggling as of recently, but sometimes what someone needs is a change of scenery to get back on track. I like that he has dealt with the academic standards and has made Stanford a dominant power football team in the past. Downside is he is a Stanford alum, and why would he want to leave a sweet gig at his alma mater where he likely has a lot of pride.
And if that doesn't work, I go to my wild card number 5
5. Ryan Day. This is more of a pipe dream, but I think it makes sense on a lot of counts. And anyway, who would have though Lincoln Riley would leave Oklahoma? So crazier things have happened. Ohio State missed the playoff this year with a stacked team. If we are able to poach him, Ohio State can theoretically upgrade with a former alum in Luke Fickell, it would work out for both parties. Out of any other coach, I think Day could do the most with the offensive talent that Brian Kelly has already brought in, assuming he could keep the team together, and keep it business as usual. Has no ties to Ohio State other than being their coach. If the price is right, you can get a man to do almost anything.
Anyway, just what I have been pondering. Would love to see how many disagree with me!
1. Contact Urban Meyer. Listen, he may have his problems, but the guy can flat out win. I do my best to convince him that with next year's team and this years recruiting class, there should be no reason he doesn't win the championship. His legend status will be cemented as "THE COACH THAT COULD WIN IT ALL ANYWHERE." I know a lot of these type A people, they care more about themselves and their accomplishments than anything else. Use that to your advantage to lure him to ND. This would really appeal to him, especially since how Jacksonville is turning out. I think we're all at the point of let's get an NC by any means necessary.
If that doesn't work out, I go to option number 2
2. Luke Fickell. He's proven he can win and be competitive with less talent. I think he has more upside than a lot of the more recent coaches jumping from smaller to larger programs (PJ Fleck, Tom Herman, Scott Frost to name a few.) He beat Kelly, in Kelly's house. This would be a top notch hire. I would be surprised if ND wasn't contending for a championship next season with him at the helm if he could keep the team together. Only downside is him being an Ohio State alum will always make me question how much pride he would take in becoming the coach at ND.
If that doesn't work out, I go to option number 3
3. Marcus Freeman. Look, I know he is young and doesn't have head coaching experience. But there is something special about him. What he brings to the table in regards to recruiting is worth the price tag, especially since today's game is so heavily dependent on recruiting. If you don't have talent, don't expect to consistently make the playoffs, let alone win in the playoffs. Ohio State, Alabama, Clemson have all proved this to be the case. This would not be another Bob Davie hire. It just wouldn't. Again we have the whole Ohio State alum conundrum, but something feels different about Freeman.
If that doesn't work out, I go to option number 4
4. David Shaw. One coach that has impressed me more than anyone else in the last 10 years has been David Shaw for what he was able to do at Stanford. He had competitive teams. He won major bowls. That's more than what Brian Kelly can say. I know he has been struggling as of recently, but sometimes what someone needs is a change of scenery to get back on track. I like that he has dealt with the academic standards and has made Stanford a dominant power football team in the past. Downside is he is a Stanford alum, and why would he want to leave a sweet gig at his alma mater where he likely has a lot of pride.
And if that doesn't work, I go to my wild card number 5
5. Ryan Day. This is more of a pipe dream, but I think it makes sense on a lot of counts. And anyway, who would have though Lincoln Riley would leave Oklahoma? So crazier things have happened. Ohio State missed the playoff this year with a stacked team. If we are able to poach him, Ohio State can theoretically upgrade with a former alum in Luke Fickell, it would work out for both parties. Out of any other coach, I think Day could do the most with the offensive talent that Brian Kelly has already brought in, assuming he could keep the team together, and keep it business as usual. Has no ties to Ohio State other than being their coach. If the price is right, you can get a man to do almost anything.
Anyway, just what I have been pondering. Would love to see how many disagree with me!
