Greatest News Ever

[FondestMemory]

john l. smith out at michigan state.

[Goodbye Forever]

Party at big mike's.

[preppyak]

haha...I came here just to post that

Congrats Bigmike

[soundofthebrown]

haha bout time

[Smithers]

It says he resigned?

They must have told him "resign or get fired, douchebag."

[dekdog11]

yay for big mike!

[preppyak]

It says he resigned?

They must have told him "resign or get fired, douchebag."

Well, I imagine had he not agreed to resign, they wouldn't have let him finish the season...in turn placing all the blame for the season directly on him.

This way, it allows some analysts to talk about MSU as a larger problem with players not playing to potential, etc, and John L just takes that fall...even if it's not the truth

[make_this_hurt]

:woot:

[Scott Weber]

this needed to happen.

[FondestMemory]

this needed to happen.

yep. about two years ago.

[sweethypocrisy]

bigmike hasnt responded because he is in too much elation. he had to be hospitalized.

[LeftWideOpen]

i dont understand this "finish out the season" business. UNC is having Bunting do this, too.

i dont see how it benefits the coach or the team.

[leftstranded]

glad to see it. i just hope that michigan state still sucks next year too

[preppyak]

i dont understand this "finish out the season" business. UNC is having Bunting do this, too.

i dont see how it benefits the coach or the team.
If they have no intention of hiring one of the assistants as the coach, then they might as well just keep the current system going...at least it will avoid complete chaos.

Letting a coach go the entire season knowing he isn't coming back the next year (like Colorado men's basketball coach), is dumb, but with only a month or so of games left, might as well just finish off the pain and start a new next year

[Chriz2z]

John L. wants to destroy Drew Stanton even more than he already has.

[LeftWideOpen]

If they have no intention of hiring one of the assistants as the coach, then they might as well just keep the current system going...at least it will avoid complete chaos.

Letting a coach go the entire season knowing he isn't coming back the next year (like Colorado men's basketball coach), is dumb, but with only a month or so of games left, might as well just finish off the pain and start a new next year

my problem with this is it just admits that the season is lost and you are likely to have coaches and players who just call it quits and play half ass because they either know they are gone or, from an underclassmen's point of view, don't think the extra hard work is going to matter because it could go unnoticed.

a team like Michigan State could still fight for a bowl game and regain some respect + make the school some money, but that could be out the window now.

i say you either fire the guy at the end of the year or if you feel a need to announce the firing midseason, at least do actually do it and let an assistant take over so that it doesnt feel like everyone is just playing out the string.

[bigmike]

glad to see it. i just hope that michigan state still sucks next year too
Boooo to you. But we did pick up Keith Nichol one of the better mobile QB's in the country from Lowell, MI. So hopefully he's a nice heir to the QB position after a year of Brandon Hoyer starting next season then Nichol takes over.
John L. wants to destroy Drew Stanton even more than he already has.
Yeah. Hopefully Stanton doesn't fuck up his body trying to win games for this lame duck asshat.
my problem with this is it just admits that the season is lost and you are likely to have coaches and players who just call it quits and play half ass because they either know they are gone or, from an underclassmen's point of view, don't think the extra hard work is going to matter because it could go unnoticed.

a team like Michigan State could still fight for a bowl game and regain some respect + make the school some money, but that could be out the window now.

i say you either fire the guy at the end of the year or if you feel a need to announce the firing midseason, at least do actually do it and let an assistant take over so that it doesnt feel like everyone is just playing out the string.
Bingo. This is my entire thing with both MSU and North Carolina firing their coaches. Dude is fired. leave the campus. don't be here anymore. please.

And the team had already quit. That's how you explain getting curbstomped against Michigan and Ohio State. I know we aren't on their levels, however, getting up for your biggest rival who thinks of you as that other other little rivalry (michigan) is key and keeps the 1st halfs close. that never happened. Neither did vindicating our first half last year against OSU, but we rolled over.

Also, pointing towards quitting already: Getting down 38-3 to Northwestern. Comeback aside, we shouldn't have been in the position. and then to carry that momentum by getting down 46-3 to FUCKING INDIANA is ridiculous.

Now what does John L. do? Does he keep recruting hard even though he's gone? How can he sell the school? "hey, come to michigan state because you like my recruiting pitch. Nevermind the fact that I'm going to be gone and you have no idea who will be your coach, but come on, we've got a good basketball program. The home games are fun!"

If he's fired he needs to be gone and an assistent needs to be given the job right now.

[FondestMemory]

if rich rodriguez is seriously considering leaving west virginia for north carolina, msu needs to hop on that shit and shoot an offer his way. i think msu would be more appealing than nc.

or go for mooch. that'd be a good move.

[xbrokendownx]

why the fuck would anyone want to EVER coach UNC's god awful football team?

[bigmike]

if rich rodriguez is seriously considering leaving west virginia for north carolina, msu needs to hop on that shit and shoot an offer his way. i think msu would be more appealing than nc.

or go for mooch. that'd be a good move.
For sure. Rich Rodriguez or Mooch. My money's on us offering Mooch the job first purely because he's born and raised Michigander and he's Tom Izzo's best friend.

But still, this just shows that we hire the wrong guy and we can't even fire him properly.
why the fuck would anyone want to EVER coach UNC's god awful football team?
I would be demanding TONS of money to coach that basically impossible football program.

[FondestMemory]

why the fuck would anyone want to EVER coach UNC's god awful football team?

cause if you can turn it to anything even remotely respectable within 3-4 years high profile schools would be fighting over you.

[xbrokendownx]

cause if you can turn it to anything even remotely respectable within 3-4 years high profile schools would be fighting over you.







yeah i realize that, but thats basically impossible


especially being located in the football hotbed that theyre in down south

[bigmike]

yeah i realize that, but thats basically impossible


especially being located in the football hotbed that theyre in down south
Much easier to make a football school into a solid basketball school (hello Oklahoma) than vice versa (See: Duke, UNC, Indiana, Kansas, Arizona, etc.)

[bigmike]

Oh. John L. said in his press conference that we will make a bowl game this year.

[sweethypocrisy]

Oh. John L. said in his press conference that we will make a bowl game this year.
hhahahaha, only if their final games are duke, unc, and temple.

[smokedsanity]

Bingo. This is my entire thing with both MSU and North Carolina firing their coaches. Dude is fired. leave the campus. don't be here anymore. please.

And the team had already quit. That's how you explain getting curbstomped against Michigan and Ohio State. I know we aren't on their levels, however, getting up for your biggest rival who thinks of you as that other other little rivalry (michigan) is key and keeps the 1st halfs close. that never happened. Neither did vindicating our first half last year against OSU, but we rolled over.

Also, pointing towards quitting already: Getting down 38-3 to Northwestern. Comeback aside, we shouldn't have been in the position. and then to carry that momentum by getting down 46-3 to FUCKING INDIANA is ridiculous.

Now what does John L. do? Does he keep recruting hard even though he's gone? How can he sell the school? "hey, come to michigan state because you like my recruiting pitch. Nevermind the fact that I'm going to be gone and you have no idea who will be your coach, but come on, we've got a good basketball program. The home games are fun!"

If he's fired he needs to be gone and an assistent needs to be given the job right now.

My only problem with having assistants take over as interim coaches is that once the season is over, that assistant often feels that he has rights to the position. Maybe it doesn't work that way most of the time, but when I've seen it, it was just a mess. Auburn lost a good defensive coordinator that way. The players themselves, can then take sides and it just creates a unecessary obstacle for the program.

[LeftWideOpen]

if rich rodriguez is seriously considering leaving west virginia for north carolina, msu needs to hop on that shit and shoot an offer his way. i think msu would be more appealing than nc.

or go for mooch. that'd be a good move.


i dont know man ..I think UNC has potential to be a great job. There is so much talent in the south and a good coach/recruiter can tap into that and build something big (Mack Brown was on his way until he bolted). I think it's more then a stepping stone kind of job for someone like Rodriguez. WVU is his stepping stone ...he apparently views UNC as a next level kind of program, if handled right.

i kind of agree with him. UNC could be an annual contender in the ACC w/ the right guy leading the way.

i'm also probably defending it because i unconsciously want anyone but Tom O Brien to take the job. He has to stay.

[Juliana101]

I'm happy to hear this, I like Michigan State, and I would like for them to start devloping a steady rivalry against Penn State, unless Penn State starts playing Notre Dame every year again.

[FondestMemory]

i dont know man ..I think UNC has potential to be a great job. There is so much talent in the south and a good coach/recruiter can tap into that and build something big (Mack Brown was on his way until he bolted). I think it's more then a stepping stone kind of job for someone like Rodriguez. WVU is his stepping stone ...he apparently views UNC as a next level kind of program, if handled right.

i kind of agree with him. UNC could be an annual contender in the ACC w/ the right guy leading the way.

i'm also probably defending it because i unconsciously want anyone but Tom O Brien to take the job. He has to stay.

but he's starting from scratch at unc. there's a lot of talent down there, yes, but there are a lot of major schools down there also who are more appealing to top talent. i'm not saying he can't turn it around, because i really believe he can. but not right away. it'll take a few years to start getting decent talent there, then a few years of winning with decent talent before the great talent even consider you an option.

at msu, he may have less talent around him, but he also has less competition. if a kid's overlooked by osu, notre dame and michigan, he can be right there as a solid other option. whereas at nc if they're turned down by the major schools, there are still probably four or five options before unc even enters the equasion. also, with the reputation of the big 10 that doesn't rule out solid recruits from all over the nation. the bottom of the acc doesn't have that same appeal.

that's just me though. if i'm offered both and i'm weighing my options, msu wins by a landslide. i just think he steps into a much better situation. at nc he can turn it around and make it respectable over time. at msu he can be a legit title contender in a matter of a few seasons.

[bigmike]

hhahahaha, only if their final games are duke, unc, and temple.
Well our schedule isn't exactly hard the rest of the way. If the kids actually decide to play up to their talent (huge, enormous, monsterous 'if') then we could easily win 2 of our last 3 with the loss at Penn State. We've got Purdue, Minnesota both at home and in Happy Valley for the season finale. that's set up nicely to be 6-6. But we'll be 4-8.
My only problem with having assistants take over as interim coaches is that once the season is over, that assistant often feels that he has rights to the position. Maybe it doesn't work that way most of the time, but when I've seen it, it was just a mess. Auburn lost a good defensive coordinator that way. The players themselves, can then take sides and it just creates a unecessary obstacle for the program.
Ehh.. I don't think that's that big of a deal. I know it happened with Bobby Williams when we told Nick Saban he's done here after taking the LSU job before our bowl game (and for that i'll always think of nick saban as a piece of shit. just less of a piece of shit than John L. who took the MSU job at HALFTIME of Louisville's bowl game which they lost.), and the players loved Bobby Williams. However, this entire staff needs to go and if Ron Mason, the AD just states "you're the interim coach and that's it. We've got a list of candidates and you may possibly be on it" is pretty blunt and should avoid problems. people in the state of michigan have made no bones about voicing their opinion that Mariucci should be offered the job, which I think so too, since we could strike gold with a former NFL coach who is relatively young with an exuberance and enthusiasm that works well in the College Game. Plus MSU isn't really that hard to sell to schools. Even with our monsterous collapses, John L. was still getting talent into the program. So a great recruiter could flourish here.
but he's starting from scratch at unc. there's a lot of talent down there, yes, but there are a lot of major schools down there also who are more appealing to top talent. i'm not saying he can't turn it around, because i really believe he can. but not right away. it'll take a few years to start getting decent talent there, then a few years of winning with decent talent before the great talent even consider you an option.

at msu, he may have less talent around him, but he also has less competition. if a kid's overlooked by osu, notre dame and michigan, he can be right there as a solid other option. whereas at nc if they're turned down by the major schools, there are still probably four or five options before unc even enters the equasion. also, with the reputation of the big 10 that doesn't rule out solid recruits from all over the nation. the bottom of the acc doesn't have that same appeal.

that's just me though. if i'm offered both and i'm weighing my options, msu wins by a landslide. i just think he steps into a much better situation. at nc he can turn it around and make it respectable over time. at msu he can be a legit title contender in a matter of a few seasons.
I agree with all of this. John L. has been getting talent into the program ever since he's been here (See: Keith Nichol, the 21st best QB in the country). Also, Michigan State is still a recognizable name nationally and the Midwest does have more talent than the region's given credit for. Granted, it's nothing like the south but I think the midwest is stocked with a lot of good lineman and the playmakers can be recruited up from the south, as proven by Bill Cubit at Western Michigan getting kids from Florida to come to a MAC school (and drawing interest from the 11th best CB in the country, from FL). I think MSU could be a great job since it's a great campus with great fans.

Although, you are taking the job and playing second fiddle to everything Lloyd Carr and U of M does. However, if you beat them once in the Big House you're a god at MSU.

[Serenity]

there are rumors that Saban has been "informally contacted" again by Michigan since the Smith announcement...

http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

[bigmike]

there are rumors that Saban has been "informally contacted" again by Michigan since the Smith announcement...

http://profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm
Not happening.
1) fuck that dude. I don't want him here again.
2) why would he leave all that money in the NFL?

[LeftWideOpen]

lol, saban isnt going back to michigan state. the odds of me coaching michigan state are better.

not really but you get the idea.

[xbrokendownx]

haha yeah okkkk sabans really gonna leave one of the best jobs in the nfl to go back to college

[LeftWideOpen]

haha yeah okkkk sabans really gonna leave one of the best jobs in the nfl to go back to college

...i dunno if i'd call miami one of the best job in the nfl.

its not a bad one ..but there are about 10 or so i could think of being better than miami.

[xbrokendownx]

well im just basing that on the dolphins being the winningest nfl franchise in history



or at least they were like 2-3 years ago

[FondestMemory]

i heard butch davis' name come up today.

i don't think i'd like that move. i think it's all mooch's if he wants it. if he doesn't, they need to make a serious run at rodriguez.

[LeftWideOpen]

i heard butch davis' name come up today.

i don't think i'd like that move. i think it's all mooch's if he wants it. if he doesn't, they need to make a serious run at rodriguez.

word is that UNC's job is Davis's if he wants it. He's holding out to see what else is available, though.

[FondestMemory]

word is that UNC's job is Davis's if he wants it. He's holding out to see what else is available, though.

yeah. wouldn't surprise me to see davis offered jobs at unc, msu and miami.

and not to mention, if parcells retires at the end of the year, davis' name may be the first to come up for the cowboys job also if he's still without a coaching job. dude needs to stay in college though for sure.

[bigmike]

Candidates list

Thursday, November 02, 2006

CANDIDATES LIST
Possible candidates for Michigan State's head football coaching position:

Ron English, Michigan defensive coordinator
Pros: Young and energetic, English fits the desired profile of getting the most out of his players, and then some.
Con: No head-coaching experience.

Butch Davis, former head coach of Cleveland Browns and University of Miami
Pros: Has NFL connections a team like MSU needs to sell to prospects. Davis is a noted taskmaster who cleaned up a mess at Miami.
Con: May command a price MSU isn't willing to pay, especially if a bidding war erupts between MSU and other prospective suitors..

Brian Kelly, Central Michigan head coach
Pros: A winner at the Division-II level with Grand Valley State and has CMU headed in the right direction.
Con: Lacks Division I experience.

Steve Mariucci, former head coach of the Detroit Lions
Pros: Has strong NFL credentials despite a lack of success in Detroit. Won with San Francisco 49ers.
Cons: Not a strong track record for success or college recruiting, having spent only one season as head coach at California. May not be the taskmaster MSU needs.

Pat Shurmur, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback s coach
Pros: Compelling coaching and Spartan pedigree. Perles played under former MSU coach George Perles for four season.
Cons: Has no head-coaching experience and hasn't advanced to coordinator status. Hasn't been a college recruiter.

Charlie Baggett, Miami Dolphins assistant head coach
Pros: Long resume of college and NFL coaching. As MSU assistant, was chief recruiter in Florida.
Con: No head coaching experience despite long career.

Tyrone Willingham, University of Washington head coach
Pros: Former MSU player has integrity and extensive head-coaching experience. Also has NFL ties.
Con: Coaching ability questioned when fired from Notre Dame

Jim Harbaugh, University of San Diego head coach
Pros: Has turned San Diego into a Division I-AA powerhouse. Former Michigan quarterback had long NFL career.
Con: May not be ready to make the leap from I-AA to the Big Ten.

Bo Pelini, LSU defensive coordinator
Pros: Experienced college coach often mentioned to be in line for a head-coaching position. An Ohio native and Ohio State grad, Pelini is familiar with the Big Ten.
Con: He's been passed over by Nebraska, Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Why?

Greg Schiano, Rutgers head coach
Pros: The hot name in college coaching after raising his alma mater to national renown.
Cons: Being targeted as a possible successor for Larry Coker at Miami. Why would MSU be a step up from Rutgers?
These are from this article (http://www.mlive.com/spartans/football/stories/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1162447803140060.xml&coll=1) on mlive.com

Some interesting names. What do you guys think?

[FondestMemory]

davis, willingham and schiano i think are out of the question. two have a good thing just on the verge of being something special, and davis will have a handful of offers.

if mooch falls through, pelini and english would be two good choices. but i'd really love to see harbaugh get a shot in the big ten.

[LeftWideOpen]

davis, willingham and schiano i think are out of the question. two have a good thing just on the verge of being something special, and davis will have a handful of offers.

if mooch falls through, pelini and english would be two good choices. but i'd really love to see harbaugh get a shot in the big ten.

i agree with all of this.

i actually think Mich State is going to have a hard time luring away a big name (like a Schiano or Willingham). I think the next coach will be someone who doesnt exactly make a great headline.

and does anyone else think the WVU loss increases the chances of Rodriguez jumping ship?

[Dean Wormer]

I will miss his press conferences though...

My money is on Mooch because of the local guy/Izzo factor. Plus, what better way to make amends to your home state after the Lions?

[bigmike]

I will miss his press conferences though...

My money is on Mooch because of the local guy/Izzo factor. Plus, what better way to make amends to your home state after the Lions?
He doesn't have to make amends to me for the lions debacle. that franchise will never win under current ownership. And they don't deserve it, or the thousands of fans that pump the Ford Family's pockets with money to go watch that shit fest.

[preppyak]

and does anyone else think the WVU loss increases the chances of Rodriguez jumping ship?
Yeah...I think people at WVU would have looked at him as an almost traitor if they go to the BCS Championship game (assuming they won out) and he then left for a better job...especially since the school would probably throw money at him (Byrd can pork-barrel a good salary for him).

But with this loss, his stock is still crazy high as a coach, and he can leave after taking them to two straight BCS Bowls...essentially on top for that school.

[Dean Wormer]

He doesn't have to make amends to me for the lions debacle. that franchise will never win under current ownership. And they don't deserve it, or the thousands of fans that pump the Ford Family's pockets with money to go watch that shit fest.

I know that he doesn't get the blame at all for what's going on with the Lions, that organization is a shit show, it wasn't his fault in the least. But, I'm sure part of him wants to come back home and coach a winner or at least make MSU somewhat competitive.

[preppyak]

I will miss his press conferences though...

My money is on Mooch because of the local guy/Izzo factor. Plus, what better way to make amends to your home state after the Lions?

He doesn't have to make amends to me for the lions debacle. that franchise will never win under current ownership. And they don't deserve it, or the thousands of fans that pump the Ford Family's pockets with money to go watch that shit fest.
Exactly...how are the Lions doing post-Mooch...the same if not worse in some spots actually (now all their WR's are getting mad at the lack of offensive ability, despite having 3 disgusting WR options)

Mariucci would fit in at MSU, but does he want to rebuild a program, or does he want a job more like a Miami where the prestige and recruiting is easier (not saying he would go to Miami, but that kind of set-up) and all he has to do is gameplan essentially

[LeftWideOpen]

Yeah...I think people at WVU would have looked at him as an almost traitor if they go to the BCS Championship game (assuming they won out) and he then left for a better job...especially since the school would probably throw money at him (Byrd can pork-barrel a good salary for him).

But with this loss, his stock is still crazy high as a coach, and he can leave after taking them to two straight BCS Bowls...essentially on top for that school.

yeah, and I think he's really gotten about as much as you can out of WVU football. With the Big East looking more and more like a legitimate conference and guys like Petrino, Schiano and Wannstedt firmly planted at their schools ...WVU could very well fall back into the pack down the road. And if I am a big time college coach ...I'd take my chances somewhere where there's a bigger talent pool. He'll get a raise and the sky would be the limit.

[bigmike]

I know that he doesn't get the blame at all for what's going on with the Lions, that organization is a shit show, it wasn't his fault in the least. But, I'm sure part of him wants to come back home and coach a winner or at least make MSU somewhat competitive.
Yeah, for sure. The lions suck. hence why i don't root for them anymore.

But Mooch I'd guarantee wants to come back and do well in the state of michigan.
Exactly...how are the Lions doing post-Mooch...the same if not worse in some spots actually (now all their WR's are getting mad at the lack of offensive ability, despite having 3 disgusting WR options)

Mariucci would fit in at MSU, but does he want to rebuild a program, or does he want a job more like a Miami where the prestige and recruiting is easier (not saying he would go to Miami, but that kind of set-up) and all he has to do is gameplan essentially
Well, we don't have one of those 3 sick talents at WR because we cut Charles Rogers before the season started and would've cut Mike Williams too but the cap hit we'd take this year would be way too much. So we've buried him on the bench and he'll get Charles Rogers'd next august.

As for Mooch, there's talent in the program. Offensively we've got the talent to compete with anyone in the country (granted our Mr. Everything Drew Staton graduates this year, but we've got the 21st best QB in the country coming in next year) and the Midwest has a lot of talent that just get's overlooked. So I don't think it'd be that big of a rebuilding project, but I'm not sure he's a great recruiter. To me, that's the unknown.
yeah, and I think he's really gotten about as much as you can out of WVU football. With the Big East looking more and more like a legitimate conference and guys like Petrino, Schiano and Wannstedt firmly planted at their schools ...WVU could very well fall back into the pack down the road. And if I am a big time college coach ...I'd take my chances somewhere where there's a bigger talent pool. He'll get a raise and the sky would be the limit.
I agree whole heartedly. And I wouldn't even look once at MSU if I were him. He needs to go to Miami or a school of that stature.