Who is Minnesota's next coach ?

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FatHobbit's avatar

FatHobbit

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8,651 posts
Dec 2, 2010 11:25 AM
I'm not really a Minesote fan, but I would love having Leach in the Big 10.
Dec 2, 2010 11:25am
thedynasty1998's avatar

thedynasty1998

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6,844 posts
Dec 2, 2010 11:32 AM
I don't get the whole perception of Leach. He might be a little crazy, but the whole James kid firing was absolutely ridiculous. That should never be a factor in keeping him from getting a job.

As for Minnesota, he should have already been named their coach if he is that interested.
Dec 2, 2010 11:32am
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enigmaax

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4,511 posts
Dec 2, 2010 11:34 AM
gorocks99;584825 wrote:I'm not sure he could find the same caliber of players to run his system as he got in Texas in Minnesota, and there's always the whole "loose cannon" thing (which wouldn't necessarily fly with the fanbase). I'm sure he'd win games, but not sure he wouldn't do something insane in 3 or 4 years that would make us all go "huh"? I'd be happier with Dan Mullen, but it appears that Miami has their targets on him now that Gruden is out of the picture.

What caliber of players is anyone going to find in Minnesota to compete? I mean, there's a reason Minnesota has been middle of the pack for 40-some years (or worse). I laugh at what would "fly" with the fanbase because what is it that makes that fanbase so uppity that being a little eccentric conflicts with? This is as big of a name as you can expect to get and you have absolutely nothing to lose whether he ultimately succeeds or not. Totally worth the risk of making you go "huh" every now and then.
Dec 2, 2010 11:34am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Dec 2, 2010 11:39 AM
If he's totally worth the risk he'd be at the top of every team's list. The fact that he's not makes me think that the search firms know a little bit more than we do about the guy. And the university DOES have a lot to lose if he ends up a loose cannon, considering Leach has an outstanding lawsuit against his last employer.

Ultimately, he would be the face of University athletics that has had to struggle through the Holtz and Haskins sanctions in the past few decades. Even though he has no history with the NCAA, the Gophers probably aren't too keen on attracting more negative (even if it's just local) attention to one of their marquee programs.

I'm not trying to bash him, I'm trying to list reasons that the University will use in not hiring him.
Dec 2, 2010 11:39am
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enigmaax

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4,511 posts
Dec 2, 2010 11:48 AM
gorocks99;584839 wrote:If he's totally worth the risk he'd be at the top of every team's list. The fact that he's not makes me think that the search firms know a little bit more than we do about the guy. And the university DOES have a lot to lose if he ends up a loose cannon, considering Leach has an outstanding lawsuit against his last employer.

I'm not trying to bash him, I'm trying to list reasons that the University will use in not hiring him.

For one, I haven't heard that he's expressed interest in any of the other openings except Miami and I can understand why they think they may be able to do better (right or wrong) - they've won big in the past. Leach took a mediocre program to a higher level or at least generated more interest in the program. That isn't necessarily what Miami needs...they need someone who can return them to a previously attained elite level. Minnesota, on the other hand....

I guess that makes sense about the university, but I still say if you are thinking about why you don't want to hire a guy who might sue you when you (perhaps wrongfully) fire him, you don't really have faith in what someone can do there.
Dec 2, 2010 11:48am
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

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10,664 posts
Dec 2, 2010 12:23 PM
I'd love to see what he could do with Jacory Harris. Harris is better than anything he had at Texas Tech. He'd need a defensive coordinator though

That said, he should have hired as soon as he indicated he wanted the job
Dec 2, 2010 12:23pm
Speedofsand's avatar

Speedofsand

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5,529 posts
Dec 2, 2010 3:40 PM
I hear Larry Fedora is visiting in Minn. today.
Dec 2, 2010 3:40pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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Dec 3, 2010 12:44 PM
I'm guessing Niumatalolo, like Calhoun when he went from the NFL to Air Force, would adjust his strategies to the personnel at his disposal. Service acadamies like the triple option because their linemen can only be so big. At Minnesota he's gonna have some big, big guys up there and would have to adjust to fit. I'm assuming. If not, and we lose Gray because of it, then he's a doucher.
Dec 3, 2010 12:44pm
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

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Dec 3, 2010 12:45 PM
Fedora would be a very ordinary hire.
Dec 3, 2010 12:45pm
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derek bomar

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3,722 posts
Dec 3, 2010 12:48 PM
jordo212000;584912 wrote:I'd love to see what he could do with Jacory Harris. Harris is better than anything he had at Texas Tech. He'd need a defensive coordinator though

That said, he should have hired as soon as he indicated he wanted the job

umm....Jacory Harris fucking sucks dude. Srsly.
Dec 3, 2010 12:48pm
jordo212000's avatar

jordo212000

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10,664 posts
Dec 3, 2010 1:04 PM
I'd love to see what he could do with Jacory Harris. Harris is better than anything he had at Texas Tech. He'd need a defensive coordinator though

That said, he should have hired as soon as he indicated he wanted the job

umm....Jacory Harris fucking sucks dude. Srsly.
He hasn't been great, yes. And I have even been one of Harris's biggest critics around here. But let's be honest, Leach worked with a lot of garbage at Tech. Harris has talent
Dec 3, 2010 1:04pm
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Con_Alma

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12,198 posts
Dec 4, 2010 6:16 AM
gorocks99;586314 wrote:Tom Dienhart says Ken Niumatalolo is a finalist: http://twitter.com/TomDienhart/status/10744264799559680

God I hope this isn't true.
Dec 4, 2010 6:16am
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Con_Alma

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12,198 posts
Dec 4, 2010 6:20 AM
gorocks99;586325 wrote:I'm guessing Niumatalolo, like Calhoun when he went from the NFL to Air Force, would adjust his strategies to the personnel at his disposal. Service acadamies like the triple option because their linemen can only be so big. At Minnesota he's gonna have some big, big guys up there and would have to adjust to fit. I'm assuming. If not, and we lose Gray because of it, then he's a doucher.

This isn't necessarily always the case.

The triple option isn't just based on a coach thinking he has limitations with his players. Paul Johnson learned that. He has started building a triple option culture at Georgia Tech and Last year Iowa was really the only team to stop his offense, and he hasn't even really gotten a good TO QB yet.

Last year they were ACC champs without anything to speak of on defense. If they would have the new defensive coordinator down there they wouldn't have taken a step backward this year like they did.
Dec 4, 2010 6:20am
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Con_Alma

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12,198 posts
Dec 4, 2010 6:25 AM
gorocks99;586314 wrote:Tom Dienhart says Ken Niumatalolo is a finalist: http://twitter.com/TomDienhart/status/10744264799559680

Looks like this just isn't true at all.

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/blogs/post/2844336/Minnesota%20Interested%20in%20Niumat.html

"...Multiple sources told The Capital today that Niumatalolo has not interviewed with Minnesota and would not consider talking to any school about a job opening until after the Army-Navy game. ..."

"..."I love the job I have. I love coaching at the Naval Academy. Right now, my full attention is on getting the team ready for Army," he said. ..."
Dec 4, 2010 6:25am
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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22,284 posts
Dec 4, 2010 10:48 AM
Con_Alma;587042 wrote:Looks like this just isn't true at all.

http://www.hometownannapolis.com/blogs/post/2844336/Minnesota%20Interested%20in%20Niumat.html

"...Multiple sources told The Capital today that Niumatalolo has not interviewed with Minnesota and would not consider talking to any school about a job opening until after the Army-Navy game. ..."

"..."I love the job I have. I love coaching at the Naval Academy. Right now, my full attention is on getting the team ready for Army," he said. ..."
Key words are in bold. Every coach says that right before they leave for somewhere else.
Dec 4, 2010 10:48am
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Con_Alma

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12,198 posts
Dec 5, 2010 7:07 AM
karen lotz;587152 wrote:Key words are in bold. Every coach says that right before they leave for somewhere else.

...or just maybe Coach Niumatlolo said "right now" because at this time there's nothing else for him to have his mind on seeing how it's Army week and he's not been contacted by anyone from any college about another coaching position including Minnesota.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/04/AR2010120400602.html

"Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo has not been in contact with the University of Minnesota, according to the academy, despite a posting on Twitter indicating he is a finalist for the Gophers' head coaching position. ..."

"...An official at Navy responded to an e-mail asking about the tweet: "Coach Niumatalolo has not interviewed with Minnesota or any other school. No school has contacted the Naval Academy to even gain permission to talk to Coach Niumatalolo." ..."
Dec 5, 2010 7:07am
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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10,760 posts
Dec 5, 2010 1:59 PM
A joke ...

http://twitter.com/goldengopherqb5/status/11487182220955648
IDK....gotcha hahahahaha sorry for doing that but I felt like I needed too HAHAHAAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!
That said, I think we'll know by end of day tomorrow.
Dec 5, 2010 1:59pm
karen lotz's avatar

karen lotz

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22,284 posts
Dec 5, 2010 2:05 PM
ha yeah I was waiting for someone to take the bait...
Dec 5, 2010 2:05pm
gorocks99's avatar

gorocks99

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10,760 posts
Dec 5, 2010 7:05 PM
Every sign pointing to Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill. Underwhelmed.
Dec 5, 2010 7:05pm
O

osuturfman

Member

41 posts
Dec 5, 2010 8:11 PM
gorocks99;588864 wrote:Every sign pointing to Northern Illinois coach Jerry Kill. Underwhelmed.

Yeah, but what parent wouldn't want Coach Kill walking into your living room. If nothing else, at least he has a badass football coach name.
Dec 5, 2010 8:11pm
Y-Town Steelhound's avatar

Y-Town Steelhound

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1,388 posts
Dec 6, 2010 6:51 AM
Wow, so much for the AD trying to take the "Tubby Smith" approach with the football team. Seems like a very Minnesota move to me.
Dec 6, 2010 6:51am