Talked with a long-time worker in MSU athletic facilities

[Indndawg]

My question is Dan staying and do you know if he's gotten offers from others

Q1: "Seems very happy, I would say 98% chance he's back for next season"
Q2: "Not a clue, but wouldn't be surprised if his agent is taking calls and texts after EB and Dak's success"

This person hadn't heard that Dan was "gaining traction" with the Ducks

 

[was21]

Sounds credible...fair enough

ETA: WTF...for about 3 or 4 months out of the year with the money he's making he can vacation anywhere in the world and get the hell out of Starkvegas if he wants a change of scenery

 

[Hoover Dawg]

Mullen's name popping up for every search out there is due to two factors:

1) Entire country sees us as poor lil ole moo u and looks down upon us, because how could any coach want to coach in a redneck cow pasture, and...
2) Mullen is actually looking for jobs himself

Logically speaking, the truth is in the middle. While I don't think Mullen wants every job in which his name pops up, he's certainly been listening to a few of these guys.

Time to move on. If it's meant to be he'll stay. We certainly shouldn't give him any more money when he threatens to leave. I quit caring about Mullen's actions after the Auburn game this year. Stay or go, I don't care. He's replaceable but I'd prefer him to stay, so whatever.

 

[Indndawg]

agree

 

[Philly Dawg]

When you say someone is replaceable, are you saying that MSU's coaching history indicates to you that we are likely to hire someone as good or better? If so, what other coach in our history are you basing that on?

 

[thatsbaseball]

Ever heard of Mike Price, Mike Shula, Dennis Franchione, Bill Curry and Mike Dubose ? Those are the illustrious group Bama went through between Bryant and Saban. Now was there anything in their HISTORY that said it would take so long for ALA FREAKING BAMA to get their **** together post Bryant ? The point is this, we have the resources to hire a damn good coach if Mullen leaves. If we 17 it up history ain`t got a damn thing to do with just like it didn`t we we hired Mullen......rant over.

 

[Philly Dawg]

Yes. Bama had a bunch of national championships and SEC championships. They had every reason to think that another coach could do better than those guys.

I don't understand your point; if Bama took five coaches to find the next good one, how many will it take MSU?

 

[thatsbaseball]

The point is Bama`s history couldn`t guarantee them immediate success hiring a coach after Bryant....why should ours guarantee failure ? We are a different school than we`ve ever been administration and resource wise. Failure in football no longer has to be a way of life at MSU.

 

[boatsandhoes]

I get the point.

They had gene stallings in between there with probably one of the best bama teams of all time (debateably) '92. After stallings to saban was a **** show, and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

 

[muddawgs]

The point is Bama`s history couldn`t guarantee them immediate success hiring a coach after Bryant....why should ours guarantee failure ? We are a different school than we`ve ever been administration and resource wise. Failure in football no longer has to be a way of life at MSU.

So if Bama with all those championships can 17 5 hires up in a row wtf makes you feel like we can have two good hires in a row with our history?

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Who knows how many it'll take for us to find the next good coach. Might take us 3 but it might take just 1. As mentioned above, we're in a much better place to be able to find a good coach as our next coach than we've been in the past.

 

[Bulldogg31]

Hiring coaches is tough. Plenty of examples of amazing programs that completely screw it up. Bama pre-Saban is a good example, also Texas, USC, Michigan, etc.

Personally I think if a prospective coach popped up with Mullen's resume' we'd hire him in a second and feel like we'd hit the lottery.

 

[thatsbaseball]

It ain`t just coaches. Hiring people is tough period. I want Dan to stay but if he leaves it doesn`t doom us to failure. That`s all I`m saying. 17 all this self pity "woe is me" stuff.

 

[HaleStater]

Yes. Bama had a bunch of national championships and SEC championships. They had every reason to think that another coach could do better than those guys.

I don't understand your point; if Bama took five coaches to find the next good one, how many will it take MSU?

Really Faulty logic here... You're assuming Bama and MSU are relatable and that history matters in any of this. MSU is in the best position it has ever been in as far as resources and facilities. Mullen could leave tomorrow and someone like a Jeff Brohm could step in and pretty much not miss a beat. Mullen is what? 6-30 against the top 25? Smh it's not impossible to pull that off.

 

[KurtRambis4]

I don't think

anyone is arguing that it's impossible to replicate Dan's results, just that we're more likely to end up with a Sylvester Croom.

ETA: Just look at the ****-show Bama went through (above)

 

[tenureplan]

What is MSU overall against the top 25? OK, unfair question, we're in a better place like the rest of the SEC. What is MSU overall against the rest of the SEC? Stop being 17'ing idiots people. He's beating the average within the SEC, so lets hope he stays, if he goes, lets pray we don't hire Rick Ray; but the odds aren't in our favor. All of the other conferences are starting to get TV money.

 

[TaleofTwoDogs]

anyone is arguing that it's impossible to replicate Dan's results, just that we're more likely to end up with a Sylvester Croom.

ETA: Just look at the ****-show Bama went through (above)

That "****-show" that Bama went through was 195-96 (67% wins) for the 24 years between the Bear and Saban. Mixed in those years were 9 ten win seasons and a 13-0 season in '92. To compare us to Alabama in football even in their "****-show" years is ludicrous. By the way, State was 116-156 (42%) during the same years. I don't believe Cohen will be hiring another Croom any time soon.
Let's hope the LT days are over in the executive suite.

 

[BossDawg78]

What is MSU overall against the top 25? OK, unfair question, we're in a better place like the rest of the SEC. What is MSU overall against the rest of the SEC? Stop being 17'ing idiots people. He's beating the average within the SEC, so lets hope he stays, if he goes, lets pray we don't hire Rick Ray; but the odds aren't in our favor. All of the other conferences are starting to get TV money.

This. I hope like hell Dan stays. If you compare what he's done with the rest of the conference, Mullen is doing an average to above average job, even considering this year. He's been consistent at least, and that should bring an exceptional season every few years, too - like the '14 season. I'd much rather keep him than roll the dice on someone else, unless it's a bona-fide big time hire who has been successful elsewhere.

 

[Bulldogg31]

It ain`t just coaches. Hiring people is tough period. I want Dan to stay but if he leaves it doesn`t doom us to failure. That`s all I`m saying. 17 all this self pity "woe is me" stuff.

No doubt. I hire a lot of people in my professional life and it's undoubtedly both the most difficult and the most critical thing we do. We absolutely take that into account before deciding to let an employee go. Sometimes better to coach em up than coach em out.

Not sure about the "woe is me" crowd. Is that really a thing? I've not heard anyone I know say we couldn't hire someone just as good (or even better) than Mullen, just that it's VERY uncertain and past performance is no guarantee of future results.

There are several programs who let good coaches go, only to wander in the wilderness for years, or even decades. Tennessee comes to mind, as well as Florida, and I think Georgia may be headed down that road as well.

 

[the dog is on the loose]

I've been on the fence with Mullen this season for the most part with times I wanted him gone. What I'm afraid of is that if he goes then just who is going to come here? I know we have the money but we are in the toughest spot in all of college football in our conference. Only way we get a top notch coach is by luck like with sherrill back in the day. What's most likely to happen is that we will hire some OC that is up and coming and start all over again. Not to mention that if we do we will have to drop the starting pay considerably from what Mullen makes thus making us the lowest paying school in the sec. I know Mullen came here from OC position but look where we were then. We can ill afford to do that now. I know some of you will say that will never happen again. I can only say I've been a fan of this school too many years to know what will happen

 

[BiscuitEater]

Really Faulty logic here... You're assuming Bama and MSU are relatable and that history matters in any of this. MSU is in the best position it has ever been in as far as resources and facilities. Mullen could leave tomorrow and someone like a Jeff Brohm could step in and pretty much not miss a beat. Mullen is what? 6-30 against the top 25? Smh it's not impossible to pull that off.

Ergo. Substitute 'Stans' for 'Mullen' and the EXACT words being tossed around when Stans was fired.

 

[KurtRambis4]

I wasn't

comparing our program to AL. Someone else brought them up. I just pointed out that even a program at their level can make some boneheaded moves. Secondly, I never said they didn't ever have success outside of those two guys. Thirdly, you say you "think" we won't have a bad hire if we have to replace Dan. Well I'm just saying the numbers don't support that.

 

[TheStateUofMS]

Can we not enjoy the coach we have NOW? He's been here 8 years...going on 9

Who knows how many it'll take for us to find the next good coach. Might take us 3 but it might take just 1. As mentioned above, we're in a much better place to be able to find a good coach as our next coach than we've been in the past.

Let's keep 'em around.

 

[Strike.sixpack]

According to studies done about replacing coaches, when it comes to teams who have historically been lower tier in wins vs their competition the stats show that they very seldom replace a successful coach with another successful coach. 2-3 coaches at a min must be cycled through before a bounce back. At best the immediate replacement matches their historic average but not what their predecessor accomplished. Bad coach can be replaced for 4-5 cycles with hardly any noticeable difference in performance, maybe have a good year early in the start but finish poor. But to go back to back very successful coaches is very difficult

 

[The Peeper]

Did you purposely leave out Gene Stallings and his. 700+ winning % AND National Championship in the middle of that group because it blew up your point?

 

[sandwolf.sixpack]

According to studies done about replacing coaches, when it comes to teams who have historically been lower tier in wins vs their competition the stats show that they very seldom replace a successful coach with another successful coach. 2-3 coaches at a min must be cycled through before a bounce back. At best the immediate replacement matches their historic average but not what their predecessor accomplished. Bad coach can be replaced for 4-5 cycles with hardly any noticeable difference in performance, maybe have a good year early in the start but finish poor. But to go back to back very successful coaches is very difficult

I 100% believe this and it doesn't surprise me at all, but do you have a link to the studies you are referencing?

 

[RedSoxDawg]

Mullen's name popping up for every search out there is due to two factors:

1) Entire country sees us as poor lil ole moo u and looks down upon us, because how could any coach want to coach in a redneck cow pasture, and...
2) Mullen is actually looking for jobs himself

Logically speaking, the truth is in the middle. While I don't think Mullen wants every job in which his name pops up, he's certainly been listening to a few of these guys.

Time to move on. If it's meant to be he'll stay. We certainly shouldn't give him any more money when he threatens to leave. I quit caring about Mullen's actions after the Auburn game this year. Stay or go, I don't care. He's replaceable but I'd prefer him to stay, so whatever.

There is a third factor. Some representatives of other teams tell recruits that Dan is looking to harm our recruiting. That hurts and is really an issue. This year they have a problem of their own, the NCAA.

 

[Strike.sixpack]

I do but I don't have the free report any more just a synopsis. This is the link where you can get it.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1540-6237.2012.00929.x/full

What is also interesting is that other studies show, while not maybe as drastic, similarities with other sports and the professional ranks. It seems maybe the NHL is better with their hires but don't quote me on that

 

[horshack.sixpack]

anyone is arguing that it's impossible to replicate Dan's results, just that we're more likely to end up with a Sylvester Croom.

ETA: Just look at the ****-show Bama went through (above)

Tennessee, Florida, Texas, Michigan(pre-Harbaugh), Nebraska, and Oregon say you're making this sound harder than it is.*** Of course, who among them has the kind of brand that MSU has? It amazes me the number of people that think that replacing Mullen is just simple. I envy the optimism, but I fear something Croomesque.

 

[KurtRambis4]

Based on Strike's link, above,

we're much more likely to end up with a Crooms than even an equal to Mullen.

 

[Moe Cabelle]

There is so much faulty logic in this argument, it's pitiful. Sadly, so many of our own run with these "facts".

Mullen may actually leave one day and we should all give a collective "thanks!" for a job well done. Coaches rarely stay at one place, and this was his first job so IF he eventually moved on it would certainly be understandable.

How do you "know" he's listening to a few offers? For all the talk, he's only been officially pegged as interviewing for the Miami job. People want DM to come out and shoot down every rumor and declare he'll be here forever. He's just not the kind of guy to make a "pine box" declaration when it's unlikely he will be here forever. He has stated many times he likes here and so forth.

So many of you act like he's out obsessively looking for another job, therefore it's killing recruiting, hampering his gameday focus via wardrobe (khaki shorts of all things!) and secretly happy when we lose as evidenced by his grin at a missing field goal against South Alabama.

All that is poppycock. DM has been the most professional coach we've ever had. He's not going to cater to the media and to certain people that want him to say what THEY want to hear.

The most obvious reason his name comes up is because of the great job he's done here. People in other parts of the country see great success in a program with a lot of disadvantages. Half of our dimwits are ready to run him off.

The other reason his names comes up is because others are happy to hurt our recruiting with this inference. I mean, he's been "leaving" ever year since he got here, they'll eventually be right. But some of our moronic fans run wild with this speculation, giving the intended impact of the rumor many times more the impact than necessary.

Lastly, if he entertained offers... so what? Maybe you run your own biz, but who wouldn't entertain other potential job prospects in life? It's not like he's looking to move down.

Logic says he won't be here forever. The truth is it will be a sad day when he does because of what he has accomplished so far, relative to our entire history.

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

I think Ray Perkins was also coach at Alabama also during that period. I do believe if Greg Byrne had been successful in hiring Petersen, we would be giving Saban more of a battle for the SEC West. Look what he's doing at Washington. Amazing what a first class coach can do for a program.

 

[thatsbaseball]

So you`re inferring John Cohen = Larry Templeton & Mark Keenum = Charles Lee just because they have held the corresponding positions at State. That is weak logic.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

I don't believe that he is asserting any personnel equality logic, think more big picture. Are you discounting the trouble that big name schools have had in correctly choosing their next coach? They've often made repeated bad choices. We have the money to pay, but pretending like it is easy to lure someone who we KNOW will be more successful that the most successful coach in program history seems illogical to me as well.

 

[KurtRambis4]

It that's what you got

from that, then I cannot have an intelligent conversation with you.

 

[thatsbaseball]

Are you not saying that no matter who the AD and Pres are we are more likely to hire a Croom simply because we are MSU ?

 

[thatsbaseball]

All I`m saying is we are NOT doomed because we are MSU. Of course we may screw it up but that is not a given just because of who we are...if that were the case why bother with athletics period ?

 

[horshack.sixpack]

That's the divergence. It's not some inferiority complex. It's recognition that it more often than not replacing a successful coach results in a worse choice. That has been violated in numerous other cases at substantially higher profile programs. In this case they would have to literally bring unprecedented results to the program to be better than Mullen.

That the programs cited above failed miserably and repeatedly at it points to the difficulty in successfully pulling it off. I've tried to think of cases where someone knocked it out of the park, but I can't come up with any (admittedly relying solely on my memory). I get that your ire is directed at someone who might think that we can't make it happen BECAUSE we are MSU. I don't think anybody really thinks that is the case. We aren't likely to pull it off because NOBODY seems to be able to hit that curve ball...

 

[KurtRambis4]

Where in the world are

you getting this? I can't decide if I'm being trolled, or if you're just that bad at comprehension.

Us being MSU really has nothing to do with what I said, honestly.

Read Strike's post above, this time, and tell me where in it he speaks of this being solely an "MSU" problem.

*Hint: you won't