Gus to UCF
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Obviously because they don't want to take a coach that was just fired by an SEC team. Would have caused a big backlash from the monied Tennessee alums.
I think there is an argument to be made for teams within the southeast who are not power 5, being better football programs than teams who are in the power 5, but not in recruiting hot beds.
I'm trying to say UCF is likely a better job than Nebraska, or Iowa, or Colorado, etc.
I'm trying to say UCF is likely a better job than Nebraska, or Iowa, or Colorado, etc.
I will go ahead and disagree. While it would be a nice gig, if you just care about comfort, you don’t compete against the best and can’t win at the highest level.
I’ll say one thing for UCF is that they recover really well with hires with replacing Head football coaches..
Tough to argue with this at the present moment, but is’s still a non-power 5 program..
Depends just how you define "better job". UCF is not better than Nebraska in terms of fan support, in terms of pay or in terms of TV exposure. But they're located in a hotbed of recruiting talent, no doubt about that part. Clearly ANY college football program is Florida is located nearer talent than ANY midwestern college west of the Mississippi.
Better team, yes. Better job, no. Only if you want to win 10-13 games a year and never be taken seriously. Not to mention Heupel was making $3M+ less at UCF than Frost is making at Nebraska. UCF is a stepping-stone job and always will be unless they join a P5 conference.
I don't know the details but he may have taken the UCF job for peanuts because he got all that buyout loot from Auburn. The same thing as when Pelini feasted on the Nebraska payout and went to Youngstown for peanuts.
You'd have to review the specific contract details for what Gus got. It's likely different for every coach.
Malzahn had no offset language in his Auburn deal, he gets the full $21 mil and whatever UCF wants to pay him.
He got half within 30 days and the rest is paid out at $2.68 per year over the next 4 years.
The opportunity to compete at the highest level is going to change. UCF and Cincinnati seasons plus the boredom with the Championship series are going to force these teams into the playoffs in the near future.
Disagree. If that was the case, Heupel doesn’t leave UCF for Tennessee.
I think Malzahn does a nice job at UCF and parlays that into another SEC gig or perhaps a PAC 12 job.
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With that kind of money Gus could afford to pay UCF for the privilege of coaching there. Laughing
UCF is like the headhunter. Ha ha pay us to coach here and we’ll help find your next job
I'm sure Gus is thinking he'll "tart himself up" for the next big job by taking advantage of the local talent and the weaker competition UCF plays against to make himself attractive again. Probably a much better career move for him than going to Tennessee where he'd get constantly bashed by SEC juggernauts. He doesn't need the Tennessee money.
UCF is in a great location and relatively easy to recruit to. IF I were a college head football coach I would have to think long and hard about leaving there to go to a power 5 program. How much money is enough?
Do you think it is just about the money? Ego and winning are the fuel in my opinion.
Edit - I know enough high school coaches that want to get on to the next level. Don't get me wrong the money can be a factor, but we are talking about the difference between living in small school, somewhat rural Texas making $60k and going to big metro Houston making $75k, that raise will offset in cost of living and mental health stress. But every year one of those jobs opens up the list of interested people is long
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That is something people on here have a hard time wrapping their minds around. Big time CFB coaches aren’t looking for security and comfort, they are out to win big, win at the highest level, prove they are the best, etc.
Well heck it's an easy sell:
1) Wanna be warm year round?
2) Want to not travel to recruit?
3) Want to win your conference every year?
4) Want a launchpad to a G5 gig?
5) You like seeing hot chicks?
6) You like Disney World?
7) Do you like no state income tax?
8) Would you like a mansion for $500k?
This is sort of where I'm leading.. the day may be coming soon where power 5 doesn't mean a whole lot. It's kind of getting there now.
Although it probably would have been a good move, I doubt Tennessee had any intention of hiring Malzahn. It's hard for a program that thinks of itself as a blue blood to hire a coach who someone else in the same conference just fired.
nah, if Frost doesn't work out then IMHO Nebraska will go with a defensive minded coach.