Dan Mullen to UNLV

[king_kong_]

Correct it doesn't count. What he inherited at Baylor was nothing like the team that won 7 whole games the year before. Literally half the the team was no longer there when he was hired. 40 something scholarships were returning.

As I mentioned before, Temple had just moved up to the Big East/ ACC. The previous coach won 5 less games in the Big East than he did in the MAC the year before. Is the ACC a juggernaut, of course not, but pound for pound it is much better than the MAC.

You and @thall_ always want context when someone questions your takes but when there is context to refute your takes, its just BS in your mind.

Again if we want to use the standard for why Butler shouldn't be DC at Nebraska because no one wanted to hire him as DC since he left Penn St, what does that say about Mullen, who's best job, after getting dismissed by Florida, was 3rd string ESPN studio guy following MACtion Tuesday?

My mind is always open to learning new things, especially when they run counter to my opinions.

I welcome them.

Nothing you posted here is new information to me. Forced roster turnover, year 2 in a new conference, etc. All things I’m well aware of.

Mullen is a head coach again. If Rhule flames out here in a year or 2, I don’t think his phone will be ringing off the hook from power 4 ADs.

And neither do you.

 

[thall_]

Your comment was that you wanted Mullen when Nebraska hired Rhule. I replied with what makes you think Mullen would have any different results here than he did at Mississippi St and Florida. He was fired at Florida because his 5-6 season and 3rd year in a row of declining results, even though he won 82% of his games at Florida, wasn't enough. He didn't get it done to the satisfaction of the Gator folks so they fired him. His Mississippi St results were up and down, in his 9 seasons there, he had 4 where he won 6 games or less in the regular season and won 9 games or more 3 times. 3 nine win season at Nebraska in 9 years isn't going to get you 9 years. He went 5-7, 8-4,6-6, 8-4, and 6-6 during the regular season in his first 5 years. Many people want Rhule fired because he is doing in year 2 what Mullen did in year 3 and year 5 at Miss St. If Rhule has that regular season win percentage over his first 5 years at Nebraska, he wont see year 6, if he even survived year 3.

One more time, real slow. I am not comparing Mullen to Rhule head to head. I am asking what makes you think that Mullen would have done better at Nebraska than what Rhule is doing now? Is 33-27 in the regular season, for 5 years, going to be enough for any coach to survive past 5?

It’s amazing how intentionally ignorant you’re having to be for these mental gymnastics.

1) better overall record
2) better bowl record
3) better record against ranked opponents

It really is that simple.

There doesn’t exist a metric where Rhule is a better coach other than you and @HuskerO (who vehemently defended Satterfield til the end) being homers.

I’ll be interested in revisiting this thread next year, you’ll be pissy when I bring it up.

Mullen’s record at UNLV will better than any year 1 record Rhule has had. Hell, it will likely be better than our record too.

You have some weird vendetta against Mullen. I seem to remember you insisting Tom Herman was a better coach before he flunked out of the AAC.

 

[HuskerO58]

Rhule won less games in his 4 years at temple than they won in the 4 years prior to him taking over

Rhule won less games in his 3 years at baylor than they won in the 3 years prior to him taking over

@Tuco Salamanca already addressed this. His reasoning seems pretty sound, no?

 

[king_kong_]

@Tuco Salamanca already addressed this. His reasoning seems pretty sound, no?

No.

Temple changed conferences a full season before Rhule got there. His predecessor never bottomed out like Rhule did despite having to actually adjust to a new conference on the fly.

Baylor scandal happened prior to Rhule taking that job - he considered it a “higher calling”, then won 1 game.

Conference championship program just years removed from a Heisman winner churning out NFL guys.

Rhule maintained a slightly lower level of success than each program enjoyed before he arrived.

Not my opinion, just what happened.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

No.

Temple changed conferences a full season before Rhule got there. His predecessor never bottomed out like Rhule did despite having to actually adjust to a new conference on the fly.

Baylor scandal happened prior to Rhule taking that job - he considered it a “higher calling”, then won 1 game.

Conference championship program just years removed from a Heisman winner churning out NFL guys.

Rhule maintained a slightly lower level of success than each program enjoyed before he arrived.

Not my opinion, just what happened.

The Baylor scandal happened the season before he arrived. Briles was fired in the summer before the 2016 season. Most players stayed for the 2016 season, after the season when there was no hope Briles would be back and most of the lawsuits were filed, the majority of the 2016 recruiting class asked out of their NLI because they feared huge sanctions. All but 1 of the 2017 commitments backed out and went elsewhere. Players left the program, and Rhule started the year with 40 something scholarship players, plus whatever he could get to sign in the recruiting class in February.

It isn't as if he had 85 scholarship players coming back from a 7-6 team that Grobe coached.

 

[king_kong_]

The Baylor scandal happened the season before he arrived. Briles was fired in the summer before the 2016 season. Most players stayed for the 2016 season, after the season when there was no hope Briles would be back and most of the lawsuits were filed, the majority of the 2016 recruiting class asked out of their NLI because they feared huge sanctions. All but 1 of the 2017 commitments backed out and went elsewhere. Players left the program, and Rhule started the year with 40 something scholarship players, plus whatever he could get to sign in the recruiting class in February.

It isn't as if he had 85 scholarship players coming back from a 7-6 team that Grobe coached.

Never said it was.

Fact is, Rhule maintained previous successes at both places. Each school’s worst record occurred on his watch.

This is the first actual turnaround he is attempting in his career and he is actually outperforming the prior multi-year span. That’s a good thing!

If he wins 10 here he can finally say he has turned a program around.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

It’s amazing how intentionally ignorant you’re having to be for these mental gymnastics.

1) better overall record
2) better bowl record
3) better record against ranked opponents

It really is that simple.

There doesn’t exist a metric where Rhule is a better coach other than you and @HuskerO (who vehemently defended Satterfield til the end) being homers.

I’ll be interested in revisiting this thread next year, you’ll be pissy when I bring it up.

Mullen’s record at UNLV will better than any year 1 record Rhule has had. Hell, it will likely be better than our record too.

You have some weird vendetta against Mullen. I seem to remember you insisting Tom Herman was a better coach before he flunked out of the AAC.

You are the one who is being intentionally ignorant.

Better overall record
Better bowl record
Better record against ranked opponents may be evidence of why Mullen is a better coach than Rhule. But that wasn't the question.

The question was. What evidence do you have that Mullen would have done a better job at Nebraska based on him being fired at Florida and his up and down tenure at Miss St.

I don't have a vendetta against Mullen, I have already stated many times he is a good coach. I just don't believe, based on his body of work as a coach, that he would have done any better at Nebraska than Rhule is doing. He isn't an elite coach.

Tom Herman failed at FAU. But he had relative success at Houston and Texas. He is undefeated in bowl games and even with his failed 2 years at FAU still has a 62% winning pct as a coach, just like Mullen does.

 

[king_kong_]

Better overall record
Better bowl record
Better record against ranked opponents may be evidence of why Mullen is a better coach than Rhule. But that wasn't the question.

I believe this does answer the question posed.

Better coaches tend to produce better results.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

Never said it was.

Fact is, Rhule maintained previous successes at both places. Each school’s worst record occurred on his watch.

This is the first actual turnaround he is attempting in his career and he is actually outperforming the prior multi-year span. That’s a good thing!

If he wins 10 here he can finally say he has turned a program around.

But you are discounting the fact that he had a depleted team in 2017 compared to the previous seasons. There is nuance to this that you seem to want to just disregard in an effort to make it look like Rhule was a bad coach at Baylor because Jim Grobe won 7 games with Art Briles players.

 

[king_kong_]

But you are discounting the fact that he had a depleted team in 2017 compared to the previous seasons. There is nuance to this that you seem to want to just disregard in an effort to make it look like Rhule was a bad coach at Baylor because Jim Grobe won 7 games with Art Briles players.

I’m not discounting it.

I am happy to concede that is why he won 1 game in his first year there, even if he knew full well what he was walking into.

He then failed to beat a single ranked team and failed to meet the heights produced by Briles in the following 2 years.

That’s not a “turnaround”, it’s maintenance.

 

[thall_]

The question was. What evidence do you have that Mullen would have done a better job at Nebraska

Better overall record
Better bowl record
Better record against ranked opponents

You answered your own question.

If you’re unwilling to accept that, then you’re asking for impossible evidence.

Mullen took over a 4 win bottom feeder in the toughest conference in CFB and had them at 9 wins by year 2.

Rhule took over a 4 win Nebraska team and still has a losing record by year 2.

 

[HuskerO58]

@HuskerO (who vehemently defended Satterfield til the end

When did this happen?

 

[HuskerO58]

He then failed to beat a single ranked team

He beat Texas that was ranked #25.

 

[HuskerO58]

That’s not a “turnaround”, it’s maintenance.

Did Mullen turnaround Mississippi St or Florida?

 

[HuskerO58]

In 9 years at Mississippi St, Dan Mullen beat a total of 3 teams who finished the season ranked.

Make of that as you will.

 

[king_kong_]

Did Mullen turnaround Mississippi St or Florida?

yes, he turned around Miss st. Obviously.

They’d won 4 games or less in 7 of 8 years before he got there. Their last 10+ win season was in the 1990s.

Florida, no. He lived up to their championship expectations, however.

Rhule has never done anything close to what Mullen did at Miss St. Few coaches have.

 

[HuskerO58]

yes, he turned around Miss st. Obviously.

They’d won 4 games or less in 7 of 8 years before he got there. Their last 10+ win season was in the 1990s.

Florida, no. He lived up to their championship expectations, however.

Rhule has never done anything close to what Mullen did at Miss St. Few coaches have.

Rhule took a team who had been bowling in 6 years and got them to a bowl game by year 2.

Something Mullen has never done.

 

[king_kong_]

In 9 years at Mississippi St, Dan Mullen beat a total of 3 teams who finished the season ranked.

Make of that as you will.

This is wrong.

Predictably.

 

[king_kong_]

Rhule took a team who had been bowling in 6 years and got them to a bowl game by year 2.

Something Mullen has never done.

Going 6-6 is not an accomplishment.

Miss st was down much, much worse than us when Mullen took over (1 bowl appearance in 8 years 4 wins or less in the other 7 seasons).

Great post, though. Made me laugh!

If Rhule wins 10 here, we can talk.

 

[Spinner45]

He was winning double digit games within 3 years at both previous college stops. He took better jobs each time he left. The NFL and college football are completely different animals. Since we are talking about college football and not the NFL, it seemed logical to only include college football.

What irony and how can irony be wrong? It is either ironic or it isn't.

logical or convenient?

If you’re going to play the “different animal game” well the B1G and AAC are different animals. couldn’t win 11 games in the B1G without beating a top 25 team like Rhule did @ Baylor.

College football at Nebraska vs Baylor are different animals. The pressure @ Nebraska is more on par then the NFL. Which Rhule has proved to fold under pressure.

 

[thall_]

logical or convenient?

If you’re going to play the “different animal game” well the B1G and AAC are different animals. couldn’t win 11 games in the B1G without beating a top 25 team like Rhule did @ Baylor.

College football at Nebraska vs Baylor are different animals. The pressure @ Nebraska is more on par then the NFL. Which Rhule has proved to fold under pressure. Check his big game track records.

The Oklahoma team that won the Big 12 that year would be lucky to finish 3rd in this years B1G.

If only we could see how that coach would perform in the B1G.

 

[Big bo fan]

The Oklahoma team that won the Big 12 that year would be lucky to finish 3rd in this years B1G.

If only we could see how that coach would perform in the B1G.

This had been an entertaining thread. You are all right and all wrong on the certain parts of the subject Carry on

 

[HuskerO58]

This is wrong.

Predictably.

2009: Jackson St, Vandy, Middle Tenn, Kentucky, #20 Mississippi.
1 finished in the top 25.

2010: Memphis, Alcorn St, Georgia, Houston, Florida, UAB, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Michigan
0 finished in the top 25.

2011: Memphis, LaTech, UAB, Kentucky, Tenn-Martin, Ole Miss, Wake Forest.
0 finished in the top 25.

2012: Jackson St, Auburn, Troy, South Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas.
0 finished in the top 25.

2013: Alcorn St, Troy, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Rice.
0 finished in the top 25.

2014: Southern Miss, UAB, South Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, #22 Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas, UT Martin, Vandy.
1 finished in the top 25.

2015: Southern Miss, Northwestern St, Auburn, Troy, LaTech, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, NC State.
0 finished in the top 25.

2016: South Carolina, UMass, Samford, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Miami (OH).
0 finished in the top 25.

2017: Charleston Southern, LaTech, #18 LSU, BYU, Kentucky, Texas A&M, UMass, Arkansas, Louisville.
1 finished in the top 25.

2009: #20 Mississippi
2014: #22 Auburn
2017: #18 LSU

It's very possible I missed someone, but I'm seeing 3 my friend.

 

[king_kong_]

2009: Jackson St, Vandy, Middle Tenn, Kentucky, #20 Mississippi.
1 finished in the top 25.

2010: Memphis, Alcorn St, Georgia, Houston, Florida, UAB, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Michigan
0 finished in the top 25.

2011: Memphis, LaTech, UAB, Kentucky, Tenn-Martin, Ole Miss, Wake Forest.
0 finished in the top 25.

2012: Jackson St, Auburn, Troy, South Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Middle Tennessee, Arkansas.
0 finished in the top 25.

2013: Alcorn St, Troy, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ole Miss, Rice.
0 finished in the top 25.

2014: Southern Miss, UAB, South Alabama, LSU, Texas A&M, #22 Auburn, Kentucky, Arkansas, UT Martin, Vandy.
1 finished in the top 25.

2015: Southern Miss, Northwestern St, Auburn, Troy, LaTech, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, NC State.
0 finished in the top 25.

2016: South Carolina, UMass, Samford, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Miami (OH).
0 finished in the top 25.

2017: Charleston Southern, LaTech, #18 LSU, BYU, Kentucky, Texas A&M, UMass, Arkansas, Louisville.
1 finished in the top 25.

2009: #20 Mississippi
2014: #22 Auburn
2017: #18 LSU

It's very possible I missed someone, but I'm seeing 3 my friend.

2014 LSU also finished in the top 25

and Auburn finished 19th that year, not 22nd

 

[HuskerO58]

Going 6-6 is not an accomplishment.

Miss st was down much, much worse than us when Mullen took over (1 bowl appearance in 8 years 4 wins or less in the other 7 seasons).

Great post, though. Made me laugh!

If Rhule wins 10 here, we can talk.

Nebraska also had 1 bowl appearance in 8 years prior to Rhule.

You and @thall_ always want context when someone questions your takes but when there is context to refute your takes, its just BS in your mind.

 

[king_kong_]

Nebraska also had 1 bowl appearance in 8 years prior to Rhule.

Nebraska still averaged more than a full win more than Miss St when you compare those 8-year stretches.

1943-1951 is the only time in our history we've been as bad as they were prior to Mullen taking over.

 

[HuskerO58]

2014 LSU also finished in the top 25

and Auburn finished 19th that year, not 22nd

Aurburn: I was going off of the best between Coaches & AP poll. But it doesn't matter, we both agree they were ranked.

LSU: I'm pretty certain LSU didn't finish ranked. They were ranked #22/#23 going into the bowl game and lost to Notre Dame in the bowl game. Very unlikely they'd finished ranked. Again, maybe I'm wrong but what # did they finish ranked?

 

[HuskerO58]

Nebraska still averaged more than a full win more than Miss St when you compare those 8-year stretches.

You're really splitting hairs.

But sure, which is why I believe both coaches are pretty equal.

 

[king_kong_]

You're really splitting hairs.

But sure, which is why I believe both coaches are pretty equal.

Rhule won 6 year 2, Mullen won 9

in a better conference, coming from a worse position

do you think 6-6 and 9-3 are pretty equal also?

 

[king_kong_]

Aurburn: I was going off of the best between Coaches & AP poll. But it doesn't matter, we both agree they were ranked.

LSU: I'm pretty certain LSU didn't finish ranked. They were ranked #22/#23 going into the bowl game and lost to Notre Dame in the bowl game. Very unlikely they'd finished ranked. Again, maybe I'm wrong but what # did they finish ranked?

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2014-polls.html

 

[HuskerO58]

Rhule won 6 year 2, Mullen won 9

in a better conference, coming from a worse position

do you think 6-6 and 9-3 are pretty equal also?

I don't look at things in such narrow lenses.

 

[HuskerO58]

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/years/2014-polls.html

LSU didn't finish 8-4

 

[thall_]

Aurburn: I was going off of the best between Coaches & AP poll. But it doesn't matter, we both agree they were ranked.

LSU: I'm pretty certain LSU didn't finish ranked. They were ranked #22/#23 going into the bowl game and lost to Notre Dame in the bowl game. Very unlikely they'd finished ranked. Again, maybe I'm wrong but what # did they finish ranked?

> spends pages debating a point over which he’s “pretty certain”
> needs information spoon-fed to him to continue

 

[cHUCK001]

Debating Matt Rhule? What the F is wrong with you guys? The dude is a ****** coach and a used car salseman clown. 2025 is the easiest schedule in 30 years. Do you think this slobbering bearded .50 coach is going to take them over the hump? It it dumbfounding what a bunch of "football pros" ie.. dipshit homers who know nothing about how football works perceives this idiot.
With that ***** schedule, nothing short of 10 wins is ****. Guess what? More than likely it will be his 3rd losing season to start his Neb career.
Oh I am a Iowa homer? Piss off you clowns. I will put my 8 years on this board against anyone. Matt Rhule is a dipshit period. Dana or whatever. I like the hire, but he's just another smooth talker who is 1-2 as an OC. Whatever gets your rocks off. Yes I am drunk. However, in a year, revisit this post and I will be right. Like I HAVE BEEN FOR 8 YEARS. BUT I AM A IOWA Troll. lol. No. I am just a drunk who knows what's up. Matt Rhule? ****** hire and ****** coach. We will be looking for a new one in 1-2 years. Not brain surgery. Keep the optimism , though. LOL.

 

[cHUCK001]

Dan Mullen is an average coach, yet he is still better than this clown we have and would have been a much better hire.

 

[cHUCK001]

I don't look at things in such narrow lenses.

You will in a year.

 

[Redscarlet]

Debating Matt Rhule? What the F is wrong with you guys? The dude is a ****** coach and a used car salseman clown. 2025 is the easiest schedule in 30 years. Do you think this slobbering bearded .50 coach is going to take them over the hump? It it dumbfounding what a bunch of "football pros" ie.. dipshit homers who know nothing about how football works perceives this idiot.
With that ***** schedule, nothing short of 10 wins is ****. Guess what? More than likely it will be his 3rd losing season to start his Neb career.
Oh I am an Iowa homer? Piss off you clowns. I will put my 8 years on this board against anyone. Matt Rhule is a dipshit period. Dana or whatever. I like the hire, but he's just another smooth talker who is 1-2 as an OC. Whatever gets your rocks off. Yes I am drunk. However, in a year, revisit this post and I will be right. Like I HAVE BEEN FOR 8 YEARS. BUT I AM A IOWA Troll. lol. No. I am just a drunk who knows what's up. Matt Rhule? ****** hire and ****** coach. We will be looking for a new one in 1-2 years. Not brain surgery. Keep the optimism , though. LOL.

Better go back and get a refill of Bourbon over the Clarkeye forum. You’re out of bourbon here.

 

[HuskerO58]

> spends pages debating a point over which he’s “pretty certain”
> needs information spoon-fed to him to continue

Unlike you, I'm willing to admit that I may be incorrect when doing the research.

Nothing needed "spoon-fed" because it turns out that I wasn't incorrect so your post is, once again, very stupid.

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

yes, he turned around Miss st. Obviously.

They’d won 4 games or less in 7 of 8 years before he got there. Their last 10+ win season was in the 1990s.

Florida, no. He lived up to their championship expectations, however.

Rhule has never done anything close to what Mullen did at Miss St. Few coaches have.

Until he didn’t and was fired

 

[RealTucoSalamanca]

You answered your own question.

If you’re unwilling to accept that, then you’re asking for impossible evidence.

Mullen took over a 4 win bottom feeder in the toughest conference in CFB and had them at 9 wins by year 2.

Rhule took over a 4 win Nebraska team and still has a losing record by year 2.

You and @king_kong_ are both conveniently forgetting the 6 win regular seasons in year 3 and 5 and the 5 win regular season in year 8. So does that not count? If Rhule wins 9 in 2025 and the. 6 in 2026, he will be fired, not praised as some excellent coach. Is 6 wins an accomplishment or not? Does turning a program around mean having five 7 or less win regular seasons and five 8 or more win seasons over 9 years? Sneaking into a bowl game in year 8 with a 5-7 record.

As I have stated. He is a fine coach but he ended up being fired at Florida the only real pressure filled job he has had. Then he sat idle for a few years waiting for the highly coveted UNLV job to open up.