Good Move. Bad Move College Coaching Edition
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by user BigPPup
It’s time for another edition of “Good Move, Bad Move.” The exciting sporting news game, where we take a look at recent trends, decisions, ideas and occurrences in the sporting world and decide is it a Good Move, or a Bad Move. This week we are showcasing a special edition of “Good Move, Bad Move, we will be talking about college football coaches and the decisions they made and chose not to make. So without anymore ado let’s get started.
Randy Shannon
Now Head Coach Shannon is a Miami native. He grew up in the sunny city, where he saw violence and drugs nearly destroy his family. Despite that he went on to become a defensive starter at Miami University, and eventually worked his way up the coaching staff on the defensive side of the ball. Last season Shannon was the defensive coordinator and architect of a Miami defense that finished in the top 10 in the nation despite the team going 6-6.
Now he steps in to take over as head coach of his beloved Hurricanes. This is not the big name, or high power signing that many would want or expect from Miami, but it makes perfect sense given the circumstances. The Canes had trouble on the field (6-6 record and 1 brawl) and off the field (typical Miami players acting out). The once storied program is at the lowest point it has been at in some years, without being on a suspension or probation of some sort. Shannon has seen his school go through the good times and the bad times, he has also watched Miami grow and transform as a city. He knows the schools and the neighborhoods that the kids he will be recruiting live in. He knows the mindset of the Miami athletic department, the trustees, and the fan base. He is a perfect fit to step up and take over the wounded program. Plus becoming just the sixth Black coach in NC2A football is also a big step forward.
Randy Shannon as Miami’s head coach: Good Move.
Rich Rodriguez
After an amazing come from behind win in last seasons Sugar Bowl, and capping off another standout season in Morgantown that ended with a bid for a bowl game. Rich Rodriguez became one of the hottest names in coaching, and all the attention is justly deserved. Rodriguez put together a devastating rushing attack with Slayton and White at the helm. The Mountaineers put up numbers that are jus as gaudy as any fun and gun team.
While Rodriguez wrapped up his 2006 season, the Alabama Crimson Tide came calling, and they were flashing fistfuls of cash. (Although not as much as they offered Dolphins coach Nick Saben) Alabama wined and dined Rich Rodriguez and pulled out all their stops to get him down south and Bama nearly had him, but at the twelfth hour Rich Rodriguez backed out stating that his is a West Virginia man.
Rich Rodriguez is West Virginia’s real life Rudy. He walked onto the Mountaineers football team as an undergrad and earned a spot and playing time. As and fairly unknown coach he took the team from the school that was the butt of every joke, to a national powerhouse. With the success and the exposure he has brought to the school, Rodriguez can stay in Morgantown for as long as he wants. There is no way the Mountaineers are going to kick out their golden child.
Alabama is a great job. The prestige that comes along with the coaching job at Bama is unparallel. The problem is any person who coaches at Alabama will always have the ghost of Bear Bryant looming over their shoulder no matter how much success they achieve. 7-5 at Alabama makes for grounds for dismissal, 7-5 at West Virginia with Rich Rodriguez at the helm is still considered a great year.
Rich Rodriguez staying at West Virginia: Good Move
Tom O’Brian
Tom O’Brian built a top rated program at Boston College that is capable of competing for a conference title every year. BC has come a long way from the probation years, and Coach TO finally give the Eagles faithful something else to talk about besides Fluitie’s incredible pass. Tom O’Brian is a no nonsense style of coach, he graduated from the Navel Academy and O’Brian expects the same level of discipline from anyone who plays for him. Any Tom O’Brian team has a strong defense, and a dominating offensive line. In many ways Boston College plays more like an old time Big 10 or Big 12 team with their power football, never known for producing star power players, but always full of consistent and precise execution from the players on the field.
During this off season, Tom O’Brian will make the move from Boston College, to North Carolina State. North Carolina State is a program that a few seasons ago seemed ready to take the national rankings by storm. They had a stable of talented RB’s Coach Chuck Amato had the luxury of grooming Philip Rivers into a top rated QB. However, since Rivers left 3 seasons ago, Amato has struggled to find anyone capable of replacing the now NFL Pro-Bowler. The Wolfpack have underachieved greatly in the past two seasons, and with Butch Davis making his arrival at UNC, and the emergence of Wake Forest as a power, North Carolina is no longer a basketball only state.
Tom O’Brian’s name had come up for a few different coaching jobs, including the one in Miami. However, what makes this move interesting is where Tom O’Brian chose to go. In going to NC State, he is moving to a school that is not only in the same conference that he is currently in; it is in the same division in that conference. Also O’Brian will have to build a program at NC State. Amato left little talented down there upon his exit. Most of the time high profile or big name coaches look to make coaching moves that will improve their career and allow them to take a step up. In this case O’Brian is taking a lateral step or maybe a slight step down a level.
Tom O’Brian going to NC State: Bad Move
Greg Schiano and Jim Grobe
Both of these men are the spokesmen for the new wave of young and talented coaches. Both of them are coming off seasons where they seemingly did the impossible. For Greg Schiano, Rutgers has been one of the biggest laughing stocks in the history of college football. Despite New Jersey being a hot bed for talented athletes, they never dared stay at home and go to Rutgers. Schiano changed the way that Rutgers does football. This past season, Rutgers showcased one of the strongest defenses in college football; they were within one overtime period of winning the Big East. All of this has pushed Greg Schiano into the forefront of coaching hunt. Miami pushed hard for Shciano’s services but he denied them. Schiano is staying put for at least another season.
Jim Grobe came into Wake Forest, and took a team that was expected to finish 9th or worse in the ACC, and got them into the ACC title game and now they are playing in the Orange Bowl. Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl, this is the same program that has one ACC Championship in 1970. Now they are atop the conference. Grobe has put together an innovative offense for the Demon Deacons. Its part option, part spread, part counter-tre, and it has opposing teams around the country confused and baffled. What Jim Grobe did do with his success at Wake is transform a perennial loser and has put in the foundations of a program together that will be able to rival UNC, and NC State.
Both of these men have had their names called many times for new coaching jobs. However, both are remaining at their respected programs. Very good idea. Both of these men have built solid systems that work. They are not based on gimmicks, or one superstar player who is carrying the team on their own. Each program has a strong base that is built to last. There are a lot of coaching openings in college football this year, but many of these jobs are not good opportunities despite being at high profile schools.
Jim Grobe and Greg Schiano Staying at their schools: Good Move
