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I thought I would go ahead & start the thread. I'll give a few names, but first my thoughts on our greatest need. Obviously we need someone who can coach, but whoever is our next coach needs to have some James Franklin in him. In other words, he needs to be upbeat, have some personality & be a bit of a "sales" guy. If we don't seek someone that can look past all the negatives, & both find & sell the positives, we will not gain any ground in the league that we compete. We also need someone who can rally the football community in this area. I realize that most football fans grow up either AU or UA, but there are many that either don't have such allegiances or don't have the time to dedicate to travel or the funds necessary to follow those programs. In my opinion, we are a niche program. There is nothing wrong with that. I think schools like Arkansas State, La-Laf & even USA, which all compete at the lower financial end of D-1, like ourselves, have done good jobs of making themselves relative in the niche. I realize that USA has something that we do not, that being administrative (board) support, so there is a difference. That all being said some of the assistant coaches that immediately come to mind are; Frank Wilson (LSU), Mike Bobo (Ga) & Eddie Gran (Cincy). The obvious ommission is John Neal. I love John. I still speak with him regularly. I was out west on business & he got me on the sideline for a game. IMO, John fits all the criteria, but our coach just left to be an oc at Louisville. I would think that, if he's offered the dc at OU, he stays out west. The next couple of guys are former head coaches who are now assistants; Mario Cristobal (UA) & GA Mangus (S Carolina). A couple of retreads come to mind, but I'm not sure that's the way I'd go; Butch Davis (UNC), Houston Nutt (Arkansas). Lastly, I would look at the lower levels for an up & coming coach. I would look down the road to Jax State & call Bill Clark. He's won at the high school level, like few others. He's well-liked in the AHSAA coaching community. He was the dc at USA, but was considered for that position at a couple of high-level BCS schools prior to taking the JSU job. Oh by the way, he just won at Jax State & will do so again. Brian has a big decision to make. I wish him the best. Go Blazers!

1. The thread has already been started.
2. Go to paragraph school.

(01-09-2014 01:18 PM)om blazer Wrote:  I thought I would go ahead & start the thread. I'll give a few names, but first my thoughts on our greatest need. Obviously we need someone who can coach, but whoever is our next coach needs to have some James Franklin in him. In other words, he needs to be upbeat, have some personality & be a bit of a "sales" guy. If we don't seek someone that can look past all the negatives, & both find & sell the positives, we will not gain any ground in the league that we compete. We also need someone who can rally the football community in this area. I realize that most football fans grow up either AU or UA, but there are many that either don't have such allegiances or don't have the time to dedicate to travel or the funds necessary to follow those programs. In my opinion, we are a niche program. There is nothing wrong with that. I think schools like Arkansas State, La-Laf & even USA, which all compete at the lower financial end of D-1, like ourselves, have done good jobs of making themselves relative in the niche. I realize that USA has something that we do not, that being administrative (board) support, so there is a difference. That all being said some of the assistant coaches that immediately come to mind are; Frank Wilson (LSU), Mike Bobo (Ga) & Eddie Gran (Cincy). The obvious ommission is John Neal. I love John. I still speak with him regularly. I was out west on business & he got me on the sideline for a game. IMO, John fits all the criteria, but our coach just left to be an oc at Louisville. I would think that, if he's offered the dc at OU, he stays out west. The next couple of guys are former head coaches who are now assistants; Mario Cristobal (UA) & GA Mangus (S Carolina). A couple of retreads come to mind, but I'm not sure that's the way I'd go; Butch Davis (UNC), Houston Nutt (Arkansas). Lastly, I would look at the lower levels for an up & coming coach. I would look down the road to Jax State & call Bill Clark. He's won at the high school level, like few others. He's well-liked in the AHSAA coaching community. He was the dc at USA, but was considered for that position at a couple of high-level BCS schools prior to taking the JSU job. Oh by the way, he just won at Jax State & will do so again. Brian has a big decision to make. I wish him the best. Go Blazers!

I hope the heck he makes his own decision........not another "search committee" deal.

(01-09-2014 01:24 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  1. The thread has already been started.
2. Go to paragraph school.

1. I actually started my thoughts before that thread was started, but I waited until I had a break to post.
2. I have 2 degrees from UAB. I thought that I was posting on a fan forum. I didn't realize that I was being graded. In the future, I'll remember that proper grammar is a must.

It will probably be a search committee because it will involve donors.

(01-09-2014 02:41 PM)om blazer Wrote:  

(01-09-2014 01:24 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  1. The thread has already been started.
2. Go to paragraph school.

1. I actually started my thoughts before that thread was started, but I waited until I had a break to post.
2. I have 2 degrees from UAB. I thought that I was posting on a fan forum. I didn't realize that I was being graded. In the future, I'll remember that proper grammar is a must.

You could be using great grammar, but if you don't break it up into paragraphs, it isn't going to be read. It reads better in smaller chunks.

Search committees are paid to look at all the angles, not to be biased, and to weigh things unemotionally. They also provide some cover if a bad choice is made.