First, let me say congrats. If you wanted this job, then your ascension to it is something you should be proud about.

I know you don't read this message board. I'm not your biggest fan. I'm disappointed in your selection, quite frankly. I'm concerned that you aren't ready to lead this program. I would be happy to eat my words in celebration of at least a West Division title and trip to the MACC game in the next 2 seasons--we'll see.

Please: don't hire a buddy as your OC. We had too many weapons that were wasted, and too many opportunities that evaporated, this season. Go outside the organization. Bring in somebody with some experience who understands the kind of talent we have here, and how to utilize it on the field...and getting the play calls in quicker would be very much appreciated (sorry...couldn't resist).

I imagine the fact that the players wanted you was a major factor in O'Brien's decision. Please lead them faithfully in preparation for the bowl game. This team has a chance to do something special yet. The game against Western should be considered an abomination, an embarrassment even, by all of you--players & staff. Time to get back on track. That should be a united, singular focus over the next few weeks. This will be the time that defines whether you were the best choice.

I also imagine that you sold to O'Brien that you could maintain many (maybe even most) of our current recruiting class. I doubt it--not because of you, but because I still think many of those verbals were awfully "soft" to begin with. But here's another opportunity for you to put words into actions. See if you can indeed bring back that recruiting class--or maybe even get something better.

I am a Rocket fan. I am so passionate that it pains me to see things like how this past season has played out. I want to see another MAC championship. I hope that you turn out to indeed be the right choice, and that when you leave here, it's because you have delivered something that several others have failed to do recently.

Good luck, and Go Rockets!

I'm pleased.

Fastest national search in the history of searches. Brass tacks, what drove this was the pending bowl game and salvaging our recruiting class. It might be a quick short term solution, but ultimately we needed a better long term solution.

I am very excited! And I think we keep some coaches and most of the recruits

(12-02-2015 01:57 PM)emanoh Wrote:  Fastest national search in the history of searches. Brass tacks, what drove this was the pending bowl game and salvaging our recruiting class. It might be a quick short term solution, but ultimately we needed a better long term solution.

UT doesn't need a rebuild. Talent is in place for a better season next year.
Needs some fine tuning. Lost the two games by a total of ten points.
Need a better job by the Defense and improve the Red Zone Offense.
A more experienced OL may take care of the Red Zone problem.

Part of the feeling I got watching the proceedings was that MOB did have concerns with keeping the class and having a respectable showing for the bowl game. I also feel that he is at least expecting this to be a place holder hire in that it allows him to put that short list together for a FB HC that I sense he did not have at this time. I think he was totally caught off guard by all of this.
Jason seems like a good but not great hire. Let's hope he can learn to be a head coach AND keep things headed in the to a MACC and greater for the Rockets.

(12-02-2015 05:15 PM)rocket 51 Wrote:  Part of the feeling I got watching the proceedings was that MOB did have concerns with keeping the class and having a respectable showing for the bowl game. I also feel that he is at least expecting this to be a place holder hire in that it allows him to put that short list together for a FB HC that I sense he did not have at this time. I think he was totally caught off guard by all of this.
Jason seems like a good but not great hire. Let's hope he can learn to be a head coach AND keep things headed in the to a MACC and greater for the Rockets.

I'm absolutely willing to support JC...as if that even matters. Let's give the guy a chance. I did like that he inferred he's not going to be a Campbell clone....

However there is no way that O'Brien wasn't prepared for this....Campbell has been on many short lists for at least the last couple of years.....

I will reserve judgment on Coach Candle until I see what he does as a head coach, but I am terribly disappointed that this national search never took place. I think it's unfair to the community and to the student body to not do everything possible to find the best head coach available to lead the Rockets. I hope I am pleasantly surprised at our success next year, but this just doesn't feel good to me.

I'm totally on board with this. It just made too much sense not to hire him.

Hopefully he can bring in a great staff and keep this ball rolling!

Go Rockets!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been told by staff inside the Athletic Dept that they DO PAY attention to threads on the Rocket Launch.

I will welcome a win over NIU and a MAC West title.

There was a national search. Rocket Nation.

Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB 6h6 hours ago
BTW had heard terrific things just this week from some big coaches about new #Toledo head coach Jason Candle. He had good options.
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(12-02-2015 07:04 PM)jimrunsfar Wrote:  Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB 6h6 hours ago
BTW had heard terrific things just this week from some big coaches about new #Toledo head coach Jason Candle. He had good options.
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I'm slow. Does that mean MOB had inquiries from big time coaches or does Candle have interest from big time coaches for assistant positions..

(12-02-2015 08:00 PM)Rocket_Fanatic Wrote:  

(12-02-2015 07:04 PM)jimrunsfar Wrote:  Bruce Feldman ‏@BruceFeldmanCFB 6h6 hours ago
BTW had heard terrific things just this week from some big coaches about new #Toledo head coach Jason Candle. He had good options.
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I'm slow. Does that mean MOB had inquiries from big time coaches or does Candle have interest from big time coaches for assistant positions..

Not really sure we can come to any specific conclusions other than JC is very well regarded much like MC is very well regarded within the coaching profession. I just find it very hard to imagine that any D1 AD doesn't:

1) Have a list of potential candidates ready to consider at any given moment

2) Have a way to vet those candidates quietly and quickly via internal sources, those in the business, consultants, search firms, etc.

3) And finally have a realistic and objective understanding of where your program sits in the pecking order of openings.

As I said in another post, I just can't imagine MOB made this decision because of 2 recruits de-committing and a sense of anxiety within the program.

We'll just have to see how it turns out.....but all things considered, wouldn't you rather maintain stability with a bit of tweaking than start all over??

Great hire needed to keep a great recruiting class together as much as possible and needed to keep the Head coach being a great recruiter. Whatever else anyone might think you have to have a guy who is great at recruiting to be a head coach because you win with players.

(12-02-2015 10:26 PM)rocketpaul Wrote:  Great hire needed to keep a great recruiting class together as much as possible and needed to keep the Head coach being a great recruiter. Whatever else anyone might think you have to have a guy who is great at recruiting to be a head coach because you win with players.

It's not about the X's & O's.....it's about the Jimmy's & Joe's