12-19-2007, 05:58 PM
PUBLISHED: Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Jones linked as WVU candidate
By DREW ELLIS
Sun Sports Writer
Just one week ago, everything seemed quiet in Mt. Pleasant.
Everything seemed to be in place and after a crazy off-season for the football program last year, it seemed like this off-season would be a little more quiet.
But, Rich Rodriguez had other ideas.
Though Central Michigan University was probably the furthest thing from his mind, Rodriguez choosing to accept the head coaching job at Michigan has some serious implications here at CMU.
Since the announcement that Rodriguez would be leaving the Mountaineers for Wolverine country, there has been a lot of national discussion as to who would be a candidate to be the coach of West Virginia next season.
One of the first names mentioned on many media outlets, mainly ESPN, has been CMU coach Butch Jones.
The link is very simple and expected.
Jones came to CMU after being the wide receivers coach at WVU and Jones has had a close relationship with Rodriguez and stays in contact with him regularly.
Jones has always spoke fondly of his time at West Virginia and his goals to build what WVU has here in Mt. Pleasant.
It is also fair to say that West Virginia thought highly of Jones.
As CMU courted Jones into being the head coach of the Chippewas, West Virginia did attempt to keep Jones, offering him a better deal as an assistant with the opportunity to land a coordinator's job in the future.
Taking Jones would also make for a smooth transition for the team, as the offense Jones runs is very similar, if not identical, to what Rodriguez ran.
It makes sense for both parties to have some interest in one another. I would be very surprised if Jones had no interest in the position.
Jones now finds himself in a very tough position.
Last year was a much different situation than this one, but CMU fans still have the bad taste in their mouth left by Brian Kelly.
Kelly was actively pursuing new coaching jobs left and right. Kelly wanted out and he wanted a brighter star.
Jones is not actively looking to leave CMU. I know for a fact that Jones truly wants to be part of taking the Chippewas to the next level.
But in the same breath, Jones couldn't have seen Rodriguez leaving West Virginia one year after he arrived at CMU. This whole situation just kind of came together out of nowhere. Jones didn't find the job opening, the job opening may have found Jones.
Jones can't come out and say he is interested in the WVU job - what would that say to his players and what would that say about his focus on bettering the CMU program and winning the Motor City Bowl?
However, it should be understandable that he would be interested.
Let's be honest, Central Michigan is not West Virginia.
Could it be someday? Maybe, but it will take a lot of work.
The Mountaineers were one win away from playing for a national championship. CMU would need to have a dream season just to reach a BCS bowl.
I am not trying to disrespect Central Michigan, but that is just the nature of the beast in the college football world.
Jones will now have to walk a thin line, as he is not the overwhelming favorite to get the WVU job and to some, is a long shot.
Jones only has a year of experience as a head coach. That could be a concern.
Jones is also in the mix with other candidates like WVU alum Terry Bowden, Florida assistant Doc Holliday, Florida State assistant Jimbo Fisher, and Virginia Tech assistant Bud Foster.
West Virginia could also be looking to start new and rid itself of anything related to Rich Rodriguez.
The West Virginia fans certainly seemed to turn on Rodriguez in a hurry and may not want to welcome one of his past assistants.
But, there are plenty of hypotheticals out there, and more times than not, those hypotheticals don't come true.
Let's not forget that ESPN has been quick to jump the gun as of late. Hopefully this won't be another year of questions for the CMU football \
program and the Chippewas can continue to grow with Jones as coach. I know this isn't the kind of media attention that Jones was hoping the program would get this close to the bowl game, but once ESPN spoke his name, it started the train that we all thought had passed this city by last season.
So for the time being, let's hope the hype train runs out of coal before it can hit Mt. Pleasant.
article link
Is this guy a writer for CMU? He seems as if he's more of a fan of BJ then CMU. We know we're not a BCS school, but I wouldn't expect that to come from a local sports writer who is, I would assume someone to be in CMU's corner. He seems like he's in BJ's corner more than anything. This guy just sold out. What a prick.
Jones linked as WVU candidate
By DREW ELLIS
Sun Sports Writer
Just one week ago, everything seemed quiet in Mt. Pleasant.
Everything seemed to be in place and after a crazy off-season for the football program last year, it seemed like this off-season would be a little more quiet.
But, Rich Rodriguez had other ideas.
Though Central Michigan University was probably the furthest thing from his mind, Rodriguez choosing to accept the head coaching job at Michigan has some serious implications here at CMU.
Since the announcement that Rodriguez would be leaving the Mountaineers for Wolverine country, there has been a lot of national discussion as to who would be a candidate to be the coach of West Virginia next season.
One of the first names mentioned on many media outlets, mainly ESPN, has been CMU coach Butch Jones.
The link is very simple and expected.
Jones came to CMU after being the wide receivers coach at WVU and Jones has had a close relationship with Rodriguez and stays in contact with him regularly.
Jones has always spoke fondly of his time at West Virginia and his goals to build what WVU has here in Mt. Pleasant.
It is also fair to say that West Virginia thought highly of Jones.
As CMU courted Jones into being the head coach of the Chippewas, West Virginia did attempt to keep Jones, offering him a better deal as an assistant with the opportunity to land a coordinator's job in the future.
Taking Jones would also make for a smooth transition for the team, as the offense Jones runs is very similar, if not identical, to what Rodriguez ran.
It makes sense for both parties to have some interest in one another. I would be very surprised if Jones had no interest in the position.
Jones now finds himself in a very tough position.
Last year was a much different situation than this one, but CMU fans still have the bad taste in their mouth left by Brian Kelly.
Kelly was actively pursuing new coaching jobs left and right. Kelly wanted out and he wanted a brighter star.
Jones is not actively looking to leave CMU. I know for a fact that Jones truly wants to be part of taking the Chippewas to the next level.
But in the same breath, Jones couldn't have seen Rodriguez leaving West Virginia one year after he arrived at CMU. This whole situation just kind of came together out of nowhere. Jones didn't find the job opening, the job opening may have found Jones.
Jones can't come out and say he is interested in the WVU job - what would that say to his players and what would that say about his focus on bettering the CMU program and winning the Motor City Bowl?
However, it should be understandable that he would be interested.
Let's be honest, Central Michigan is not West Virginia.
Could it be someday? Maybe, but it will take a lot of work.
The Mountaineers were one win away from playing for a national championship. CMU would need to have a dream season just to reach a BCS bowl.
I am not trying to disrespect Central Michigan, but that is just the nature of the beast in the college football world.
Jones will now have to walk a thin line, as he is not the overwhelming favorite to get the WVU job and to some, is a long shot.
Jones only has a year of experience as a head coach. That could be a concern.
Jones is also in the mix with other candidates like WVU alum Terry Bowden, Florida assistant Doc Holliday, Florida State assistant Jimbo Fisher, and Virginia Tech assistant Bud Foster.
West Virginia could also be looking to start new and rid itself of anything related to Rich Rodriguez.
The West Virginia fans certainly seemed to turn on Rodriguez in a hurry and may not want to welcome one of his past assistants.
But, there are plenty of hypotheticals out there, and more times than not, those hypotheticals don't come true.
Let's not forget that ESPN has been quick to jump the gun as of late. Hopefully this won't be another year of questions for the CMU football \
program and the Chippewas can continue to grow with Jones as coach. I know this isn't the kind of media attention that Jones was hoping the program would get this close to the bowl game, but once ESPN spoke his name, it started the train that we all thought had passed this city by last season.
So for the time being, let's hope the hype train runs out of coal before it can hit Mt. Pleasant.
article link
Is this guy a writer for CMU? He seems as if he's more of a fan of BJ then CMU. We know we're not a BCS school, but I wouldn't expect that to come from a local sports writer who is, I would assume someone to be in CMU's corner. He seems like he's in BJ's corner more than anything. This guy just sold out. What a prick.