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http://wkmi.com/pj-fleck-not-ready-for-b...-football/

Whether the current WMU coach was passed over or he himself decided to hold out for something better than Purdue or Cincy, it looks like Fleck is staying at WMU.
He is only 36. Could stay at wmu until nd or Michigan state or any big time opens. Eastern Michigan coach will also be a great hire for big time program someday.
I imagine he is eyeing the ND job.
He's from N ILL (outside Chicago) and played at N ILL.

Other than a little NFL experience, and a couple years as the WR coach at Rutgers, he really doesn't seem to have any particular allegiance to a G5 program.

Wonder if he'd take Northwestern or Illinois? Of course, those are probably both a few years off barring complete disaster.

Michigan and Michigan St won't be open for some time. Can't see Mayer leaving Ohio St or Franklin leaving Penn St.
I'm guessing Fleck is aware of his youth and that he has plenty of time to wait for a near-perfect opportunity. Jumping for the wrong job now and failing there could cost him years until he can get as hot as he is now (if ever) in the coaching world, so I can imagine the hesitation. Just for perspective, Nick Saban was 38 when he took his first head coaching job at Toledo and it wasn't until he was 48 to be a really hot coaching commodity when he jumped from Michigan State to LSU, but Fleck on the other hand is positioned to take WMU on a MAC run like Marshall in the nineties and he's not even 40. If he does that he can almost go anywhere he wants in a few years.
(12-11-2016 11:02 AM)bluesox Wrote: [ -> ]He is only 36. Could stay at wmu until nd or Michigan state or any big time opens. Eastern Michigan coach will also be a great hire for big time program someday.

Its early but he could follow the Chris Peterson plan and wait for a dream job.
His strong recruiting should only get better with a Cotton Bowl appearance .
Western Michigan has a similar ceiling to BSU with the AAC being the top destination possible.
They averaged close to 29k so their getting a benefit out of the winning unlike NIU.
With WMU getting a medical school and being half way between Detroit and Chicago the investment is worth it.
I would overpay him for about four years with a big buyout for the first three.
If he leaves sooner than later the next coach would benefit from his recruiting and get paid with his buyout.
Dantonio is not that young the MSU job would be worth leaving four in five years.
I would take MSU over ND less pressure with equal chance of winning.
Peterson did that by turning down USC I am sure he could have taken WSU(Purdue like) but he waited for Washington which is like MSU.
as coach you have to be more choosy these days about where you go

if you are making $800,000 or $1.2 million a year you are not doing bad

you make a jump to one of these no win situations where a team is churning through coaches every 4 or 5 years and you are probably just going to be another on the list and you get yourself back into being the perpetual coordinator

some might say "you have to take the risk" ect, but that does not mean you have to be stupid

look how many big name coaches some P5 programs have killed the career of.....you can say "well $3 or $3.5 million per year guaranteed for 4 or 5 years adds up Vs $1 million a year or so (probably also guaranteed for 3 or 4 years)"

but the reality is waiting a single year or even two years for a better fit can probably result in getting $500,000 a year more or even $1m a year more and if you last at that program more for a couple of years past 3 years well you are a lot of money ahead

or if you make a jump to one of these desperate programs that is paying all their academic money to land a coach for $3 million a year (and you are not stupid enough to lock yourself into their big buyout nonsense) well from there you can probably jump in a year or two for $5 million a year guaranteed and again making the right jump and lasting past 3 or 4 years and you are light years ahead on total career earnings

this Vs making a jump to a program that is churning through coaches every 4 years for $3 million a year and then going back to being a perpetual coordinator

sure there is the risk that it all blows up while you are waiting that year at your current program, but you have to weigh the position o your program in the conference you play in, the composition of the team (losing all your talent in a very evenly matched conference perhaps make a jump) and you have to look at the situation of the programs available

look at the coach from Temple you can say "Oregon Vs Baylor what a mistake", but the reality is Baylor pays massively, they have a lot of talent still there now, they are in a talent rich area and he probably has some leeway as far as dropping down to 7 wins or so and then building back up

at Oregon sure they have a lot to recruit to (really so does Baylor now), but they are across the country from where he has coached and you have to bring the talent to the school from a ways away and with traditional long term doormats like WSU, CU and others doing well now and with WU seemingly in a position to do very well and with USC having the ability to do what it takes and with BSU still cruising along Oregon has a lot of competition to get back to "USC and Oregon and the rest"

so his chance for longevity at Baylor for the same or better cash is much greater and the reality is if he does well there especially in the current situation well there are 8 or 10 teams that will make a MAJOR bid to try and buy him away from there and Baylor can possibly match that if he wants to stay and they want him that bad to stay
IMO he's making the right decision staying put. The only P5 opening that would have been worth the risk that he would have possibly had a shot at was Oregon and the risk there is no West Coast ties. Texas knew who they wanted before they fired Strong, Indiana was going internal from the get-go, LSU would have brought an inordinate amount of expectations while you retooled the offense, Purdue is a complete rebuild, and Baylor simply wasn't worth the risk due to the stuff that is out of the control of the new coach.

Chances are that next year even if he drops off from the level of play this year he'll be at or near the top of the wish lists of any programs looking, and there should be a lot more openings.

As for his style...I believe that if he gets a position where he gets the support he needs he'll succeed. From afar he reminds me of Dabo Swinney in his approach and nobody at this point can question Swinney's ability to lead a program.
Pretty much agree with Kaplony above.

I think Fleck wants to jump directly to a high profile P5. Its been rumored by writers that his agent said he'd only consider P5 jobs. The best open P5 job was Oregon---and that wasnt really a fit. His best chance of success is to stay near his Midwest roots. Purdue was the only P5 job that was a "fit" that was open this year. Purdue moved on when Fleck wouldn't interview prior to the end of the season. Lets be honest---Purdue is a Big10 job....but its Purdue. If that job is Michigan St, Fleck wouldn't have let it get away. I think he has decided that since he has recruited the top recruiting class in the MAC every year he has been at WMU, he will be in position to do well again next year. I think he figures a better P5 job thats a better fit will open in 2017. WMU will give him a couple million to stick around another year---not a bad route to go for PJ.
There's no reason to think WMU will ever approach being this good again. They may sneak into the top 25 every now and again but this will likely be their height for decades. He should have struck while the iron was hot though it's possible he didn't want to abandon ship before a major bowl game, which is commendable. As long as Western has a solid showing next season and even beats USC or Michigan State, he should be fine and get a good gig next season.
(12-11-2016 02:49 PM)_C2_ Wrote: [ -> ]There's no reason to think WMU will ever approach being this good again. They may sneak into the top 25 every now and again but this will likely be their height for decades. He should have struck while the iron was hot though it's possible he didn't want to abandon ship before a major bowl game, which is commendable. As long as Western has a solid showing next season and even beats USC or Michigan State, he should be fine and get a good gig next season.

Honestly people thought Chris Peterson made a mistake after not leaving Boise State after the 2009 season and he's turned out alright. Fleck has recruited well and his system in in place at WMU so I don't expect a huge drop-off any time soon and the run this year should reap benefits on the recruiting trail not just this year but next. If WMU gives him the raise suggested he's not going to be hurting for money and can afford to take the best job available rather than settling for something difficult just because it's P5.
(12-11-2016 12:29 PM)MJG Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-11-2016 11:02 AM)bluesox Wrote: [ -> ]He is only 36. Could stay at wmu until nd or Michigan state or any big time opens. Eastern Michigan coach will also be a great hire for big time program someday.

Its early but he could follow the Chris Peterson plan and wait for a dream job.
His strong recruiting should only get better with a Cotton Bowl appearance .
Western Michigan has a similar ceiling to BSU with the AAC being the top destination possible.
They averaged close to 29k so their getting a benefit out of the winning unlike NIU.
With WMU getting a medical school and being half way between Detroit and Chicago the investment is worth it.
I would overpay him for about four years with a big buyout for the first three.
If he leaves sooner than later the next coach would benefit from his recruiting and get paid with his buyout.
Dantonio is not that young the MSU job would be worth leaving four in five years.
I would take MSU over ND less pressure with equal chance of winning.
Peterson did that by turning down USC I am sure he could have taken WSU(Purdue like) but he waited for Washington which is like MSU.

Petersen did much better. Washington is a better job than Michigan State, or Oregon for that matter. (Also, he didn't turn down USC — Pat Haden thought Petersen didn't fit the USC mold, and Haden hired Sarkisian instead. Doh!)

The key for Petersen was winning year after year after year at Boise State. Maybe Petersen could have had the Washington State job when it opened after the 2007 season -- but he didn't leave for Washington until after the 2013 season.

Petersen was still a hot candidate 6 years later because he won 92 games in 8 years in Boise. Fleck will have to have that kind of success at Western Michigan (i.e., averaging 10 or 11 wins per year) if he wants to be on P5 short lists several years from now.
Boise State and WMU have nothing in common other than their mascot. Boise had years of credibility and even Petersen had lots on his resume by the time you mentioned, proving he didn't just win via someone else's recruits.

Fleck is a hot name but there's no reason to think this team isn't some kind of fluke.
Quote:Fleck is a hot name but there's no reason to think this team isn't some kind of fluke.

Fluke? Fluke would be Hazell @Kent State ... his first year they were 5-7 (not bad for a KSU team), and his 2nd year he went 11-1 regular season, Ranked, then being hired. That's a "fluke".

PJ has gotten the best recruits in the MAC (and among the highest in G5s) for his years there, going 8-5 twice -- and winning WMU's 1st bowl -- then going 13-0 winning the MAC, ranked and going to the Cotton Bowl. Upper Level Success is *not* a fluke. No more than the year Boise was #6 or #8 going into the bowls, instead of the upper teens or something. Neither are flukes -- they're peak years. And yeah, this year is a peak year -- while he's still moving it up.

I think the response by some Admin that he's not "ready for Big Boy" football is because he operates out of the box, and wouldn't bite on things before the regular season was done. P5 places can or will take that as a Slap... as they believe Any G5 team is not "Big Boy" football, and the chance to jump on 95% of the P5s should be taken at moments notice is "not understanding" what "Big Boy" football's all about (rolling eyes).

That POV is not based on nothing, but it's exuded to save face for him not chasing it either.
(12-11-2016 05:28 PM)toddjnsn Wrote: [ -> ]
Quote:Fleck is a hot name but there's no reason to think this team isn't some kind of fluke.

Fluke? Fluke would be Hazell @Kent State ... his first year they were 5-7 (not bad for a KSU team), and his 2nd year he went 11-1 regular season, Ranked, then being hired. That's a "fluke".

PJ has gotten the best recruits in the MAC (and among the highest in G5s) for his years there, going 8-5 twice -- and winning WMU's 1st bowl -- then going 13-0 winning the MAC, ranked and going to the Cotton Bowl. Upper Level Success is *not* a fluke. No more than the year Boise was #6 or #8 going into the bowls, instead of the upper teens or something.

One great season doesn't make a coach the next Petersen.

"the year Boise was ranked" — Ha ha ha. As if that was Boise State's only good year under Petersen.

That was Petersen's first season at Boise. The six years after that, his Boise teams were 10-3, 12-1, 14-0, 12-1, 12-1, and 11-2.
(12-11-2016 05:28 PM)toddjnsn Wrote: [ -> ]
Quote:Fleck is a hot name but there's no reason to think this team isn't some kind of fluke.

Fluke? Fluke would be Hazell @Kent State ... his first year they were 5-7 (not bad for a KSU team), and his 2nd year he went 11-1 regular season, Ranked, then being hired. That's a "fluke".

PJ has gotten the best recruits in the MAC (and among the highest in G5s) for his years there, going 8-5 twice -- and winning WMU's 1st bowl -- then going 13-0 winning the MAC, ranked and going to the Cotton Bowl. Upper Level Success is *not* a fluke. No more than the year Boise was #6 or #8 going into the bowls, instead of the upper teens or something. Neither are flukes -- they're peak years. And yeah, this year is a peak year -- while he's still moving it up.

I think the response by some Admin that he's not "ready for Big Boy" football is because he operates out of the box, and wouldn't bite on things before the regular season was done. P5 places can or will take that as a Slap... as they believe Any G5 team is not "Big Boy" football, and the chance to jump on 95% of the P5s should be taken at moments notice is "not understanding" what "Big Boy" football's all about (rolling eyes).

That POV is not based on nothing, but it's exuded to save face for him not chasing it either.

Okay homer, Boise had a tract record of success. They won major bowl games, won their conference (as weak as it was) basically every year, won 10 games and was ranked almost every season for years. This is Western Michigan's first really good team in 15 years. And that's just me, a college football fan speaking, no one else outside the Rust Belt/Frost Belt remembers a really good Western Michigan team.

They have to win consistently to prove this wasn't anything more than a one year wonder. Next year could be a start of that:

1. Beat USC
2. Beat Michigan State
3. Win your MAC division
4. Win the MAC outright
5 Win 10 games
6. Finished ranked
7. Go to a major bowl
8. Win your bowl game

Do at least 5-6 of those and you'll get all the respect you want. Until then, you're just a random directional MAC team that had a great year. Those teams come and go. The last MAC team to consistently turn heads nationally was Marshall.
(12-11-2016 06:05 PM)_C2_ Wrote: [ -> ]
(12-11-2016 05:28 PM)toddjnsn Wrote: [ -> ]
Quote:Fleck is a hot name but there's no reason to think this team isn't some kind of fluke.

Fluke? Fluke would be Hazell @Kent State ... his first year they were 5-7 (not bad for a KSU team), and his 2nd year he went 11-1 regular season, Ranked, then being hired. That's a "fluke".

PJ has gotten the best recruits in the MAC (and among the highest in G5s) for his years there, going 8-5 twice -- and winning WMU's 1st bowl -- then going 13-0 winning the MAC, ranked and going to the Cotton Bowl. Upper Level Success is *not* a fluke. No more than the year Boise was #6 or #8 going into the bowls, instead of the upper teens or something. Neither are flukes -- they're peak years. And yeah, this year is a peak year -- while he's still moving it up.

I think the response by some Admin that he's not "ready for Big Boy" football is because he operates out of the box, and wouldn't bite on things before the regular season was done. P5 places can or will take that as a Slap... as they believe Any G5 team is not "Big Boy" football, and the chance to jump on 95% of the P5s should be taken at moments notice is "not understanding" what "Big Boy" football's all about (rolling eyes).

That POV is not based on nothing, but it's exuded to save face for him not chasing it either.

Okay homer, Boise had a tract record of success. They won major bowl games, won their conference (as weak as it was) basically every year, won 10 games and was ranked almost every season for years. This is Western Michigan's first really good team in 15 years. And that's just me, a college football fan speaking, no one else outside the Rust Belt/Frost Belt remembers a really good Western Michigan team.

They have to win consistently to prove this wasn't anything more than a one year wonder. Next year could be a start of that:

1. Beat USC
2. Beat Michigan State
3. Win your MAC division
4. Win the MAC outright
5 Win 10 games
6. Finished ranked
7. Go to a major bowl
8. Win your bowl game

Do at least 5-6 of those and you'll get all the respect you want. Until then, you're just a random directional MAC team that had a great year. Those teams come and go. The last MAC team to consistently turn heads nationally was Marshall.

I 100% agree a long way to go before we are mentioned in the same breath.
I mean the Purdue job is a death trap, LSU went in house, Texas always was going after Herman, and Oregon wasn't interested. A very small coaching carousel this year, and probably a better chance of winning big at WMU again next year and being in line for the next round of openings than go to one of the AAC jobs and maybe have some struggles initially. If he goes out and wins 10+ next year he'll be the hot name on everyones list next year.
Perhaps Fleck is waiting to see if Jim Harbaugh is offered the HC position with the LA Rams.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/j...li=BBnb7Kz
Obviously no two situations are ever exactly the same.
PJ can consistently win for another five or six years and get the MSU type job. Possibly.Michigan or ND but Dantonio is older is why that one makes sense.
The schools have top of G5 potential no chance for P5 status.
Washington considering the expectations might be better than USC.
I seem to remember Peterson withdrew his name from the USC job.
MSU might be a better job than UM or ND considering expectations.
Why couldn't Fleck get to two or three Access Bowl games and win five or six conference championships.
He recruits way over his weight class WAC MAC whatever .
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