Reading the ODU board (reading only) there’s a thought simmering over there that their FB coach will be fired if they end the season with a losing record, to which one butterfly fan suggested they should hire Mike Houston as their next HC.

It’s an absurd suggestion, but suspend disbelief for the sake of a discussion. What would be your thoughts should MH leave for ODU?

Houston likely had plenty of opportunities to coach at a low-level G5 school following last season, and yet here he is still at JMU. Why would ODU be any better than those other options?

(08-11-2018 12:51 PM)Lyric Wrote:  Houston likely had plenty of opportunities to coach at a low-level G5 school following last season, and yet here he is still at JMU. Why would ODU be any better than those other options?

Agree. Word was MH turned down GSU (the real GSU) and for more money too, and GSU (IMO) is a notch above ODU. Then again, JMU as a FCS program is better than both GSU and ODU.

If we have the season we hope to have, he'll have P5 opportunities. A move to ODU wouldn't make any sense as it would be lateral at best. We're going to play this game every year but I hope Mike sticks around and builds up this JMU program into something special.

(08-11-2018 01:09 PM)DoubleDDuke Wrote:  If we have the season we hope to have, he'll have P5 opportunities. A move to ODU wouldn't make any sense as it would be lateral at best. We're going to play this game every year but I hope Mike sticks around and builds up this JMU program into something special.

Absolutely. That 10 year contract means very little if a big P5 comes callling for MH, but it would be super if JMU transitions to the next level and holds onto him.

Does his contract give us buyout money if he goes or is it essentially a symbolic 10-year deal?

The notion of a football HC leaving a fcs program to coach at the fbs level is not absurd.

Mike Houston is not Jim Laycock.

I don't see Houston to ODU. The pay difference does not work in his favor a year from now.

(08-11-2018 01:13 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Does his contract give us buyout money if he goes or is it essentially a symbolic 10-year deal?

I haven’t seen the contract, so don’t know. I assume it would, with a descending buyout amount as the contract nears its expiration. Then again, the built in raises and bonuses in the contract have MH at G5 level, so it would take a P5 with deep pockets to steal him away.

It looks like only a random post from one or two fans. If ODU squeeks into another bowl game and beats LU they will be content for now. They aren't all banging the drum to replace their coach.

I agree it will likely take a P5 job to lure MH away, and one that has real potential, not a perenial bottom dweller with no support. Really wish folks would give this topic a rest, at least until the season ends or we have reason to believe something actually is developing.

this thread should go well

(08-11-2018 01:13 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Does his contract give us buyout money if he goes or is it essentially a symbolic 10-year deal?

“If Houston moves to a Power Five conference job early in his contract, he would owe JMU $1 million, and that figure decreases as the contract’s length reduces.”

https://www.richmond.com/sports/jmu-rele...f6abe.html

(08-11-2018 03:23 PM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(08-11-2018 01:13 PM)HyperDuke Wrote:  Does his contract give us buyout money if he goes or is it essentially a symbolic 10-year deal?

“If Houston moves to a Power Five conference job early in his contract, he would owe JMU $1 million, and that figure decreases as the contract’s length reduces.”

https://www.richmond.com/sports/jmu-rele...f6abe.html

I really liked how VCU MBB handled that during their most active coaching turnover period. If you leave us for another program, your new team is obligated to play at VCU for a game. Not sure if that was in lieu of a buyout or in addition to one. Not functional for an FCS football program, I know. Just an interesting way to make sure your program keeps adding value in those situations.

I believe the only Sunbelt/CUSA he'd leave for is Appy. They love their football. Otherwise it'll be an AAC team or P5.

Please delete this post. It's Fake News and will never happen.

Why does this thread exist.... #FakeNews

The thread existing doesn’t bother me since it’s as hypothetical as lots of other stuff but the title sucks and nearly gave me a heart attack.

(08-11-2018 05:03 PM)Dignan Wrote:  The thread existing doesn’t bother me since it’s as hypothetical as lots of other stuff but the title sucks and nearly gave me a heart attack.

I wouldn’t wish a heart attack on anyone, but at least we know how you’d feel about such a development!

I don’t believe we will ever see MH at ODU, or any middling G5 program. JMU is very fortunate to have coach Houston, and I think he feels the same way about JMU. Isn’t his custom home finished, or just about finished?

He just signed a new contract with us. There is one way he leaves and only one- he gets an offer that is absolutely too hard to pass on. He's not leaving for money. GSU threw a ridiculous contract at him and he said no. ODU isn't going to throw anything that much or even a little more for him to leave.
If he leaves, it'll be for a P5. ODU isn't a job that is too good to pass up.
Keep dreaming ODU. Not happening.

I really believe coach Houston loves his job and him and his wife are enjoying raising their children in Harrisonburg. So, if Florida or Michigan come calling, alright. I'd wish him the best of luck. But he ain't leaving for an ODU or any G5 program IMO ... maybe an AAC school. I think he's got a lot of pride in this program and has fun laying the bricks he is and we're going to be in a great place in a couple of years.

The only G5 I see him leaving for outside of the AAC is App State given his Western NC roots