UM has ties to conference mate CSU. I bet Utah contacts UM. That would be a pain in the butt move, but would make sense.

I've heard through varying sources that UM's CSU mates may not exactly be mates anymore.

That said, a move to Utah over a move to Michigan State? Doc, what are you prescribing to yourself, cause I want some of it! :D

Somebody call Nert...here's his chance to coach his alma mater!

Ok, just wanted to point to the date on this post.

Now, why Utah?

1. Utah has had good seasons and isn't far off the mark. They can be turned around faster and farther than BG.

2. Criticize Utah all you want, but it's easier to recruit to a state known for skiing and beautiful outdoor activities than the Great Black Swamp. Utah also has the best academics in the state, and quite frankly is a pretty good school and competes well w/ Idaho, Montana, Wash. St, Colo. St, and yes even Arizona St.

3. The MWC has more bowl slots. A good Utah team will get Bowl bids, obviously BG hasn't. Bowl bids help a team w/ exposure, revenue and practice time.

4. The MWC also has a deeper reputation w/ BYU. Obviously Fresno State's rise only proved that an undefeated team will get the public sentiment to make it to a BCS game.

5. This is a topic for another post, but the MAC is in trouble. Bummer to say that after my elation in Week 2 of this season but consider:
BSU is looking for a new coach. Next year it's possible that Knorr, Owens, Pees and EMU's coach (Woodruff?) will be let go. That's 4. DuBord is very possibly gone as well. Kruczek is under heat. And if Hoeppner doesn't have a good season, he'll be under heat too. That's half the conference! And attendance issues are a concern. Frankly, the MAC is in dire straits right now, despite some success. UM may realize the future looks grim and is considering moving on.

Good call, Torch.

Excerpts from the nert press conference:

nert: I just want it known that I was never contacted "by the Utah AD" to interview for the head coaching vacancy at Utah - nor am I considering a move to Utah "at this moment".

But I will say this, I think we are poised to do great things at Utah, ummm...they, THEY are poised to do great things...and again I have not been "offered" a job as the head coach of Utah -- nor are my attorneys busily hammering out the details of my non-offer.

Thank you for your time.

Good call, and my comments weren't so much in disrespect of Utah - I actually have a good deal of respect to Utah AND McBride. I question why UM might take THIS job right now - I expected him to have better offers and to wait, as many BG fans said, until an excellent opportunity arose - like MSU, which is a great job no matter what's going on there right this minute. I guess this shows that he really was just looking to jump at the first opportunity.

HuskieDan Wrote:Good call, and my comments weren't so much in disrespect of Utah - I actually have a good deal of respect to Utah AND McBride. I question why UM might take THIS job right now - I expected him to have better offers and to wait, as many BG fans said, until an excellent opportunity arose - like MSU, which is a great job no matter what's going on there right this minute. I guess this shows that he really was just looking to jump at the first opportunity.

I don't think MSU is a great job, at least for UM. Again, I said this in another post, but MSU is a risky venture, especially w/ the current distress. UM could probably do well there, but if he didn't shine, or particularly at just the right time, he could end up like Glen Mason.

The problems at MSU could be horrific. Think of Birdsong at Northwestern. Tragic story.
But MSU is probably a good fit for a guy like M. Lewis, who has a super-bowl ring, but risky for UM.

Kruczek is not under heat.

He's as good a coach we can get for the money we pay our coaches. Now, if he has a 5-7 season or worse next year, I can definitely see some changes made or a lot of heat for the year after to turn it around.

Someone who has been with UCF for almost 2 decades has job security. UCF finished with a winning record, and finished second in the east. That's pretty good, I think most people connected with UCF (fans, coaches, players) underestimated the good football that the MAC plays.

Knight_Time Wrote:Someone who has been with UCF for almost 2 decades has job security.  UCF finished with a winning record, and finished second in the east.  That's pretty good, I think most people connected with UCF (fans, coaches, players) underestimated the good football that the MAC plays.

Tell it to RC Slocum.

Seriously, I just meant that it could go either way w/ Kruczek. Same w/ Hoeppner and Darnell. Of course that also means someone is winning games, but tally up some OOC losses, and some disappointments in conference, and some shake ups will happen.

Your not going to fire coaches with winning records in the MAC. Hop is safe along wih Kruz. Knorr needs to get his asse in gear next year, or hes out. He must have a winning MAC season that includes beating winning MAC teams. Pounding Kent and EMU is not going to save his job after 2003.

KC

DrTorch Wrote:

HuskieDan Wrote:Good call, and my comments weren't so much in disrespect of Utah - I actually have a good deal of respect to Utah AND McBride.  I question why UM might take THIS job right now - I expected him to have better offers and to wait, as many BG fans said, until an excellent opportunity arose - like MSU, which is a great job no matter what's going on there right this minute.  I guess this shows that he really was just looking to jump at the first opportunity.

I don't think MSU is a great job, at least for UM. Again, I said this in another post, but MSU is a risky venture, especially w/ the current distress. UM could probably do well there, but if he didn't shine, or particularly at just the right time, he could end up like Glen Mason.

The problems at MSU could be horrific. Think of Birdsong at Northwestern. Tragic story.
But MSU is probably a good fit for a guy like M. Lewis, who has a super-bowl ring, but risky for UM.

You think Bobby Williams could be shot by a white supremacist nut during a two-state killing spree that involved killing a Korean student in front of his Korean church? Forgive me if I consider that a stretch, but to be safe I'll assume you meant something different.....

MSU has a big budget, a ton of fans that sell the place out, and FB is king over BB (yes, even though BB has been much better and more consistent, every MSU fan I've spoken to has said that FB is still very much the top dog). The problem with MSU right now is that it needs a steady leader with class, like Jim Tressel - OSU was a cauldron when he showed up, yet he has OSU in the title game in year 2. The only other problem it has is that it is in Michigan's shadow, but they have all the means to create their own shadow. It's still a plum job.

HuskieDan Wrote:

DrTorch Wrote:The problems at MSU could be horrific.  Think of Birdsong at Northwestern.  Tragic story.

You think Bobby Williams could be shot by a white supremacist nut during a two-state killing spree that involved killing a Korean student in front of his Korean church? Forgive me if I consider that a stretch, but to be safe I'll assume you meant something different.....

Try thinking, you won't even have to assume.

I said Birdsong at Northwestern, not walking in Skokie.

Northwestern players were indicted for shaving points and who knows what else. Birdsong had a nervous breakdown. Rumors around MSU are just as bad, and while they are just rumors, whatever Smoker was involved with was serious.

Please, Kruz IS under pressure to perform next year. His contract is year to year for crying out loud. There will be changes if UCF has another mediocre year.