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(11-22-2021 10:49 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:25 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Just read CLF’s super agent is also the guy getting Mel Tucker 95 million.

Like you said a few days ago, college football is in the midst of jumping the shark. With the new build in front of him in Clifton, it’s almost a guarantee Luke is coaching somewhere else next season. I think he’s just waiting to see if ND opens up before committing elsewhere. In the immortal words of Rath, “he gawn”. Just gonna enjoy the next couple weeks.

I mean, why even enjoy the next couple of weeks? I'll just plan to check back in next August.

The CFB Coaching Market is getting untenable. Sonny Dykes will be making $3M/year more than Dallas Cowboy Football coach Mike McCarthy. Everyone's favorite NFL Coach Zack Taylor makes $4.5M/year. Luke Fickell's buddy Mike Vrabel only is making $3M/year. Mel Tucker's $9.5M/year deal would put him the Top 5 of NFL football coaches-- up there in the Belichick, Pete Carroll, Sean Payton territory.

You can fully enjoy this season and discuss the elephant in the room.

The two are not mutually exclusive unless people want to go all ostrich with head in sand.

Look...

A few things:
1) Let's assume "the worst" for a moment: Luke Fickell is leaving, for whatever reasons, and there's not a thing we can "do" about it. First, yeah, I hate it. But, it's not like we haven't at least explored this position before...we have "had" a plan ready before and that "plan" is probably in better shape than ever: Marcus Freeman. Last time, with Michigan State looming, Freeman had "less" experience than he had before. I have to believe that Cunningham has Marcus on speed dial, and maybe even Fickell has spoken to him. Freeman is "ready" for the job and I think that, if UC came calling, we'd be the honest FAVORITE in a contest for Freeman's services with most of the other "Power" conference teams that might be checking him out.

2) Maybe the "Super Agent" and Luke Fickell have spoken to Cunningham and have some sort of proposal to UC...yeah, it's NOT going to be $9.7 Million-a-year like Mel Tucker. But looking ahead to the Big XII, some sort of move up to $5 Million-a-year with additional incentives might be "enough." How much money does a man need? I get it, "more is better," but if that's the case, then See "Point 1." And, for football coaches, it's NOT even about the money as much as it is about inheriting a "Blueblood" program that "competes on the highest level." USC, Florida, Texas A&M, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, etc...these are all college football coach equivalent of playing in the NFL: top-level, legend class programs. Short of that, it really is more level: what's the difference between coaching at "Purdue" and "Cincinnati"...the money. Yeah, "Purdue" plays in the Big Ten and therefore gets a minimum respect level, but beyond that, it's really about a couple-of-million dollars in salary. Maybe the Fickells really do have values different than "others," maybe Luke really is biding his time for a "legend" program to come calling. Until then, maybe he's realistic enough to know that the "difference" between $5 million and $9.7 million is LESS than 1.5 Million and $5 Million. There is a diminishing ROI with money; there comes a time when "living comfortably" is not impacted by throwing money on the fire.

3) I remember the waning days of Brian Kelly...when he was assuring everyone that he wasn't "going anywhere." I don't hear that...for good or for ill...from Luke Fickell. I also remember Brian Kelly's biggest gripes that last year were NOT about the sheer amount of money or salary, but the facilities and the money for assistants and resources available for recruiting. (Mick also had similar issues...) So, maybe it's not ONLY the idea of "pay the man," but also continuing to make investments into the infrastructure. Meaning that, in place of a $9.7 Million salary, a smaller salary with a corresponding monetary investment in the infrastructure of the program might be just as valuable. The IPC...we have to get that done. NOW. Continued investment into Nippert...we have to keep doing it. Looking into some sort of aircraft or lease so that coaches can go recruiting...OVERDUE. But let Luke tell you what he needs on that. And here, having Cunningham as the AD, with his Syracuse experiences, probably is an advantage. Cunningham isn't a guy with a "MAC mindset." I would guess that he and Coach Fickell have been in conversation on these things and are largely on the same page.

I don't know what happens next. I'm almost at the "50-50" phase of where to set my expectations. But it'll be OK no matter what happens.

Oh absolutely. At a certain point if his agent comes in at a crazy level you just say we are sticking to the current deal. If he leaves you dial up Freeman.

(11-22-2021 11:04 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:49 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:25 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Just read CLF’s super agent is also the guy getting Mel Tucker 95 million.

Like you said a few days ago, college football is in the midst of jumping the shark. With the new build in front of him in Clifton, it’s almost a guarantee Luke is coaching somewhere else next season. I think he’s just waiting to see if ND opens up before committing elsewhere. In the immortal words of Rath, “he gawn”. Just gonna enjoy the next couple weeks.

Your positivity always brings a level of optimism to this board that will never die.

Have you met Cincinnati sports? Let me introduce you

Absolutely, and my comment above was facetious. If Fickell does ultimately get lured away, and we're unfortunately talking crazy money right now, he leaves an incredible legacy:

- Big 12 membership
- College GameDay, with the associated millions of dollars of free marketing for our university
- Likely a permanent indoor facility (yes, I know - TBD)
- UC as a destination job and program

And, seeing his performance over this past year, I fully trust our AD to navigate this situation for the best of the university. These next six weeks are going to be a ride, and I'm psyched to be on it!

(11-22-2021 11:28 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  You can fully enjoy this season and discuss the elephant in the room.

The two are not mutually exclusive unless people want to go all ostrich with head in sand.

One hand, I think a good head coach is worth well more than whatever the contract pays.

On the other hand, I think how can these guys ethically make more than the NFL head coaches and the players make nothing.

I can't come to a reasonable conclusion.

(11-22-2021 11:47 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  Have you met Cincinnati sports? Let me introduce you

An old proverb says that if you worry about what you can't control, and it happens, you've suffered through it twice.

I’m really not “worried” about. I’m loving this season. I just accept it’s inevitability.

(11-22-2021 11:47 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 11:04 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:49 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:25 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Just read CLF’s super agent is also the guy getting Mel Tucker 95 million.

Like you said a few days ago, college football is in the midst of jumping the shark. With the new build in front of him in Clifton, it’s almost a guarantee Luke is coaching somewhere else next season. I think he’s just waiting to see if ND opens up before committing elsewhere. In the immortal words of Rath, “he gawn”. Just gonna enjoy the next couple weeks.

Your positivity always brings a level of optimism to this board that will never die.

Have you met Cincinnati sports? Let me introduce you

That is our FG group!

(11-22-2021 01:59 PM)doss2 Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 11:47 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 11:04 AM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:49 AM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  

(11-22-2021 10:25 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Just read CLF’s super agent is also the guy getting Mel Tucker 95 million.

Like you said a few days ago, college football is in the midst of jumping the shark. With the new build in front of him in Clifton, it’s almost a guarantee Luke is coaching somewhere else next season. I think he’s just waiting to see if ND opens up before committing elsewhere. In the immortal words of Rath, “he gawn”. Just gonna enjoy the next couple weeks.

Your positivity always brings a level of optimism to this board that will never die.

Have you met Cincinnati sports? Let me introduce you

That is our FG group!

oof, another brutal performance on Saturday

(11-22-2021 12:33 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

Always a good life philosophy!

(11-22-2021 11:41 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Oh absolutely. At a certain point if his agent comes in at a crazy level you just say we are sticking to the current deal. If he leaves you dial up Freeman.

Unfortunately, the problem with that plan could very well come down to timing. That same timing that may prevent Fickell from seriously exploring anywhere else may work against us with Freeman. As a current coordinator, he doesn't basically have to wait to start interviewing and exploring. He could publicly interview, accept a job and still coach ND in their bowl/playoff just as Fickell did at Ohio St.

On the other end, schools are going to be looking to get their HC situation nailed down as soon as possible - not only to get started recruiting but now you've also got to worry about your current players getting poached in the transfer portal. But most of all they are going to strive to avoid getting beaten to the punch on specific candidates. We've got a lot of "major" jobs open early this year and there may be more coming. None of their ADs wants to risk being the guy at the end desperate to find a HC when all the best candidates are already spoken for. No fanbase/boosters is going to call for your head for overpaying at hiring. But getting stuck with a questionable hire at the end of the process is a different matter.

UC may well rank up there among desirable realistic HC jobs for Freeman. But don't expect him to turn down a suitable HC job waiting to see if Fickell ultimately takes another job so that UC opens up. The dominos are likely to start falling FAST as the regular season ends.

For all I know Jimmy Spencer already has Freeman signed up with his agency (wouldn’t surprise me a bit) which means Feeeman will know exactly what’s going on every step of the way. He won’t take another AAC type gig if there is a good chance UC shakes loose in January. He has to know he’d likely be our 1st call.

I don’t see the competition for Freeman being a lower conference school. He’s being mentioned as a long shot for LSU. He really blew them away in his interview there last year.

If Fickell was willing to stay at O$U after what they did to him in the Tress-Urban transition year, then I'd say he's not your usual college coach job jumper.

(11-23-2021 06:29 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  If Fickell was willing to stay at O$U after what they did to him in the Tress-Urban transition year, then I'd say he's not your usual college coach job jumper.

Boo'd an alum who has given majority of his life in service to that school. That'd turn me off OSU and blue bloods all together

(11-23-2021 06:29 AM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  If Fickell was willing to stay at O$U after what they did to him in the Tress-Urban transition year, then I'd say he's not your usual college coach job jumper.

That’s the thing: Fick is the Columbus equivalent of a Cincinnai west sider. I am surprised he left Columbus TBH but that was out of necessity. Was talking to a USC colleague of mine yesterday, I just don’t see him going to USC. I think he will stay until Notre Dame or Ohio State opens.