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I was about to post:

In 6 months or so when we move to the big12, fickell will be the 13th longest tenured power5 coach.

Guess I jinxed us...

Couple of comments. In the Coaching Carousel thread some of the posts are on the melodramatic end. "We toid you so." You were a fool if you thought Fick would last 10 seasons." "Fick is the same as all of the other coaches." Give me a fukkin' break. Some of you guys act like hens huddled together in the hen house jockeying for position. Fick gave us SIX seasons and many of us were thankful for every season he gave beyond YEAR THREE. Dantonio. Kelly. Jones. Three seasons each. Grubbs. Should've been two but lasted four. Many of us have climbed the career ladder wanting higher pay, more bells and whistles with perks, bigger organizations, etc. etc. Coaches are no different. Kelly left Notre Dame. Riley left Oklahoma. Fisher left Florida State. On and on it goes.

Wisconsin offers Fick a lot more than he can get at UC with the way we are constructed right now. I think it's a perfect fit for his style of play. Defense. Run the ball. Cold weather. A rabid fan base. An incredible home stadium environment. I'm not surprised at all with this outcome. Cincinnati football is not Wisconsin football in a bazillion dollar conference like the B1G.

Am I disappointed? Yes! How can you not be when Fick took our program to its highest level ever. That said, I would be more concerned if this happened without an invite to the B12. No doubt it hurts short term but our ability to hire a good coach is much better in a power conference than otherwise. Only the best to Fick and his family. Only the best to the UC football program. Both are true...next coach up!!!

Fick him.

He just stuck it in and broke it off. We are now in a Wes level rebuild heading into a P5 conference.

From the presser and from Justin Williams' article in The Athletic, it definitely seems like this was something in the works for awhile, at least him leaving, just not the where. Sounds like Cunningham will end up getting this filled before the due date (Portal Opens on December 5th).

(11-27-2022 07:08 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  From the presser and from Justin Williams' article in The Athletic, it definitely seems like this was something in the works for awhile, at least him leaving, just not the where. Sounds like Cunningham will end up getting this filled before the due date (Portal Opens on December 5th).

Yep. Sounds like there is plenty of interest in the job let alone what names Cunningham and/or the search committee already had...

(11-27-2022 07:11 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:08 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  From the presser and from Justin Williams' article in The Athletic, it definitely seems like this was something in the works for awhile, at least him leaving, just not the where. Sounds like Cunningham will end up getting this filled before the due date (Portal Opens on December 5th).

Yep. Sounds like there is plenty of interest in the job let alone what names Cunningham and/or the search committee already had...

Direct quote from Cunningham:
"[The next coach] will have strong recruiting ties, knowledge of NIL, and understanding of offenses and defenses..."

Sure sounds like he has a clear picture of who that may be...

Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

He never really turned down notre dame. Just wasn't going to take it before the cfp

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

I think the thing is he didn’t pass on ND. They weren’t going to wait around while UC played in the playoff last year. This caused him to make the decision that he was out of here after this year.

(11-27-2022 07:34 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

He never really turned down notre dame. Just wasn't going to take it before the cfp

Yup missing out on ND had him actively looking for the quickest exit this season.

(11-27-2022 07:12 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:11 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:08 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  From the presser and from Justin Williams' article in The Athletic, it definitely seems like this was something in the works for awhile, at least him leaving, just not the where. Sounds like Cunningham will end up getting this filled before the due date (Portal Opens on December 5th).

Yep. Sounds like there is plenty of interest in the job let alone what names Cunningham and/or the search committee already had...

Direct quote from Cunningham:
"[The next coach] will have strong recruiting ties, knowledge of NIL, and understanding of offenses and defenses..."

Sure sounds like he has a clear picture of who that may be...

That's my only concerns about Herman. Been away from college football for 2 years. Not sure how many recruiting "connections" he has right now. And probably doesn't know a thing about NIL.

From ESPN...

Quote:The hiring of Fickell marks one of the most eye-opening moves of the college football carousel, with Wisconsin luring the country's top Group of 5 coach who brings vast experience in the Big Ten's Midwestern footprint.

"This is a destination job at a program that I have admired from afar for years," Fickell said in a statement. "I am in total alignment with Chris McIntosh's vision for this program. There is a tremendous foundation here that I can't wait to build upon. This world-class university, athletic department and passionately loyal fan base all have a strong commitment to success and I can't wait to be a part of it."

Fickell has strong roots in the Big Ten, as he was a longtime assistant coach and coordinator at Ohio State and played there collegiately. He had been picky about jobs over the years as Cincinnati rose to the top of the Group of 5, being selective about the Midwestern footprint.

"Luke is one of the top football coaches in the country," McIntosh said in a statement. "He is a proven winner, recruiter and developer of players. Equally as important, he shares our values. Coach Fickell is focused on giving our student-athletes the best opportunities possible and is attuned to the changing landscape of college athletics.

"I have every confidence that he will respect and honor the foundation that has been set for our football program over the years while embracing the exciting opportunities ahead."

Fickell is replacing Paul Chryst, who was fired in the middle of the season after going 67-26 in eight seasons. Jim Leonhard, the Badgers' defensive coordinator, had gone 4-3 as interim coach and was considered a candidate for the head-coaching job.

Fickell's attraction to the Badgers' brass, along with his record and roots in the league, is his ability to build a program. Fickell turned Cincinnati into one of the country's best development programs, taking modest recruits and consistently churning out strong teams.

The Bearcats had nine players picked in the 2022 NFL draft, which was third behind only Georgia (15) and LSU (10).

Special-teams coach Kerry Coombs will serve as the Bearcats' interim head coach, the school announced.

Cincinnati athletic director John Cunningham said he will move quickly to replace Fickell, considering both external and internal candidates, which could include offensive coordinator and former Bearcats quarterback Gino Guidugli.

The Cincinnati job is becoming even more appealing as Fickell leaves it. The Bearcats are switching conferences next year, moving up to the Big 12. The move will bring more revenue into the program, but also tougher competition.

"This is not a stepping-stone job," Cunningham said. "We can do everything we want to do at the University of Cincinnati."

Fickell spent one season as an interim coach in the Big Ten, going 6-7 in 2011 in the wake of the firing of Jim Tressel at Ohio State. He stayed patient from there, working as the Buckeyes' defensive coordinator under Urban Meyer and winning a national championship in the 2014 season.

Wisky-A-Go-Go

(11-27-2022 07:12 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:11 PM)UCGrad1992 Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:08 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  From the presser and from Justin Williams' article in The Athletic, it definitely seems like this was something in the works for awhile, at least him leaving, just not the where. Sounds like Cunningham will end up getting this filled before the due date (Portal Opens on December 5th).

Yep. Sounds like there is plenty of interest in the job let alone what names Cunningham and/or the search committee already had...

Direct quote from Cunningham:
"[The next coach] will have strong recruiting ties, knowledge of NIL, and understanding of offenses and defenses..."

Sure sounds like he has a clear picture of who that may be...

I think we are in good hands with Cunningham and Pinto......I don't really blame any coach for moving on. We as fans will turn on a coach like a pit bull if he has a couple of tough years, regardless of how well he has done in the past. It's just the new normal in college football, keep moving cause it's harder to hit a moving target.....

(11-27-2022 07:34 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

He never really turned down notre dame. Just wasn't going to take it before the cfp

We'd have been better off had he accepted the ND job after the CCG last year. We'd have Coach Freeman right now.

This timing is the worst possible for UC's program health. Going to get clubbed like a baby seal next season. Was already going to be hard with what we lacked on the current roster.

I hope he's rich and unemployed in 4 years.

(11-27-2022 08:17 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:34 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

He never really turned down notre dame. Just wasn't going to take it before the cfp

We'd have been better off had he accepted the ND job after the CCG last year. We'd have Coach Freeman right now.

This timing is the worst possible for UC's program health. Going to get clubbed like a baby seal next season. Was already going to be hard with what we lacked on the current roster.

I hope he's rich and unemployed in 4 years.

He may well be. Administrations and fan bases have little patience for a coach to build a program. UC gave Fickell the time he needed and it paid off. I’m sure UC will find an able replacement.

(11-27-2022 08:17 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:34 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

He never really turned down notre dame. Just wasn't going to take it before the cfp

We'd have been better off had he accepted the ND job after the CCG last year. We'd have Coach Freeman right now.

This timing is the worst possible for UC's program health. Going to get clubbed like a baby seal next season. Was already going to be hard with what we lacked on the current roster.

I hope he's rich and unemployed in 4 years.

In every game thread you'd talk about how his assistants should be fired or demoted. Jilted fans like the loyalty stuff when it's convenient.

Sue me or ban me...from the Athletic paid content...

Quote:Fickell brought Cincinnati to unprecedented heights, going 57-18 in five seasons with a College Football Playoff appearance, two AAC championships and three seasons with at least 11 wins. It always felt like Fickell would leave for only select few jobs, as he’d turned down interest elsewhere. Wisconsin turned out to be one of those jobs.

Fickell leaves Cincinnati in a great position with all that success and an upcoming move to the Big 12 in 2023. But he also leaves big shoes to fill and high expectations.

So how good is the Cincinnati job? What names could get in the mix? Here are the factors to keep in mind.

Cincinnati made history as the first Group of 5 team to make the CFP, and it’ll likely be the only one to ever make it into a four-team field. The Bearcats, along with UCF, Houston and BYU, will move to the Big 12 next year. That brings more money, more attention and a larger potential recruiting base that stretches from Texas to Florida to Ohio. A decade after the Big East fell apart and Cincinnati lost its power conference status, the Bearcats are back.

Under Fickell, Cincinnati recruited at the level of a Power 5 program, regularly signing the top G5 recruiting class, ranked in the top 50 nationally and higher than many Big 12 programs. The 2023 class is ranked 27th in the 247Sports Composite as of Nov. 27, but that’ll likely change with Fickell gone.

The Big 12 move also means Cincinnati’s chances of making the CFP in a 12-team field could be greater. When Texas and Oklahoma leave the league, the Big 12 could be wide-open, with Cincinnati able to contend for the conference title and CFP bids in the future.

Four of Cincinnati’s past five coaches won big and moved to a bigger job. Mark Dantonio built a foundation and went to Michigan State. Brian Kelly got Cincinnati to a Sugar Bowl and went to Notre Dame. Butch Jones won 19 games over two seasons and went to Tennessee. Now Fickell is going to Wisconsin. Only Tommy Tuberville has struggled here over the past 20 years.

This is an attractive job because it’s a known winner and the ceiling is clearly high. This isn’t a rebuild. There isn’t a foundation that must be formed. The program has known almost nothing but success for two decades.

The Cincinnati Bengals actually used UC’s indoor practice bubble until this season. At the moment, the Bearcats have only 1.5 football fields for practice, and the bubble goes up over the full field in the winter. But there are plans in the works for a $100 million true indoor practice facility that will change the athletic programs in a big way. However, that is still several years away.

Nippert Stadium was renovated in 2015, and a new locker room also opened earlier this year.

Fickell’s $5 million salary was the highest in the G5 and a sign that Cincinnati can spend big. The athletic department has also begun to boost staffing to prepare for the move to the Big 12. Cincinnati has a lot of resources, and more are on the way.

When tasked with making a men’s basketball hire, athletic director John Cunningham went with 38-year-old Wes Miller from UNC-Greensboro, a move that surprised many who expected a hire with Midwest connections. Cunningham has proven he can go outside the box to make a move. With his past jobs at Minnesota, Syracuse and Boise State, there aren’t many natural connections to make there for a potential Cincinnati football hire. This could be a wide-open search.

In a Sunday news conference, Cunningham was asked about specific criteria like Ohio ties or head coaching experience. He pointed to recruiting.

“Recruiting prowess is something we’re going to look heavily at,” he said. “We know where our bread and butter is. We have such great high school football in this area and surrounding areas. All the success we’ve had stems back to that. Whether you have connections or not, you have to recruit at a high level.”

Paid Content

(11-27-2022 08:43 PM)levydl Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 08:17 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:34 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(11-27-2022 07:27 PM)Bear Catlett Wrote:  Turns down Michigan St., passes on ND, ... but takes Wisconsin??? That's a hard one to figure out.

Well, that explains the half a$$ed coaching effort this year.

He never really turned down notre dame. Just wasn't going to take it before the cfp

We'd have been better off had he accepted the ND job after the CCG last year. We'd have Coach Freeman right now.

This timing is the worst possible for UC's program health. Going to get clubbed like a baby seal next season. Was already going to be hard with what we lacked on the current roster.

I hope he's rich and unemployed in 4 years.

In every game thread you'd talk about how his assistants should be fired or demoted. Jilted fans like the loyalty stuff when it's convenient.

We hired 5 guys and also promoted a quality control guy and. GA to the staff this offseason.

He won't take most of these stiffs.

Wasn't exactly an inspiring hiring season...top notch...was almost like a guy knew he was bolting soon.