Most programs have basically slush funds for hiring/firing coaches.
I think of 3 players in my lifetime of really watching football that would've taken paycuts to go to the NFL.
1. Cam Newton-This one is obvious but his NIL deal would've been 6-8 million and they probably would've renegotiated him closer to 10-12 by the end of the season.
2. Johnny Manziel- I don't even know what the NIL deal would've been in 2013 and I feel sure he would've come back in 14 for 20+ mil.
3. Reggie Bush- Granted he kind of got an NIL deal but he could've been pushing 8 figures easily with NIL.
I was closer to OU than most here so I didn't see Lebby as a good hire or rising star.
I've stumped for Marion for a while. UNLV was so good at OC. Look at his resume and the players he's coached. Rising stars can flame out - but man I just love what he's got going for him. He better get a look if we're moving on next year.
That's one wrinkle listed in the article. The other that it doesn't emphasize as well is the stacking of running backs both horizontal and vertical next to a QB in shotgun. That's something I hadn't seen anyone doing before. I love the youthful innovation there.
On top of that - looking at who he's coached - he's considered an ace recruiter.
https://www.footballscoop.com/2025/0...ranked-recruit
Jordan Addison is a big name. The biggest knock is the dude does not stay in one place long at all. Which - good problem to have a guy in demand. I'd trade our situation for OM's today right now. But he's just too successful everywhere he goes that I see him only going upward.
ETA: It's power spread but with fun wrinkles and high recruiting ceiling. He reminds me a lot Dan Mullen in 2008. (Also a guy from Pennsylvania) Except instead of going G5 OC to P5 OC to State HC, Marion is on the P5 assistant to G5 OC to FCS HC to ??? ascension. If Sac State does well next year again - I expect him to be at least a G5 coach if not busting directly into the P4.
I don't post near as much as you do 7, but I believe I've mentioned the same thing here a few times in the past. I talk about it a lot at work. Defenses today wouldn't be able to stop an old school smash mouth running game. Like a JWS team or one of the past Alabama teams. A dual threat QB, big bruising RB's, and a big O-line would run for 8 yards or more per carry.
Now to Taters point, Leach would have us in the playoffs already. He had adapted enough to know when to run then get back to his air raid. Sawyer would have been awesome in his offense. He hated recruiting so NIL would have made his job easier.
That bold last point is why I'm good with a Dan reunion and think Mullenv2 will work.
And I agree with you but I take it a step further. The tush push offense - I could get banned in a year - maybe less. Against defenses these days - give me 11 400+ lb sumo wrestlers pushing in unison. You are not stopping me from getting 10 yards across 4 plays. You don't have the size to stop it. Hell we probably just push down the field for a TD every play. It'd be a glorious season and then immediately banned because the product would be awful to watch, but there's no ****ing stopping us.