Next Head FB coach

Good decision in my book but not everyone will think so. But that holds true in any coaching hire.

Only surprise is that it happened this quickly but understandable. Let's go ZA!!!

Most important thing now is the right guy for OC.

Not crazy about this at all, tbh. But what else you gonna do? I feel like everything we could have done was gonna be a huge risk. If we get the right OC in place it can still work and thrive. I'll support the hell out of Arnett and hopefully we just caught lightning in a bottle.

I have mixed feelings. Love Zack and he's a high energy guy who players play hard for and this will provide some continuity to the program. He's a great recruiter and loves State and Mississippi. Really only downside is his lack of experience. The upside we won't have to pay him Leach money and we can take the excess and hire a great oc and staff. I believe he can do a good job but we may have to put up with some growing pains on occasion. Let's all get behind and the team and rally with them and get this thing moving forward!

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Originally Posted by Catfish

Most important thing now is the right guy for OC.

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Yep. I wonder if Arnett will be making that decision or will it be made by committee so to speak? Normally the HC would have full power to do so but this situation is a little different.

I'll share what I heard just a couple hours ago and it may be just a good story. But apparently as they were going through Leachs office they found a note that said "when in doubt trust Zack". Take it for what it's worth.

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

I'll share what I heard just a couple hours ago and it may be just a good story. But apparently as they were going through Leachs office they found a note that said "when in doubt trust Zack". Take it for what it's worth.

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I don't doubt this, again I will say this, I think Leach was gonna retire after the bowl game. Very strange him sending Arnett to Tampa for the Bowl game rep.

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

I'll share what I heard just a couple hours ago and it may be just a good story. But apparently as they were going through Leachs office they found a note that said "when in doubt trust Zack". Take it for what it's worth.

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Interesting. Almost sounds like Leach was worried about his health and left a note about who he trusted most on staff.

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Originally Posted by Dawgface

Interesting. Almost sounds like Leach was worried about his health and left a note about who he trusted most on staff.

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Yeah it may just be an apocryphal story but I got it from a couple reliable sources and he did put a lot on Zack including sending him to media day for the bowl. Leach was grooming Zack to become an HC anyway. I do know one thing we'll get max effort from Zack 100% of time.

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Originally Posted by basedog

I don't doubt this, again I will say this, I think Leach was gonna retire after the bowl game. Very strange him sending Arnett to Tampa for the Bowl game rep.

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I think he definitely felt like his health was failing. Strange thing the players were saying leach seemed healthier than he'd been all year right up until that day. I deal with a lot of seniors and it's not uncommon for them to have moments of great energy and clarity and feel like their old selves and then pass shortly thereafter

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

Yeah it may just be an apocryphal story but I got it from a couple reliable sources and he did put a lot on Zack including sending him to media day for the bowl. Leach was grooming Zack to become an HC anyway. I do know one thing we'll get max effort from Zack 100% of time.

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And honestly any other candidate is no less of a gamble in this big boy league and we would lose some of our players

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Originally Posted by Cowbell

And honestly any other candidate is no less of a gamble in this big boy league and we would lose some of our players

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Agree. Man it's just such a tough situation for all involved.

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

Agree. Man it's just such a tough situation for all involved.

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And we know he can atleast outsmart the coach up north

This was handled about as poorly as possibly by the same person who hired a baseball coach to run our athletic department a few years ago. He had no business making a football coaching hire with no AD in place. He farted around for 2 months and didn’t hire an AD and now had to do this because he has no one qualified to hire coaches in place to do so.

That being said, I fully support Arnett and I will give him and the Bulldog football team my full support. I’ll be in Tampa and I will be at most games going forward no matter the coach. I hope this hire works out. I love Arnett as a DC. Let’s roll.

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

I have mixed feelings. Love Zack and he's a high energy guy who players play hard for and this will provide some continuity to the program. He's a great recruiter and loves State and Mississippi. Really only downside is his lack of experience. The upside we won't have to pay him Leach money and we can take the excess and hire a great oc and staff. I believe he can do a good job but we may have to put up with some growing pains on occasion. Let's all get behind and the team and rally with them and get this thing moving forward!

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This is myself as well.

I’m extremely worried about the OC hire. If it’s Miller, Spurrier, Hollingshed, or even the Lindley guy Arnett is rumored to be big friends with, that is 4 options that would all be first time play callers.

So now not only are we taking huge risks with Arnett as HC, we are doing the same with the OC. That’s a lot of risk in situation that didn’t need it.

Now if can hire any of the following then I’m good and 100% on board:

Riley, Briles (long shots)

Kittley, Harrell, or Littrell

Hatcher, Andrew Sowder (OC at Kent State, Briles coaching tree)

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

I'll share what I heard just a couple hours ago and it may be just a good story. But apparently as they were going through Leachs office they found a note that said "when in doubt trust Zack". Take it for what it's worth.

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Man that is deep

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

I have mixed feelings. Love Zack and he's a high energy guy who players play hard for and this will provide some continuity to the program. He's a great recruiter and loves State and Mississippi. Really only downside is his lack of experience. The upside we won't have to pay him Leach money and we can take the excess and hire a great oc and staff. I believe he can do a good job but we may have to put up with some growing pains on occasion. Let's all get behind and the team and rally with them and get this thing moving forward!

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Every word of this is spot on.

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Originally Posted by Jarius

This was handled about as poorly as possibly by the same person who hired a baseball coach to run our athletic department a few years ago. He had no business making a football coaching hire with no AD in place. He farted around for 2 months and didn’t hire an AD and now had to do this because he has no one qualified to hire coaches in place to do so.

That being said, I fully support Arnett and I will give him and the Bulldog football team my full support. I’ll be in Tampa and I will be at most games going forward no matter the coach. I hope this hire works out. I love Arnett as a DC. Let’s roll.

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I'm in the same boat. Let's hope they don't f up this OC hire.

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Originally Posted by Commercecomet24

I'll share what I heard just a couple hours ago and it may be just a good story. But apparently as they were going through Leachs office they found a note that said "when in doubt trust Zack". Take it for what it's worth.

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That almost made me tear up