Next Head FB coach

[mo7888]

We can't take a bad candidate because we can't find a good one that is air raid, but damn it'd be painful for us to switch right now. I think Arnette is a good enough candidate that we'd be better off with him as HC and an air raid OC than trying to transition right now. If that doesn't work out, we'll be in a better position to transition if we've spent three years building a roster to run a more modern air raid that runs more and utilizes a mobile qb. If it doesn't work out, you probably are only having one more bad season than you'd have if you brought in a coach to transition, as even with the portal, it'd probably take a couple of years to flip the roster to something that fits, and that's probably optimistic considering our NIL position.

We don't have to go away from the air raid...there are good HC and OC's we can get..

[msstate7]

I Arnett says he just wants to stay DC, then I'd elevate Spurrier, bring SS SR. in as an offensive/recruiting advisor, and hire an a Leach tree OC. Jr. has been around the SEC a long time in addition to having worked for two of the greatest offensive minds in CFB history. I think with the right structure and an intact staff he could handle it.

Good blood lines, but man, this seems a stretch

[smootness]

Good blood lines, but man, this seems a stretch

Is it, though? He is passing game coordinator here and held the same position for a while under his dad at SC. Yes, those are two head coaches who do the play calling, so he hasn't been doing that, but he has been heavily involved and working under great offensive minds for a long time. Seems like he deserves a shot as coordinator somewhere at this point.

[msstate7]

Is it, though? He is passing game coordinator here and held the same position for a while under his dad at SC. Yes, those are two head coaches who do the play calling, so he hasn't been doing that, but he has been heavily involved and working under great offensive minds for a long time. Seems like he deserves a shot as coordinator somewhere at this point.

Off co? Sure. This was about him being HC though, right?

[Johnson85]

We don't have to go away from the air raid...there are good HC and OC's we can get..

I think so also, but I was just pointing out that if we can't find an air raid head coach candidate that is the right fit that we can pull, the next step would likely be to go with a defensive head coach who will hire an air raid OC, not go hire a head coach that will transition away from the air raid. Even if we Tennessee'd up our coaching search, at the end of the day, I don't think it's plausible that we'll go away from the air raid because Arnette with an air raid OC would seem to be a better route than moving away from the air raid.

Only scenario I could see is if we somehow managed to pull a really good offensive HC with a good track record that is not air raid. I can't even think of what option that would be. Maybe if Gus had an mobile QB he would bring with him through the transfer portal? If we had a gus type QB, I'm not sure if our transition would be that bad because I think we have the skill positions to run it otherwise. Not sure if it would be hard for our existing OL to block for his offense.

Can't think of anybody else that is a reasonably likely candidate to pull that would also be worth us switching offenses for. In the unlikely even that Shane Beamer's wife was dying to move back home and could convince him to come (he's actually not paid much now, but I assume he's done well enough that USCe would pay to keep him), is his track record good enough to want to pay for him? (although I don't think he's tied to an offense so he might be willing to hire an air raid OC)

[msstate7]

I think so also, but I was just pointing out that if we can't find an air raid head coach candidate that is the right fit that we can pull, the next step would likely be to go with a defensive head coach who will hire an air raid OC, not go hire a head coach that will transition away from the air raid. Even if we Tennessee'd up our coaching search, at the end of the day, I don't think it's plausible that we'll go away from the air raid because Arnette with an air raid OC would seem to be a better route than moving away from the air raid.

Only scenario I could see is if we somehow managed to pull a really good offensive HC with a good track record that is not air raid. I can't even think of what option that would be. Maybe if Gus had an mobile QB he would bring with him through the transfer portal? If we had a gus type QB, I'm not sure if our transition would be that bad because I think we have the skill positions to run it otherwise. Not sure if it would be hard for our existing OL to block for his offense.

Can't think of anybody else that is a reasonably likely candidate to pull that would also be worth us switching offenses for. In the unlikely even that Shane Beamer's wife was dying to move back home and could convince him to come (he's actually not paid much now, but I assume he's done well enough that USCe would pay to keep him), is his track record good enough to want to pay for him? (although I don't think he's tied to an offense so he might be willing to hire an air raid OC)

We're assuming that arnett would wanna run the air raid. He could have a completely different vision for the offense

[Johnson85]

We're assuming that arnett would wanna run the air raid. He could have a completely different vision for the offense

If he's not going to bring in an air raid OC, then that probably ends his candidacy. Unless he has an OC that can guarantee to bring a QB with him in the portal. Because if you don't get a QB in the transfer portal, what does Will look like in any non-air raid offense in the SEC?

[Duckdog]

Man, this whole thing just sucks......

[msstate7]

If he's not going to bring in an air raid OC, then that probably ends his candidacy. Unless he has an OC that can guarantee to bring a QB with him in the portal. Because if you don't get a QB in the transfer portal, what does Will look like in any non-air raid offense in the SEC?

See that's what I don't want... if Zach is our guy, then we have to trust him. Him saying I would rather run whatever than air raid shouldn't change whether he's our guy or not.

[Saltydog]

Im just saying all these names people keep throwing out are "what ifs". Will Hall? The guy is 9-15 at USM... Why do we want to take a chance on something like that? I know a lot of people on here pride themselves in being able to pick out a diamond in the rough but why not go after a splash/headline hire like everyone else in the SEC seems to be doing rather than always going down to a lower tier coach and introduce him to "big football"... why dont we go big and go for a name like Sonny Dykes or someone? I guess I just dont get why people are always suggesting we always go to a lower tier coach and allow them to use us as a stepping stone...

The chances of us getting a "big name" at this juncture is very minimal. We struck gold getting Leach 3 years ago. Doing it again isn't likely to happen. We've got to find the right cultural fit, not just someone who is good at x's and o's.

[Matt3467]

One giant problem. We already have a QB. And with Parson coming in our backup is better than what he would bring with him. Just sayin...

This whole situation is horrible. I just want Mike Leach here and was looking forward to many more years of him but moving on our program is in serious trouble if we can't get a firm footing soon. We have no AD, no HC and signing day looms. Who's to say that Parson stays? Leach may have been the biggest reason he came here and with the uncertainty now who knows who stays or leaves in our class but I'm worried about our offensive signees.

On one hand Dan coming back is nice but we never had consistency with DCs and we have a good one right now that apparently loves it here.
We could go splash and pick up someone like Art Briles. Heck AU broke the ice.
I think like others have mentioned that staying within the Air Raid is the best for our team right now and I'd like to see us do that.

[ImissCityBagel]

Kliff Kingsbury
Leach guy with SEC experience.
In a perfect world...

[msstate7]

Kliff Kingsbury
Leach guy with SEC experience.
In a perfect world...

Not sure he would come back to college, but I would like this offense much more with his running qb and te additions

[TrapGame]

The chances of us getting a "big name" at this juncture is very minimal. We struck gold getting Leach 3 years ago. Doing it again isn't likely to happen. We've got to find the right cultural fit, not just someone who is good at x's and o's.

I think it rests on who is calling us?

If we've sparked the interest of some big names then we pursue those options. And I mean big program changing names like Meyer or Petrino.

[TrapGame]

Kliff Kingsbury
Leach guy with SEC experience.
In a perfect world...

Nope. He put Texas Tech in the ground.

[msstate7]

Nope. He put Texas Tech in the ground.

Since leach left that program, they've basically been a 5-7 to 7-5 program under everyone. Tommy T was a pretty good coach, and he was the same.

[CoachT14]

Kliff Kingsbury
Leach guy with SEC experience.
In a perfect world...

The guy has failed as Head Coach everywhere he's been despite having some of the best QB's to manage. He shouldn't even be in the discussion.

[BeardoMSU]

Arnett will be the interim through the Bowl, then we'll do a search. Obviously it sucks having to make a coaching change in these circumstances, but you HAVE to do your due diligence. That's why we have an President and administration; to be adults and make tough decisions. Ideally we'd hire an AD in the next week or so, that way we can have that person's vision aid Keenum in the process, but I guess we'll see.

We may end up hiring Arnett, but you have to at least look around. I'd think the absolute worst thing we could do to honor Mike's legacy and memory is to make an emotionally hasty hire that ruins the foundation he left us.

My 2 cents.

[CaptainObvious]

Dave Bartoo just reminded Chuck Oliver that Zack Arnett?s defense ranked 71st this year. He said Arnett is not a HC and should not be the permanent HC. He said MSU needs to hire a guy who is either a current head coach or who has been a Head Coach in D1 before.

[mo7888]

See that's what I don't want... if Zach is our guy, then we have to trust him. Him saying I would rather run whatever than air raid shouldn't change whether he's our guy or not.

I disagree... if he wanted to run something else we find that out in the interview process and move on... there's no way we go into a teardown mode at this juncture...