From way up

[Really Clark?]

Hey Clark,

Did State not like the Odom interview? Is it a matter of him being a DC, that he isn't the guy? Just curious.

Thanks

They spoke several times but never did a face to face. I think it was just a matter of they liked other candidates better. Sumrall was very impressive and if it wasn't for the non-compete issue we would have only a Top 2, pulling a winning sitting P5 coach was the top choice if we could get a deal done and Lebby interviewed well and a great back up plan...got a top 3 with one you know will take it and you don't have to get a 4th candidate.

[DEDawg]

I give up if it is another defensive coach. So tired of this crap

[Really Clark?]

I know what some are starting to say about Sumrall but Keenum had absolutely nothing to do with him being up on our list. Selmon and others involved in the interview were sold on him being a top target after his interview Sunday before Keenum even knew. He hasn't pushed a candidate over another. I have my issues with Keenum but this hiring process has been all Selmon's. I'm still leaning Lebby this morning but there was no done deal and we were still talking with other candidates but like I said yesterday that is also done to finish the process when we get close to the end. Odom "pulled out" of the search after that.

[DEDawg]

I know what some are starting to say about Sumrall but Keenum had absolutely nothing to do with him being up on our list. Selmon and others involved in the interview were sold on him being a top target after his interview Sunday before Keenum even knew. He hasn't pushed a candidate over another. I have my issues with Keenum but this hiring process has been all Selmon's. I'm still leaning Lebby this morning but there was no done deal and we were still talking with other candidates but like I said yesterday that is also done to finish the process when we get close to the end. Odom "pulled out" of the search after that.

Fingers crossed we dont overthink this and finalize something with Lebby today

[smootness]

Remember 2 things that are true of every coaching search:

1) No one knows everything, and basically no one knows what they either think they know or claim to know.

2) We will not know anything about how good the new coach is until at least a couple weeks into the season, no matter who it is.

These things are true every single time. Until a coach is named, do not trust anyone. And until a new coach has had a chance to actually coach games, do not make a judgment.

[CoachT14]

Not going to happen but would you do Sumrall with K Briles as OC

Won?t happen. Sumrall is playing offense exactly like he wants. Slow, methodically plodding offenses that win the TOP battle so his defense can get breathers. That?s their only job.

Sounds a lot like someone recently fired?.

[CoachT14]

Yeah if he pulled Sean Lewis or Brennan Marion then I could get behind it.

His current OC sucks and has sucked in the SEC.

We can get ourselves talked about like that and ignore reality. But that ain?t Sumrall. He ain?t going out and hiring that guy. He will bring Craddock or someone like him.

[BigDawg81]

Like I heard somebody say, Sumrall is a Neal Brown 2.0. That is a great comparison.

[Really Clark?]

Like I heard somebody say, Sumrall is a Neal Brown 2.0. That is a great comparison.

I don't see that at all. Neal was the hot offensive guy for a number of years, Sumrall a defensive guy just getting a bigger name for himself. If it's because they both are coaches from Troy then you have too many examples both ways from coaches coming from the same school.

[DownwardDawg]

We can get ourselves talked about like that and ignore reality. But that ain?t Sumrall. He ain?t going out and hiring that guy. He will bring Craddock or someone like him.

Hey Art, will Lebby bring in an OC or will he coach QB's and run the offense himself? Maybe have a passing game coordinator or some bullshit like they title people these days. Asking for a friend.

[CoachT14]

Hey Art, will Lebby bring in an OC or will he coach QB's and run the offense himself? Maybe have a passing game coordinator or some bullshit like they title people these days. Asking for a friend.

Don?t get mad at me cause you can?t handle the truth bud. Sumrall is a few years more experienced Arnett.

[DownwardDawg]

Don?t get mad at me cause you can?t handle the truth bud. Sumrall is a few years more experienced Arnett.

Lighten up man. You sure are thin skinned about this situation.

[CoachT14]

Lighten up man. You sure are thin skinned about this situation.

I?m good. Not upset at all. Just pointing at Sumrall will be an abject disaster here.

[BlackSailsDawg]

We can get ourselves talked about like that and ignore reality. But that ain?t Sumrall. He ain?t going out and hiring that guy. He will bring Craddock or someone like him.

The man hired the OC under Chad Morris at Arkansas.

[662dawg]

Contrary to what's being said by some on here. Selmon is NOT out of touch with the fan base... Keenum is... Which is why you're hearing Jon Sumrall's name being floated around.

[the_real_MSU_is_us]

Smoot said it best. These hires are 70% luck, 15% coaching ability, 15% are they a good fit?

We can debate the candidates on those 2 15% metrics, but remember it's mostly luck and you don't know crap till a few games into the season.

Personally, I think an offensive guy is the best fit, and Lebby certainly has the offensive resume. On the "coaching ability", he hasn't been tested as a HC. On the "fit", he's an OC who's coached in MS and the SEC.

Seems like people are very hard on him for not having been a HC before. Meh. He's got it or he doesn't. Many HCs can win at one place and loose at another anyway.

My main concern is the contract. We need a good staff and roster and that costs $$$, we also need to be able to afford the buyout after 2-3 years of he's a disaster

[confucius say]

Contrary to what's being said by some on here. Selmon is NOT out of touch with the fan base... Keenum is... Which is why you're hearing Jon Sumrall's name being floated around.

But it was Selmon who liked Sumrall.

Keenum isn't running the search behind closed doors.

[confucius say]

Smoot said it best. These hires are 70% luck, 15% coaching ability, 15% are they a good fit?

We can debate the candidates on those 2 15% metrics, but remember it's mostly luck and you don't know crap till a few games into the season.

Personally, I think an offensive guy is the best fit, and Lebby certainly has the offensive resume. On the "coaching ability", he hasn't been tested as a HC. On the "fit", he's an OC who's coached in MS and the SEC.

Seems like people are very hard on him for not having been a HC before. Meh. He's got it or he doesn't. Many HCs can win at one place and loose at another anyway.

My main concern is the contract. We need a good staff and roster and that costs $$$, we also need to be able to afford the buyout after 2-3 years of he's a disaster

Hiring lebby for 4 leaves you 2-3 to hire an elite DC if you can get one to come.

If I'm lebby I take 3.5 and have money filtered to NIL instead of Bulldog Club so I can get some more players.

[Catfish]

Hiring lebby for 4 leaves you 2-3 to hire an elite DC if you can get one to come.

If I'm lebby I take 3.5 and have money filtered to NIL instead of Bulldog Club so I can get some more players.

NIL and staff.

[CoachT14]

Talk about losing your fan base by hiring Jon Sumrall if we move towards that instead of Lebby.

We are about to lose a large portion of the fan base because they are tired of a boring stale product. And you hire a boring stale coach that won?t win here.

What a bad move that will effectively lose the fan base. No one wants Sumrall. By a large margin.

We won under Mike Leach but we were boring and stale and the fan base was waining. Sumrall ain?t going to fix that.

Kiffin will run circles around him in in-state recruiting. Much like he did with Arnett. Our skill players will transfer out because they will be in the same damn offense we may right now. They want no part of that.