Some one explaine to me why Neb fired a 9 win coach?

[Todd4State]

One thing Mullen is great at is taking advantage of a train wreck program. If you are down. He steps on your throat.

2010 & 2011 - bears were awful
2012 & 2015 - AU were awful
2012 - Upig, john l smith year
2010-2015 - UK, just bad.

Mullen handled his business against these teams.

That's Dan's best asset- he simply does not lose to teams he absolutely shouldn't. At the same time, it's uncanny that he very rarely upsets anyone.

[bulldawg28]

Improving the program is one thing- going 2-16 vs Bama, LSU, and A&M is another

What is the SEC's record against those teams? This post is stupid hell A&M hasn't even been in the league but a few years. What's the record the West teams record against Bama and LSU?

[DancingRabbit]

For the record- I am NOT saying that Croom is better than Dan in any way, shape, or form. Just saying that if a coach as bad as Croom can win some big games from time to time- then pretty much any coach we hire should do the same- for the people that think that Dan is the absolute best that we can possibly do.

Who do you suggest that would be better, and would want to follow Mullen here?

[OurState]

Ive never once said we needed to fire Mullen. Not once. Neither has anybody else that Ive seen.

Feels like Engie pushed that agenda pretty hard for a year, although he may deny that now.

[OurState]

That's Dan's best asset- he simply does not lose to teams he absolutely shouldn't. At the same time, it's uncanny that he very rarely upsets anyone.

This is because Dan plays to maximize the odds of scoring the most points instead of maximizing the odds of winning.

If Dan finds himself down 16 and score he kicks the extra point rather than going for two.

Dan would rather be sure that he loses by 9 than risk losing by 10 and have a chance to win.

[Quaoarsking]

This is because Dan plays to maximize the odds of scoring the most points instead of maximizing the odds of winning.

If Dan finds himself down 16 and score he kicks the extra point rather than going for two.

Dan would rather be sure that he loses by 9 than risk losing by 10 and have a chance to win.

Um, that has literally never happened.

[DancingRabbit]

Um, that has literally never happened.

I was about to ask for some examples. I don't think it ever happened in the 2nd half of a game.

[Taog Redloh]

Auburn 2007. 9-4 and won the Peach Bowl. BITCH.

Ole Miss 2009. 9-4 and won the Cotton Bowl. BITCH.
LSU 2014 was also 8-4 in the regular season
Auburn 2014 was also 8-4 in the regular season

That Auburn 2007 team had just lost at home to South Florida, and we had gotten blown the eff out by LSU on opening Thursday night. That was about as big of a game as 3-2. Mullen has beaten 10 or more teams that would have beaten that 07 Auburn squad. See Quaoarsking's post for the details.

[Todd4State]

Ole Miss 2009. 9-4 and won the Cotton Bowl. BITCH.
LSU 2014 was also 8-4 in the regular season
Auburn 2014 was also 8-4 in the regular season

That Auburn 2007 team had just lost at home to South Florida, and we had gotten blown the eff out by LSU on opening Thursday night. That was about as big of a game as 3-2. Mullen has beaten 10 or more teams that would have beaten that 07 Auburn squad. See Quaoarsking's post for the details.

You asked for one example of Croom beating a good team. I gave you one. BITCH. Never said that Dan "never" won a big game- just that he doesn't do it enough. The circumstances coming into the game itself are irrelevant- but keep trying to move the goal posts. You're simply wrong if you think that Croom never beat a good team when he was here. And I certainly could have used UK 2007 on the road as well. See Quaor's post for details indeed.

[Todd4State]

Who do you suggest that would be better, and would want to follow Mullen here?

We'll see what the coaching landscape is when Dan leaves. The biggest thing I would prefer as a fan is that a coach has head coaching experience- something that Dan lacked coming in and we would have seen his flaws from the start.

Arkansas State has had some good coaches go to the SEC (Mahlzahn, Freeze)- and I think Blake Anderson would potentially be a promising up and coming type of guy that would likely be interested in our job if we offered it to him.

I don't have my heart set on anybody to be honest with you. Anderson is just an example of the type of coach we should look at. With what we pay and being in the SEC, it shouldn't be that difficult to land a quality coach.

[Taog Redloh]

You asked for one example of Croom beating a good team. I gave you one. BITCH. Never said that Dan "never" won a big game- just that he doesn't do it enough. The circumstances coming into the game itself are irrelevant- but keep trying to move the goal posts. You're simply wrong if you think that Croom never beat a good team when he was here. And I certainly could have used UK 2007 on the road as well. See Quaor's post for details indeed.

You made a dumb point, just sack up and admit it. By insinuating Mullen has not accomplished something that Croom did, is utterly ridiculous.

[Liverpooldawg]

You asked for one example of Croom beating a good team. I gave you one. BITCH. Never said that Dan "never" won a big game- just that he doesn't do it enough. The circumstances coming into the game itself are irrelevant- but keep trying to move the goal posts. You're simply wrong if you think that Croom never beat a good team when he was here. And I certainly could have used UK 2007 on the road as well. See Quaor's post for details indeed.

Croom? Seriously Todd? You need to step away from the ledge man.

[Johnson85]

For the record- I am NOT saying that Croom is better than Dan in any way, shape, or form. Just saying that if a coach as bad as Croom can win some big games from time to time- then pretty much any coach we hire should do the same- for the people that think that Dan is the absolute best that we can possibly do.

I'm not sure many people think Dan is the absolute best that we can possibly do; they're just not stupid enough to think that the way to build a championship program is to fire your coach anytime you think he's not the absolute best you can do.

[Political Hack]

You done bumped yo head, especially regarding Miami.

Granted, they need to figure out their stadium situation, and yes, the whole eastern side of the country recruits south Florida. But they can still get back. I just laugh at ya'lls tunnel vision. How many of you thought South Carolina was now a destination job?

The formula for Nebraska? High level defensive guy (I know nothing about Mike Riley, he may already be this), and institute a run-based spread offense, very similar to ours or maybe Rich Rod's. Maybe even an option. Lock down ALL the instate talent, which really should not be that difficult. I would go to Los Angeles, Atlanta and Miami almost exclusively for skill players, and heavily hit the Kansas JUCOs. Sell the B1G angle. I bet they could find some ancillary guys in the surrounding states, Chicago and Detroit too that would like Lincoln. I wouldn't even mess with Texas.

Miami? I think it gets back to the stadium. They really need a facility that says, 'The U'. Get that, and nothing can hold them back. I think a smaller place like what Tulane just built, could be perfect for them. For big games, they could still play at Sun Life or whatever it is.

Miami has a student body of 10k that's largely graduate students that have allegiances to other schools that they attended for undergrad. It's in a pro city. They couldn't steal Dan Mullen from Miss State and they damn sure can't steal a recruit from Florida or Florida State. Their student body probably puts 5k butts in the stadium weekly, if they're lucky. You know why they won't move the stadium on campus? Because a game in the ghetto would actually lower attendance. Further, there players always have been and always will be out for numero uno. Sapp and Irvin aren't building new weight rooms there... And the relevant players from Miami that young guys identify with have almost aged out of relevancy. They have a very short window left to ever take advantage of their brief pimple on the ass of relevancy in the history of college football. It's also an academic school where the administration is more concerned with the school than it is the football program. The football program has actually been nothing but a black eye for the school since the 90's. That doesn't sit well with the academic side of the university. Outside of the professionalization of college football, Miami is dead. People think they can recruit because they're from Florida. Lmao. They're in the corner of a huge state. They can be 12 hours away from an in-state recruit. You think momma's driving 12 hours to Miami or 4 to Auburn?

The day of corn fed white boys dominating the line of scrimmage for a triple option QB in Lincoln are long gone too. Minnesota isn't coming back. Navy will never win another national championship either (throw Army's irrelevancy in there too). Tulane will never win the SEC again either.

[WinningIsRelentless]

We'll see what the coaching landscape is when Dan leaves. The biggest thing I would prefer as a fan is that a coach has head coaching experience- something that Dan lacked coming in and we would have seen his flaws from the start.

Arkansas State has had some good coaches go to the SEC (Mahlzahn, Freeze)- and I think Blake Anderson would potentially be a promising up and coming type of guy that would likely be interested in our job if we offered it to him.

I don't have my heart set on anybody to be honest with you. Anderson is just an example of the type of coach we should look at. With what we pay and being in the SEC, it shouldn't be that difficult to land a quality coach.

Did you just f@@@@@@ say Gus bus was a good coach? His ass will be fired at the end of next year.

[Taog Redloh]

Check out this list, which is even better:

Completely inexplicable games King Jackie lost (or tied, and we'll keep it over the first 7 years like Mullen):
1991 Memphis 5-6
1992 LSU 2-9
1992 South Carolina 5-6
1994 LSU 4-7
1993 Arkansas State 2-8-1
1995 NE Louisiana 2-9
1996 Louisiana Tech
1996 Arkansas 4-7
1997 Arkansas 4-7
Honorable Mention with a winning record: 1993 Memphis

Completely inexplicable games Croom lost:
2004 Maine record doesn't matter
2004 Vanderbilt 2-9
2004 Arkansas 5-6
2004 Ole Miss 4-7
2005 Kentucky 3-8
2005 Arkansas 4-7
2006 Tulane 4-8 plus Katrina
2008 Auburn 5-7
Honorable Mentions with winning records: 2004 UAB, 2005 Houston, 2008 Louisiana Tech

Completely inexplicable games Mullen lost:
.....

only thing that comes close is 2009 Houston, and they were 10-4 and C-USA runner-ups
Honorable Mention with winning records: 2012 Ole Miss

[engie]

Feels like Engie pushed that agenda pretty hard for a year, although he may deny that now.

No. But you've already misrepresented my position then -- so keep on keeping on.

[BrunswickDawg]

Check out this list, which is even better:

Completely inexplicable games King Jackie lost (or tied, and we'll keep it over the first 7 years like Mullen):
1991 Memphis 5-6
1992 LSU 2-9
1992 South Carolina 5-6
1994 LSU 4-7
1993 Arkansas State 2-8-1
1995 NE Louisiana 2-9
1996 Louisiana Tech
1996 Arkansas 4-7
1997 Arkansas 4-7
Honorable Mention with a winning record: 1993 Memphis

Completely inexplicable games Croom lost:
2004 Maine record doesn't matter
2004 Vanderbilt 2-9
2004 Arkansas 5-6
2004 Ole Miss 4-7
2005 Kentucky 3-8
2005 Arkansas 4-7
2006 Tulane 4-8 plus Katrina
2008 Auburn 5-7
Honorable Mentions with winning records: 2004 UAB, 2005 Houston, 2008 Louisiana Tech

Completely inexplicable games Mullen lost:
.....

only thing that comes close is 2009 Houston, and they were 10-4 and C-USA runner-ups
Honorable Mention with winning records: 2012 Ole Miss

And people tend to have pumped then number of Jackie's "Big Wins" up in their heads too. Following Quaosars' lead -

'91 None
'92 TX 6-5
'92 Memphis 6-5
'92 UF 9-4
'93 None
'94 Memphis 6-5
'94 SC 7-5
'95 Baylor 7-4
'96 SC 6-5
'96 Bama 10-3
'97 AU 10-3
'98 Bama 8-5
'98 Ark 9-3
'98 OM 7-5
'99 UK 6-6
'99 OM 8-4
'99 Clemson 6-6
'00 BYU 6-6
'00 UF 10-3
'00 AU 9-4
'00 A&M 7-5
'01 OM 7-4
'02 None
'03 Memphis 9-4

Yes, Jackie pulled off a few Big wins - normally negated by at least 1 (if not more) WTF loses. But, we are really only taking about 4-5 total games in 12 years against high quality teams - '92 UF, '96 Bama, '97 AU, '98 Ark, '00 UF, '00 AU

[Johnson85]

Miami has a student body of 10k that's largely graduate students that have allegiances to other schools that they attended for undergrad. It's in a pro city. They couldn't steal Dan Mullen from Miss State and they damn sure can't steal a recruit from Florida or Florida State. Their student body probably puts 5k butts in the stadium weekly, if they're lucky. You know why they won't move the stadium on campus? Because a game in the ghetto would actually lower attendance. Further, there players always have been and always will be out for numero uno. Sapp and Irvin aren't building new weight rooms there... And the relevant players from Miami that young guys identify with have almost aged out of relevancy. They have a very short window left to ever take advantage of their brief pimple on the ass of relevancy in the history of college football. It's also an academic school where the administration is more concerned with the school than it is the football program. The football program has actually been nothing but a black eye for the school since the 90's. That doesn't sit well with the academic side of the university.

Their administration has killed them. From what I can tell, their athletic department hasn't been as autonomous as most and the university as a whole has been less reluctant to recognize the value of their athletic department being a business (hence the resistance to paying a big boy salary for a football coach when they interviewed Mullen the first time). I think they are over that now or else why would they have been willing to interview Mullen again.

Outside of the professionalization of college football, Miami is dead. People think they can recruit because they're from Florida. Lmao. They're in the corner of a huge state. They can be 12 hours away from an in-state recruit. You think momma's driving 12 hours to Miami or 4 to Auburn?

I think people think they can recruit because they are in Miami. They have plenty of rich alumni that if they are interested, can finance a good recruiting network. Look at the pulls UM has gotten from reasonably far away from Oxford. You think the U couldn't find plenty of top rated recruits willing to come to South Beach? They will probably have to move slowly because of their recent NCAA problems, but if they hire the right coach and are committed to paying for good talent, I think they can come back. Maybe not have a dominant stretch or even championship team, but relevant nationally again. I'm not predicting that this will happen, but it's certainly within reach, even if they are stuck with pretty mediocre facilities. I do think that if they come back they will always be volatile. They would have all the issues that UM has with getting players mainly interested in the highest bid, but compounded by the fact that they are getting players to whom the city of Miami is appealing, so they'll likely always have some issues with discipline on and off the field if they go that route.

[Coach34]

The SEC and it's money has lifted State up a good bit higher than we were in 1991 when Jackie took over. Not quite an apple to apples comparison.

When Jackie came in- we had a 35K capacity stadium that we didn't fill. We weren't top 50 in budget as we are now. Teams like Memphis and La Tech were on a much closer level to us than they are now. Hell, Jackie's 1st year is the first year the Egg Bowl moved back to campus.