In retrospect, did we choose the best available when we hired Dan?

[Op4isabitch]

It came down to him and Kevin "bloody" Wilson. I can't recall many other serious candidates that were courted by the Ninja. If you were the one making the choice which way would you have leaned?

If you don't know who Kevin Bloody Wilson is then google or youtube him...one of the absolute best ever.

[Coach34]

Yes- Mullen has been the best coach we have had since the 1940's thru the first 4+ years

[chef dixon]

Yes and I'm still a big fan of him. Its funny to see a lot of people talk about how terrible Stricklin and Mullen are now because of our current football woes, but everyone loved Byrne mainly for his hiring of Mullen.

[DownwardDawg]

Yes and I'm still a big fan of him. Its funny to see a lot of people talk about how terrible Stricklin and Mullen are now because of our current football woes, but everyone loved Byrne mainly for his hiring of Mullen.

And Byrne would hold him accountable. Will Scott?
Back to the question, I don't know. He was certainly a better candidate than Wilson. What about Charlie Strong?

[Esmerelda Villalobos]

Mullen was put on the clock. Hud was a courtesy interview but ninja was so impressed he wanted him. He liked mullen and offered but put him on the clock. Hud was very close to being the msu coach. If memory serves me correct, ninja hired hud, not mullen.

[Coach34]

. What about Charlie Strong?

Strong said no thank you

[Coach34]

If memory serves me correct, ninja hired hud, not mullen.

Correct- and why Mullen didnt let Hud do much of anything while he was at State

[BoomBoom]

Absolutely. We didn't need just a HC, we needed to turn the whole program around. Dan did a great job on that end even as his HC performance has underwhelmed. But that job is over, and when it comes to retaining Dan, he should be judged solely on his HC performance. We know a TON more about his HC abilities now than anyone could have then. And they are not a good fit for MSU. Dan will do very well with superior talent, but he will never have that at MSU as long as we compete with Bama, LSU, etc. We have to win the coaching battle to win games, and unfortunately that will never be Dan Mullen's strength.

[CadaverDawg]

We hired the right guy when we hired Mullen. Now hopefully we hire the right guy again if Mullen tanks

[Political Hack]

Mullen was put on the clock. Hud was a courtesy interview but ninja was so impressed he wanted him. He liked mullen and offered but put him on the clock. Hud was very close to being the msu coach. If memory serves me correct, ninja hired hud, not mullen.

was a few hours away from being announced, or so the story goes.

[Esmerelda Villalobos]

Well, I heard it first hand. It is no story.

[RougeDawg]

Yes we hired the right guy but we let the right AD slip away. Mullen's demeanor and attitude have changed since the ninja took his act to Arizona. It almost seems that Dan now tells Strick what to do. Doesnt seem to be as much urgency in Mullen's actions on and off the field with Strick at the helm.

[Homedawg]

Strong said no thank you

This is not true. Strong never had the chance to say no thanks because big money guys who were cutting the check didn't give him the option.

[smootness]

Yes we hired the right guy but we let the right AD slip away. Mullen's demeanor and attitude have changed since the ninja took his act to Arizona. It almost seems that Dan now tells Strick what to do. Doesnt seem to be as much urgency in Mullen's actions on and off the field with Strick at the helm.

Good grief, we have now officially gone overboard.

[Coach34]

This is not true. Strong never had the chance to say no thanks because big money guys who were cutting the check didn't give him the option.

I'm not going to argue- just going on what a friend of Strick's told me

And by "no thanks" I mean to an interview- I'm not saying we offered him the job

[Coach34]

Yes we hired the right guy but we let the right AD slip away. Mullen's demeanor and attitude have changed since the ninja took his act to Arizona. It almost seems that Dan now tells Strick what to do. Doesnt seem to be as much urgency in Mullen's actions on and off the field with Strick at the helm.

This is ridiculous-Mullen, as most coaches, has a huge damn ego. I can assure you he hates losing just as much as the rest of us.

He's the one that puts in 65 hours/week at work
He's the one out in the heat trying to get the guys better
He's the one that faces the media when we look like shit
He's the one that has to orchestrate all this shit day after day

He's not sitting in his office watching funny youtube videos each day to pass the time

[biggun]

Mullen has lost the bravado he had his first 2 years here which makes it appear like he has lost some of the fire he had in 2009 and 2010.
However, Mullen's weakness has been recruiting, his 2010 and 2011 classes were terrible, and he has really struggled attracting big time OL, WR's, and QB's. Freeze's instant success landing blue chips at virtually every position has made the spotlight burn that much brighter on Mullen's achilles heel, recruiting!!! Having dead weight like Hevesy and Sallach on staff does not help attract players either.

Jocks and Joe's, not the X and O's win games in the SEC. Just not sure Mullen can land enough X and O's to survive. The loss to a rebuilding Auburn team struck quite the blow to our program. If we can't beat a bad Auburn team, who can we beat outside of Kentucky????????????

[smootness]

I don't really have a lot of issue with Mullen's recruiting right now. Sure, it could always be even better, but we've hit our stride and are now consistently doing well.

There is always a transition when new coaches come to State. It's not the same as Florida. We now have a pretty solid foundation of in-state connections, where we're always going to attract our share of MS kids; now we're starting to expand out-of-state, too.

[slickdawg]

Considering we were coming off the LT imposed Croom Death Penalty, I'm surprised we got anyone that could remotely coach.

[Homedawg]

I'm not going to argue- just going on what a friend of Strick's told me

And by "no thanks" I mean to an interview- I'm not saying we offered him the job

Ok. I misunderstood. I was saying he was never getting the job.