We're arguing abour replacing the air filter when the whole AC is out...

[Political Hack]

Replacing Dan Mullen, when he continues to win games despite the odds, is the equivalent to replacing the filter when your AC compressor goes out.

We've got bigger problems with this administration. They've got no backbone. It's an "MSU, Bible belt, nice guy, don't want to get our hands dirty, do it the right way even though everybody else refuses to, happy for not being last" type of mentality that's brought us to where we are. CDM is making his share of mistakes, but if you think changing coaches under this administration is going to get us to the promise land you're fooling yourselves. We've got bigger problems and they need to be addressed first and foremost.

Ninja + CDM = New Year's Day Bowl and packed stadiums... in short order.
Strick + CDM = More fund raising for the school while struggling to reach bowls when we can't fill our seats.

I'll let you figure out what changed in that equation...

Bottom line is that our leadership is piss poor. I know I keep coming back to the schedule, but this is a shining example of the worst kind of mistakes you could ever make as an AD. There are very few things to a single football season that are more important than correctly managing the schedule.

1) Scheduling Okie State for a pre-season pay day when it means you could miss a post-season pay day, the recruiting bump that goes with playing in a bowl game, the extra practice, the bowl streak, the bowl sales revenue, etc... was dumb. Losing two starters for the year and not having the option to play Tyler Russell during Auburn was also a result of this terrible decision. Oh, and it was a LOSS. Scheduling a loss when you could schedule a win isn't smart. And this one scheduling mistake actually cost us two wins.
2) We scheduled Bowling Green as a night game for homecoming. We may have our hands tied here based on the TV contracts, which is understandable, but if we do, we need to revisit that ASAP. Homecoming games do not need to be at night... and if they are, they need to work with the city to make sure the bars don't close down too early. Also, we should try our damndest to make sure that's always a day game. Empty stadiums look like crap on TV, but they look worse to recruits and other visitors who are attending the game... including the TV crews who will decide when they're coming back.
3) Scheduling a Thursday night game against our worst SEC opponent of the year during fall break is about as dumb as you can get. I don't think it needs an explanation. Way to go.
4) Getting bent over by the SEC office for a SC away game after you were told you're getting Vandy... being so sure about it that you tell the fan base... scheduling Oklahoma State based on your confidence in this... and then getting the ole' LT oopty oop. Really? That's gutless. If it wasn't locked in, we shouldn't have went after the kickoff game. If you had a firm commitment, you should've forced them to keep it. Either way, it was either stupid or spineless.... neither of which is acceptable.
5) Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving... with either four or five wins on the schedule, due in part to the rest of the boneheaded scheduling decisions is pitiful. If it's four, OUR son-of-a-bitchin' stadium is going to fill up with Rebels on national TV. For that to even be a possibility at this point is enough to clean house in the Bryan Building.

We have opened our door to LT part two and everyone is yelling at the head coach because of it. We're arguing over whether Dan Mullen will be fired... what we should be asking ourselves is whether or not he's going to be willing to stay here and compete with the rest of the SEC and boneheaded gutless decisions our AD continues to make.

Keep your eye on the ball... and fix the damn compressor before you change the filter.

[Interpolation_Dawg_EX]

Didn't the ninja get the "Our State" ball rolling as well?

[PMDawg]

you make a lot of good points, and you may be on to something...but Mullen's on the field coaching is atrocious these days. I don't see how that can be blamed on Scott. The rest, I don't have a strong opinion either way.

[Eric Nies Grind Time]

So I am guessing that you give Stricklin a lot of credit for next years favorable schedule then?

[CadaverDawg]

Replacing Dan Mullen, when he continues to win games despite the odds, is the equivalent to replacing the filter when your AC compressor goes out.

We've got bigger problems with this administration. They've got no backbone. It's an "MSU, Bible belt, nice guy, don't want to get our hands dirty, do it the right way even though everybody else refuses to, happy for not being last" type of mentality that's brought us to where we are. CDM is making his share of mistakes, but if you think changing coaches under this administration is going to get us to the promise land you're fooling yourselves. We've got bigger problems and they need to be addressed first and foremost.

Ninja + CDM = New Year's Day Bowl and packed stadiums... in short order.
Strick + CDM = More fund raising for the school while struggling to reach bowls when we can't fill our seats.

I'll let you figure out what changed in that equation...

Bottom line is that our leadership is piss poor. I know I keep coming back to the schedule, but this is a shining example of the worst kind of mistakes you could ever make as an AD. There are very few things to a single football season that are more important than correctly managing the schedule.

1) Scheduling Okie State for a pre-season pay day when it means you could miss a post-season pay day, the recruiting bump that goes with playing in a bowl game, the extra practice, the bowl streak, the bowl sales revenue, etc... was dumb. Losing two starters for the year and not having the option to play Tyler Russell during Auburn was also a result of this terrible decision. Oh, and it was a LOSS. Scheduling a loss when you could schedule a win isn't smart. And this one scheduling mistake actually cost us two wins.
2) We scheduled Bowling Green as a night game for homecoming. We may have our hands tied here based on the TV contracts, which is understandable, but if we do, we need to revisit that ASAP. Homecoming games do not need to be at night... and if they are, they need to work with the city to make sure the bars don't close down too early. Also, we should try our damndest to make sure that's always a day game. Empty stadiums look like crap on TV, but they look worse to recruits and other visitors who are attending the game... including the TV crews who will decide when they're coming back.
3) Scheduling a Thursday night game against our worst SEC opponent of the year during fall break is about as dumb as you can get. I don't think it needs an explanation. Way to go.
4) Getting bent over by the SEC office for a SC away game after you were told you're getting Vandy... being so sure about it that you tell the fan base... scheduling Oklahoma State based on your confidence in this... and then getting the ole' LT oopty oop. Really? That's gutless. If it wasn't locked in, we shouldn't have went after the kickoff game. If you had a firm commitment, you should've forced them to keep it. Either way, it was either stupid or spineless.... neither of which is acceptable.
5) Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving... with either four or five wins on the schedule, due in part to the rest of the boneheaded scheduling decisions is pitiful. If it's four, OUR son-of-a-bitchin' stadium is going to fill up with Rebels on national TV. For that to even be a possibility at this point is enough to clean house in the Bryan Building.

We have opened our door to LT part two and everyone is yelling at the head coach because of it. We're arguing over whether Dan Mullen will be fired... what we should be asking ourselves is whether or not he's going to be willing to stay here and compete with the rest of the SEC and boneheaded gutless decisions our AD continues to make.

Keep your eye on the ball... and fix the damn compressor before you change the filter.

Great post. However, I have to agree with PM too...Mullen's shitastic in game coaching has nothing to do with Scott. But I agree, this is a Stricklin problem as well.

[Goat Holder]

Come on, dude. You obviously have an ax to grind.

Our athletic department is just fine right now.

[SignalToNoise]

Nice post Hack and you do make a compelling argument. I'm fine with purging the Bryan Building. I don't know near as much as you do, but my own observations tell me we do not have a well-oiled machine moving in the same direction. I'm guessing Keenum would be the one to make a move on that front.

And like PM said, Mullen's coaching shouldn't be effected by all that unless he has decided to straight up tank the season on purpose.

[level set]

You bring up a good point - Mullen hasn't been the same since Byrne left. Mullen is not the same guy he was when he came here.

[Will James]

We've got bigger problems with this administration. They've got no backbone. It's an "MSU, Bible belt, nice guy, don't want to get our hands dirty, do it the right way even though everybody else refuses to, happy for not being last" type of mentality that's brought us to where we are.

Very well said.

[HancockCountyDog]

Great post. However, I have to agree with PM too...Mullen's shitastic in game coaching has nothing to do with Scott. But I agree, this is a Stricklin problem as well.

So did Scott call a QB counter on 3rd and 3 with Tyler Russell and his knee braces?

Did Scott go for it on a 4th and 10 from basically our 40 yard line with 3:00 left in the game against a team that couldn't pass the ball.

Did Scott bench our All American punter so our FG kicker, yes the same FG kicker that has missed every FG this season (basically) to punt out of the endzone.

If so, I totally agree that Scott should get fired.

[CadaverDawg]

So did Scott call a QB counter on 3rd and 3 with Tyler Russell and his knee braces?

Did Scott go for it on a 4th and 10 from basically our 40 yard line with 3:00 left in the game against a team that couldn't pass the ball.

Did Scott bench our All American punter so our FG kicker, yes the same FG kicker that has missed every FG this season (basically) to punt out of the endzone.

If so, I totally agree that Scott should get fired.

You do realize I agree with you right? Just making sure.

I just also think the problems go even further than Dan...but Dan is the biggest as of right now

[Op4isabitch]

Come on, dude. You obviously have an ax to grind.

Our athletic department is just fine right now.

No it isn't.

We have a spineless A.D who when I emailed him about the crappy game day atmosphere responded by telling me that we have one of, if not the best atmosphere in all of college football. He sighted the streak of sell outs and verbal confirmation from other administrations as his proof. He won't even listen to his own schools fans when they tell him things need adjusting.

We have undoubtedly the worst compliance department in the conference. I don't need to explain multiple examples have been given over just the last few years in both BB and football.

We have a Football coaching staff that has reached their peak and in my view are actually getting worse, it's obvious to the vast majority of people who watch our games that our coaches just are not getting it done.

So no our Athletics department is not " just fine " on the contrary they suck.
For a reference, the bears bought in a new A.D and new head football coach and in two years they have not only passed us but lapped us and will continue to pull away from us unless we get our house in order and start playing the game!

[HancockCountyDog]

You do realize I agree with you right? Just making sure.

I just also think the problems go even further than Dan...but Dan is the biggest as of right now

I think I replied to the wrong post. I may still be drunk. The 4th quarter almost cost me my liver.

The one fact that I kept thinking about last night and this morning is that its year 5 and we are significantly worse than we were in year 2. It would be one thing if we had stayed the same and not improved, but we have gone backwards since year 2.

I know there are ups and downs in coaching, but overall you should either be progessing, or staying roughly the same. The wrench in this analysis is that Mullen has shown an ability to win if given great talent - 2010 team. The problem is that he hasnt shown an ability to win games without great talent - and at MSU - by and large we won't have a team as talented as the 2010 team that often. He has to show that he can do more with less.

Freezus beat LSU with freshman corners, 3rd string DE's, and backup Hb's. Im not even asking for wins with starters - just be competitive.

[smootness]

Come on, dude. You obviously have an ax to grind.

Our athletic department is just fine right now.

I agree with this. I think a lot of people see Stricklin and just assume he is a 'MSU, Bible belt, nice guy, don't want to get our hands dirty, do it the right way even though everybody else refuses to, happy for not being last' kind of guy. I've assumed that, but you actually saying it reaffirms my assumption.

His actions show otherwise. He may not be the kind of guy who is going to try to bend every rule at every opportunity to get ahead, but I'm ok with that. Some may not be, but I actually like that our AD tries to go about things the right way.

But ok with just not being last? What has Stricklin done that would make anyone think this? What does being an MSU guy have to do with anything? And what does 'Bible belt' mean in this context?

Stricklin, by his actions, is moving this athletic department forward. He may not do everything everyone wants, and yes, we could make some changes here and there (like use of the Jumbotron during games), but those are mostly minor issues. He is adding on to DWS, in a way that should look great and set us up to be able to continually build. He is building what seems to be a brand new DNF that everyone seems to be thrilled about so far, and it looks like he is in no way cutting corners on that.

So how, exactly, is he LT part two? He already canned Stansbury when it became clear he could no longer get the job done. He has continued and added onto plans for the football facility, basketball facility, etc. He seems to have made fantastic hires for softball and womens' basketball and, in my opinion, will prove to have done the same in men's basketball.

But because this year's schedule wasn't perfect, he's LT and a huge problem?

Sorry, I don't buy it. He has stated publicly in the past that he would rather play a big bowl game than a big OOC game early in the year, so you're actually on the same page with him there. But this year, we lost an opponent, had to fill it, and he went against himself and took a chance on the OSU game...I bet he won't do it again.

Scheduling a Homecoming game at night, and scheduling a Thursday game during fall break? Those are very minor 'issues'. This issue you have with him on scheduling is going a tad too far...you may not agree with it, and it may need to be tweaked in certain areas, but it just isn't a massive deal.

You think having Byrne here would mean we're 6-1 right now? Come on. Stricklin has proven himself to be a good AD, and I still have yet to see anyone give me a concrete reason why he is so bad outside of some rumors with the basketball coaching search (which, again, I think ended up with a very good hire).

[smootness]

Freezus beat LSU with freshman corners, 3rd string DE's, and backup Hb's. Im not even asking for wins with starters - just be competitive.

We were absolutely competitive with LSU this year. Things fell apart, and the coaching staff deserves blame/criticism for that, but to act like they just came in and stomped us from beginning to end is revisionist history.

[HancockCountyDog]

We were absolutely competitive with LSU this year. Things fell apart, and the coaching staff deserves blame/criticism for that, but to act like they just came in and stomped us from beginning to end is revisionist history.

Ok, I want us to competitive for 4 quarters.

Shit the Bears were losing to Bama 6-0 at halftime, doesn't mean they were competitive with them. A 30 point loss is a 30 point loss.

[smootness]

I just wish we would get the focus off of Ole Miss.

It seems like most of the time, when you ask someone why it's time for Mullen to go, they start with, 'Well, Freeze...'

There are issues with our program right now, no doubt. But I want discussions on how to fix them more than, 'Mullen has to go because Freeze...' It really doesn't help solve anything.

[CadaverDawg]

I think I replied to the wrong post. I may still be drunk. The 4th quarter almost cost me my liver.

The one fact that I kept thinking about last night and this morning is that its year 5 and we are significantly worse than we were in year 2. It would be one thing if we had stayed the same and not improved, but we have gone backwards since year 2.

I know there are ups and downs in coaching, but overall you should either be progessing, or staying roughly the same. The wrench in this analysis is that Mullen has shown an ability to win if given great talent - 2010 team. The problem is that he hasnt shown an ability to win games without great talent - and at MSU - by and large we won't have a team as talented as the 2010 team that often. He has to show that he can do more with less.

Freezus beat LSU with freshman corners, 3rd string DE's, and backup Hb's. Im not even asking for wins with starters - just be competitive.

This is a great post. Bottom line, Mullen can win when he has talent. He did at Florida, and he did at MSU in 2010. The problem is, he can't recruit. So we're in a bad situation.

If you can only win with great talent, and you are unable to bring in great talent...guess what? You aren't a long term solution for MSU. It is what it is.

And as bad as I hate OM being brought up...they have a solution. Freeze can win with great talent too, so he is bringing in incredible talent because he can croot. He may not be that great of a coach, but if you out talent 9 teams per year, you don't have to be a great coach to be successful.

[smootness]

Freeze is a good recruiter, but I think we'll see that over time, he's not going to be bringing in classes like last year's. This year's class will be a good one, but it won't be incredible.

He lucked out last year on some connections those guys had, and it all hinged on Nkemdiche. Just think about it - had Nkemdiche decided to go elsewhere, they more than likely lose Tunsil as well and possibly one or two more of their other highly-rated guys, and suddenly their class is simply good, and the hype isn't there.

It was a great recruiting job to get Nkemdiche, for sure, but his family was pushing it big time. It's not as though Freeze just won him over...his family pushed it, and once it became clear Nkemdiche was probably going to Ole Miss, it turned heads.

They're still getting some recruiting hype off of that. Once it dies down some, and especially if Ole Miss doesn't start winning big next year, it'll become a lot more difficult for them to pull kids from around the country.

[HancockCountyDog]

Freeze can win with great talent too, so he is bringing in incredible talent because he can croot. He may not be that great of a coach, but if you out talent 9 teams per year, you don't have to be a great coach to be successful.

The scary thing is that he has won without great talent already.

He beat us last year without a single player drafted off his team. Not one. In fact, there won't be a single senior drafted off this year's team.

Think about that for a second, we lost to a bear team that didn't have a single junior or senior that will be drafted off their team.