Mind of Mike: Thoughts on latest coaching news
There’s a lot to unpack when it comes to coaching changes lately as key assistants have been jettisoned, coaches are on very new hot seats, a replacement has been named for at least one college job and a coach surprisingly survives another season.
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FACT OR FICTION: Dan Mullen is on the hot seat at Florida
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ALL EYES ON DAN MULLEN
Let’s start with the disaster that has become the Dan Mullen era in Gainesville. Not only is Mullen unexpectedly on a very hot seat after a 4-5 start this season and recent bad loss to South Carolina, but he finally fired defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. That’s a good thing, right? Well no, because it should have happened a couple of years ago and at the very least at the end of last season.
Mullen is well known for his lack of love of recruiting and recent comments only further reinforce that perception. Now he appears desperate a year after pushing Alabama in the SEC title game. He’s never been shy about admitting his interest in being an NFL coach which hasn’t helped him but now his next step could be as a quality control guy in the NFL if he doesn’t turn things around quickly.
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NEW LIFE FOR SCOTT FROST
It is quite surprising that Scott Frost will be back at Nebraska next season despite his 15-27 (10-23) record in Lincoln. But it makes sense. Frost was paid a ton of money to come from UCF to Nebraska, he’s a popular former player and he’s only in his fourth season with a 2020 COVID-19 year thrown in there. And Nebraska is playing better.
Frost was clearly forced to jettison some offensive coaches and his contract is being restructured, but the Huskers want to give him at least part of next season to win some games. Losing closer games is great and all and strides have been made as Nebraska has hung with Oklahoma, Michigan State, Michigan and now Ohio State. But the Huskers are 3-7 this season with no chance at a bowl game and staring at two more losses to Wisconsin and Iowa to end the season.
That’s why it’s a little surprising to me because potentially 3-9 in Year 4 would never be something acceptable at Nebraska. I mean they punted on Bo Pelini and he won nine games a year. So now with offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Matt Lubick, offensive line coach/run game coordinator Greg Austin, running backs coach Ryan Held and quarterbacks coach Mario Verduzco all gone, it’s one last ditch effort for Frost as this has been an absolute disaster so far.
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TEXAS TECH TABS MCGUIRE
Joey McGuire at Texas Tech, huh? Not a bad choice. He has great recruiting ties and relationships in-state. He’s well respected and with UTSA re-upping Jeff Traylor and SMU’s Sonny Dykes likely to land at TCU, this is a popular hire. The only issue? McGuire does not have a ton of college experience as he was hired at Baylor five years ago after years in high school. But what this signals is a desire for Texas Tech to take a step up in recruiting — and that will happen — and that should lead to more wins with a better roster.
It’s not an overly risky move and I like the way Texas Tech gets him now instead of having to wait until the end of the season. That will make the transition much quicker before the Early Signing Period.
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FIRING ORGERON STILL A RISK FOR LSU
I know many college football fans and LSU fans don’t think a lot of Ed Orgeron and I didn’t either when he was hired. But those crediting Joe Brady and Joe Burrow solely with the 2019 national title are a bit dense. Take a look at LSU’s win last year at Florida and its near win this past weekend at Alabama and you can see a coach who not only knows what he’s doing but is the perfect fit for LSU.
The roster was so depleted last year in The Swamp and this past weekend against Alabama that the Tigers should have been blown out in both games. Orgeron is a good coach and if LSU doesn’t get a known commodity like Jimbo Fisher, the Tigers could end up taking a big step back despite the amazing recruiting advantages they have.
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EXTENSIONS OUT FOR GUNDY AND FLECK
Finally, kudos to Oklahoma State and Minnesota for extending Mike Gundy and PJ Fleck respectively. These are great coaches and great fits. Sometimes the grass is plush on your own side of the fence.