In Reply to: Happy, have you looked at some of the coaches on your list (+ others) posted by TJJ on October 12, 2025 at 13:28:19
I gotta admit, irrationally, I've been very caught up in the excitement. Every coaching hire, I'm like, just hire proven competence. Now, my "proven competence" guys look drab in comparison to Skipper and the Castaways. And, I'm falling into the idea that maybe we've got more money than I thought. My list was of guys that are currently making $2 mil/year or less. Guys that should be the bare minimum, and remembering my no coordinators stance. My mentality has changed so much in the last three weeks .... maybe we have a lot of money! Surely we're a more attractive destination now!
I feel differently about Skipper. Our schedule is rough. Maryland is a good team with maybe the best Freshman QB in the country. Nebraska is a good team. Those are the "easy" games left on our schedule. If I imposed the "must win three more games" standard, that would mean we don't retain Skipper unless we beat Washington. Fisch has a bit head start on Skipper in building his team, probably has much better players at his disposal. To me, a 3 win requirement is too high of a bar. I want to see the team play competently. And, if we lose to Ohio State, sc, UW, Nebbie, I wouldn't rule Skipper out based on that.
In comparison to what Skipper has done in the last two games, 3 of my 4 guys look pretty drab.
Candle, he's probably the lowest guy on my list. He's 76-42 at Toledo. Not having a good year. But, if we ended up with Candle, I'd be fine. Things are different now. No one is throwing out Shaw, or Mariucci (ffs), or anyone else that is not coaching. But, ya, Candle over anyone that's not coaching. I'm softening on my "no coordinators" stance. But, I think I'd hire a guy that's 76-42 over most coordinators. Lupoi? maybe?
Kinne: Just beat Traylor! But, 19-13 at Texas State. And, they don't have any marquis games left on the schedule. He'd be the guy that I'm reconsidering, though the pundits probably rate him higher than Traylor or Candle.
Traylor: 49-23 at UTSA, starting in 2015. Same comments as Candle.
Silverfield: Memphis is undefeated. They play Tulane, with prospect coach Sumrall in a few weeks. Last season they beat Florida State (I know, FSU sucked), Tulane (coached by Sumrall), West Virginia, South Florida (coached by Golesh). But, lost to UTSA (coached by Traylor). Season before, beat Boise State, South Florida, and Iowa State (Campbell).
So, of the guys I threw out, for me Kinne's star is fading. Still very high on Silverfield, Candle or Traylor would be acceptable.
Re: Mullen, I didn't suggest him, but he's undefeated. On the flipside, they play a cr@p schedule. He'd probably be a good hire, and from what I've read, UNLV will struggle to pay him, so he might be gettable?
I like Fisch and would be quite happy with him. I'd take him over any of my four minimum standard guys.
Speaking of Colo State (who blew out Entz' Fresno team) UTSA squeaked by them.
Another guy whose name has been thrown around here and in the media, Eck, UNM is .500, I think.
My problem is 1) I have no idea now much money we have to spend. Things that haven't changed: the athl dept is still in massive debt; we still owe Foster a bunch of money; we're still paying Calimony. Like, I think Silverfield will actually be out of our budget.
For me, If Skipper gets us past Maryland and we play well in our remaining games, but don't win any, Skipper is still a good hire to me.
If we can conjure up a pile of money and hire a current head coach that is better than my bottom 3, then great! And I'd be quite happy with Fisch.
Hopefully, we can get Fisch or someone else better than my minimum standard guys. But, I'd take 3 of my min standard guys over pretty much any coordinator.