BroncoRedux
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Would the Gophers have been able to hire Fleck had the Broncos gone 13 - 0?
I say no.
I say no.
The tier “above” Minnesota (in terms of attractiveness for HCs) has almost no history of hiring HCs out of the MAC without an extensive past connection to the school.
However, as MAC HCs go, Fleck was probably the best candidate in decades for a P5 HC position.
The tier “above” Minnesota (in terms of attractiveness for HCs) has almost no history of hiring HCs out of the MAC without an extensive past connection to the school.
However, as MAC HCs go, Fleck was probably the best candidate in decades for a P5 HC position.
I've wondered that before.
Most other jobs had filled up before the Sugar Bowl though. Texas hired Herman in December, Oregon announced Taggart in December etc.
If he was dead set on leaving WMU that season then I think we probably still get him because all the better jobs filled up. But if he beat Wisconsin then it's possible he would have decided to stay at WMU another year to see what other jobs had opened up.
Overall, I would say yes, we would still get him.
I believe I read that he and Heather had already agreed that there were something like 10 P5 jobs that they were willing to leave WMU for, and Minnesota was one of them. I don't recall what the criteria were that led to the 10, or if it was explicitly mentioned.
So I think you're exactly right.
The two big factors are: 1) would any P5's bigger than Minnesota, that still had an opening at that time, have been interested in Fleck because of the win, and 2) would such programs be willing to take a MAC head coach as their head coach, as opposed to taking a P5 head coach or coordinator, or a head coach from a higher level G5 conf?
Maybe, but I don't think so.
Any school would also have to meet the following criteria:
1. He keeps his "Row the Boat"
2. School must have a medical facility to partner with RTB
3. School must be tolerant of Heather/PJ PDAs
4. Facilities must be "Elite"
That seems to be the case.
Minnesotans have a bit of an inferiority complex, I think. We always assume that we're near the bottom of the list as far as coaching destinations go.
We're a Big Ten school in a great metro area with a high quality of life, great schools for kids.
I'd be hard pressed to name all that many better destinations that are likely to hire a coach from a lesser conference. As Goldmember said, the Notre Dames, Ohio States, Michigans etc. aren't likely to pick a MAC coach. Not unless he has direct ties to their own school, like Frost at Nebraska.
By all accounts, Fleck BADLY wanted the Oregon job but wasn't able to land it.
I don't think the outcome of the Cotton Bowl had any bearing on our ability to hire PJ.
I think they would have been 14-0?
What if Gophs had pulled out road wins over Penn State and Nebraska that year?
Well, Ohio State picked Jim Tressel over a coach from an upper tier college.
Would the Gophers have been able to hire Fleck had the Broncos gone 13 - 0?
I say no.
That seems to be the case.
Minnesotans have a bit of an inferiority complex, I think. We always assume that we're near the bottom of the list as far as coaching destinations go.
We're a Big Ten school in a great metro area with a high quality of life, great schools for kids.
I'd be hard pressed to name all that many better destinations that are likely to hire a coach from a lesser conference. As Goldmember said, the Notre Dames, Ohio States, Michigans etc. aren't likely to pick a MAC coach. Not unless he has direct ties to their own school, like Frost at Nebraska.
Woody Hayes came from Miami of Ohio. Bo Shembechler came from Miami of Ohio. And of course Gerry Faust came from Moeller High School. Obviously not the MAC, but ... (Also, wasn't called the MAC when Hayes was at Miami.)
However, as MAC HCs go, Fleck was probably the best candidate in decades for a P5 HC position.
Urban Meyer, just off the top of my head, laughably disproves your assertion. I'm certain that there are many others in "decades" as well.
Urban Meyer, just off the top of my head, laughably disproves your assertion. I'm certain that there are many others in "decades" as well.
Some guy named Saban too.
The tier “above” Minnesota (in terms of attractiveness for HCs) has almost no history of hiring HCs out of the MAC without an extensive past connection to the school.
However, as MAC HCs go, Fleck was probably the best candidate in decades for a P5 HC position.
Fleck's under .500 in his first two seasons as P5 HC. Brady Hoke didn't go directly from Ball State (pit stop at San Diego State), but was 19-7 his first two years at Mich, 26-13 after three years.
Not sure how much the MAC can claim him. He coached there for 2 years as a position coach before a winding road through college and pro ranks. Michigan State can lay more claim to him than anyone else. Granted he did graduate from Kent State.
I think Goldmember is more commenting about at the time of hire. And the Hoke comparison is apples and oranges. Michigan is Michigan. Much more difficult to win here.