Case for Ken Niumatalolo of Navy as the HC

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snyds

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Claeys probably deserves a shot at the HC job but, let's be honest he doesn't pass the eyeball test of a HC / Face of the Program. Sorry but that's the truth (in my opinion), even if he gets the job he has a ceiling that is not that high. Is he really the guy who will take the team to the Conference Championship? Or is he a guy who everyone wants cause he's the closest thing to Kill?

He saves this years recruiting class, but what about future classes? I just can't see a 20 year assistant with no HC experience anywhere being a great face of a program in a conference loaded with big name, big personality HC's.

Obviously when ever a job like this comes up the best small conference guys get mentioned, Fleck and Campbell are those guys right now with some recruiting ties to the region.

Schiano is a program builder down right now who would probably jump at this job to get back in the game? His style of play isn't that far from Kill...

But the best candidate for long term success (ie win the Big 10) is Niumatalolo and the triple.

Minnesota will never be Michigan or Ohio State or MSU. They will only be Wisconsin every few years. The ceiling for them running the pro style or generic spread is low because they will always play teams who are better at it, who see it often and have better players. Minnesota will never out recruit OS / UM / MSU.

Look at what Paul Johnson did to Georgia Tech, same sort of situation, a school who was just plugging along but was going to struggle to ever beat the top ACC teams except in that once in a life time special year. His offense provided them with an advantage as it was different to prep for in a conference match up week, it allowed him to recruit players in his region who he could realistically land (guys who were maybe an inch too small or a tenth of a second too slow to end up at the top schools.

Niumatalolo is a PJ disciple, he's been mentioned at this job in 2010, Minnesota is a step up from Navy (scholarships, easier to recruit a kid if he doesn't have to join the Navy after etc). This hire would put Minnesota on the map and make it very interesting in the Big 10 in 2 years.

If Minnesota is serious about being a Big 10 champion they need to consider this hire.
 

snyds said:
let's be honest he doesn't pass the eyeball test of a HC / Face of the Program. Sorry but that's the truth, even if he gets the job he has a ceiling that is not that high.
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A) Why? B) Who's truth?
 

Thanks, Mrs. Niumatalolo. Minnesota's ceiling is a national championship, like every other FBS team. You can argue about the reality of it ever occurring, but this talk of "ceilings" is absurd on its face as long as they continue to award championships on the field.
 

snyds said:
Claeys probably deserves a shot at the HC job but, let's be honest he doesn't pass the eyeball test of a HC / Face of the Program. Sorry but that's the truth, even if he gets the job <b>he has a ceiling that is not that high</b>.
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Good to know. Thanks. Please be sure to let the U know this.
 

snyds said:
Claeys probably deserves a shot at the HC job but, let's be honest he doesn't pass the eyeball test of a HC / Face of the Program. Sorry but that's the truth, even if he gets the job he has a ceiling that is not that high.
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How possibly is that "the truth"? Successful coaches come in all sorts of types. It's your opinion - one that's potentially valid - but an opinion nonetheless.

Niumatalolo is an excellent coach but bringing him on with his style of offense would be a complete rebuild of the program. You do not run the triple-option offense with 6'5"+, 300 lb+ linemen. Given the roster now, I wager it would be at least 4 years before the team would be in position to win big.
 


If you think Travy Claeys will be a Big 10 championship coach then you need to take your Minnesota glasses off. Why would a guy stick it out for 20 years as an assistant?

Loyalty? Please.... this is a business. Some guys are just great assistants.
Every coach has an image, Meyer is the intense guy, Harbaugh is the ultra focused, aloof because he's so focused former player. Kills personality was the genuine hard worker, he's an amazing guy but that's definitely an image he was also presenting.

Hire Tracy Claeys, save the recruiting class, but 2017's class will slip and in 2 years the program will be celebrating a bowl birth when they could be celebrating a conference championship with some outside the box thinking.
 


snyds said:
Claeys probably deserves a shot at the HC job but, let's be honest he doesn't pass the eyeball test of a HC / Face of the Program.
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You could have said the same thing about Patterson when he took over TCU.

And what makes Niumatalolo any more of a 'Face of the Program'?
 

There is a reason why few teams run the triple option......because it is hard to install that sort of offense with the necessary type of players......and it is hard to transfer back out of it to a traditional offense. Trying to turn Minnesota into a triple option team would be a major gamble.....that if failed.....could make the Brewster era look like a mild set back.
 



Few teams run the triple because they fear it's hard to recruit a blue chip QB / RB / WR and those schools want to recruit the best kid to win. Small conf HC's don't because they don't want to be known as "option guys" when the major job opens up.

Johnson is making GT relevant in the ACC with lesser talent. Now he has a stud QB and he went to the con title game last year.

Niumatalolo has shown an ability to recruit players to the toughest of situations in Division 1. He beats Power 5 schools with lesser talent.

This hire will NEVER happen, too many biased opinions but if you think about it, theres definitely a case to be made.
 


Because he's a HC there and has a good thing going.

KN probably responds that he has a better chance to win at Navy then he does at Minn.
 

snyds said:
Because he's a HC there and has a good thing going.

KN probably responds that he has a better chance to win at Navy then he does at Minn.
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So he doesn't like challenges? Sign him up!
 



snyds said:
Johnson is making GT relevant in the ACC with lesser talent. Now he has a stud QB and he went to the con title game last year.
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To be fair, Paul Johnson is essentially maintaining Georgia Tech's previous level of success, not improving upon it.

In the 10 years prior to his hire in 2008, the Yellow Jackets averaged 7.9 wins per season (with a low of 7 and a high of 10) and captured a division title (in 2006) and a share of the conference title (in 1998).

Since Paul Johnson's arrival, Tech has averaged 8.3 wins per season (with a low of 6 and high of 11), captured three division titles (2009, 2012 and 2014) and one conference title (2009). Currently the Yellow Jackets can max out at 8 wins in 2015 (having already suffered 5 losses).
 

snyds said:
Few teams run the triple because they fear it's hard to recruit a blue chip QB / RB / WR and those schools want to recruit the best kid to win. Small conf HC's don't because they don't want to be known as "option guys" when the major job opens up.
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Look.....Georgia Tech is one of my favorite teams to watch. I think the triple option is awfully cool. But......besides the 2014 season in which they ......how exactly has the team done? Looks like a lot of .500 seasons. Nothing to brag about there. Especially when you consider the relative strength of the ACC compared to the Big Ten. They aren't lighting the world on fire. 3-5 on the season this year......
 


snyds said:
Claeys probably deserves a shot at the HC job but, let's be honest he doesn't pass the eyeball test of a HC / Face of the Program. Sorry but that's the truth (in my opinion), even if he gets the job he has a ceiling that is not that high. Is he really the guy who will take the team to the Conference Championship? Or is he a guy who everyone wants cause he's the closest thing to Kill?
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Read: "I am judging Tracy Claeys because he is overweight and overweight people should not be in this leadership position."

Your post is mostly a dumpster fire and you deserve to be criticized for it.
 


It would be hard to find a bigger fan of service academy football than myself. My brother played at AFA, I watch all 3 academies when they're on TV, I love their style of play, I love what they're all about. I think Niumatalolo is a great football coach. If Minnesota chose to go that direction, there are a lot worse options out there for coaches, for sure.

However, I think it's flat out wrong to say that him & only his style of play is what is going to lead the Gophers to a Big Ten championship.
 

I'd like to see some data on what coaches passed the "eye ball test" before becoming a HC and their associated success or lack of it....
 

Off topic but... PJ has been 1st in his division 4 times in 7 years at Tech
1 previous to him taking over (2006)

PJ has 1 ACC conference championship.
In the 60 years before PJ... 2

So say what you want, Johnson is winning more at Tech then they were before (by winning I mean winning con titles, not beating MAC teams).

57 for KN since 2008, 3-3 in bowls (7 years)
Wins over # 16 Wake Forest in 2008, beat Notre Dame in 2009 and 2010
7-0 against rival Army

41 for Minn since 2008, 0 bowl wins

KN is a winner. It blows my mind that he hasn't been given a shot at a program, considering what PJ did at GT and how many middle of the road teams are struggling to be competitive. Theres so many teams who's realistic goal isn't to win their conference but to get bowl eligible.

Yes Minn is in a tougher conference
But Navy has a tougher go, because those players have to you know, join the Navy after.
 

I think there's a lot of coaches who could win at Minnesota. I think most of those guys are already at jobs where Minnesota would be considered at best a lateral move or at worst a step down.

My thinking is maybe think outside the box instead of keeping TC because you fear changing and want to keep the Kill era for ever or hiring the next MAC hot name or Power 5 Coordinator.
 

If you think image doesn't play a part you're wrong.

“I'm not going to deny what my motive was, even though there are obvious long-term health benefits. My thoughts were that if I wanted to be a head coach, I had to lose weight.” — Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis speaking of his gastric bypass surgery.

It is a stereotype that needs some discussion among owners. It's not just Weis' imagination. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen's weight was considered an unspeakable negative as he coveted a head-coaching job at the NFL and collegiate level. Despite his success as a coordinator at both levels, for years he was never mentioned as a serious candidate for a job.

One GM explained the problem: "Bottom line, it shouldn't matter. But the head coach is somebody who is always out front with the media in the NFL, and with the alumni and the media in college. Image is part of it, but there are some guys who believe it's a reflection of self-discipline. How can you demand self-control from players when you don't have it yourself? It could be symptomatic of some other issues."
 

snyds said:
But Navy has a tougher go, because those players have to you know, join the Navy after.
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Seems like you need to spend your time on the Navy football discussion boards.
You are clamoring for a personal pipe dream here at the Gopherhole.
 

snyds said:
Off topic but... PJ has been 1st in his division 4 times in 7 years at Tech
1 previous to him taking over (2006)
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Prior to his arrival, ACC divisions only existed for three years so it's not surprising there were fewer division championships.

And you don't need to go back 60 years before PJ. Tech's program turned around in the late 80's with Bobby Ross. They were a dumpster fire from 1967 until 1988, that much is true.

From 1989 through 2007, GT went 134-94-1 (.588), which includes a 1-10 disaster in 1994 (excluding that season their winning percentage is .613). Since 2008 (including this year), they've gone 61-38-0 (.616). He's maintained a program that has been fairly successful, at least, much more successful than Minnesota has been. Which is pretty darn good, but he hasn't been a complete miracle worker.
 

snyds said:
If you think image doesn't play a part you're wrong.

“I'm not going to deny what my motive was, even though there are obvious long-term health benefits. My thoughts were that if I wanted to be a head coach, I had to lose weight.” — Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis speaking of his gastric bypass surgery.

It is a stereotype that needs some discussion among owners. It's not just Weis' imagination. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen's weight was considered an unspeakable negative as he coveted a head-coaching job at the NFL and collegiate level. Despite his success as a coordinator at both levels, for years he was never mentioned as a serious candidate for a job.

One GM explained the problem: "Bottom line, it shouldn't matter. But the head coach is somebody who is always out front with the media in the NFL, and with the alumni and the media in college. Image is part of it, but there are some guys who believe it's a reflection of self-discipline. How can you demand self-control from players when you don't have it yourself? It could be symptomatic of some other issues."
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So what about Gary Patterson? Mangino had a pretty good run at Kansas before his mouth got him in trouble. How about Andy Reid? Does Belichick and his hoodie get you going?
 

snyds, might as well let it go. You made your case and found no one that agrees with you. Nothing wrong with that, but you're on an island here.

I will toss out my opinion of the triple option offense. I like watching it once in awhile when I tune into a Georgia Tech or Navy game, but I'd get sick of watching it week in week out.
 

Guess I just want Minn to be more then Belk Bowl Champions once every 4 years.
 

snyds said:
Guess I just want Minn to be more then Belk Bowl Champions once every 4 years.
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You think that people who disagree with your premise want the "Belk Bowl every 4 years?" That is silly.
 

snyds said:
If you think image doesn't play a part you're wrong.

“I'm not going to deny what my motive was, even though there are obvious long-term health benefits. My thoughts were that if I wanted to be a head coach, I had to lose weight.” — Patriots offensive coordinator Charlie Weis speaking of his gastric bypass surgery.

It is a stereotype that needs some discussion among owners. It's not just Weis' imagination. Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen's weight was considered an unspeakable negative as he coveted a head-coaching job at the NFL and collegiate level. Despite his success as a coordinator at both levels, for years he was never mentioned as a serious candidate for a job.

One GM explained the problem: "Bottom line, it shouldn't matter. But the head coach is somebody who is always out front with the media in the NFL, and with the alumni and the media in college. Image is part of it, but there are some guys who believe it's a reflection of self-discipline. How can you demand self-control from players when you don't have it yourself? It could be symptomatic of some other issues."
Click to expand...

Weight is also a genetic thing in many cases, including Claeys. You are justifying prejudice, plain and simple.

Let me connect some more dots for you and put some similar words in your mouth. "Beth Goetz does not pass the 'eyeball test' as a Division 1 AD."
 

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