ESPN: Claeys wants a contract extension, and it's getting harder and harder to say no

[MaxyJR1]

I'm also not sure winning 8 games against this schedule is reason enough to extend. Your most impressive win of the season is against a team that already lost to Illinois State and Western Michigan.

or our most impressive win is against a team that beat us 27-0 last year.
Nebraska beat us by 23 last year.

This team is better than last years team, no doubt, so Claeys seems to be doing good things.

The decision should be, does Coyle see Claeys as coach in 8-10 years? If he does, jump both feet in and make it so.

Example: Give Claeys a contract with $500,000 per year remaining as buy out. 8 year deal with $3.5 buyout and goes down $500,000 per year.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

I'm also not sure winning 8 games against this schedule is reason enough to extend. Your most impressive win of the season is against a team that already lost to Illinois State and Western Michigan.

Just for pretend, let's say that they had beaten Nebraska, but lost to Illinois. Would that be worthy of an extension? Because that's basically the result that got Kill anointed to sainthood for some around here.

Take away Kill's wins against Nebraska and his resume doesn't look very hot. I really think Claeys has the program in a good spot right now. And yes, that's due to a lot of work that Kill had put in over the years. But I also think that Claeys has taken the team to places that Kill didn't. As of now, they have been in every single game that Claeys has coached since Halloween last year. Some against really good opponents. Sure, they didn't close out the wins, but the opportunity to win every game has been there. In Kill's last two conference games, the Gophers basically got laughed off the field. Maybe his health had something to do with it, maybe not. And although it's not always been pretty, the Gophers are beating teams in the conference that they should beat. Through Kill's 4+ years coaching this team, they had 7 double digit wins in the Conference. Claeys already has 4. I don't know if the team will be better next year with Claeys coaching, but I do know that if you move on, the odds are pretty good that they'll be worse. First year coaches don't typically fair real well at a new school. The Gophers have a really, really talented group of young players on defense. Give Claeys some time to see what he can do. He's going to learn and he's going to get better as a head coach.

 

[everybody knows my name]

Take away Kill's wins against Nebraska and his resume doesn't look very hot.

This kind of logic always makes my skin crawl. If we disregard the biggest accomplishments of your last five years, your resume will suffer too.

 

[Tlsbhansen]

So for all of the geniuses' who think an 8 win season in Minnesota doesn't warrant an extension...who is the high profile, big hitter that you think is just waiting for a call from Coyle to come in here "change things up?" I seem to recall the last time we did that it turned out pretty well. IMO the dumbest "discussion" on GopherHole!

 

[Iceland12]

As long as we are "pretending" and with all the discussion about how soft the schedule is, and it's CERTAINLY softer than the last two years, let's speculate about this.

What if the Gophers exchanged Big Ten schedules with the Badgers the past two seasons. The Gophers getting the easier route. It would mean that Barry would have been bitching 2 years earlier. He's been screaming bloody murder about them getting both MI and tOSU this season, but didn't register a peep about them getting MD and Rutgers the last two seasons while the GOPHERS got MI and tOSU.

Badgers would have gone 9-4 in 2014. Since they lose to tOSU and MI rather then betting MD and Rutgers, their 5-3 Big Ten conference record doesn't get them into the B1G Championship game.

Minnesota on the other hand goes 9-5 or 10-4 and 6-2 in the B1G. Beating Rutgers and Maryland, but only gaining a game because they did beat Michigan. They go to the B1G Championship game but get beat by tOSU. They then head to their best New Year's Day Bowl in 50 years. Mitch had a very good game against MO, but they would have stepped-up in competition. Can't say if they'd be 9-5 or 10-4. Most likely the former.

Last year, Badgers go 8-5 or 9-4 and 4-4 in the Big Ten. They lose to MI and tOSU and then head to a lesser Bowl.

Minnesota goes 8-5 or 9-4 and 4-4 in the Big Ten. Beating MD and Rutgers rather than losing to tOSU and MI. They then go to a 2nd tier bowl.

Know that some people would still be screaming about this season and have no idea how many or how many more people would have bought tickets either. But pretty sure it wouldn't be on this level.

It's all speculation of course. Lot's of complaints about how it lined-up two years ago.

Not much now though...

 

[Buttcheeks McGaffigan]

I love the self-important, delusional arrogance of posters on the GopherHole. As if anyone in the administration or anywhere else for that matter, gives a rat's A$$ whether you'd "be okay with an extension!"

You should love me and people who share this opinion.

 

[formerlybis]

Serious question - do you think Claeys is or would be in demand at another P5 school? It's not the only factor in extensions/buyouts, of course, but if your answer is something like "probably not", then the U should be able to negotiate a relatively money-friendly deal.

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[csom_1991]

Serious question - do you think Claeys is or would be in demand at another P5 school? It's not the only factor in extensions/buyouts, of course, but if your answer is something like "probably not", then the U should be able to negotiate a relatively money-friendly deal.

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Ding Ding Ding! Correct. That is why I say that we are bidding against ourselves for his services. I like TC - I hope he is the guy that will lead us to a string of 10 win seasons. If that is the case - lock him up for the next 8 years. If he is going to deliver a string of 7-8 win years - no reason to give so much time and money now. Let the WI game and bowl play out before doing anything. I would rather pay more for something with evidence behind it than get something cheap (but stuck with for years) by taking a gamble. My gambling days on coaches are over after Brewster.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Ding Ding Ding! Correct. That is why I say that we are bidding against ourselves for his services. I like TC - I hope he is the guy that will lead us to a string of 10 win seasons. If that is the case - lock him up for the next 8 years. If he is going to deliver a string of 7-8 win years - no reason to give so much time and money now. Let the WI game and bowl play out before doing anything. I would rather pay more for something with evidence behind it than get something cheap (but stuck with for years) by taking a gamble. My gambling days on coaches are over after Brewster.

Waiting until after the bowl game would be a terrible decision.

He has earned an extension. He was a large part of Jerry Kill's revival of this program. Now, he is coming off of an 8+ win season. He's earned an extension. I am less concerned about the amount of money that he gets. The buyout should be pretty large (both ways) the first three seasons.

 

[Bob_Loblaw]

Serious question - do you think Claeys is or would be in demand at another P5 school? It's not the only factor in extensions/buyouts, of course, but if your answer is something like "probably not", then the U should be able to negotiate a relatively money-friendly deal.

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He is in a weird position because he has only been a head coach for one season. His relationship with the U is different from his relationship with any other school. It's sort of what happens when a coordinator takes over for a head coach (which is also kind of rare).

That said, if the Gophers win 8 this year and 8+ again next year, Claeys would certainly be in demand (IMO). He would be seen as a successful coordinator and a guy who won 8+ games back to back seasons at Minnesota.

 

[dpodoll68]

3-year extension, raise salary to $2M next year, $2.2M the following, and so on. Buyout equal to $0.5M per year remaining on the deal. Done.

 

[csom_1991]

Waiting until after the bowl game would be a terrible decision.

How much more money do you think it will cost the U to wait until after the bowl game? Do you think it is impacting recruiting or TC won't try as hard in the future if we don't give him the extension now? Do you think another school is going to steal him away? I think the only argument that can be made is the financial one - and if TC is blown out by WI and then in the bowl (I truly hope that does not happen) - then the deal should be crafted to reflect that (low buy out and incentive laden contract). If he goes out and wins 2 - then give him a longer deal and more money (less incentive, more base). At this point - I don't see any way that U parts ways with TC after the season - barring a Steve S alcohol-fueled tirade/breakdown - so, we are just gathering evidence for what type of deal to craft. The couple million saved by dealing now is nothing compared to the buy-out/contract length risk which we can better assess after the next 2 games.

 

[csom_1991]

That said, if the Gophers win 8 this year and 8+ again next year, Claeys would certainly be in demand (IMO). He would be seen as a successful coordinator and a guy who won 8+ games back to back seasons at Minnesota.

I don't think a lot of schools look at Minnesota as the impossible place to win at that our fans seem to think it is. 10+ wins and he is in serious talks. A string of 8 win season at Minnesota won't get him another P5 job at more money than we will pay him. Glenn Mason had a much tougher road than either Kill or TC (new stadium, re-energized fan base, and no 30 year history of being a laughing-stock). Winning 8 games at Minnesota with the 'new' B1G is not as impressive at it once was.

 

[LesBolstad]

As long as we are "pretending" and with all the discussion about how soft the schedule is, and it's CERTAINLY softer than the last two years, let's speculate about this.

What if the Gophers exchanged Big Ten schedules with the Badgers the past two seasons. The Gophers getting the easier route. It would mean that Barry would have been bitching 2 years earlier. He's been screaming bloody murder about them getting both MI and tOSU this season, but didn't register a peep about them getting MD and Rutgers the last two seasons while the GOPHERS got MI and tOSU.

Badgers would have gone 9-4 in 2014. Since they lose to tOSU and MI rather then betting MD and Rutgers, their 5-3 Big Ten conference record doesn't get them into the B1G Championship game.

Minnesota on the other hand goes 9-5 or 10-4 and 6-2 in the B1G. Beating Rutgers and Maryland, but only gaining a game because they did beat Michigan. They go to the B1G Championship game but get beat by tOSU. They then head to their best New Year's Day Bowl in 50 years. Mitch had a very good game against MO, but they would have stepped-up in competition. Can't say if they'd be 9-5 or 10-4. Most likely the former.

Last year, Badgers go 8-5 or 9-4 and 4-4 in the Big Ten. They lose to MI and tOSU and then head to a lesser Bowl.

Minnesota goes 8-5 or 9-4 and 4-4 in the Big Ten. Beating MD and Rutgers rather than losing to tOSU and MI. They then go to a 2nd tier bowl.

Know that some people would still be screaming about this season and have no idea how many or how many more people would have bought tickets either. But pretty sure it wouldn't be on this level.

It's all speculation of course. Lot's of complaints about how it lined-up two years ago.

Not much now though...

Ummm. what?

 

[Go4]

3-year extension, raise salary to $2M next year, $2.2M the following, and so on. Buyout equal to $0.5M per year remaining on the deal. Done.

this. smart contract imo.

 

[PMWinSTP]

I don't think a lot of schools look at Minnesota as the impossible place to win at that our fans seem to think it is. 10+ wins and he is in serious talks. A string of 8 win season at Minnesota won't get him another P5 job at more money than we will pay him. Glenn Mason had a much tougher road than either Kill or TC (new stadium, re-energized fan base, and no 30 year history of being a laughing-stock). Winning 8 games at Minnesota with the 'new' B1G is not as impressive at it once was.

You are being sarcastic, right? These posts of yours are just you joking around, yes?

 

[csom_1991]

You are being sarcastic, right? These posts of yours are just you joking around, yes?

There are harder places to win 8 games a year than at Minnesota - sorry, it is the truth. NW, Oregon State, Washington State, Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue - just looking at the PAC and B1G. We should get 3 OOC wins pretty much automatically and then expanded B1G basically added 2 terrible football schools in Maryland and Rutgers.

The reality is that Minnesota has a solid 'mid-tier' reputation thanks to Glenn putting the worse of the 'wandering in the desert years behind us', a new stadium, other new facilities on the way, the sole P5 school in the state, an urban campus located in one of the US' biggest metro areas, etc. Sorry, this is not getting kids to pack up and move to Pullman.

Minnesota is definitely not the top location recruits and coaches want to be at - but it is better than many other programs out there and 8 wins should be the expected level of success for any coach here given the expanded B1G - unless there is serious improvement in Rutgers and Maryland (I am not holding my breath on that one).

 

[oak_street1981]

There are harder places to win 8 games a year than at Minnesota - sorry, it is the truth. NW, Oregon State, Washington State, Rutgers, Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue - just looking at the PAC and B1G. We should get 3 OOC wins pretty much automatically and then expanded B1G basically added 2 terrible football schools in Maryland and Rutgers.

With all respect to "Glenn" Mason's impressive work, all of those schools except Rutgers and Indiana have had more high water moments by far than Minnesota over the last 50 years, and in some cases many more high points. Since the last 25 years they all have been to at least one big bowl game and won more than Minnesota. Of course losing Rose Bowls is not so great, but at least Illinois, Washington State, Northwestern and Purdue made it there. Dennis Erickson crushed Notre Dame in a NYD bowl game and Riley also had some good years at OSU.

If winning 8 games at Minnesota was not hard, then it would have happened a lot more often.

 

[csom_1991]

If winning 8 games at Minnesota was not hard, then it would have happened a lot more often.

In case you missed it - times are changing. The B1G has 14 teams now and they added some bottom dwellers. On top of that, the schedule did not expand beyond 10 games until 1971 - the years in which Minnesota has been irrelevant and didn't go to the current 12 games + bowl format until after Y2K - so your 'more often' is kinda ridiculous if you are comparing to the whole of Gopher history where an 8 win season needed close to a 100% win percentage through the 1950's.

Now, we need to salt away 3 OCC cupcakes and then go 5-4 in conference play and lose the bowl or even have a losing conference record but win the bowl game to get to 8 wins. It simply is not the same task it was before B1G and schedule expansion. We have Illinois, Purdue, and NW in our division - so assuming we win 2 of 3 of those for the foreseeable future, we just need to win 2 out of the remaining 6 and then win the bowl to get to 8 wins. Sorry, that should be the expectation now. That is a far cry from an 8 win season for the first half of Gopher football history.

As to the other programs - they have old stadiums/facilities, other competing programs in state, and are largely located in the middle of nowhere. NW being an exception but their academic standards are not comparable to ours making recruiting much more difficult. Minnesota is not the impossible backwaters it once was - and the 12 game schedule and watered down B1G is not the difficult task it once was either.

 

[GopherBulldog]

3-year extension, raise salary to $2M next year, $2.2M the following, and so on. Buyout equal to $0.5M per year remaining on the deal. Done.

Let's make this happen this week. Before the game in Madison.