Maturi Won't Hire Bill Murray or Richard Dreyfuss. But What About Bob?

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Funny the author left out Brian Kelly's stretch at Central Michigan and Cincinatti. Made it sound like Notre Dame plucked him directly from the D2 ranks.

I would much rather have Nielson than many coaches though. He would be after Richt, Frazier, Harbough (I only throw that out there because Maturi did), but I'd rather have Nielson than a failed re-tread (I don't consider Richt a failed re-tread).
 

People would laugh at us but Bob Nielson is damn good football coach

UMD was as crap downtrodden, about as bad a program in DII as the U has been for a long time, a very long time they didn't beat anybody in recruiting or even on the field. It is DII but he found enough athletes to win a National championship and has had a lot of success the last three years.
I for one would not scoff at the notion of interviewing this guy. Head coach, and he has been nothing but a winner. If anything the Dakota programs have shown us the last three years is that good coaching can seperate and can overcome enough things to pull off upsets and win in the face of odds that do not look likely that they could win. This "idea" is not as far fetched as it seems in the face of things. They do not turn up there noses at local guy's that can help us win.

Nielson could win at the U I think, he would be a big gamble and not the drop your pants name, but I think he just seems like he could be "crazy enough" guy and a risk taker enough that he could win at Minnesota. Maturi should at least talk to the guy he is in the University system. This might be one where you deal the card's and turns up your holding pocket Aces and they hold up. Nielson's a good tactition X's and O's type and he would be way less of a jump than the Caruso guy some folks have mentioned. Color me crazy but I like Nielson.
 

No. Maybe last go around. This one needs to be a legitimate slam dunk hire, someone with success at a big time college or in the pros (the CFL and UFL are not "pros") in the role of OC, DC or Head Coach or an established D1 coach from a non-BCS school.
 

gopherdudepart2 said:
UMD was as crap downtrodden, about as bad a program in DII as the U has been for a long time, a very long time they didn't beat anybody in recruiting or even on the field. It is DII but he found enough athletes to win a National championship and has had a lot of success the last three years.
I for one would not scoff at the notion of interviewing this guy. Head coach, and he has been nothing but a winner. If anything the Dakota programs have shown us the last three years is that good coaching can seperate and can overcome enought to pull off upsets and win in the face of odds that do not look likely that they could win. This "idea" is not as far fetched as it seems in the face of things.

Nielson could win at the U I think, he would be a big gamble and not the drop your pants name, but I think he just seems like he could be "crazy enough" guy and a risk taker enough that he could win at Minnesota. Maturi should at least talk to the guy he is in the University system. This might be one where you deal the card's and turns up your holding pocket Aces and they hold up. Nielson's a good tactition X's and O's type and he would be way less of a jump than the Caruso guy some folks have mentioned. Color me crazy but I like Nielson.
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Consider yourself colored crazy. Damn good D-II football coach? There is nothing that says that translates immediately to the BCS D-I level. How is it that this guy is worthy of coaching in the Big Ten but hasn't even had a stint at the FCS level? Can you name one other coach that has jumped directly from D-II to BCS conference coaching and succeeded? To quote FBT: "Even the aforementioned Brian Kelly – widely regarded as one of the better college football coaches and brightest offensive minds – could only leverage himself into the Central Michigan job after two consecutive D2 titles, let alone a BCS conference gig like some are suggesting with Nielson."
 


Would another BCS school put him on the serious list? Especially one that is struggling and faces Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and MSU every year? Is he only on the list since he is from Minnesota?

I am sure he is a great coach. But not someone that is going to rally fans and build credibility for this program.
 


gopherdudepart2 said:
UMD was as crap downtrodden, about as bad a program in DII as the U has been for a long time, a very long time they didn't beat anybody in recruiting or even on the field. It is DII but he found enough athletes to win a National championship and has had a lot of success the last three years.
I for one would not scoff at the notion of interviewing this guy. Head coach, and he has been nothing but a winner. If anything the Dakota programs have shown us the last three years is that good coaching can seperate and can overcome enough things to pull off upsets and win in the face of odds that do not look likely that they could win. This "idea" is not as far fetched as it seems in the face of things. They do not turn up there noses at local guy's that can help us win.

Nielson could win at the U I think, he would be a big gamble and not the drop your pants name, but I think he just seems like he could be "crazy enough" guy and a risk taker enough that he could win at Minnesota. Maturi should at least talk to the guy he is in the University system. This might be one where you deal the card's and turns up your holding pocket Aces and they hold up. Nielson's a good tactition X's and O's type and he would be way less of a jump than the Caruso guy some folks have mentioned. Color me crazy but I like Nielson.
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While I like what UMD is doing in football, it should be worth noting that rise has occurred about the same time that the Dakota schools made the jump to Division 1. I think there is some relevance there. UMD also currently has a star running back would never have been allowed onto the U of M football team due to some personal issues. That said I think they could (and have) made worse hires than Bob Nielsen (sp?).

I would be more interested in seeing who made that hire, they saw a change in the Division II football landscape and were able to capitalize on it. That person might be worth talking to in an informal/advisor role, just to pick the brain.
 

ButchNashGuy said:
Would another BCS school put him on the serious list? Especially one that is struggling and faces Nebraska, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and MSU every year? Is he only on the list since he is from Minnesota?

I am sure he is a great coach. But not someone that is going to rally fans and build credibility for this program.
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That is a great question, probably no other BCS schools. How many schools of OSU pedigree would have put Jim Tressel on their list? Probably, only OSU. That is clearly an apples to oranges comparison, but the key is finding the right fit not what a majority of BCS schools would do.
 



As a native Duluthian who gets to Bulldog games whenever possible, there's no questioning the outstanding job Nielson has done.
However, there is a world of difference between beating up on the University of Mary and Crookstons of the world, as opposed to having to compete with the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin and all the others.
A previous poster is correct in stating UMD's success came after the Dakota schools jumped, making the path to the postseason much easier.
The author of the article is not a football (or even a sports) guy, and doesn't understand the workings of the major college game. He's basically a cheerleader for the city of Duluth.
He fails to mention that, though UMD did win at Grand Valley two seasons ago, a large part of it was due to GV's stud running back being suspended the day before the game, completely altering their game plan.
He also fails to mention that GV easily handled the Bulldogs in a playoff game at Duluth last season.
Nielson is not the next Tressel or Kelly. Not even close. But he does do very well at the D2 level.
Please hire a big-name guy with a proven D1 track record.
 

Let him coach at a D1 FCS school like Montana State or Northern Iowa and then a non BCS FBS school like Northern Illinois or Ball State and then let's see.
 

<img src="http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3968/tumbleweed004gi3.gif">
 

We can count him out now

Can't control his players. :)

Link
 





Big risk. D1A has been littered with the corpses of coaches who had great records at lower levels - one of them was Jim Wacker, who had FOUR national championships at lower levels, including 13-0 seasons, etc., but flopped at TCU and Minnesota. Even great Ivy League coaches have failed at the BCS level.
 


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