Mike Leach and Mark Richt, please no

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JPIIGopher

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Two of the more popular names being thrown around for our next coach are Mike Leach and Mark Richt. I think we need something completely different than what these guys bring.

The Mike Leach offense wouldn't work in the Big Ten in my opinion. You win in the Bigten with defense and running the football. I don't think a pass happy spread offense is really sustainable here. Weather, especially in late Oct and Nov is a huge factor in the midwest, The successful teams in the midwest (Nebraska, Iowa, Wisky, Michigan, OSU) all know this and run the ball with great effectiveness.

Mark Richt, not to be overly simplistic but if he isn't getting it done at Georgia with 4 and 5 star guys, how on earth is that going to translate to winning at the U? Richt had his success at Georgia when UT, Bama, and Florida were down(down in the relative sense). Now that UF and Bama are back Richt is really stuggling. Latest loss was to Miss St by 12:(
 

JPIIGopher said:
Two of the more popular names being thrown around for our next coach are Mike Leach and Mark Richt. I think we need something completely different than what these guys bring.

The Mike Leach offense wouldn't work in the Big Ten in my opinion. You win in the Bigten with defense and running the football. I don't think a pass happy spread offense is really sustainable here. Weather, especially in late Oct and Nov is a huge factor in the midwest, The successful teams in the midwest (Nebraska, Iowa, Wisky, Michigan, OSU) all know this and run the ball with great effectiveness.

Mark Richt, not to be overly simplistic but if he isn't getting it done at Georgia with 4 and 5 star guys, how on earth is that going to translate to winning at the U? Richt had his success at Georgia when UT, Bama, and Florida were down(down in the relative sense). Now that UF and Bama are back Richt is really stuggling. Latest loss was to Miss St by 12:(
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Sounds like you could talk yourself into a hire similar to Tim Brewster. Both Leach and Richt have won consistently at the BCS level, we would be lucky for either of them to want to coach here.
 

I don't think either fit the culture here and while that may not be important on the field, it can speak volumes off the field.

That doesn't impugn them as coaches though.
 

No, we wouldn't imo

goldengophers said:
Sounds like you could talk yourself into a hire similar to Tim Brewster. Both Leach and Richt have won consistently at the BCS level, we would be lucky for either of them to want to coach here.
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Do you think Michigan fans are lucky for landing Rich Rod? Just because you are consistent winner in another conference by no means that this will translate into winning in the bigten. Neither Richt or Leach have had impressive defense's.

My search for a coach would absolutely center on finding a guy committed to running the football and someone that can coach defense. Bo Pelini would have been that guy. But there are others out there I'm sure.
 

The Mike Leach offense would work here...He should be considered, but will not be. The U of M wants to hire a guy that is not flawed. Those are few and far between. Look at Alabama...you think they care that Saban is a lying self serving puke? No, they are winning National Championships.
 


JPIIGopher said:
Do you think Michigan fans are lucky for landing Rich Rod? Just because you are consistent winner in another conference by no means that this will translate into winning in the bigten. Neither Richt or Leach have had impressive defense's.

My search for a coach would absolutely center on finding a guy committed to running the football and someone that can coach defense. Bo Pelini would have been that guy. But there are others out there I'm sure.
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Is Carl Pelini seasoned enough? According to his bio he was at Mankato in 2004, which means he has moved quickly through the ranks.
 

JPIIGopher said:
Do you think Michigan fans are lucky for landing Rich Rod? Just because you are consistent winner in another conference by no means that this will translate into winning in the bigten. Neither Richt or Leach have had impressive defense's.

My search for a coach would absolutely center on finding a guy committed to running the football and someone that can coach defense. Bo Pelini would have been that guy. But there are others out there I'm sure.
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Isn't Michigan ranked?
 

goldengophers said:
Is Carl Pelini seasoned enough? According to his bio he was at Mankato in 2004, which means he has moved quickly through the ranks.
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There was a post on here awhile ago that insinuated that Carl has some issues that will make it unlikely for him to advance to the level of head coach. Can't remember the poster, but it was in answer to a question similar to yours.
 

JPIIGopher said:
Do you think Michigan fans are lucky for landing Rich Rod? Just because you are consistent winner in another conference by no means that this will translate into winning in the bigten. Neither Richt or Leach have had impressive defense's.

My search for a coach would absolutely center on finding a guy committed to running the football and someone that can coach defense. Bo Pelini would have been that guy. But there are others out there I'm sure.
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Pelini is a very good coach, but let's remember that he has Tom Osborne sitting there as his athletic director and that has been a big plus for him. I don't think Pelini would have survived in Minnesota in the absence of similar support from above.

But don't take this as a criticism of Pelini. The guy is a fabulous coach and Nebraska is back big time.
 



There were all these rumors over the offseason about Carl Pelini having an affair with a booster's daughter or something.

I'm not sure we want to go down that road with the media we have in the Twin Cities.
 

NateDawgUM said:
There were all these rumors over the offseason about Carl Pelini having an affair with a booster's daughter or something.

I'm not sure we want to go down that road with the media we have in the Twin Cities.
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Thanks for remembering that. I couldn't remember if it was rumored sex, rumored booze, or rumored both. At any rate, if that story has any legs at all, Carl's going to be waiting for a few years.
 

How to win in the Big Ten as a non super-power. First four bullet points:

1) Run the ball.

2) Stop the run.

3) Don't turn it over.

4) Don't hire a coach who does an emotional full body flop onto the field in his first game.
 

JPIIGopher said:
Mark Richt, not to be overly simplistic but if he isn't getting it done at Georgia...
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Football ebbs and flows and he's in a down year or two. But, to say he isn't getting it done at UGA is crazy talk:

2001: 8-4
2002: 13-1 SUGAR BOWL win
2003: 11-3
2004: 10-2
2005: 10-3 SUGAR BOWL loss
2006: 9-4
2007: 11-3 SUGAR BOWL win
2008: 10-3
2009: 8-5

I'm not suggesting he could do similar things in Minnesota, but I'd sure be willing to give him a chance to reach some levels we've not seen in my lifetime. Three BCS bowl games in a six-year span is enough to sell me on the idea that he knows what he's doing. In addition, he may have 4- and 5-star guys, but he's going head-to-head with Florida, Florida State, Alabama, Tennessee, etc. to land some of them.

If he's available and he's willing to work here, then we'd be fools to pass on him for someone else.
 



Mark Richt is originally from Omaha, won the SEC twice, and isn't good enough for the Gophers. We should focus on John Gagliardi or Mike Grant.
 

Indeed

scher215 said:
Isn't Michigan ranked?
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I'm pretty sure the goal at Michigan is higher than this. They were also ranked last year at this time. Until Rich Rod commits to playing defense the spread offense show will be over by late October.
 

tjgopher said:
Football ebbs and flows and he's in a down year or two. But, to say he isn't getting it done at UGA is crazy talk:

2001: 8-4
2002: 13-1 SUGAR BOWL win
2003: 11-3
2004: 10-2
2005: 10-3 SUGAR BOWL loss
2006: 9-4
2007: 11-3 SUGAR BOWL win
2008: 10-3
2009: 8-5
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By no means am I saying Richt is a poor coach, I think he is a fine coach and seems like a good guy. While his records would be a fine at Minnesota they are no longer competitive in the SEC, mainly because they don't play defense. We've already been down the road of playing solid offense and poor defense. I want to see us go a new direction.
 


Mark Richt

If Mark Richt is available, he would be absolutely terrific. He was a Coordinator at Florida St. before accepting Georgia job. He has recruited both Florida and Georgia for years. I would bet that he has contacts and ties in both states which are invaluable for a program. He recruited both Matthew Stafford and Knowshon Mareno who were both out of state recruits. He would be a gem in my opinion and would give us fans much needed hope for the future. We have a beautiful new stadium / facilities for him to sell. His record at Georgia looks awfully good to this fan.
 

JPIIGopher said:
I'm pretty sure the goal at Michigan is higher than this. They were also ranked last year at this time. Until Rich Rod commits to playing defense the spread offense show will be over by late October.
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Michigan is a spread running team not a passing team. Weather doesn't play that big of a factor as some think. Any type of offense can be used here as long as the coach/coaches know how to run it.
 

In his 9 years at UGA, Richt has won 5, 7, 6, 6, 6, 4, 6, 6, 4 in the toughest conference in the country. Meanwhile the Gophers have won 4 or more conference games just 4 times in the past 2 decades and he's not good enough for us? Laughable.

I don't know if Richt would be interested in coming this far north but if he is then he'd be a no-brain hire. Unfortunately Maturi sometimes has no brain.
 

Richt is a big-time Bible Thumper (which I want to make clear I have no problem abiding), but that often doesn't work that well outside the Bible Belt. No question he can coach and motivate, however. SEC is tougher than the Big 10.

I would have no trouble with Richt, but I can only imagine the howls if he goes 4-8 and is intent on quoting Scripture.
 

Bo Darville said:
Mark Richt is originally from Omaha, won the SEC twice, and isn't good enough for the Gophers. We should focus on John Gagliardi or Mike Grant.
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+1. Its absolutely ludicrous to suggest that he can't win here. I'd much rather have a coach of his experience and track record, particularly in the SEC, compared to the Non-BCS coaches that have had success (Golden, Wittingham, etc.). It is so much more difficult to win in the SEC than it is in the smaller conferences. He would be the best-credentialed (if that is a word) coach we have ever seen here in the modern era. Make the move as soon as Georgia gets rid of him please.
 

50PoundHead said:
Richt is a big-time Bible Thumper (which I want to make clear I have no problem abiding), but that often doesn't work that well outside the Bible Belt. No question he can coach and motivate, however. SEC is tougher than the Big 10.

I would have no trouble with Richt, but I can only imagine the howls if he goes 4-8 and is intent on quoting Scripture.
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I understand what you are saying but Dungy is a big Christian too that's not afraid to share his faith.
 

DarrenTheGreek said:
I understand what you are saying but Dungy is a big Christian too that's not afraid to share his faith.
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So is Holtz. So are many coaches.

Not as big as Dungy - but who could be, the Northwestern book stores look like Tony Dungy book fairs when you go in there.
 

Holtz is hardly in the same ballpark as either Richt or Dungy.

Where I think Richt is a bit different is that he supposedly tries to "out-Christian" other programs in the recruiting process. I have no problems with what Richt believes or how he expresses that in his day-to-day life. I just think it's a mix that can grow dangerously thin.
 

JPIIGopher said:
The Mike Leach offense wouldn't work in the Big Ten in my opinion. You win in the Bigten with defense and running the football. I don't think a pass happy spread offense is really sustainable here. Weather, especially in late Oct and Nov is a huge factor in the midwest, The successful teams in the midwest (Nebraska, Iowa, Wisky, Michigan, OSU) all know this and run the ball with great effectiveness.
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Didn't Purdue with Joe Tiller and some undersized QB disprove this theory about a decade ago?
 

mnboiler said:
Didn't Purdue with Joe Tiller and some undersized QB disprove this theory about a decade ago?
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Yes. People also like to ignore the fact that Northwestern manages to win games throwing the ball 50 times a game even with a marginal defense. People, please stop saying you need a good defense to win in the Big Ten. We all know this is true because it is true in the SEC, Pac 10, NFL and all of football.
 

JPIIGopher said:
By no means am I saying Richt is a poor coach, I think he is a fine coach and seems like a good guy. While his records would be a fine at Minnesota they are no longer competitive in the SEC, mainly because they don't play defense. We've already been down the road of playing solid offense and poor defense. I want to see us go a new direction.
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Since your problem with Richt is about the defensive performance of his teams, I compiled a list of the team’s defensive rankings for every season he’s been there. Here’s what I found (first ranking is D-1, ranking in parenthesis is SEC rank, links for each year point to stat rankings on the NCAA site):

2001: 8-4
Rush D: 15 (2)
Pass D: 96 (9)
Total D: 49 (6)
Scoring D: 17 (3)
2002: 13-1
Rush D: 19 (3)
Pass D: 31 (9)
Total D: 15 (4)
Scoring D: 4 (1)
2003: 11-3
Rush D: 13 (3)
Pass D: 6 (1)
Total D: 4 (2)
Scoring D: 3 (2)
2004: 10-2
Rush D: 15 (3)
Pass D: 16 (5)
Total D: 8 (4)
Scoring D: 9 (3)
2005: 10-3
Rush D: 52 (8)
Pass D: 7 (2)
Total D: 18 (5)
Scoring D: 8 (4)
2006: 9-4
Rush D: 27 (3)
Pass D: 5 (2)
Total D: 8 (3)
Scoring D: 20 (4)
2007: 11-3
Rush D: 16 (3)
Pass D: 36 (8)
Total D: 14 (3)
Scoring D: 18 (3)
2008: 10-3
Rush D: 27 (6)
Pass D: 32 (8)
Total D: 22 (5)
Scoring D: 59 (10)
2009: 8-5
Rush D: 36 (3)
Pass D: 51 (8)
Total D: 38 (7)
Scoring D: 64 (10)
2010: 1-3 (as of 9/25/10)
Rush D: 30 (5)
Pass D: 59 (7)
Total D: 32 (5)
Scoring D: 46 (5)

What do I see? Rankings that Gopher fans would kill to see attached to their team's defense. Even in the down seasons the Georgia D is ranked in the upper half of Division 1.

Honestly JPII, I'm not seeing anything that should scare the U. I don't think we'd have a shot at him, but if Georgia lets him go the U should be right there making an offer. There is pressure for Georgia to let him go because he doesn't win the SEC on an annual basis. There is also the fact that he hasn't won a national title yet in the same 9 year span Alabama has won 1, LSU 2, and (most importantly of all since they are a hated rival) Florida has won 2 titles.

The U should thank their lucky stars if they managed to land a coach like Richt.
 

Good work GoAUpher. I think we have totally blown up JPII's anti Richt post.
 

GoAUpher said:
Since your problem with Richt is about the defensive performance of his teams, I compiled a list of the team’s defensive rankings for every season he’s been there. Here’s what I found (first ranking is D-1, ranking in parenthesis is SEC rank, links for each year point to stat rankings on the NCAA site):

2001: 8-4
Rush D: 15 (2)
Pass D: 96 (9)
Total D: 49 (6)
Scoring D: 17 (3)
2002: 13-1
Rush D: 19 (3)
Pass D: 31 (9)
Total D: 15 (4)
Scoring D: 4 (1)
2003: 11-3
Rush D: 13 (3)
Pass D: 6 (1)
Total D: 4 (2)
Scoring D: 3 (2)
2004: 10-2
Rush D: 15 (3)
Pass D: 16 (5)
Total D: 8 (4)
Scoring D: 9 (3)
2005: 10-3
Rush D: 52 (8)
Pass D: 7 (2)
Total D: 18 (5)
Scoring D: 8 (4)
2006: 9-4
Rush D: 27 (3)
Pass D: 5 (2)
Total D: 8 (3)
Scoring D: 20 (4)
2007: 11-3
Rush D: 16 (3)
Pass D: 36 (8)
Total D: 14 (3)
Scoring D: 18 (3)
2008: 10-3
Rush D: 27 (6)
Pass D: 32 (8)
Total D: 22 (5)
Scoring D: 59 (10)
2009: 8-5
Rush D: 36 (3)
Pass D: 51 (8)
Total D: 38 (7)
Scoring D: 64 (10)
2010: 1-3 (as of 9/25/10)
Rush D: 30 (5)
Pass D: 59 (7)
Total D: 32 (5)
Scoring D: 46 (5)

What do I see? Rankings that Gopher fans would kill to see attached to their team's defense. Even in the down seasons the Georgia D is ranked in the upper half of Division 1.

Honestly JPII, I'm not seeing anything that should scare the U. I don't think we'd have a shot at him, but if Georgia lets him go the U should be right there making an offer. There is pressure for Georgia to let him go because he doesn't win the SEC on an annual basis. There is also the fact that he hasn't won a national title yet in the same 9 year span Alabama has won 1, LSU 2, and (most importantly of all since they are a hated rival) Florida has won 2 titles.

The U should thank their lucky stars if they managed to land a coach like Richt.
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Also, you have to take into consideration the level of competition they are playing every year. Yes, some non-bcs school's coach might have better numbers, but he's not doing it against SEC competition.
 

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