thoughts on Leach

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Rog

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1. His character, chrisma or whatever you want to call it would probably sell tickets at least at first.

2. Would a pass happy offense and B10 style defense, work in the B10?

3. Has his tenure been long enough that he has had his success with more than one quarterback?
In other words has his success been due to the quarterback and would be hard to find a duplicate QB here at Minn.

4. His style of offense would mean VERY successful recruiting in Texas and Florida.

5. Minnesota type boys would be the defense.

6. Can he bring in a coaching staff like he had before? Very important question.

7. I have mixed emotions. the results of his hire would either be great success of great failure. Nothing in between.
 

Rog said:
3. Has his tenure been long enough that he has had his success with more than one quarterback?
In other words has his success been due to the quarterback and would be hard to find a duplicate QB here at Minn.
Click to expand...

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/11070145

Leach had Kingsbury, Symons, Cumbie, Hodges, and Harrell. Each of those quarterbacks had at least one season with >4,000 passing yards, >30 TDs, and >65% completion percentage.

I'll let others answer the rest..
 

3. He was at TT for a decade. Not sure how you keep a single QB eligible for that length of time.

5. Not true, they would be on which every side of their talent allowed them to be on.

6. Probably not, I think if hired here he would probably have similar results to what he accomplished at TT.
 

1. Agreed it would sell tix. However, there have been several rumors/reports out of Lubbock that the Adam James incident was the excuse TT administrators were looking for to get rid of him. He has a history of rubbing people the wrong way. That being said, it does not scare me as a potential hire for this job.

2. His offense would work in the BT. Currenly, nobody in the league runs a pass-first spread. A run'n'shoot style offense would be unique to Minnesota and would give DC's around the leage fits on a weekly basis because Minnesota would be the only opponent who runs that style.

3. Yes. He was at TT for a decade and had success with several QB's.

4. Agree.

5. I have no idea what you are saying, but am inclined to disagree. Need speed on D and that comes from all over the country.

6. Not sure how Leach could be a great failure.
 

I was tepid on Leach through the weekend. For some reason I couldn't buy in. Listened to the Max interview and still wasn't that impressed. Didn't feel it was a big enough reward to go with the risk that Leach would bring in.

But, I am warming up to the idea. It is clear that a large portion of our fanbase would go nuts for the man. That, in and of itself, would make the hire good. We had no unity last time. Pro-Mason people were pissed, anti-Brewster people were pissed, the loyalists were trying like heck to buy in. It was an undesirable situation that created a splintered fanbase.

It seems to me that Leach would be a popular enough choice that we'd be united.

I can live with that. Plus, he certainly would make it interesting and in all liklihood, would eventually make this program sound.
 


I still think a Leach hire would tick some segments of our fanbase off.
 

He's a great coach. I have a few issues with him:

He never won the Big 12. And no one here will ever convince me (after seeing Oklahoma collapse annually in the BCS) that winning the Big 12 is more difficult than winning the Big Ten. His teams never even got to the CCG. And most years his team was in no position to even contend for the division. I believe his accomplishments are roughly equivalent to Glen Mason's when he was hired here, but Leach would generate more immediate interest. IMO, The future Big Ten West will be a much stronger division than the Big 12 South ever was. So he would have to be a program-builder in addition to a great offensive coach.

I fear the media would make a mess of the guy. The Minnesota media is essentially a bunch of boring people who's "bit" usually boils down to nothing more than making fun of anyone who is a little unusual or quirky. This would be Jesse Ventura all over again. Put on a pedestal, then stoned to death by the media. They would love this pick, because over 5 years they would have material for their lame-ass columns and talk shows.
 

Goldmember said:
He's a great coach. I have a few issues with him:

He never won the Big 12. And no one here will ever convince me (after seeing Oklahoma collapse annually in the BCS) that winning the Big 12 is more difficult than winning the Big Ten. His teams never even got to the CCG. And most years his team was in no position to even contend for the division. I believe his accomplishments are roughly equivalent to Glen Mason's when he was hired here, but Leach would generate more immediate interest. IMO, The future Big Ten West will be a much stronger division than the Big 12 South ever was.
Click to expand...

I am going to have to disagree on much of this Goldmember...

Mike Leach's record in the Big 12 (10 Years) 47-33.
Glen Mason's record in the Big 10 (10 Years) 32-48.

Not sure how you can say those accomplishments are "roughly equivalent."

Also, the Big 12 South during that time frame was dominated by Texas and OU. Each of which won a National Title. Nobody in the new "Big Ten West" won national titles during the past decade. Top to Bottom over the past decade, the Big 12 South was superior to the current "Big Ten West."
 

Goldmember said:
He's a great coach. I have a few issues with him:

He never won the Big 12. And no one here will ever convince me (after seeing Oklahoma collapse annually in the BCS) that winning the Big 12 is more difficult than winning the Big Ten. His teams never even got to the CCG. And most years his team was in no position to even contend for the division. I believe his accomplishments are roughly equivalent to Glen Mason's when he was hired here, but Leach would generate more immediate interest. IMO, The future Big Ten West will be a much stronger division than the Big 12 South ever was. So he would have to be a program-builder in addition to a great offensive coach.

I fear the media would make a mess of the guy. The Minnesota media is essentially a bunch of boring people who's "bit" usually boils down to nothing more than making fun of anyone who is a little unusual or quirky. This would be Jesse Ventura all over again. Put on a pedestal, then stoned to death by the media. They would love this pick, because over 5 years they would have material for their lame-ass columns and talk shows.
Click to expand...

Disagree with many of your points. Yes Oklahoma has flopped in a couple of National Title games, at least Ohio State has never done that. Oklahoma and Texas are currently(and for the past 10 years or so) much better than any team that will be in the BigTen West. If fact over that time period they have been better than every team (with the possible exception of Ohio State) of every team in the BigTen. While he never won the big 12 south outright, the year he did tie for the title whoever one the tiebreaker and got the right to play in the B12 CCG was almost assured the right to play for the national title if they wont the CCG.

The BigTen West will be tough, but it won't be nearly was the Big 12 South was during the time period you referenced. You can pine for Mase all you want, but to same he got the same results as Leach is foolish at best.
 



Stan The Caddy said:
I am going to have to disagree on much of this Goldmember...

Mike Leach's record in the Big 12 (10 Years) 47-33.
Glen Mason's record in the Big 10 (10 Years) 32-48.

Not sure how you can say those accomplishments are "roughly equivalent."

Also, the Big 12 South during that time frame was dominated by Texas and OU. Each of which won a National Title. Nobody in the new "Big Ten West" won national titles during the past decade. Top to Bottom over the past decade, the Big 12 South was superior to the current "Big Ten West."
Click to expand...

What's more:

Leach's record in the Big 12: 47-33
Mason's record in the Big 12: 47-54-1
 

Stan The Caddy said:
I am going to have to disagree on much of this Goldmember...

Mike Leach's record in the Big 12 (10 Years) 47-33.
Glen Mason's record in the Big 10 (10 Years) 32-48.

Not sure how you can say those accomplishments are "roughly equivalent."

Also, the Big 12 South during that time frame was dominated by Texas and OU. Each of which won a National Title. Nobody in the new "Big Ten West" won national titles during the past decade. Top to Bottom over the past decade, the Big 12 South was superior to the current "Big Ten West."
Click to expand...

He said when he was hired here, not what he did here.
 

My main thought on Leach right now is he is generating nearly as many threads on Gopher Hole as S. Henderson did last spring. I hope I am wrong, but I wonder if he will also have about the same chance to actually end up wearing maroon and gold?
 




Gopher07 said:
I still think a Leach hire would tick some segments of our fanbase off.
Click to expand...
Correct. I'm one of them. I want nothing to do with this guy and the likelihood of being saddled with him is seriously depressing me.
 

Khaliq said:
Correct. I'm one of them. I want nothing to do with this guy and the likelihood of being saddled with him is seriously depressing me.
Click to expand...

Better add another part to your sig. It probably would be easier if you just put who you want down there.
 

Gopher07 said:
What's more:

Leach's record in the Big 12: 47-33
Mason's record in the Big 12: 47-54-1
Click to expand...

Actually, Mason was 23-32-1 in the Big 12.

But, yes, Leach's 59% and Mason's 42% are "equivalent".
 

Gopher07 said:
What's more:

Leach's record in the Big 12: 47-33
Mason's record in the Big 12: 47-54-1
Click to expand...

Actually, Mase's record in the Big 12 was 2-6...:)

His record in the Big 8 and Big 12 combined was 25-37-1 His OVERALL record at Kansas was 47-54-1. I was only using the coaches record in conference play.
 

dpodoll68 said:
Actually, Mason was 23-32-1 in the Big 12.

But, yes, Leach's 59% and Mason's 42% are "equivalent".
Click to expand...

He said ROUGHLY equivalent. If you round down for Leach and up for Mason, they are almost exactly equal. :D
 

Stan The Caddy said:
Actually, Mase's record in the Big 12 was 2-6...:)

His record in the Big 8 and Big 12 combined was 25-37-1 His OVERALL record at Kansas was 47-54-1. I was only using the coaches record in conference play.
Click to expand...

Right. Foolishness on my part.

Point stands, Mason gave us in the Big Ten almost exactly what he gave Kansas in the Big 8/Big 12, without the odd #9 final ranking thrown in.
 

I think we are in agreement here Gopher07. Leach has a superior conference coaching record as compared to Glen Mason.
 

Stan The Caddy said:
Actually, Mase's record in the Big 12 was 2-6...:)

His record in the Big 8 and Big 12 combined was 25-37-1 His OVERALL record at Kansas was 47-54-1. I was only using the coaches record in conference play.
Click to expand...

I missed one season in my earlier statement. His record was actually 25-38-1 in Big 8/12 play.

Still, "equivalent" to Leach.
 

Bingo, yes. IF the best predictor of future coaching success is past coaching success (in Mason's case, he was .397 in the Big 8/12 and .400 in the Big Ten ... almost uncannily close) we could expect around a .588 winning clip, or 5-3/4-4 seasons as standard, with Leach at the helm.
 

Silvio said:
Disagree with many of your points. Yes Oklahoma has flopped in a couple of National Title games, at least Ohio State has never done that. Oklahoma and Texas are currently(and for the past 10 years or so) much better than any team that will be in the BigTen West. If fact over that time period they have been better than every team (with the possible exception of Ohio State) of every team in the BigTen. While he never won the big 12 south outright, the year he did tie for the title whoever one the tiebreaker and got the right to play in the B12 CCG was almost assured the right to play for the national title if they wont the CCG.

The BigTen West will be tough, but it won't be nearly was the Big 12 South was during the time period you referenced. You can pine for Mase all you want, but to same he got the same results as Leach is foolish at best.
Click to expand...

seems you are forgeting Ohio State's most recent performances against Florida and LSU in National Title games.
 

Silvio said:
He said ROUGHLY equivalent. If you round down for Leach and up for Mason, they are almost exactly equal. :D
Click to expand...

I didn't have conference winning % in mind when I used the phrase "roughly equivalent". I was thinking more in general terms of what these coach's accomplished to compete with the top teams in their conferences, thereby finnishing at or near the top of their conference/division. Leach got close in 2008, but ultimately was never able to get to the CCG, or a BCS bowl (or equivalent) in 10 years.

That said, this bit of research from Gopherholers demonstrating Leach's superior conference winning % is compelling (in favor of Leach), especially since TTech's division included Oklahoma and Texas. But I was already impressed with what Leach did at TTech. I'm not opposed.

How would our fanbase feel with the exact same overall records, conference records, and divisional standings that Leach had in the Big 12? Then consider how these results would be received alongside his off-field demeanor.
 


Goldmember said:
How would our fanbase feel with the exact same overall records, conference records, and divisional standings that Leach had in the Big 12? Then consider how these results would be received alongside his off-field demeanor.
Click to expand...

That is a good question, not sure how others would feel. However, consistently being over .500 in conference play would be appealing to this fanbase. You add in the excitement of an offense that is capable of hanging 50 on just about anybody, I could live with it.
 

Goldmember said:
How would our fanbase feel with the exact same overall records, conference records, and divisional standings that Leach had in the Big 12?
Click to expand...

You're asking how Gopher fans would feel about 8 consecutive seasons of 8+ wins and .500+ Big Ten records each of those years?

Well, after cleaning out the insides of their shorts (front and back), they would most likely give him a lifetime contract.
 

dpodoll68 said:
You're asking how Gopher fans would feel about 8 consecutive seasons of 8+ wins and .500+ Big Ten records each of those years?

Well, after cleaning out the insides of their shorts (front and back), they would most likely give him a lifetime contract.
Click to expand...

Fair enough. If we go with Leach, I just don't want to hear everyone bitching in 2017 about how he has us in another "irrelevant" bowl game, hasn't gotten to the CCG, and is a weirdo that isn't a good "face for the football program," and how we need to fire everybody and start over.

I'm hoping he could exceed his levels of success at TexTech. But I have a feeling a lot of people who support a Leach hire are just assuming he will.
 

dpodoll68...Hilarious. That is great perspective!

I will harken back to the fact that the offense Leach would run here is different than that of every other team in the BT, thus making Minnesota a tough matchup each week for the opposing defense. Of course, I still would question if the run'n'shoot would work consistently outdoors in November, but am willing to give it a shot.
 

Goldmember said:
I'm hoping he could exceed his levels of success at TexTech. But I have a feeling a lot of people who support a Leach hire are just assuming he will.
Click to expand...

We all assume everything here. No one knows anything for sure. I assume hiring Trestman will drive us even further down. I assume Leach will get us to a bowl game in year one. I assume Pantherhawk will continue to embarrass himself here...wait, I know that will happen for sure.
 

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