An Orsini-type hire...

by **ponyinNC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:22 am

After reading the following article, it seems Orsini's strategy is to bring in a big-name coach that wouldn't normally come to a non-BCS school but for personal reasons (i.e., some sort of character issue).

Examples: George O'Leary was headed to arguably the best coaching position in College Football at ND, and then the irregularities on his resume surface and he is exposed publicly as a liar. He is in coaching purgatory at Minnesota and Orsini makes him the savior at UCF.

Example 2: Matt Doherty is Nat'l Coach of the Year at ND, then goes to arguably the greatest coaching job in NCAA at UNC. B/C of personal reasons (i.e., not getting along w/ players, being too tough) he is fired and lands in Fla. Orsini rescues him and makes him SMU's savior.

So, after all that one name really seems to jump out at me:

Rick Neuhiesel (sp?)

Article from DMN:

An even bigger investment, Orsini admits, was the hiring of O'Leary, one reason Texas fans shouldn't overlook the game.

"A coaching change made the difference," Orsini said. "I give all the credit in the world to George O'Leary."

Orsini knew O'Leary from their days together at Georgia Tech, where Orsini was an assistant AD and O'Leary was resurrecting a program from a 1-10 flatline in 1994. O'Leary did such a good job, winning national coach of the year honors in 2000, that Notre Dame took notice and hired him to replace Bob Davie. Less than a week later, O'Leary was gone after irregularities surfaced in his resume.

"I think anything that happened there was self-inflicted," O'Leary said on a teleconference this week. "I think my mother said it right, that the Good Lord doesn't close a door unless he opens another. At one time during that whole thing, I was acting like some of the people I despise in feeling sorry for myself."

The best thing O'Leary did, he said, was to immediately get back into coaching, serving two years as an assistant with the Minnesota Vikings.

Although others saw damaged goods, Orsini saw an opportunity to hire a coach that almost never would have come under any other circumstances to Central Florida, which began its program in 1979.

"I had no concerns," Orsini said. "I truly believed at the time, George O'Leary was by far the best coach available."

First, Orsini had to convince school president John Hitt to back the decision. A former lineman at Austin College, Hitt knew all about O'Leary's rise and fall.

Hitt told Orsini that he needed to look O'Leary in the eye and get a few answers. Satisfied, Hitt approved the hire, aware the school would be questioned about the message it was sending.

But O'Leary's personality and performance outweighed any public criticism. He took the Knights from 0-11 in 2004 to 8-5 the next season. Although Central Florida took a step backward with a 4-8 mark last season, it has already upset North Carolina State on the road this season.

by **SMU Football Blog** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:42 am

Yes. Neuheisal is an "Orsini-type" hire, as compared to Gary Barnett, who would not be, I would think.

by **Roach** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:49 am

No way. Neuheisel's gaffe was in regard to gambling, and no matter how minor it was (didn't he claim he was in a $5 pool on the NCAA tournament or somesuch?), no way SMU touches a guy with gambling mentioned with his name. Plus, he's making big bucks in the NFL. An Orsini-TYPE of hire, but not the right guy.

by **SMU Football Blog** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:06 am

Roach wrote:No way. Neuheisel's gaffe was in regard to gambling, and no matter how minor it was (didn't he claim he was in a $5 pool on the NCAA tournament or somesuch?), no way SMU touches a guy with gambling mentioned with his name. Plus, he's making big bucks in the NFL. An Orsini-TYPE of hire, but not the right guy.

People forget how the gambling thing turned out:

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2007123

by **ponyinNC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:09 am

Thanks Blog.

And think, with that 4.7 million settlement, we can afford him!!

I'm serious, mark my words, Rick Neuheisel will be our next coach.

Orsini is like the Cincinatti Bengals of AD's...he likes taking character risks.

by **EmeraldCityPony** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:12 am

A couple of other notes about Neuheisel since he was fired after I became a Husky fan.

The main reason he was fired was for lying about the gambling. He also had several recruiting improprieties which loomed over UW and Colorado while he was coaching there.

Finally, many UW fans believe Slick Rick's bad recruiting is the reason the Dawgs have been in the doghouse for the past 5 years. Basically, that he left the cupboard bare. Of course this is the ipso facto excuse used everywhere, such as at ND, when Charlie Weiss took over the reigns for a fired Ty Willingham. So I don't necessarily buy that.

Putting all ethical considerations aside (yeah right). Here's why he would be good as a non-BCS football team coach.

* Experience as a HC for top 25 teams (the 2000 Huskies finished ranked #3)
* Incredibly charasmatic and likeable by fans
* Is able to attract and develop QB talent
* Has been away from HC long enough to miss it

Now I'm not in the camp that says PB should be canned. If a bowl game is our goal, then how can you make such a statement after going 1-2? Ask me again if we get to 7 losses.

by **ponyinNC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:18 am

Emerald City, thanks for the info. I think your 2nd point is the most relevant for SMU...he is likeable by fans.

We need a HC that will spark interest not only locally but nationally (ala Doherty) and who will reinvigorate our fan base.

I hope for wins and a bowl game this year of course, but more than likely we will be 1-4 going into a tough conference schedule. Bowl game does not seem like a possibility.

by **Caballo** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:31 am

I had the opportunity to meet Rick Neuheisel while he was coaching at Colorado. He is a very personable guy who is not only well liked by fans, but also by his players. Also, look at his record with QBs. JWill would shine under him.

Neuheisel took the time to visit with me briefly in a hotel lobby where the Buffs were staying in Oklahoma City the day before a game with OU. If you talked to him for one minute, you would be a fan. Much like our current basketball coach.

My only concern would be the NCAA's retribution policy since he pretty much B-slapped them in his lawsuit. Would they be looking up our skirts again at every turn to get back at hime? That's probably not a concern though since we know the NCAA has no such agendas. Yeah, right.

by **ponyinNC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:37 am

I'd take this record anyday ***and remember, 1997 was forfeited due to an ineligible player:

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl Rank#
Colorado (Big Eight) (1995)
1995 Colorado 10-2 5-2 T-2nd W, 38-6 Cotton Bowl 4
Colorado (Big 12) (1996 Ã¢â‚¬â€ 1998)
1996 Colorado 10-2 7-1 2nd W, 33-21 Holiday Bowl 8
1997 Colorado 0-11* 0-8* T-4th
1998 Colorado 8-4 4-4 4th W, 51-43 Aloha Bowl
Colorado: 28-19* 11-13*
Washington (Pacific 10) (1999 Ã¢â‚¬â€ 2002)
1999 Washington 7-5 6-2 2nd L, 24-20 Holiday Bowl
2000 Washington 11-1 7-1 T-1st W, 34-24 Rose Bowl 3
2001 Washington 8-4 6-2 T-2nd L, 47-43 Holiday Bowl 19
2002 Washington 7-6 4-4 T-4th L, 34-24 Sun Bowl
Washington: 33-16 23-9
Total: 61-35*

by **ponyinNC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:43 am

If top 25 is really our goal, and not just a load of BS...this is our guy. A PROVEN Top 25 coach.

Steve-O, make it happen man!

by **SMU Football Blog** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:46 am

You know what I like about Neuheisel? There are some people that can't stand him; they just don't like him. Ask around; you will find some people that just don't like the guy. It has nothing to do with how he coaches or anything. They just don't like him. I like that.

by **ponydawg** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:50 am

SMU Football Blog wrote:You know what I like about Neuheisel? There are some people that can't stand him; they just don't like him. Ask around; you will find some people that just don't like the guy. It has nothing to do with how he coaches or anything. They just don't like him. I like that.

Awh, the Mike Leach factor.

by **ponyinNC** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 9:56 am

SMU Football Blog wrote:You know what I like about Neuheisel? There are some people that can't stand him; they just don't like him. Ask around; you will find some people that just don't like the guy. It has nothing to do with how he coaches or anything. They just don't like him. I like that.

Haha, very true. The Belichek persona.

by **Stallion** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:30 am

Do people really dislike Leach? (except for the SMU homers who will never forgive him for trying to run it up against SMU-violins play as MM65, Ponyboy and the General nod in unison) I think more just think he's weird. Kinda like your crazy first cousin. Not enough success to really hate.

by **expony18** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:35 am

and he can't talk...

An Orsini-type hire...

An Orsini-type hire...

Who is online