Fran or Coker

[Dwan]

Fran has a shady past and is considered a slime ball. His newsletter was a violation of NCAA rules that might hurt A&M. Considering we did not want to hire a coach with a past, would the militant faculty then choose Coker? And if they choose Fran, it would kill me that if we were going to hire a coach with a past, we chose Fran over Banett......I'm praying that there is a mystery coach but am very doubtful. We could all argue who is a better coach, Fran or Barnett, but there is no question that Barnett hired in November is a better hire than Fran hired in January.

[George S. Patton]

Thanks for using militant faculty. Pass it on.

[mrydel]

Barnett hired in November is a better hire than Fran hired in January.

Of course since we are operating in real time and not the past, then the Barnett hire would be November 2008 thus making Fran in January better.

[max the wonder dog]

the most compelling argument for Fran is his ability to immediately recruit in Texas. if it is Fran, that advantage was *#@^ed away by not acting in Nov.

[Bergermeister]

the most compelling argument for Fran is his ability to immediately recruit in Texas. if it is Fran, that advantage was *#@^ed away by not acting in Nov.

[perunapower]

Why it shouldn't be Coker.

An article from ESPN.com after the FIU/Miami debacle.
ESPN article


Excerpt from TSN article.

Five years ago, Miami won the national title in Larry Coker's first year as head coach, going undefeated and winning the Rose Bowl with ease.

The next year, Miami took a step back by losing in the national title game to a heavy underdog with more heart in Ohio State (Do NOT give me the whole pass interference excuse because replays clearly showed an earlier Craig Krenzel sideline pass to Chris Gamble should have been ruled a completion, and that would've resulted in a Buckeyes first down late in regulation that would have allowed the Buckeyes to run out the clock with a three-point lead.)

The next year, Miami took another step back by not reaching the national title game and settling for a rematch/Wide Right IV win in the Orange Bowl over FSU in a game that was tougher to watch than Johnny Drama blowing another audition on Entourage.

The next year, Miami took another step back by not reaching either the national title game or a BCS game and settling for a Peach Bowl win against rival Florida, playing its final game before Urban Meyer.

Then last year, Miami took yet another step back by not reaching either the national title game or a BCS game and by not only losing the Peach Bowl, but by having fewer explanations for the embarrassing events than Floyd Landis.

It was the loss to LSU that finally got the attention of the athletic department and the privately-funded university's hierarchy and resulted in the ever-loyal Coker making dramatic and somewhat unpopular changes to his coaching staff.

When a head coach at a program with high expectations makes changes like these, it means only one thing: He was gone if he didn't, and he will be gone if they don't work.

Even after these changes, only more questions surround the immediate future of the Hurricanes because of the recent suspensions for the season opener, the exit of Coker's biggest and most controversial recruit in Willie Williams, and Brandon Merriweather's return of fire on a man who shot Merriweather's teammate in the butt.

The Sporting News article

Article on Coker's firing and the events of the 2006 season.
ESPN article

[StallionsModelT]

Death by firing squad.

[Big-D 'Cane]

While I am not a big SMU fan, I do follow the program and I can assure you that Larry Coker would be the absolute worst hire you could possibly get. I would rather take a chance on a complete unknown than go with a proven loser.

This man did more damage to Miami than probation did in the early 90's. When he was hired he was handed the most talented roster in CF history (15 first round picks in the next 3 years!), and he turned that team into a complete disaster. And each season he was there was worse than the year before. Nowhere else is there a clearer example of someone turning a great team into a bad one. It's one thing to not be able to turn a bad team around, but taking a dominant team and promptly making them below-average is not easy to do. He's the complete 180-degree opposite of a Pete Carroll, who took a 5-6 team and made them dominant.

Coker is a weak recruiter and an even worse talent-evaluator.
His teams and players are soft, lazy, and weak - so much so that players who get this way in Miami are now deemed to have been "Cokerized".

He was a decent OC at times, but is the epitomy of the Peter Principle of getting promoted up to his level of incompetency.

And before you even try to say "but he won a national title" or "look at his record", please remember that Barry Switzer won a Super Bowl and had a better record than Jimmy. So what does that tell you?

We've always said that any school who hires this guy will be an absolute sucker b/c they won't have looked deeply behind the numbers at his record - I just hope SMU isn't that sucker.

[Pony Fan]

Coker would indeed be horrible. Fran wins hands down if these are our two choices.

[TCU owns YOU]

While I am not a big SMU fan, I do follow the program and I can assure you that Larry Coker would be the absolute worst hire you could possibly get. I would rather take a chance on a complete unknown than go with a proven loser.

This man did more damage to Miami than probation did in the early 90's. When he was hired he was handed the most talented roster in CF history (15 first round picks in the next 3 years!), and he turned that team into a complete disaster. And each season he was there was worse than the year before. Nowhere else is there a clearer example of someone turning a great team into a bad one. It's one thing to not be able to turn a bad team around, but taking a dominant team and promptly making them below-average is not easy to do. He's the complete 180-degree opposite of a Pete Carroll, who took a 5-6 team and made them dominant.

Coker is a weak recruiter and an even worse talent-evaluator.
His teams and players are soft, lazy, and weak - so much so that players who get this way in Miami are now deemed to have been "Cokerized".

He was a decent OC at times, but is the epitomy of the Peter Principle of getting promoted up to his level of incompetency.

And before you even try to say "but he won a national title" or "look at his record", please remember that Barry Switzer won a Super Bowl and had a better record than Jimmy. So what does that tell you?

We've always said that any school who hires this guy will be an absolute sucker b/c they won't have looked deeply behind the numbers at his record - I just hope SMU isn't that sucker.

Agree 100%

why would anyone even consider Coker over Fran?


Fran is a proven turnaround expert and will revitalize this program from players, students, coaches, alum, admin, and media. To my knowledge, Coker has not accomplished a major turnaround.

Fran is an excellent x and o's coach who had the #1 defense in the nation at TCU and beat UT twice in the last two years at A&M. Coker has not impressed me with his use of talent or discipline.

As one poster put it, he could sleep walk to a bowl every year in C-USA. Coker is a wild card in this situation with no proven results like Fran.

He is proven recruiter with 15+ years recruiting in Texas. Coker doesn't have half the connections or experience in Texas that Fran has. Reality is SMU will recruit Texas and not Florida or Georgia.

Fran also develops undeveloped talent with 1-star recruits like Brian Urlacher (NFL devensive MVP) and 2-star recruits like LaDainian Tomlinson (NFL MVP) and 2-star recruit Aaron Schobel (2006 NFL sack leader). He sent 14 kids to NFL in 2000 (tied Florida State for most from any college that year) from a TCU team that was ranked 5th in the state in recruiting. Coker hasn't had half of this success in developing talent, although alot of this is Gary Patterson but Fran should get credit for hiring and listening to him.

Also you get a 90% discount on Fran since A&M pays the $1.8 million for his first four seasons. To my knowledge, you will have to pay full price for Coker.
_________________

[locostang]

Do you think Fran will be able to round up some good assistants still?

[StallionsModelT]

They are both dreadful candidates. This coaching search has gone worse than I could have ever dreamed if we really are down to Larry Coker and Dennis f'in Franchione.

[papawasamustang]

These can't be the top 2 candidates. This just doesn't make sense to me.
I will be very disappointed if this is correct.

[Charlie NT73]

Fran can turn around programs. After all, he turned Alabama around.
And now, he has turned Txas A & M around too.
I would think twice about either one of these two candidates.
I still believe there is more to the story about Fran's and Tx A&M's relationship, and his secret activities. After Fran is free and clear at
A & M, I bet the real story and or truth will surface regarding his resigning.
Coker, well, I do not think he could do very well here in DFW.
The only time Miami come to Texas, is when Miami wanted a 5 star
rated Texas HS player. Kids know Miami, not Coker.

[TCU owns YOU]

Any of these candidates is better than Phil Bennet.

And unless SMU can hire Bob Stoops or Pete Carroll.....then FRAN is the MAN!