Steve Sarkisian accepts USC job

[CA Mustang]

Is USC really a better job than A&M? Sumlin has solid job security, fantastic new facilities being built, is in the nation's premier conference and has solid recruiting classes lined up for 2014 and 2015. Plus- how much $ was USC willing to offer him theoretically? Were they willing to offset the sizable state income tax in CA vs. no state income tax in Texas? I know we all think College Station is a dump, but not everyone likes the big city.

USC stated they were willing to go up to $6M a year for the right candidate. Even taking into account the tax rate and cost of living, USC could pay more than A&M.

Now as to why USC cooled on Sumlin, that's a different question. Maybe he overplayed his hand or they weren't just sold on him? http://www.wearesc.com/forums/forum/mai ... ts-on-sark

[East Coast Mustang]

Is USC really a better job than A&M? Sumlin has solid job security, fantastic new facilities being built, is in the nation's premier conference and has solid recruiting classes lined up for 2014 and 2015. Plus- how much $ was USC willing to offer him theoretically? Were they willing to offset the sizable state income tax in CA vs. no state income tax in Texas? I know we all think College Station is a dump, but not everyone likes the big city.

USC stated they were willing to go up to $6M a year for the right candidate. Even taking into account the tax rate and cost of living, USC could pay more than A&M.

Now as to why USC cooled on Sumlin, that's a different question. Maybe he overplayed his hand or they weren't just sold on him? http://www.wearesc.com/forums/forum/mai ... ts-on-sark

A&M would have matched whatever USC offered IMO

I think Sumlin is a tad overrated but look at the results- he's accomplished a lot more than Sark as a head coach. Hiring Pete Carroll's disciple didn't work out too well w/ Kiffin, not sure why USC pulled the trigger on Sark here. Ed O won more Pac-12 games this season as an interim HC than Sark ever did in 5 years at UW

If I were Haden my list would have been:
1. Sumlin
2. Franklin
3. Del Rio
4. Petersen
5. Probably Sark

[lwjr]

I will be interested to see how Sumlin does without JF. He does have top rated recruiting classes coming to A&M, but he inherited a pretty good QB at U of H and he inherited a pretty good QB at A&M. Just curious

[East Coast Mustang]

I will be interested to see how Sumlin does without JF. He does have top rated recruiting classes coming to A&M, but he inherited a pretty good QB at U of H and he inherited a pretty good QB at A&M. Just curious

Don't know if he'll start next year as a true frosh but Sumlin has the #1 QB in the country signed for 2014....5* Kyle Allen

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/r ... len-132854

[CA Mustang]

I think Sumlin is a tad overrated...

That may be the conclusion USC reached.

Hiring Pete Carroll's disciple didn't work out too well w/ Kiffin...

Just because LK failed doesn't mean it applies to SS.

If I were Haden my list would have been:
1. Sumlin
2. Franklin
3. Del Rio
4. Petersen
5. Probably Sark

Is JF ready for a job where an 8 win season is a failure rather than a cause for celebration. With no college coaching experience and possibly not being available until early February, JDR was too much of a wild card. Don't know how Peterson would have handled the USC job (and all that goes with it).

[Harry0569]

James Franklin would have been a much better hire in my opinion...Sark didn't do anything special at UW

My Vandy buddies are literally doing somersaults.

Steve S. has never won 9 games in a season...

[lwjr]

I will be interested to see how Sumlin does without JF. He does have top rated recruiting classes coming to A&M, but he inherited a pretty good QB at U of H and he inherited a pretty good QB at A&M. Just curious

Don't know if he'll start next year as a true frosh but Sumlin has the #1 QB in the country signed for 2014....5* Kyle Allen

http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/r ... len-132854

ECM I did see that. He already has the kid from Southlake Carroll, Kenny Hill who is a pretty good. I am just curious to watch him develop a QB that he did not inherit.
I do not mean for my comments to be regarded as a mean spirited towards Sumlin.

[CA Mustang]

Steve S. has never won 9 games in a season...

So a bowl game this year doesn't count?

Seriously, that stat had better expire in 2014 or he'll find out just how short a honeymoon can be.

[East Coast Mustang]

Is JF ready for a job where an 8 win season is a failure rather than a cause for celebration.

Is Sark? Easier to recruit and win at UW than it is at Vandy when JF got there

Everyone acts like Pat Haden is God and determines when the sun rises and sets, but this seems like a really underwhelming hire, especially for what is supposedly one of the "premier" programs in college football. Remember, Mike Riley turned them down before they got Kiffin in 2010

[East Coast Mustang]

James Franklin would have been a much better hire in my opinion...Sark didn't do anything special at UW

My Vandy buddies are literally doing somersaults.

They might want to hold off until after the TX/Baylor game. If/when BU rolls all over Texas (Briles won't take his foot off the pedal in that one, remember he voted Texas #5 in the coaches' poll in 08), it might be curtains for Mack and I'd have to think Texas would be interested in Franklin- he's the perfect fit. Dynamic recruiter, great salesman for the program. He would be great with all of the LHN bs

[CA Mustang]

Is JF ready for a job where an 8 win season is a failure rather than a cause for celebration.

Is Sark? Easier to recruit and win at UW than it is at Vandy when JF got there

True, but the expectations at UW are higher than Vandy. UW has won a national championship in our lifetimes.

Everyone acts like Pat Haden is God and determines when the sun rises and sets, but this seems like a really underwhelming hire, especially for what is supposedly one of the "premier" programs in college football. Remember, Mike Riley turned them down before they got Kiffin in 2010

I don't recall anyone praying to Haden, even those related to him!

This probably just highlights the difficulty in hiring for a top D-1 job. Stealing a coach from within the P5 is both difficult and rare so most schools have to hire from the NFL (Alabama), non-BCS (A&M, Auburn), unemployed (OSU, UCLA, WSU) or promote from within (FSU, Stanford).

[East Coast Mustang]

This probably just highlights the difficulty in hiring for a top D-1 job. Stealing a coach from within the P5 is both difficult and rare so most schools have to hire from the NFL (Alabama), non-BCS (A&M, Auburn), unemployed (OSU, UCLA, WSU) or promote from within (FSU, Stanford).

Fair point- and underscores just how shocking the Arkansas hire of Bielema away from Arkansas was...11 months later, that one still astounds me. I think Wisconsin is a straight up better job than Arkansas- less competition in the B10, and you don't have a fanbase that is actually insane.

[leopold]

I don't see him sticking around. He turned their season around and has been a very popular assistant there for years. I see him taking this as a major slap in the face and getting the heck out of Los Angeles as fast as he can.

Can't agree there. He was damaged goods until USC let him step up, and now he's a changed man, he's softer, he's an inspiration, blah blah blah. In two months his career trajectory has completely turned around and every school firing a coach now has someone on a message board going "What about O?" Hope he saved Haden one of those donuts.

It's hard for me to see JF going to UT. I'm not saying it's impossible, but a truly major program is going to want somebody who has done more than just take Vandy to a few bowls.

Cutcliffe is the one whose options I'm going to be interested in seeing play out - ESPECIALLY if they somehow manage to beat FSU.

[CA Mustang]

This probably just highlights the difficulty in hiring for a top D-1 job. Stealing a coach from within the P5 is both difficult and rare so most schools have to hire from the NFL (Alabama), non-BCS (A&M, Auburn), unemployed (OSU, UCLA, WSU) or promote from within (FSU, Stanford).

Fair point- and underscores just how shocking the Arkansas hire of Bielema away from Arkansas was...11 months later, that one still astounds me. I think Wisconsin is a straight up better job than Arkansas- less competition in the B10, and you don't have a fanbase that is actually insane.

Well, the jury is still out on that one. Arkansas not only offered more money for the HC but their assistant salary pool was much larger as well. Bielema got tired of losing assistants each year due to money. While Badger fans aren't as crazy as Hog fans, they were a bit bored with him after three straight Rose Bowl (!) losses and the fact he is really a Hawkeye (remember the tattoo).

A couple of other recent ones are Golden (Temple to Miami) and Graham (Pitt to ASU).

Cutcliffe is the one whose options I'm going to be interested in seeing play out - ESPECIALLY if they somehow manage to beat FSU.

Isn't he getting up there in age? That may limit his interest (and opportunities).

[RebStang]

I don't see him sticking around. He turned their season around and has been a very popular assistant there for years. I see him taking this as a major slap in the face and getting the heck out of Los Angeles as fast as he can.

Can't agree there. He was damaged goods until USC let him step up, and now he's a changed man, he's softer, he's an inspiration, blah blah blah. In two months his career trajectory has completely turned around and every school firing a coach now has someone on a message board going "What about O?" Hope he saved Haden one of those donuts.

It's hard for me to see JF going to UT. I'm not saying it's impossible, but a truly major program is going to want somebody who has done more than just take Vandy to a few bowls.

Cutcliffe is the one whose options I'm going to be interested in seeing play out - ESPECIALLY if they somehow manage to beat FSU.

Having been around Orgeron a few times, I just don't see him being the type that sticks around as an assistant when he feels like he deserved the head coach job. I also think he still wants to prove he can coach in the SEC and staying on as an associate head coach at USC doesn't help him get there.

With Cutcliffe, I just don't see him wanting to leave Duke unless he gets a big offer with the same or lower expectations as he has at Duke. He's getting up there in his years and has had health problems throughout his coaching career. Given that history, I just don't see him wanting any part of a high pressure, win now or get the <insert expletive here> out program.