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Here is my Prediction.... It's nobody on this list, but a wildcard surprise!

Dwan wrote:I think Bowden could get a better staff than Barnett, which would improve his recruiting.

That is an interesting question that I have been pondering. Of the four: Mason, Neuheisel, Barnett and Bowden, who could get the best staff?

My guess is Mason and Neuhiesel (tie), then Bowden and then Barnett.

Rick Neuhisel is not very well respected by other coaches. I think him at a school like SMU were there is not a ton of money for Assistant coaches would have a hard time attracting a better staff than the other 3.

There are not many coaches who are respected as much as Glenn Mason. I think he could get a very good staff.

Bowden, lets face it, is a Bowden and has the most connections in the coaching world. He is a huge personality and could sell an up and coming assistant to join him, spend a few years in Dallas, and then go to FSU or a big time program.

Barnett, prob could get a good staff as well.

I guess I lean toward Barnett because of his unbelievable success at Northwestern. But the Bowden hire would be such a buzz for quite some time.

I like most everyone on this board,would be happy with any of the three. I think Mason is a very good coach, but it just doesn't fire me up as much.

No assistants. Too risky!

Mason played at Ohio State and coached there so he got the "schooling" early on. He is not a flashy name but he did make every team he coache d competitive. Let's face it -making Kansas and Minnesota competitive is no easy task! SMU would be nothing new to him.

Mason is kinda like a Grant Teaff was at Baylor only with a few more consistent bowl teams

[quote="carolina stang"] But the Bowden hire would be such a buzz for quite some time.![/quote]...........AND Bowden would be awesome at Recruiting, Coaching, dealing with the media etc...

I have a hunch Orsini discussed the job with Bowden sometime last year and all the publicity this year surrounding Bowden's desire to return to coaching and his hanging out with his Dad observing practices was preparing him for an potential opening at SMU this Fall.

I think its his to turn down. I will take off my tin foil hat now.

I like Bowden for all the reasons in this thread. He is an Orsini type of hire that gets media, alumni and hopefully recruits buzzing. He has to be well connected among coaching staffs from his media days and he had some good success at coaching turnarounds - at least according to his bio. He will need some strong assistants and I think he will be able to assemble an outstanding supporting cast.

I have nothing against Barnett or Mason and would support either. I just believe Bowden's hire would be 10 times as newsworthy.