Arnett... maybe

IBleedMaroonDawg

All-American
Nov 12, 2007
25,523
9,728
113
For Real Seriously GIF by Harlem
 

Perd Hapley

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
5,793
6,839
113
I know that isn’t a home run, but I’m surprised by the negative reaction. Yes, he was basically arrogant in throwing away an offense built for an air raid scheme and hiring and an inexperienced offensive coordinator, but that was him not being ready to be a head coach.
He seems like a decent DC?
To me its less about his performance history as a DC and more about the optics and high likelihood of conflict of egos and interest between our HC and our DC. That’s exacerbated by the fact that this hire does not seem to be Lebby’s idea….likely something he was told that he has to go along with to stay employed….which is a disaster in the making if so.

Just to spell it out more clearly, Jeff Lebby is now employing a former MSU head coach who was not very successful, but still had a much better winning % than he does. A lot of similarities to that Pittman / Petrino situation at Arkansas, which failed spectacularly in so many ways.
 

josebrown

All-Conference
Aug 4, 2008
2,943
1,191
113
This statement is really all that needs to be said. We all agree on this point.

So, the obvious question that must be asked….if the coach you decided to retain after 2 disastrous seasons has you in this spot where he can’t get legitimate help because he’s a dead man walking, then where was the real 17 up in this entire scenario?
Should’ve cleaned house. But we like a good runitback’ing and I’d be willing to bet we didn’t talk to anyone else. ZA can be good, but I don’t expect us to get him enough SEC players for that to happen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: patdog

Maroon13

All-Conference
Sep 29, 2022
3,585
3,683
113
This statement is really all that needs to be said. We all agree on this point.

So, the obvious question that must be asked….if the coach you decided to retain after 2 disastrous seasons has you in this spot where he can’t get legitimate help because he’s a dead man walking, then where was the real 17 up in this entire scenario?
All in the beginning with Selmons decision to hire a guy with no HC experience or connections. Especially when you had Odom, a current HC with a staff that included a DC wanting the job.
 
  • Like
Reactions: patdog
Dec 9, 2022
187
488
63
"Zach is one of the brightest defensive coaches in all of college football," Leach said in a statement. "Having been mentored by Rocky Long during his successful time at San Diego State, Zach understands what it takes to build and run an elite defense."

It is what it is. Let’s hope Leach’s impression is still somewhat accurate and Arnett is truly grateful for this second chance.
 

wsforten

Redshirt
Aug 22, 2012
7
6
1
Most important thing is we fired Hutzler. we’re a better football team. ZA is infinitely better. I was afraid Libby would dig his heels in and roll with Hutzler again. I mean he did make 7 QB runs in a row… with Blake Shapen! Arnett checks a lot boxes to me. P5 DC experience, SEC experience, knows the challenges that MS face. We cold have done a lot worse. I’m rooting for him.
 

John Deaux VII

All-Conference
Jun 7, 2024
951
2,406
93
To me its less about his performance history as a DC and more about the optics and high likelihood of conflict of egos and interest between our HC and our DC. That’s exacerbated by the fact that this hire does not seem to be Lebby’s idea….likely something he was told that he has to go along with to stay employed….which is a disaster in the making if so.
Who said this was not Lebby's idea?
Just to spell it out more clearly, Jeff Lebby is now employing a former MSU head coach who was not very successful, but still had a much better winning % than he does. A lot of similarities to that Pittman / Petrino situation at Arkansas, which failed spectacularly in so many ways.
You think Pittman failed only because of Petrino?


Ya'll are making this more complex than it really is. We needed a different DC - he has experience as a DC, experience in the SEC, and experience in Mississippi. He runs a scheme that has worked well at Mississippi State before - recently and historically. He is not a homerun hire but its a good hire. Coordinators and assistant coaches have 2nd stents at schools all the time. Are you afraid he is going to come here and purposely not do worth a **** simply out of spite?
 

Perd Hapley

All-American
Sep 30, 2022
5,793
6,839
113
I don’t think Lebby/Arnett is comparable to the Pittman/Petrino situation at all.
Well, I don’t know what to tell you, but Bobby Petrino was a former HC at Arkansas that they fired, then brought back as a coordinator years later under direction of some influential boosters to try and prop up an in-over-his-head HC.

If you can’t see those similarities, then I really can’t help you. The only thing that’s not similar is that Petrino was more successful as a HC than Arnett was, but that’s not really relevant.
 

Bulldog45

All-Conference
Oct 2, 2018
1,193
1,736
113
Well, I don’t know what to tell you, but Bobby Petrino was a former HC at Arkansas that they fired, then brought back as a coordinator years later under direction of some influential boosters to try and prop up an in-over-his-head HC.

If you can’t see those similarities, then I really can’t help you. The only thing that’s not similar is that Petrino was more successful as a HC than Arnett was, but that’s not really relevant.
Petrino got fired for extracurricular activities not for making a mess of the entire coaching staff when he was hired. He then somewhat did his time in purgatory no doubt with eyes in being Arkansas’ HC again. I don’t think Arnett could sniff the HC job at state against absent proving himself as a HC somewhere else prior.
 

Bologna Sandwich

Sophomore
Sep 6, 2024
159
125
43
As a fan, I have no choice but to think:

Leach was excited about him, and he did a good job as a DC.
Dan believed in him enough to hire him.
He liked it here and this is his shot to get his rep as a good coach back.
All of the motivation is there

I could see it all working out. I had the idea of hiring him and thought it could work before hearing of this. I never actually thought it could happen though. I am sure it was difficult to find the right guy, given the current circumstances. This hire could be the best answer for what we needed to accomplish. If we can succeed in the portal, it will be the 2nd year in a row of improvement by this staff and program.
 

85Bears

All-Conference
Aug 31, 2019
4,682
4,660
108
To me its less about his performance history as a DC and more about the optics and high likelihood of conflict of egos and interest between our HC and our DC. That’s exacerbated by the fact that this hire does not seem to be Lebby’s idea….likely something he was told that he has to go along with to stay employed….which is a disaster in the making if so.

Just to spell it out more clearly, Jeff Lebby is now employing a former MSU head coach who was not very successful, but still had a much better winning % than he does. A lot of similarities to that Pittman / Petrino situation at Arkansas, which failed spectacularly in so many ways.
First paragraph nailed it. Salmon wouldn’t rehire a guy he fired. Lebby wouldn’t hire the HC fired right before he took the job. This is the boosters making the hire. They screwed the pooch royally with no AD in place and now they just have to double down. No other P4 schools do this kind of crazy stuff.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Perd Hapley

DDey13

Sophomore
Dec 19, 2024
148
127
43
First paragraph nailed it. Salmon wouldn’t rehire a guy he fired. Lebby wouldn’t hire the HC fired right before he took the job. This is the boosters making the hire. They screwed the pooch royally with no AD in place and now they just have to double down. No other P4 schools do this kind of crazy stuff.
And people really think we’re serious about football. Decent hire on paper but there are other factors that could blow this whole thing up.
 

RocketDawg

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2011
18,960
2,079
113
First paragraph nailed it. Salmon wouldn’t rehire a guy he fired. Lebby wouldn’t hire the HC fired right before he took the job. This is the boosters making the hire. They screwed the pooch royally with no AD in place and now they just have to double down. No other P4 schools do this kind of crazy stuff.

OM may have just done the same thing. We'll see.
 

Howiefeltersnstch

All-Conference
Dec 28, 2019
2,370
3,001
98
If you need players from the portal and the guy with the money says he would love to buy some but not for your DC to waste my money. Maybe if you replace him I could see my way clear you kinda have to do something. Especially after the last 5 games where your D schitt the bed. Oh and dont forget the part where the first 4 guys you approach say no thanks to the job
 

85Bears

All-Conference
Aug 31, 2019
4,682
4,660
108
OM may have just done the same thing. We'll see.
Not even remotely similar. They have a strong AD in place. Did Golding previously nuke their program to the Stone Age, get fired and then get rehired by boosters ?
 
Nov 22, 2023
197
402
63
I'm not buying the argument that Lebby and Selmon didn't pick Arnett. Why wouldn't Lebby and Selmon like Arnett for the same reasons that Leach thought he was a good DC? Arnett has proven he can run a defense at State that competes in the top half of the SEC. Perhaps Lebby and Selmon and boosters want a proven DC that fits in Starkvegas. Both can be true.
 
  • Like
Reactions: OopsICroomedmypants

RotorHead

Senior
Mar 26, 2019
670
499
63
Also, with all the complaints about every coach, AD, and President I would love to hear if some of you have liked any of the men that we have ever had in any of these positions.
Mullen. If you can’t tell by the incessantly repeated “Mullen could come back (said as their eyes roll back and their forearm begins to move in an odd up/down pumping motion).

to answer your question, no. The only people some posters would be positive about running the program are the posters themselves. No one else can do a better job.
 

thatsbaseball

All-American
May 29, 2007
17,856
6,556
113
So would somebody clear-up the Wendy's episode for me . Drunk ? Drugs ? Both ? What's the story . Has the guy got a "problem" ? Is he being treated ?
 

Ranchdawg

All-Conference
Dec 13, 2012
4,472
3,725
113
Arnett's defenses only had 3 games where a team scored more than 40 points. Two of those were against the eventual NC and the third was against the NC runner up. That is over 3 years. Hutzler had 8 games where opponents scored over 40 points in 2 years.