If Hud didn't exist

[horshack.sixpack]

How many would be calling for Dan's head? Of those calling for Dan's head are you certain that Hud's year 5 team is >>>>>>> Dan's year 5 team?

I'm on the fence. Dan makes some head scratching play calls that drive me nuts. He has, however, done well by comparison to our history and I can't decide if he's a Frank Beamer, just stick with him and give him time, or if we've seen the best he has to offer.

I say if there is no Hud, there is frustration, but not a bunch of fire Dan threads. For Hud to work out, he has to really take advantage of his MS recruiting ties AND coach very well. If you bring in anybody else without MS, or at least Southeastern, ties you are starting from scratch with local recruiting relationships.

 

[SkullCandy.sixpack]

Agree. Like a bunch of kids, we want another puppy again, and don't want to play with the old dog anymore. Dan will still be here through at least the 2015 season. Will Hud be available that long?

 

[Dawg@Vandy]

The offensive genius is averaging less than a touchdown through 7 games in the 2nd half (48 pts). Take out Troy and Alcorn St. and his offense is averaging slightly better than a field goal in the second half (17 pts over 5 games).

This plus the atrocious kicking game and special teams overall last night, plus he continues to screw up the momentum of games by bringing Tyler in at the wrong times. Last night, Dak's 1st two drives equaled touchdowns. Then, we get the ball back up 14-7 and have a chance to really take the life out of them with another Dak TD drive, and we go to Tyler for a quick 4 play drive. Kentucky gains a little more confidence and our mo is stalled.

Good coaches don't do this silly ****.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

So if Hud doesn't exist are you calling for Dan's head and saying just bring in anyone new?

 

[Dawg1976]

Good question. Because not sure who we could get outside of Hud that would fire me up. Can't see a higher profile coach coming here so that leaves offensive/defensive coordinators. Some probably would be good but you never know what your getting for sure.

I would still be pissed but probably more willing to let it go for another year. I'm afraid our window might be closing with Hud if we wait too long though.

 

[Dawg@Vandy]

Exactly, I'm not on a Hud bandwagon. I am on a Mullen has peaked bandwagon.

I think Mullen's main problem is that he believes he is so much better than MSU. His goal is a bowl game. If he can get us to a bowl game, we should bow down and sing his praises because we are just lil ol' MSU. We can't do any better than that and it's ridiculous to expect any better than that. Where's my check?

And I am not one with illusions of grandeur. I know it's tough to win at MSU consistently due to lack of history and 2 SEC schools in a small state. However, I do expect improvement year in and year out. I expect to see a team that plays tough, gets after you, and doesn't do stupid **** like punching players in a pile to get ejected and coaches that makes bizzare decisions that affect the game. If this was a coach in his first year, I could overlook a lot of this stuff, but it's year 5.

Is Hud the savior? Maybe. I think the appeal from fans for Hud is that he's a local boy that's done good in the coaching ranks so far. The majority opinion is that he wants the job, his dream job, so to speak. He knows the state and has the recruiting relationships that you must have to be successful here. Plus, we just enjoyed one hell of a baseball season from another coach that wants to be here because it is also his dream job.

 

[jacksonreb]

if hudspeth is available after the 2015 season then he may not be the answer. if he's that good somebody will hire him before 2016

 

[engie]

So if Hud doesn't exist are you calling for Dan's head and saying just bring in anyone new?

I'm still calling for his head either way.

There is "new" writing on the wall with recruiting that points to a ship that's taking on water. Before, we were sticking 8-10th in the conference in that regard and were consistently ahead of Vandy, Kentucky, Mizzou -- and basically even with Ark, OM. Now, they are basically all dominating us -- particularly the two schools that we play every year, Kentucky and OM. And we were redshirting everyone -- and showing very, very promising player development all over the field. That's changed.

I think, at best, we've got 1 more year of being superior to ANYBODY in the SEC talent wise. Kentucky is coming -- and they are on the road next year. Someone please tell me why we should mark that as a win on the schedule -- because I don't see it -- and they are kicking our *** in recruiting? And we are no longer outcoaching ANYONE with inferior talent. Nor are we even really redshirting anymore. Mullen burned at least 2, possibly 3, more redshirts last night -- Over half that class has now played. Meaning he's even abandoning the formula that was halfway working before...

Anytime you pull the punter that was second in the country last year in net yardage -- and put in an OBVIOUS mental midget because "he had a better week at practice" -- YOU need your head examined.

I, for one, would like to strike while the iron is hot for once -- and tee up our next coach to be successful. Instead of allowing it to crash and burn to the point that he's undergoing a FULL rebuild from the depths of hell. In the last decade, we've only successfully done this once(Croom to Mullen). We allowed EVERY other sport and coaching change to be put on virtual life support before making a move.

 

[engie]

if hudspeth is available after the 2015 season then he may not be the answer. if he's that good somebody will hire him before 2016

Our window of getting Mark Hudspeth while he's at ULL is this year. That's it. Now, could we pull him from a Baylorish program down the line? I believe we could -- but we would have to PONY UP to do it -- and I'd rather not have to find out.

 

[jacksonreb]

if msu is his dream job as many think then you may have some more time. he's going to make a calculation about "when" the msu job might be available against what job's come open and he's in the mix for. i don't think he takes a "minor" jump from ull. if he takes a job its' likel to be a good one. i do think if its not this yr the likelihood that he "moves on" grows big time.

 

[UIUCDog]

Not me, because I think the Mullen situation is just like the Stansbury situation if you take Hudspeth out of the equation. After the basketball fiasco, I don’t really want to see Stricklin lead another coaching search in a major sport, especially football, unless either

1. There’s an obvious, no-brainer of a homerun hire to be made, OR
2. It becomes clear that pretty much ANYONE would be an upgrade.

We’re not yet to the point of 2 being the case in football. But the thing is that 1 IS in play, which is almost never the case for us.

 

[Thrl595]

if hudspeth is available after the 2015 season then he may not be the answer. if he's that good somebody will hire him before 2016

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if he's turned down a couple of jobs waiting on us to wise up.

Somebody eventually is going to make him an offer he cant refuse and god I hope it's not another SEC school because he will kick the **** out of us every stinking time.

 

[engie]

Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if he's turned down a couple of jobs waiting on us to wise up.

Somebody eventually is going to make him an offer he cant refuse and god I hope it's not another SEC school because he will kick the **** out of us every stinking time.

This is correct

He was a serious candidate at both Ole Miss and Arizona 2 years ago. His stock has done nothing but go up since then.

 

[johnson86-1]

Easy answer: No.

People would be unhappy, but firing Mullen without a good replacement lined up would be a near guarantee to head back to Croomesque wilderness. Mullen has glaring weaknesses, but is still a pretty good coach. Unfortunately he's in a division and conference chock full of very good to great coaches.

Ignoring the issue of whether coaches would be scared of the job if we fired Mullen after one losing season, it'd still be about an even money bet whether we'd improve on him. Even coaches with proven success turn out to be flashes in the pan sometimes. The only reason firing Mullen is even a possibility is because Hud has the potential to be a home run hire (proven success, recruiting success in this area, and a desire to be here long term) and because MSU's window for him is at most one more year. If he's at ULL after next year, either somebody else will hire him or he's done something to convince people he's not a good coach.

 

[esplanade91]

You're right. I think he likes ULL for what it is. I know USM went hard after him (and yes, sadly, USM is an upgrade from ULL) and he not only said no but hell no. You can chalk that up to him not wanting to take over an 0-12 team but they were willing to give him a hefty raise and it was his shot to be the skipper of a Mississippi D1 program.

I don't think he'd leave for a U of Nevada type job. He's cool just hanging out waiting for the big fish. That could work out for us or totally screw us. We're MSU, so probably screw us.

 

[121Josey]

Yes. Fans need to understand what they've got. Then they need to look at what's happening around them (not just at the Bearz). Mellen was on the fence at the end of last year. What has he done this year?