Wasn’t Zack Smith the one accused of domestic abuse/alcoholism on Meyer’s staff?
Landon Tengwell interview with OSU insider regarding Hartline coaching PSU, and a little on Meyer coaching PSU.
- Thread starter dcf4psu
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I agree. But that is a MASSIVE if. You have no data points to predict success, except recruiting prowess and WR development. This will be a learning on the fly hire. Not how I choose personnel.
I think within the last couple of weeks, I did a post that showed nine out of the top 15 ranked programs had a head coach who was not a head coach at his previous job. A few were even position coaches.
Seems we have a few OSU homers here trying to downplay Hartline - doesn't matter what is posted here none of us are making the hiring decision. Hartline would be a decent hire and would probable bring some recruits here at least on the offensive side - Knowles and Hartline - PSU = OSU West.
I read it and it was accurate. The issue is that not all are the same; specific candidates differ. All HCs at some point were coordinators or position coaches before. Hell, Urban was a WR coach before becoming a HC. The issue is Hartline. What on his resume provides you with the confidence that he is ready for this job?
When I interviewed for jobs in years past and then interviewed people for jobs, experience was the number one variable that needed to check out. I do not see it here; too many holes in the resume (and the current position is not disqualifying).
Outside of Saban, Meyer, DeBoer, etc, they are all massive risks. Nothing guaranteed here
It’s Schrodinger’s coach. Hartline will simultaneously suck AND be stolen back by OSU.
osu.
Look man. You want to give the reins of a major college program to a guy who has zero experience outside of he OSU ecosystem and has been coaching less than a decade knock yourself out. Fact is he was demoted three years ago because he could not call a game without sucking, learned one year under Kelly, and now is on training wheels under Day's supervision. I get being enamored by a shiny new object, but you have zero data points that he could be successful or fail. I am no concerned that he would leave, because it will be just as likely that he will be fired way before that and suffer damage to his reputation.
What they said about Kirby, Debo, Lanning, etc etc.... Great we get Campbell and win 8-9 games a year. Another lateral move for PSU.
Are we even sure Hartline would want to call plays? That he wouldn't hire an OC he also gives play calling duties to?
Some coordinators do, some don't. In more recent times, even the ex-coordinators have given that up to have a holistic viewpoint of the program, especially on gamedays.
Some coordinators do, some don't. In more recent times, even the ex-coordinators have given that up to have a holistic viewpoint of the program, especially on gamedays.
We aren’t looking at him for OC. He can hire someone for that. He’s been around wildly successful football his entire life and is regarded as one of, if not the, best assistant coaches/recruiters in college football. But if you think they are going to pull a rabbit out of a hat and get someone who has name recognition and proven success higher than Franklin, reading the tea leaves, it isn’t looking good.
Exactly... he may have input in the scheme and game plan and maybe suggest a few plays but he will be hiring a OC to do the play calling.
I think if "sure thing" walks through the door for the job, we'd all agree we should take that person. DeBoer, Saban, etc. That's not a disagreement, at least from me.
Absent of that, it's just trading off risks. Hartline brings a risk of not being outside the Ohio State ecosystem. Fickell had only been in the Ohio State ecosystem, got the Cincy job, KILLED IT there, then fell on his face at Wisconsin. Scott Frost had been at many places, won everywhere, commanded a Heisman Trophy winner as an OC, had back to back unbeaten seasons at UCF, fell on his face at his alma mater. The Cignetti hire was universally laughed at, his press conference mocked ("Google me").
This isn't a perfect science, it's all a gamble fitting coach strengths/weaknesses, school strengths and weaknesses, etc. You can't know ahead of time absent, as you said, a lot of data. Even having data doesn't help sometimes. There's a ton on Saban, he'd win, we all know it. But he's not walking in the door. Rhule would be about 7-5 every year, we know it. In between them, not much data, so do the best you can and make a reasonable hire. Hartline, thanks to his recruiting reputation and position at a school that has done nothing but win ever since he got there 20 years ago as a player (I know he was in the NFL a while too), is as reasonable as anyone.
anyone waiting for the elusive "home run hire" is going to be disappointed
I also want to point out that this whole process is what made Franklin's inability to defeat the best teams on his schedule, ever, so sad.
It is HARD to find a coach to win a lot. Tremendously hard. Franklin was perfect for the job, and had he beaten the Buckeyes or Wolverines a few more times, he probably wins a few more B10s, gets to a few more playoffs, might have even won a title. He was 95% perfect for the gig. But at some point you have to, in order to win prizes, beat the best teams. He just couldn't, and that is, as they say in relationships, a dealbreaker.
It is HARD to find a coach to win a lot. Tremendously hard. Franklin was perfect for the job, and had he beaten the Buckeyes or Wolverines a few more times, he probably wins a few more B10s, gets to a few more playoffs, might have even won a title. He was 95% perfect for the gig. But at some point you have to, in order to win prizes, beat the best teams. He just couldn't, and that is, as they say in relationships, a dealbreaker.
Hartline can bring in immediately the skill position talent this program needs. Just think of the wideouts he can possibly obtain in the portal. QB’s would probably follow. Im sure Clark Lea is a good coach but what is he really going to bring other than some players from Vandy? What is Matt Campbell going to bring in? Some players from Iowa State and i’m sure he’ll sound great in the press conferences. Hartline can bring talent, the rest takes care of itself
JMO but if and big if Day leaves I think it would be a 2 man race between Freeman and Hartline.
Dan Chesney blurb on X
SIAP. Just thought this was an interesting insight into Chesney, who I know very little about. The more I see and read, the more I like him. My guess is that, at some point, he will be successful at a P4 program. Same with Hartline. That may take a while; patience is needed, but will be in very short supply at PSU or anywhere.
I think we are in for a rocky couple of seasons before getting back to being in the great -->elite conversations. Who are we willing to bet on, and ride with, over that road? That's gonna be a tough decision, and will be 2nd guessed every day until we're into the 2nd round of the playoffs at some point (soon, we hope!).
Note - that's why Clark Lea or Drink could/would be good gambles as well. But they're familiar with the P4 dynamics and pressures from a HC perspective.
I'm starting to be more willing to give a broader range of candidates the benefit of the doubt until proven to be not up for the challenge to meet/exceed PSU's aspirations. Lea, Drink, Hartline, Chesney, Stein, maybe Joe Brady?. Should Diaz and Elko be in that category as well? I like Rhule, but glad he isn't in the picture anymore. He's another Franklin, imo, wrt the elite hump jump. Then again, all of these other guys might be as well!
SIAP. Just thought this was an interesting insight into Chesney, who I know very little about. The more I see and read, the more I like him. My guess is that, at some point, he will be successful at a P4 program. Same with Hartline. That may take a while; patience is needed, but will be in very short supply at PSU or anywhere.
I think we are in for a rocky couple of seasons before getting back to being in the great -->elite conversations. Who are we willing to bet on, and ride with, over that road? That's gonna be a tough decision, and will be 2nd guessed every day until we're into the 2nd round of the playoffs at some point (soon, we hope!).
Note - that's why Clark Lea or Drink could/would be good gambles as well. But they're familiar with the P4 dynamics and pressures from a HC perspective.
I'm starting to be more willing to give a broader range of candidates the benefit of the doubt until proven to be not up for the challenge to meet/exceed PSU's aspirations. Lea, Drink, Hartline, Chesney, Stein, maybe Joe Brady?. Should Diaz and Elko be in that category as well? I like Rhule, but glad he isn't in the picture anymore. He's another Franklin, imo, wrt the elite hump jump. Then again, all of these other guys might be as well!
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Interesting interview/discussion. Red flag for me was that this was a “bleed scarlet and gray” OSU guy, do I assume his professionalism or take his comments with a grain of salt? That said, the guy talked up Hartline like a 28 minute infomercial and then they spend all of about a minute on Urban Meyer (still eats dinner at Sue Paterno’s, etc. 
), then the upshot being that Meyer is old (not as old as Cignetti, but old) and again brings up the idea that Meyer couldn’t coach successfully in today’s environment. He says he wouldn’t be “scared” of Meyer coaching at PSU, but then in the next breath the OSU faithful would consider it “traitorous” for him to coach at PSU. (This after it was OSU that placed him on “administrative leave.”) If I didn’t know better, I’d say that OSU wouldn’t mind Hartline leaving (maybe due to that “cocky” personality, maybe him and Day not exactly meshing) but really would not like to see Meyer do for PSU what he did for Utah, Florida, and OSU. (“Reverse psychology?”) The thing is, WVU passed up Hartline for a reason (supposedly screwed up the interview, maybe that cockiness coming into play) and on the other side of the coin, Meyer has proven his ability to get teams winning in 3 different conferences, and win NCs in the SEC and B1G.
I still say I’d like to see PSU hire Meyer and then poach Hartline as a “coach in waiting” to work under Meyer for a few years.
), then the upshot being that Meyer is old (not as old as Cignetti, but old) and again brings up the idea that Meyer couldn’t coach successfully in today’s environment. He says he wouldn’t be “scared” of Meyer coaching at PSU, but then in the next breath the OSU faithful would consider it “traitorous” for him to coach at PSU. (This after it was OSU that placed him on “administrative leave.”) If I didn’t know better, I’d say that OSU wouldn’t mind Hartline leaving (maybe due to that “cocky” personality, maybe him and Day not exactly meshing) but really would not like to see Meyer do for PSU what he did for Utah, Florida, and OSU. (“Reverse psychology?”) The thing is, WVU passed up Hartline for a reason (supposedly screwed up the interview, maybe that cockiness coming into play) and on the other side of the coin, Meyer has proven his ability to get teams winning in 3 different conferences, and win NCs in the SEC and B1G.I still say I’d like to see PSU hire Meyer and then poach Hartline as a “coach in waiting” to work under Meyer for a few years.
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Feel free to elaborate how your hero Franklin leads us to the playoffs after dropping to 3-3 midseason.
Not that it matters these days but didn't realize Hartline was tatted up with sleeves
And I think Freeman would win.
Realistic choices (in no particular order):
- Drinkwitz (Mizzou)
- Brohm (Louisville)
- Chesney (JMU)
- Lea (Vandy)
- Fran Brown (Cuse)
Couldn't care less if that happens because then he was damn successful
I agree that is a realistic list. I'm thinking Brown is 5th (at best) of those 5.
For me Brohm is the only one that moves the needle on that list. Realistic I guess but Brohm would be the only 1 who gets me excited about the next coach. If not Brohm I would rather take a flyer on Key or Golesh.
Prolly the majority of the recruits are inked up too.
If Drinkwitz is smart he interviews everywhere this year for a job. He benefited from an easy schedule so far this year. 6 home games in a row. Next year Missouri’s schedule is a lot tougher.