Mullen is not leaving and here's why.

[newyorkdawg]

Mark Keenum. We have a young President who is dedicated to seeing the football and other athletic programs succeed and who is an alum and going to be around for a long time. That is a rare situation.

Miami has Donna Shalala who cares not one bit about football. Even if she did, she is an ambitious person who will move when a more prestigious school calls. Then the next President who was chosen may or may not have a commitment to sports.

Even the big programs (Penn State, etc) have conflicts between the academic and athletic parts of the school. Knowing you are in a positive and stable environment so that you can concentrate on your job is valuable in any profession. It is even more important in a stressful one like college athletics.

Let's stop the panic. It only helps the bears undermine our program by defining it as a "stepping stone."

 

[615dawg]

This may be the best point on why Mullen wouldn't go to Miami.

I honestly think there is a short list of schools in which Mullen would seriously consider

 

[RebelBruiser]

I've heard similar things said about Shalala before, and we've covered that Miami fans don't support their sports programs. They don't even really support the Heat that well, much less the Canes.

So my question is, why did Shannon lose his job? He was graduating players and keeping guys out of trouble, and he was winning enough to get to minor bowl games. If your school is run by people who would prefer to drop athletics altogether, that would seem like the dream type of football program you'd want.

There has to be some faction of power at Miami that is demanding a return to glory.

 

[jakldawg]

like Miami's. They just fired a coach that went 7-4 and had the third highest graduation rate (behind a few of the service academies). Apparently they just want someone who can market "swagger" even if it makes the University look like a joke. I say they should just go ahead and hire Michael Irvin.<div>
How "The U" Swallowed Randy Shannon.</div>

 

[KennyPowers2]

Bruiser why must you always try to piss in our Kool-aid??? Just please let us believe that Miami is horrible and Mullen wants no part of it, which I think is the case.

 

[RebelBruiser]

The way Shannon was fired, and the reasons behind his firing were typical of a program that's win first and win at all costs.

I had heard the opposite about Shalala, but the Shannon firing doesn't fit that mold at all.

I don't think Mullen will leave for Miami either, and honestly that's the only job on the market I think he'd consider, at least right now, unless some other gigs come open. I still don't get it with the Shannon thing though.

 

[Mr Meoff]

Apparently they just want someone who can market "swagger" even if it makes the University look like a joke.

This is why I think he's a good fit.

 

[615dawg]

and she's smart enough to know that she can't, so she lets the AD run itself with very little involvement from the university side.

Its a weird place - its like the university and athletic department aren't connected. The athletic department is like a collection of pro franchises.

Think about their fanbase. They don't have sidewalk alums, they have street skillz alums. People that literally couldn't afford to enter the gates in Coral Gables.

 

[KennyPowers2]

The whole Mullen to Minnesota is a damn joke, he would not leave the south to go to the frozen tundra of Minnesota for, at best, a lateral move. Miami would be considerable but I think Mullen is happy hear and has a lot more to prove. Maybe not 10. Year tenure but I could see 4-5 years then move on.

 

[newyorkdawg]

Shalala does respond to alumni pressure. There are dollars involved. The point is, once she gets those off of her back, she can't be counted on for support.

Further, and if you've ever done fundraising you would know this, those alums who generate the pressure rarely actually step up to the plate when the time comes to upgrade facilities. The athletic department typically appeases them, but can't really count on them.

The main point is this, why go somewhere where the medium and long term support may or may not be there? A lot of promises get made to get a new coach, but Mullen knows MSU is going to follow through. The same cannot be said for many other places, especially over the long haul.

 

[karlchilders.sixpack]

I'd about say if it's $ that we can compete with this group.

 

[Johnson85]

It's a small private school with supposedly ****** facilities and expectations based on past success that would be very difficult if not impossible to meet now (not nearly as bad as Notre Dame, but similar).I don't think they can really make a godfather offer money wise compared to what MSU can do.

It does offer:
The ACC instead of SEC West; less prestige but a hell of a lot less competition.
Dade County, which if the talent is as good as everyone says,would be ideal for his system
Historic success, which as noted above, cuts both ways.
Life outside of a fishbowl. SEC coachesare superstars in their respectivetowns. I bet miami's coach wouldn't even be recognized on the street by most people in Miami.

The only one that concerns me is life outside of a fishbowl. Miami may not be ideal for raising a family, but surely it's not easy for a head coach to go out and relax in an SEC town.</p>

 

[Bondogge]

30 for 30 comes out and everyone sees how badass they used to be and realized how much money they were making for the university when they were good. They get rid of Shannon because he does not fit their new plan. The plan of actually winning.<div>
</div><div>Makes sense that Mullen is on the top of their list. Mullen can go from being a demi-god in Starkville with 8 wins and always looking up to LSU, Bama, and AU. Or go win 8-9 games in the ACC and go to an Orange Bowl every year. hmmmm.....tough call. I hope he does not leave but I think he is gone if he gets an offer.</div>

 

[EtOHreb]

What if Donna Shalala....

had babies with Siphiwe Tshabalala ....

and the child kept both names? Shalala-Tshabalala