Mullen long term at MSU. A little long, but interesting perspective.

[mstatefan88]

I know most think at some pointMullen will bolt for a bigger, more high profile. But today I started thinking about things in a different way. How do you measure success in college football? A lot of people think you have to win national championships in college football to be successful. But think about something like this. If Dan Mullen stays at MSU another 10 years, I believe we would make a bowl game every year, and probably make it to Atlanta at least once, maybe more. Would he then be considered the greatest coach ever at MSU? I don't know about some of you, but leaving a legacy at an SECschool as the greatest coach ever and building a family and connecting with a community like Starkville is whatI would consider successful in my life.

He's got 2 national titles.He's been to the mountain top and won. But now he has a chance to leave his legacy as one of the greatest ever in this school's history. I guess the question is, would you rather win 1 title at a big school like Penn St. or Florida and be just another coach that did it, or would you rather stay at a smaller school likeMSu that is in the best conference,change the culture forever, and possiblybe recognized asour greatest coach ever? Maybe the thought of being thegreatest everwill beenough to keep him around here for a long time. I don't know about that, but I think maybe it's adifferent way of looking at things that I'm not sure has been explored yet.

 

[mstatefan88]

I know most think at some pointMullen will bolt for a bigger, more high profile. But today I started thinking about things in a different way. How do you measure success in college football? A lot of people think you have to win national championships in college football to be successful. But think about something like this. If Dan Mullen stays at MSU another 10 years, I believe we would make a bowl game every year, and probably make it to Atlanta at least once, maybe more. Would he then be considered the greatest coach ever at MSU? I don't know about some of you, but leaving a legacy at an SECschool as the greatest coach ever and building a family and connecting with a community like Starkville is whatI would consider successful in my life.

He's got 2 national titles.He's been to the mountain top and won. But now he has a chance to leave his legacy as one of the greatest ever in this school's history. I guess the question is, would you rather win 1 title at a big school like Penn St. or Florida and be just another coach that did it, or would you rather stay at a smaller school likeMSu that is in the best conference,change the culture forever, and possiblybe recognized asour greatest coach ever? Maybe the thought of being thegreatest everwill beenough to keep him around here for a long time. I don't know about that, but I think maybe it's adifferent way of looking at things that I'm not sure has been explored yet.

 

[22yardpunt]

I think Dan won't leave until he wins the SECG ... or at least The West.If he leaves before that goal of his is reached I will be surprised. I just don't think it's all about money for Dan .. sure it plays a significant part, but I think he wants to prove it to himself that he can take a traditionally hapless program and build it into a championship caliber enterprise. That's my romantic theory.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

he got to the mountain top....... as an assistant..not the same as being the head man..DO you remember many names of "assistant" coaches on national title winners from previous years??? He will leave if there is continued success at MSU...PERIOD...its a fact of life....

...and on a side note.... "Dan Mullen stays at MSU another 10 years."...did I miss the first 10 years??

 

[therightway]

Look at how it played out at Alabama. Also if you look at UF, two years removed from a NC they say you are washed up. If you look at money he has potential to make more over time because he could stay here longer. Although in most cases ten years is about where most coaches begin to flatten out and lose motivation.

 

[AssEndDawg]

My parents live in Starkville and my mom is acquaintances with Megan Mullen (they run in the same circles with it comes to charity and civic stuff).

I don't think Dan came to MSU with thoughts of any long term stay any more than other coaches. I'm sure he felt he would come here, win, and move up. But, he seems to feel the SEC is the only conference for football, so I think only a very special job would have ever pulled him out of the SEC. That being said, the situation Dan is in right now is pretty hard to beat. He has the full support of both the Athletic Director and the school President. Those three get along really well and they work together which is sort of unusual. Dan is involved in more than just coaching football, he gets to put in input into how we market ourselves and he is treated as one of our school leaders.

I think the best thing that ever happened for us was Dan spending time at Florida. He got to see how hard/bad it can be being a coach when people never are satisfied and never respect your privacy. This is where Mississippi is a selling point. Above all else we are polite people. I may go off on a coach on a message board but I would never walk up to him or his wife in a grocery store and start going off. And I think very few people in Mississippi would. I was told that Megan, when they first got to Starkville, used to go to the grocery store practically in disguise. Trying to keep from being recognized. She doesn't do that anymore.

And there is the lynchpin. Dan's family is happy here. They are in a small town so at some point the gawking at the head coach just stops. They are in Mississippi so people tend to leave them alone if they want to go out for dinner or get some ice cream with their son. They can be part of the community without having to give every second of their time. A little goes a long way in Starkville.

Would Dan leave? I'm not sure. I think the real question is will Megan leave? I think that's going to be the tougher sell for anyone wanting to hire him away.

 

[GloryDawg]

if someone comes waiving a Nick Saban type contract he is gone. OSU could end up doing it.

 

[Shmuley]

nm

 

[drt7891]

I think Mullen has a LONG way to go to get any attention from that type of school. In my mind, those schools pride themselves on "tradition" and doing things the way they "used to be done... back in the good 'ole days." Mullen's personality and flare would not fit there. They tend to be looking for a CEO type "father figure" for those coaching spots, and I don't think OSU would look at Mullen. They would probably end up looking for a Pete Carroll or Mack Brown type coach... someone who has been a head coach for a long time. Plus, Ohio State is worse than Florida in the expectations department.<div>
</div><div>If you meant Oklahoma State... Hell no. That is a lateral move at best (a middle-tier school in a failing conference). I'm going with Ohio State, though.</div>

 

[jb1020]

I've heard that now from a few people that have pretty good ties to the program. Stricklin has a few donors that will pony up "whatever it takes" to keep Mullen here.

The catch is, in my opinion, no one will come waving a Saban-like contract until Mullen at least wins the West here. If Mullen wins the West here, those donors and all fans will pony up the cash.

I honestly believe the people who say Mullen won't leave because of money.

 

[bsm138]

nm

 

[therightway]

He did not have health problems. He just new he better get out now because Nick Saban was going to make him his little *****. He can also name his price and have a little time to rebuild. It could be a huge money making deal for him.</p>

 

[RonnyAtmosphere]

..it's threads like this that makes me wish Mullen would leave.


This board will be filled with this hand-wringing crap all season (and even stronger after the season ends).


Breaking News: None of you have any control over Dan Mullen's career choices.


If he leaves, he leaves. If he stays, he stays.


Stop acting like a bunch of neurotic church ladies in a sewing cricle.


Man up & enjoy the damn football season, because it going to be a good one.

 

[jzahner1]

he got to the mountain top....... as an assistant..not the same as being the head man..DO you remember many names of "assistant" coaches on national title winners from previous years??? He will leave if there is continued success at MSU...PERIOD...its a fact of life....

...and on a side note.... "Dan Mullen stays at MSU another 10 years."...did I miss the first 10 years??

Since you are going to point out something as stupid as his statement, I am going to point out that the word "another" is referring to the years part and the 10 is the amount of years. Kind of like him saying, Dan has been here for 3 years and hopefully for another 10. How about stop being a DBag and let some **** slide. *** Clown.

 

[4suredog]

I see it from a third perspective, lol...I don't think he will leave for money. I do think he and Meg are very, very happy here. Here's the catch the way I see it. He HAS been to the top of the mountain. Which in our case I see as a negative. Once you've been there, its only natural to have a deep desire to go back. I think he will be here 3-4 more years, the issue will be, will he wake up one morning and question whether or not he can win a national championship here? If he honestly thinks he can, I think he stays forever, if doesn't think he can, he'll be looking for that kind of opportunity but ONLY that kind of opportunity. He won't leave laterally (anybody not truly a top ten historical program), it will take one of the 'biggest boys" out there, but at that point who could blame him?

 

[MemphisMaroon]

Would Dan leave? I'm not sure. I think the real question is will Megan leave? I think that's going to be the tougher sell for anyone wanting to hire him away.

But the whole Megan Mullen loves Starkville thing is 70% great PR for the Mullen family and 30% actually a factor they would consider if another, higher profile (higher paying) job was offered. I'm sure she loves it here, I believe all that. I just don't believe that if Georgia or Penn State came calling, and Dan wanted to go, that they would stay because she just loves Starkville that much. Of course there is something to be said for the hospitality and security that Starkville offers, but like most people in given career, climbing the ladder is the main goal. If he's offered another job down the line and he wants to take it, Megan Mullen isn't going to chain herself to Davis-Wade, she'll support her husband, so if he wants to leave, they'll leave.

 

[dawgstudent]

[No message]

 

[GloryDawg]

I was refering to Ohio State.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

how about you shut the 17 up!!!! easy to call names when your sitting at a computer....why don't you grow a set and take your own advice....let it slide....

 

[Johnson85]

unless he has at least one an SEC championship. It's too big of a negative for recruiting (look what it's done to us). If a school that can hire him away does, that means state will have at least been to the SECCG again, so is that really something to worry about?

*

 

[Mjoelner]

lump sum of money thatthe Seal family donated a couple of years ago was specifically earmarked for 'keeping a good coach' or 'buying out a bad coach' and is to be spent for nothing else.
As far as how Mullen feels, he told a group of my friends at the SBW cooking contest that he'll be here for 10 more years then we'll be ready for him to be gone. He said he got a free pass the first couple of years and beginning this year, he'll piss off 10% of the fan base every year until he has us all pissed off. **DISCLAIMER** I know that is all coach speak. Just passing along what he told them while shooting the breeze.

 

[BCash]

Let it slide

 

[Sutterkane]

We gave Jackie really 3 free years just because he won the SEC west one year and was competitive in the years around 98. We gave Croom 5 years and only one of them was...ok at best.

I think if Dan won the SEC he could easily have 3 Croom-esque/late Jackie years immediately after and we'd tolerate it.

 

[catvet]

with a family due to the awful schools in Starkville.If you leave your kids in school there they get a poor education. If you send them to a private, parochial, or home school, other schools will call you a racist and use it against you in recruiting. That is a major issue.

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

They can live here and go about their daily lives while people practically leave them alone compared to NY or LA.

 

[MemphisMaroon]

NashvilleBulldawg]They can live here and go about their daily lives while people practically leave them alone compared to NY or LA.

That Nashville had such a reputation, and I find that very, very hard to believe.

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

Ted Danson has a place here. Katty Perry and hubby are moving here. Do I need to continue going down the list? To keep it sports related: Kirk Herbstreit.
Who's Memphis got? Triple6Mafia?***

 

[jzahner1]

how about you shut the 17 up!!!! easy to call names when your sitting at a computer....why don't you grow a set and take your own advice....let it slide....

Probably shouldn't have included the "*** clown" part, but it seems like every thread has people commenting on sentence structure instead of substance. So there you go. I usually let the other 30 english teachers on this site slide, but for some reason your comment bothered me because the statement was obvious for meaning and did not need correction.<div>
</div><div>I have nothing to add to this conversation other than none of us control his career. Dan Mullen will do whatever Dan Mullen wants to do. Discussing it all the time probably hurts recruiting and ultimately has a greater impact on our team's future. So until he leaves, many years from now, this discussion does remind me of a bunch of old church ladies.

</div>

 

[drt7891]

andsoitisorderedku

 

[ChillbillyRock]

Until Fan Fair hits town.

 

[MemphisMaroon]

Ted Danson has a place here. Katty Perry and hubby are moving here. Do I need to continue going down the list? To keep it sports related: Kirk Herbstreit.
Who's Memphis got? Triple6Mafia?***

I wasn't trying to get in a pissing contest of which town has more to offer celebrities, the title belongs to you and Nashville. Sounds like you keep your ear close to the celeb scene in Nashville, props. Yes, Ted Danson, huge star. Keeping it sports related: give me Jerry The King Lawler over Herbsreit any day.

 

[paindonthurt_]

[No message]

 

[AlCoDog]

nm

 

[NashvilleBulldawg]

just trying to set you straight on the celeb mecca of TN.**<div>BTW, I only know about all the celebs because I'm consulted before they're allowed to move to town. We don't take just anyone here. Taylor Swift is an exception as she was grandfathered in...</div><div>And don't knock Ted. He was great in DAMAGES and CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.</div>

 

[jacksonreb1]

of these coaches or really anybody in a public position is going to open up their heart of hearts...unless the truth makes your current employer feel good. i don't blame them. what the heck else would you expect him to say except...l love msu, i love starkville, i want to win championships here, they'll take me out of starkville in a pine box (wait, never mind on that one). somebody in this thread says it isn't always about the most money. true. it isn't all about the most prestigeous program. true. but nobody but mullen knows what mullen "really" covets in life. another yr or two of success and we'll see what legit job offers/contacts he gets. then we'll know.

one problem with staying at msu or ole miss is that even if you win the west or the sec, you're not set. year in year out there are just a number of places where life and winning big is easier than starkville and oxford. i believe you can win big at our schools but i don't believe we can be a "perenial power" meaning top 10 team every yr. to much $$ differences with our competitors, etc, etc, etc.

the good news is that if mullen does well enough to get one of those 'big time" jobs and takes it msu will be in the best position its been in in 75 years to hire a good coach and move forward. it will be what my dad called a "high class problem".

 

[jacksonreb1]

scientologist? i see this occasionally, but seems mostly to be my ole miss friends editorializing so i have no idea if it is really true. and second, if he is, does anybody seriously (again outside ole miss folks who "might" be inclined to, well, pick nits) think it really matters? personally, if a coach has good morals (well reasonably good if he wins 9 or more) then i don't care so much if or where he goes to church. i do think being a good role model is important, but heck i even knew a methodist i admired one time.....................................................

 

[o_GuitarDawg]

nm<div id="isChromeWebToolbarDiv" style="display:none"></div>

 

[Johnson85]

This is an improvement from when he was at utah and would sacrifice live animals in the locker room. As far as any other schools caring, I don't think it's the fact that he's a scientologist that gets to people as much as it is the fact that he makes each player swear an oath of loyalty to whatever alien they worship.

If somebody not from a powerhouse football program asks, no he is not a scientologist. I just don't get who starts these rumors.

 

[Sutterkane]

You gotta do what's best for your family, and if Dan Mullen thinks that means sending his kids to private school, he should do it.

You can't worry about what other people are saying, because these days, almost anything anybody does is considered racist by one party or another.

Plus, while the Mississippi education system is indeed very poor, plenty of people have turned out fine from graduating in high schools in the MS school systems. It isn't like the top end jobs for someone graduating from a MS high school are ditch digger or pizza delivery boy.

 

[Wizard.sixpack]

17 you too......end of story