Off week honesty: Who did you want when we hired Dan?

[DawgatAuburn]

Take yourself back to that beautiful November day in Oxford. The Battle for the Golden Egg was about to commence. Within minutes, this was happening.

Shortly thereafter the search to end all searches began. The Ninja was doing his thing, the plane watchers were doing theirs, and everyone was awaiting jackatshelter's confirmation that Chris Peterson would indeed be our coach. As the Peterson thing came and went like a fart in the wind, other names came up. Seems like both of the OU coordinators at the time were mentioned - Wilson and Venables. Some retreads, like Tommy Bowden or Phil Fulmer. Maybe Steve Campbell and even Hud came up. But I ask you SPS nation, who did YOU want in this search?

I'll start off and say that I wanted Malzahn. I realize that might make me look like a genius, but I can't take credit. I have family in NW Arkansas who had been talking about Gus for years, through both the Shiloh and Springdale days. By 2008, the brief fling with the Right Rev Nutt had ended, and Gus was plying his trade as the OC at Tulsa. I don't recall who got hired first - Mullen as our coach or Gus as Auburn's OC, but Gus was who I wanted back then. Obviously we made a great hire with Dan though, and I hope he stays at State until his coaching days are over.

 

[57stratdawg]

I wanted the BSU coach now at Washington whose name escapes me. Although in hindsight I could see that not being a great hire, because of his lack of experience in the SouthEast.

 

[DrKennethNoisewater]

Peterson. Same here.

 

[FQDawg]

I just wanted somebody who wasn't a scientologist**

/

 

[Hammer Down]

I always wanted Rich Rod. I thought he could do very well in the SEC with the proximity to the South's talent base. Not sure that he was available at that time, but that's who I'd always wanted, and that's why I was happy with Mullen. I liked the run-based spread offense for MSU.

 

[FlotownDawg]

Petersen was my number 1 choice. After that, I liked Kevin Wilson, although in hindsight that would've been terrible because he's struggling big time at Indiana and said some disparaging things about us. Also was a fan of Tommy Tuberville. Needless to say, Byrne made the right choice.

 

[AFDawg]

I thought we made a mistake firing Croom.

Ha ha...just kidding.

 

[Dawgzilla]

I was right there with you. When it appeared the final two choices were Wilson and Mullen, I wanted Wilson. I never liked Urban Meyer, and I had (and still have) serious doubts about the long term effectiveness of the Meyer/Mullen offense when you don't have a QB with the ability of Tebow/Dak. But, I was wrong, and Mullen can stay as long as he wants. #SHITTERSFULL

 

[uptowndawg]

Peterson.

I was young and naive.

 

[WayboDawg]

Boise State's Chris Petersen. In hindsight he is still a top 10 coach, but probably a bad fit for a Southeastern Conference school. Once I heard that we had hired Dan Mullen I was very excited though. I loved the idea that we had stolen one of the main factors to Florida's 2 most recent national championships, and Utah's first BCS undefeated season. The spread was all the rage when we hired Mullen, and I loved the idea of MSU having a dynamic offense for once in our history.

 

[Uncle Ruckus]

After all the names came out it was Petersen then Mullen for me. I wanted to see us finally score some points and I knew they would both do it. After those two I wanted Charlie Strong. Florida was amazing at that time and I wanted what they had.

 

[UpTheMiddlex3Punt]

Petersen was my first choice.
Second was a faint hope that we could convince Jimbo Fisher to give us another look, but he was waiting in the wings at FSU and we gave him the same treatment in 2004 that Florida gave Mullen in 2010. I'm really glad now that Fisher didn't work out for us. I would seriously consider quitting following State for awhile if we were covering stuff up like he's doing.
After that I just trusted the Ninja.

Also, is the "Fire Croom Now!" guy a six packer?

 

[NCDawg.sixpack]

I think 90% of State fans wanted Peterson-especially after we heard Byrnes was in Denver interviewing him and had connections with him in the past. Very disappointed when he turned us down.

 

[Southern Law Dawg]

Mullen.

Seriously.

 

[natchezdawg]

I wanted us to gauge Tuberville's interest. I'm glad that did not pan out.

 

[AHSDawg]

I wanted Mullen. And, I wanted Mullen to use us as a step-stone to a better job. I wanted him to take a program from Croom and turn it into a program that he could get the PSU or some other high level job through. Then, I hoped we would get a coach that wanted to be at MSU, could build the program and make it into a real program. Turns out, Mullen wanted the same thing.

 

[kired]

I believe Gary Patterson at TCU was my top choice... not sure why because I think that was before his best years.

I also remember hoping it would not be Derek Dooley. Seems like that became a strong rumor at one point.

 

[johnson86-1]

Petersen once his name came up, then believe it or not Hud. Didn't know much about Hud except that he had been successful at every level he'd been at and wanted to be at MSU long term. I also didn't think we were going to be able to get a great candidate.

I would have been ok with Dooley and I would have been ok with Tuberville. I don't really remember hearing Mullen's name until it was a done deal, but I thought an OC from a national championship team was a pretty good hire considering the shape our program appeared to be in. I had such low expectations that honestly looking back I would have been happy with some pretty mediocre hires.

 

[RichPleasac]

I wanted Todd Graham, so that we could bring Gus Malzahn over.

 

[BoDawg.sixpack]

At that time pretty much anyone....

top choice was Peterson but would have taken darn near anyone D-1 FBS

 

[dawgbert]

(1) Chris Petersen
(2) Gary Patterson