Which is better for our program and recruiting? Mullen saying he's not interested in interviewing at

[MedDawg]

Which is better for our program and recruiting? Mullen saying he's not interested in interviewing at

...with Miami, or Mullen going for an interview and getting a firm, real offer from Miami and turning it down? Which will quiet the rumors of Mullen leaving the most?

On the one hand, just taking the interview shows he's willing to listen to other offers, but on the other, turning down a real offer shows that he'snot going to take a job that's only moderately better than MSU.Also, if he turns down an interview, many will still speculate that he was never really offered (i.e. Nix "turning down" the U of Florida last year).

I think it would be better for him to interview and turn down a firm offer. Hopefully an offer for more money or perks. Then Mullen can emphatically say that he is committed to MSU more than ever. Even more importantly,it might take him off a lotof other schools' lists in the future. Any school that sees themselves as below Miami won't even bother going after Mullen. Also, the parents of recruits willbelieve that Mullen will not be leaving State (unless maybe a currently BIG time program wants him). No more Colorado/Minnesota rumors ever again.

 

[KennyPowers2]

Which is better for our program and recruiting? Mullen saying he's not interested in interviewing at

I agree with most of that thinking......

 

[o_1984Dawg]

Which is better for our program and recruiting? Mullen saying he's not interested in interviewing at

Interviewing with another school does not show any commitment to MSU, whether he turns down an offer or not. It ONLY shows that he is entertaining offers. Other schools will see that and think they have something different to offer than Miami and recruits will see it as him having one foot out the door.</p>

 

[ckDOG]

Which is better for our program and recruiting? Mullen saying he's not interested in interviewing at

We would get a pretty solid reference point at what it's going to take to get Mullen out of Starkville. If Miami offered something crazy like $3M+/year and we countered with the best we could do and he stuck it out because he like what he's doing at MSU, then we know he's only going to bolt for a small handful of programs - Texas, OSU, USC, Alabama, and a couple of others. Plus, like you said, we would weed lateral-move programs or slightly better programs from making Mullen a target after every coaching vacancy - if Miami can't get him with a solid contract, that eliminates a lot of programs out there.

However, that's only in hindsight. If I had to make a decision right now, I'd rather him just say he's not interested and Miami goes on to the next guy on their list. I'd rather Mullen not have to think about a $3M+/yr contract at Miami. I know he says he's happy in Starkville, but he's also likely saying that under the assumption that he doesn't get a huge offer from a Miami-quality program. Money will at least make him think - and I'd rather him not be thinking if I had to pick right now...