RIP Mike Leach - dead at 61

[NVGator]

It’s partly that he wasn’t wanted at those places, yes. But that’s because he’s proven that he has a ceiling, perhaps even self imposed&. I think at every stop he’s been consistent in that no one ever predicted him to win the conference, but also no one wanted to face his teams. The problem with his style is that when it’s on, there may be no stopping it. But when it’s off, which it inevitably will at some point with 18-21 year old college players, it’s ugly. Similar to what you saw from ut this year. And he never changed because I think he just liked to coach. It was never about winning a title or being the best. Just coaching football. Nothing wrong with that, but at a high profile place he’d be gone inside of 4 years. The whole James kid situation—which was complete garbage—also hung over his head.

Meh. Agree to disagree. Look at what he did at TT when he had all the rejects who didn’t get to go to UT, OU, aTm. Talent like Harrell and Crabtree. Big difference. I guarantee you he could have taken our roster this past season and done a hell of a lot better than 6-6 BUT we disagree.

 

[Daryl]

Meh. Agree to disagree. Look at what he did at TT when he had all the rejects who didn’t get to go to UT, OU, aTm. Talent like Harrell and Crabtree. Big difference. I guarantee you he could have taken our roster this past season and done a hell of a lot better than 6-6 BUT we disagree.

Depends on who the QB was. Don’t think I could sit through a 22/54 game by AR

 

[soflagator]

Meh. Agree to disagree. Look at what he did at TT when he had all the rejects who didn’t get to go to UT, OU, aTm. Talent like Harrell and Crabtree. Big difference. I guarantee you he could have taken our roster this past season and done a hell of a lot better than 6-6 BUT we disagree.

That’s where we don’t though. I think he’s similar to Mullen in that he can scheme a way around average players, win some games and even pull an upset or two. So yeah, I could see him winning 7-8 even this year with our roster. But he’d also win 7-10 next year, the one after that, and the one after that, so on and so on.

Here’s a great way of putting it. We know that he is an offensive mastermind. That’s never been a question. So quickly off the top of your head, can you name any of his defensive coordinators between Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State? I can’t. Had to look them all up and don’t even recognize the names. If someone with his offensive acumen were truly wanting to win something of consequence, why would he consistently have no name as DCs? Spurrier didn’t alway have the best DCs either, but he was wiling to swing for the fences when it was clear he needed one. And even guys like Pruitt, Zook and Hoke had name recognition. ML was a really good, very fun head coach. But he had no real desire to be elite.

 

[Daryl]

That’s where we don’t though. I think he’s similar to Mullen in that he can scheme a way around average players, win some games and even pull an upset or two. So yeah, I could see him winning 7-8 even this year with our roster. But he’d also win 7-10 next year, the one after that, and the one after that, so on and so on.

Here’s a great way of putting it. We know that he is an offensive mastermind. That’s never been a question. So quickly off the top of your head, can you name any of his defensive coordinators between Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State? I can’t. Had to look them all up and don’t even recognize the names. If someone with his offensive acumen were truly wanting to win something of consequence, why would he consistently have no name as DCs? Spurrier didn’t alway have the best DCs either, but he was wiling to swing for the fences when it was clear he needed one. And even guys like Pruitt, Zook and Hoke had name recognition. ML was a really good, very fun head coach. But he had no real desire to be elite.

You’re not landing 5 star defenders at any of those schools, So DC being elite didn’t really matter. Aranda had top squads at LSU, Baylor not so much. Coaching didn’t change, the talent did.
Arnette is pretty highly regarded btw.

Not many other wide open offenses during the SOS era so the comparisons aren’t the same as Spurrier could simply outscore the opposition as they ran 3 yards in a cloud of dust.

 

[soflagator]

You’re not landing 5 star defenders at any of those schools, So DC being elite didn’t really matter. Aranda had top squads at LSU, Baylor not so much. Coaching didn’t change, the talent did.
Arnette is pretty highly regarded btw.

Not many other wide open offenses during the SOS era so the comparisons aren’t the same as Spurrier could simply outscore the opposition as they ran 3 yards in a cloud of dust.

We scored 30 or less 19 times in Spurrier’s first three seasons at UF. It wasn’t always air raid and outscoring opponents. He focused a lot on defense because he couldn’t stand losing, and recognized as I said above that his team would eventually have an off day offensively. That’s not the same approach that we’ve seen from Leach. Again, he’d win here, no question. Just not a title.

 

[Daryl]

We scored 30 or less 19 times in Spurrier’s first three seasons at UF. It wasn’t always air raid and outscoring opponents. He focused a lot on defense because he couldn’t stand losing, and recognized as I said above that his team would eventually have an off day offensively. That’s not the same approach that we’ve seen from Leach. Again, he’d win here, no question. Just not a title.

Yes but what were the offensive averages of other teams in the SEC?

 

[Daryl]

I agree ML would win here. JS it’s different times as every team is running more of a wide open offense these days.

 

[Spurffelbow833]

How do you know? Hell, cooter has been watching dozens of us masturbate for a year now.

I hope for his sake it's by choice.

 

[soflagator]

Yes but what were the offensive averages of other teams in the SEC?

I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, but he was never seriously considered by any big name school for a reason. Let’s just leave it there.

 

[Daryl]

I don’t want to speak ill of the dead, but he was never seriously considered by any big name school for a reason. Let’s just leave it there.

Yet his former assistants and players are.. the reasons he wasn’t at a USC ect is because of non football related issues. ML spoke his mind and that scared ppl.

 

[soflagator]

Yet his former assistants and players are.. the reasons he wasn’t at a USC ect is because of non football related issues. ML spoke his mind and that scared ppl.

So we’ll add that, as I said in my initial post on the matter. He was his own guy and never a fit at a big place.

 

[NVGator]

@soflagator so what you’re saying is BN is elite? Toney is a very recognizable DC name? You foresee BN winning NC regularly? What had he done before coming in to UF?

 

[soflagator]

@soflagator so what you’re saying is BN is elite? Toney is a very recognizable DC name? You foresee BN winning NC regularly? What had he done before coming in to UF?

I’ve been consistent all along that Napier was the type of gamble I was willing to take. Guys like Mullen, Kiffin, Leach, etc. are known commodities. And none of those are what we needed. We needed someone who wanted to build something and(bad timing here) would be at UF a long time. But to your question, he won his division three times, and won his conference once in four tries(technically twice, Covid year). And you’re missing the point I’m making regarding his DCs. I’m simply pointing out that ML never insisted on having an incredible defense to match his incredible offense so that he could win a title. I’ll roll the dice with BN for now.

 

[williston_gator]

Fast, but something had to happen.

@RossDellenger: Mississippi State is expected to promote interim coach Zach Arnett to permanent head coach, sources tell @SINow.

The deal is not finalized. But it is expected soon.

Mississippi State officials have spent the last 24 hours in serious discussion about how elevating Arnett would stabilize the program in a time of grief, a week before signing day and amid the transfer portal madness.

 

[AlexDaGator]

Fitting that Mississippi State's bowl game this year will be in a stadium with a pirate ship in it.

Alex.

 

[LagoonGator68]

Fast, but something had to happen.

@RossDellenger: Mississippi State is expected to promote interim coach Zach Arnett to permanent head coach, sources tell @SINow.

The deal is not finalized. But it is expected soon.

Mississippi State officials have spent the last 24 hours in serious discussion about how elevating Arnett would stabilize the program in a time of grief, a week before signing day and amid the transfer portal madness.

Dan Mullet on line two….

 

[Gatordiddy]

I was one of the biggest proponent to hiring him and was laughed at and ridiculed out of the building by 99% of the posters here saying he was a gimmick.

guess I'm finally a 1%-er!!

 

[NOLAGATOR]

Dan Mullet on line two….

Why would you replace the late beloved Pirate with a cadaver?

 

[soflagator]

guess I'm finally a 1%-er!!

Nice. How’d the initiation go? I’ve heard they beat you up pretty good. But I bet l that sweet jacket makes it all worthwhile though.

 

[NVGator]

I’ve been consistent all along that Napier was the type of gamble I was willing to take. Guys like Mullen, Kiffin, Leach, etc. are known commodities. And none of those are what we needed. We needed someone who wanted to build something and(bad timing here) would be at UF a long time. But to your question, he won his division three times, and won his conference once in four tries(technically twice, Covid year). And you’re missing the point I’m making regarding his DCs. I’m simply pointing out that ML never insisted on having an incredible defense to match his incredible offense so that he could win a title. I’ll roll the dice with BN for now.

No, I’m not missing any point. A lot of elite offensive HC don’t hire elite DCs. Look at BN. Toney certainly isn’t elite, but then again BN isn’t an elite offensive HC.

And to your point about him winning his conference, apples and oranges. He was in the Sun Belt for heavens sake. ML has been in P5 conferences for a long time.

Again, agree to disagree. We aren’t changing each other’s minds.