fauowls44 said

Tim FAU98 said

fauowls44 said

I don't think it's too crazy a notion that Cristobal would get consideration.  He has head coaching experience, built FIU from scratch basically to a bowl team.  He is clearly a respected recruiter in this area.  He could have had the jobs at Pitt and Rutgers had he wanted them…and Nick Saban wouldn't have brought him in for no reason.  It's just a matter of time before he gets another head job.  Don't discount him just because he was fired at FIU.  To me, it's not getting their "seconds", it could be making FIU pay for their biggest mistake.  

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 11:49 AM #322886

I am from Pittsburgh and from what I read he was never offered the job…he only interviewed.  He's a good recruiter, doesn't make a good coach.  You could argue that his teams under performed at FIU, find it unlikely we would consider MC.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:03 PM #322887

I don't know what the deal is with Pitt, but they I know that they were interested…same with Rutgers…and he was hired by both UM and Alabama after he was let go by FIU.   Golden and Saban both know a thing or two about coaching and recruiting.  Maybe his teams underperformed at FIU, but he did get a lot of talent there with limited resources and he basically started with nothing.  With a nicer facility (not to mention a desire to stick it to his former employer), he could probably lure even better players here.  I'm not sure he'd be my first choice, but I wouldn't just dismiss the possibility either.  He has a lot of what I would think Pat Chun would be looking for in a candidate.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:16 PM #322889

Pitt and Rutger were interested…but didn't hire him!  And being hired as an assistant coach at Miami or Alabama is way different than be hired as the head coach.  It's great to get a lot of talent but if you can't coach it what does it matter…it just creates nice forum content!   It's like buying a sports car that is manual, but if you can't drive stick…

Tim FAU98 said

fauowls44 said

Tim FAU98 said

fauowls44 said

I don't think it's too crazy a notion that Cristobal would get consideration.  He has head coaching experience, built FIU from scratch basically to a bowl team.  He is clearly a respected recruiter in this area.  He could have had the jobs at Pitt and Rutgers had he wanted them…and Nick Saban wouldn't have brought him in for no reason.  It's just a matter of time before he gets another head job.  Don't discount him just because he was fired at FIU.  To me, it's not getting their "seconds", it could be making FIU pay for their biggest mistake.  

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 11:49 AM #322886

I am from Pittsburgh and from what I read he was never offered the job…he only interviewed.  He's a good recruiter, doesn't make a good coach.  You could argue that his teams under performed at FIU, find it unlikely we would consider MC.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:03 PM #322887

I don't know what the deal is with Pitt, but they I know that they were interested…same with Rutgers…and he was hired by both UM and Alabama after he was let go by FIU.   Golden and Saban both know a thing or two about coaching and recruiting.  Maybe his teams underperformed at FIU, but he did get a lot of talent there with limited resources and he basically started with nothing.  With a nicer facility (not to mention a desire to stick it to his former employer), he could probably lure even better players here.  I'm not sure he'd be my first choice, but I wouldn't just dismiss the possibility either.  He has a lot of what I would think Pat Chun would be looking for in a candidate.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:16 PM #322889

Pitt and Rutger were interested…but didn't hire him!  And being hired as an assistant coach at Miami or Alabama is way different than be hired as the head coach.  It's great to get a lot of talent but if you can't coach it what does it matter…it just creates nice forum content!   It's like buying a sports car that is manual, but if you can't drive stick…

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:19 PM #322890

Pitt never offered him the job but Rutgers did Mario Cristobal turns down offer to become next Rutgers head football coach | NJ.com

Tim FAU98 said

fauowls44 said

Tim FAU98 said

fauowls44 said

I don't think it's too crazy a notion that Cristobal would get consideration.  He has head coaching experience, built FIU from scratch basically to a bowl team.  He is clearly a respected recruiter in this area.  He could have had the jobs at Pitt and Rutgers had he wanted them…and Nick Saban wouldn't have brought him in for no reason.  It's just a matter of time before he gets another head job.  Don't discount him just because he was fired at FIU.  To me, it's not getting their "seconds", it could be making FIU pay for their biggest mistake.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 11:49 AM #322886

I am from Pittsburgh and from what I read he was never offered the job…he only interviewed.  He's a good recruiter, doesn't make a good coach.  You could argue that his teams under performed at FIU, find it unlikely we would consider MC.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:03 PM #322887

I don't know what the deal is with Pitt, but they I know that they were interested…same with Rutgers…and he was hired by both UM and Alabama after he was let go by FIU.   Golden and Saban both know a thing or two about coaching and recruiting.  Maybe his teams underperformed at FIU, but he did get a lot of talent there with limited resources and he basically started with nothing.  With a nicer facility (not to mention a desire to stick it to his former employer), he could probably lure even better players here.  I'm not sure he'd be my first choice, but I wouldn't just dismiss the possibility either.  He has a lot of what I would think Pat Chun would be looking for in a candidate.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:16 PM #322889

Pitt and Rutger were interested…but didn't hire him!  And being hired as an assistant coach at Miami or Alabama is way different than be hired as the head coach.  It's great to get a lot of talent but if you can't coach it what does it matter…it just creates nice forum content!   It's like buying a sports car that is manual, but if you can't drive stick…

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:19 PM #322890

He may not be a great coach, but he is a great recruiter.  At this level, that is a major advantage.  Also, you aren't allowing for the possibility that 1. He may be better at it his 2nd time around having learned from past mistakes and a year under Saban…and 2. That at FAU, with better facilities and in CUSA, it may be easier for him to get higher caliber talent.

And no, coaching at Alabama isn't the same as being a head coach, but it does speak to how well respected he is among coaches that 2 pretty good ones offered him jobs on their staffs after he was let go at FIU.

I was wondering the same thing so I'm glad the OP started this list. Regarding the other candidates:

Brian Jenkins

PRO: Successful as a HC at FCS level.
CON: No experience as HC at FBS level… somebody is going to give him a shot, but should we be the ones doing the experiment?

PRO: Four seasons with 8+ wins as HC of BC.
CON: 0-3 in postseason playoffs.

PRO: Attractive pricepoint.
CON: Not a name that would energize the fanbase anymore than the current support for Wright.

Mario Cristobal

PRO: Took FIU to two bowl games.
CON: Lost one of them; overall 27-47 at FIU (2 winning seasons out of 6, so 33% efficiency).

PRO: Reputation as a strong recruiter.
CON: Head coaching is about more than just recruiting; allegations from ex-FIU coach E-book that Mario lost control of the team and didn't command their respect.

PRO: Taking him could irritate FIU fans.
CON: That is not a good reason to hire a coach.

PRO: Worked under Nick Saban at #1 Alabama.
CON: Mario Cristobal is not Nick Saban and FAU does not have the name brand or resources of Alabama.

owl2Doc said

I was wondering the same thing so I'm glad the OP started this list. Regarding the other candidates:

Brian Jenkins

PRO: Successful as a HC at FCS level.
CON: No experience as HC at FBS level… somebody is going to give him a shot, but should we be the ones doing the experiment?

PRO: Four seasons with 8+ wins as HC of BC.
CON: 0-3 in postseason playoffs.

PRO: Attractive pricepoint.
CON: Not a name that would energize the fanbase anymore than the current support for Wright.

Mario Cristobal

PRO: Took FIU to two bowl games.
CON: Lost one of them; overall 27-47 at FIU (2 winning seasons out of 6, so 33% efficiency).

PRO: Reputation as a strong recruiter.
CON: Head coaching is about more than just recruiting; allegations from ex-FIU coach E-book that Mario lost control of the team and didn't command their respect.

PRO: Taking him could irritate FIU fans.
CON: That is not a good reason to hire a coach.

PRO: Worked under Nick Saban at #1 Alabama.
CON: Mario Cristobal is not Nick Saban and FAU does not have the name brand or resources of Alabama.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:48 PM #322895

Good list.  To be clear, FAU could promote Brian Wright tomorrow and I'd be perfectly fine with it.  But since that hasn't happened yet, it makes me think Chun is out there looking at all options to see if he can find an upgrade.  I'm not advocating either of these 2.  They are just the 2 that came to mind first that have both head coaching experience and are known a great recruiters in this area.  Neither are the perfect candidate.  Like you pointed out, both have their pros and cons.  Personally, I think FAU is in a great position.  They have a guy here that, if they gave him the job, nobody would complain about.  But they also should have a strong group of outside candidates that are worth exploring. If you disagree with either name, that's fine…but also please, throw out another name that you would be in favor of hiring and list the reasons why.  Just trying to keep things interesting around here until something actually happens! 

Yep. I agree with everything you said.

Mario Cristobal was really lucky his first recruiting class included TY Hilton, now a pro bowl wide receiver for the Colts. Mario was at least smart enough to build the programs offense and defense around the talented Hilton. Hilton exits in 2010 and Cristobal went right down the tubes.
Cristobal now an assistant at Alabama is making a $500,000 base salary as an assistant plus incentives. If he leave Alabama and not go to a big conference team, he should have his head examined .

Guest said

Mario Cristobal was really lucky his first recruiting class included TY Hilton, now a pro bowl wide receiver for the Colts. Mario was at least smart enough to build the programs offense and defense around the talented Hilton. Hilton exits in 2010 and Cristobal went right down the tubes.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 1:02 PM #322900

I also wanted to make this same assessment but didn't really feel like spending the next hour determining what games he played in, when was he a factor, etc. It seemed like FIU went as he went, and no doubt he was a good player for them.

owl2Doc said

PRO: Taking him could irritate FIU fans.
CON: That is not a good reason to hire a coach.

Posted On: Dec 1st 2013, 12:48 PM #322895

+1 for the CON point.

According to Luke Stampini from 247Sports on Twitter, WKU OC and former Owls QB coach Jeff Brohm will interview for the HC job this week.  From what I understand, some consider him the guy who will take over WKU if/when (likely when) Petrino gets a bigger job.  Can't see him getting the job over Brian Wright though.  Sounds like a Howard recommendation.

Also, Dieter tweeted earlier that Wright has been contacted about other HC openings and he will formally interview with FAU this week.  Hopefully this job gets filled sooner rather than later.