The Rest of College Football

[AlabamAlum]

The USC job must be a hell of a lot harder than it appears. It's like a coaching graveyard.

Also, I wonder what Kirk Ferenz would have done at a bigger program than Iowa. It may be the perfect match and anything higher aspirations turn into the peter principle, but I do wonder.

Their last 4 HCs since Pete Carroll have been a wilder Ogeron, a more immature Lane Kiffin, Drunk Sark, and an out-of-his-depth Helton.

USC (and Alabama from 1997-2006) is proof and iron clad testimony that hiring a good coach matters greatly. It’s the most important decision your program can make and nothing else is remotely close. A meh hire just makes things much worse.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Their last 4 HCs since Pete Carroll have been a wilder Ogeron, a more immature Lane Kiffin, Drunk Sark, and an out-of-his-depth Helton.

USC (and Alabama from 1997-2006) is proof and iron clad testimony that hiring a good coach matters greatly. It’s the most important decision your program can make and nothing else is remotely close. A meh hire just makes things much worse.

See also Notre Dame. Although depending on how you feel about Kelly Notre Dame might have done a bit better.

Parseghian and John McKay both leave in the mid-70's and are replaced by Dan Devine and John Robinson, two solid coaches that nevertheless were replacing legends and knew not to overstay their welcome. USC would then hire a series of mediocrities, even bringing a much older Robinson back for a spell, before finally hitting gold with Carroll. ND found their version of Carroll a lot quicker but Holtz was starting to falter by the time he left and the Domers entered their 15 years of misery thereafter.

Since Robinson/Devine left USC has probably only had one really, really good coach. ND has arguably had two.

Also at the same time USC was starting to weaken, UCLA and Washington made really good coaching hires that brought long-term stability to those programs and made them competitive with the Trojans for 15-20 years.

[Dr. Strangelove]

John Robinson, incidentally, should have been on our really, really old national title coaches list. He's 86. Although I know there might be some disputing the '78 title, heh

[lineygoblue]

I'd put Fickel and Franklin at 1 and 1a as USC's next coach.

And, I wouldn't rule out Meyer. He looked like a whipped puppy at his presser following the Jville loss.

[Cody_Russell]

I can't contemplate what Ferentz would do if given Pete Carroll's USC recruiting talent.

I'd imagine Luke Fickell is the top name on that list, as the guy who hired him at Cincinnati is the guy making the decisions now for USC. I don't know if Fickell's an LA guy, but I expect they'll try to convince him. I wouldn't rule Urban Meyer out, either-- there's all sorts of chatter out there already that he isn't long for the NFL.

That would remind me of UCLA basketball hiring Mick Cronin. Obviously the Cinci + defensive minded coaching connection.
On the surface, it might seem like a boring hire ... but look at what Cronin did last season. Fantastic run in the tourney. Likely a top 5 ranked team next season.

[lineygoblue]

The only USC coach I've ever had an iota of respect for was John Robinson.

All those wins over Michigan, but in his book he said that Schembechler's teams hit his team harder than anyone else they played. Even UCLA. Gave lots of respect to Michigan.

Also, I didn't know until I read his book that he and John Madden were BFF's and have been so since childhood.

[Dr. Strangelove]

I'd put Fickel and Franklin at 1 and 1a as USC's next coach.

And, I wouldn't rule out Meyer. He looked like a whipped puppy at his presser following the Jville loss.

Could be misremembering this but back in 2018 when USC went 5-7 there were rumors that Helton was about to be fired and Franklin was their guy. In the end they kept Helton.

[JRB]

Their last 4 HCs since Pete Carroll have been a wilder Ogeron, a more immature Lane Kiffin, Drunk Sark, and an out-of-his-depth Helton.

USC (and Alabama from 1997-2006) is proof and iron clad testimony that hiring a good coach matters greatly. It’s the most important decision your program can make and nothing else is remotely close. A meh hire just makes things much worse.

Kiffin and Sarkisian, of course, were Carroll assistants, while Orgeron and Helton were assistants who inherited the job when a coach got fired. The only one of those guys who'd proven anything on his own before taking the USC job was arguably Sarkisian, and he only went 34-29 at Washington. I'm all in favor of a school hiring somebody who knows the program and can win the press conference, but one could argue USC was so interested in continuing the Carroll years they didn't look for the best possible candidate.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Kiffin and Sarkisian, of course, were Carroll assistants, while Orgeron and Helton were assistants who inherited the job when a coach got fired. The only one of those guys who'd proven anything on his own before taking the USC job was arguably Sarkisian, and he only went 34-29 at Washington. I'm all in favor of a school hiring somebody who knows the program and can win the press conference, but one could argue USC was so interested in continuing the Carroll years they didn't look for the best possible candidate.

All true but right after Carroll left is also when the school was dealing with all the Reggie Bush fallout and heading towards a bowl ban. Def more likely to land thirsty, unproven guys than a Bob Stoops or Urban Meyer in that situation.

[AlabamAlum]

Kiffin and Sarkisian, of course, were Carroll assistants, while Orgeron and Helton were assistants who inherited the job when a coach got fired. The only one of those guys who'd proven anything on his own before taking the USC job was arguably Sarkisian, and he only went 34-29 at Washington. I'm all in favor of a school hiring somebody who knows the program and can win the press conference, but one could argue USC was so interested in continuing the Carroll years they didn't look for the best possible candidate.

Exactly. Like when Stallings retired. “Just hire his DC, Mike Dubose? He’ll do great!”

And back to USC. They have a history of questionable hires. Paul “Buddy” Hackett, whose only HC gig prior was a horrible 3-year run at Pitt. Ted “Not Turner” Tollner, whose only HC experience was 2 years at San Mateo Junior College. You just need experience managing and directing a major college program. I know the CEO comparison is cliched, but there is a reason it is.

[AlabamAlum]

All true but right after Carroll left is also when the school was dealing with all the Reggie Bush fallout and heading towards a bowl ban. Def more likely to land thirsty, unproven guys than a Bob Stoops or Urban Meyer in that situation.

You have to pay in those situations. Guaranteed contracts and money, but payroll-centered ADs will often just say, “Nah. No need. This Mike Shula fellow will do fine, right?”

[JRB]

Tony Elliott is an interesting name to see on that list of prospective USC coaches. As a two-time national champion co-coordinator and a Broyles Award winner, he's certainly earned his shot, but he's never coached outside of the state of South Carolina.

[AlabamAlum]

I would like them to hire an SEC HC or assistant because reasons.

[JRB]

Well, Bill O'Brien's certainly a viable candidate.

[AlabamAlum]

Well, Bill O'Brien's certainly a viable candidate.

Good. I’ll help him pack.