Around the Big Ten

[lineygoblue]

Yeah, but you know how that goes, Jeff.

The Tucker interview is a dodge. Fickell is the guy they want, and since we now know he's interested and available, its just a matter of agreeing on dollars.

Tuesday or Wednesday presser.

[Jeff Buchanan]

I'll go with that, Liney.

With the questions surrounding Harbaugh's recruiting and how it's organized having Fickel in EL is not good for M. I'm not sure it's going to matter short term, next two years, but if Fickel is as good as people say he is as a recruiter, having learned how ufm organizes the recruiting efforts of the programs he's headed up, M could be in trouble over the long term unless JH improves the star quality (talent levels) of his recruiting.

[lineygoblue]

I agree Fickell will improve MSU's recruiting in Ohio. In fact, I think its safe to say he will out recruit Michigan within Ohio but that's mostly because Harbaugh seems to have given up on Ohio.

Fickell will get MSU back to a point where they are a danger to beat OSU, Michigan and PSU, but I don't think he'll be able to get them to where they dominate the East. Day is going to be at OSU for the long term, and Harbaugh isn't leaving any time soon. Franklin could be enticed by the NFL some day but for now he seems entrenched in Happy Valley. Fickell isn't going to consistently beat those three.

Plus, MSU isn't out of the woods on other legal matters within the athletic department. NCAA sanctions are not out of the question yet.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Sanctions? Pffft.

If Fickell gets talent, he can win in EL maybe not dominate the BTE. I'd like to think Harbaugh can compete with osu. So far he's been an abysmal failure at that and I think the reasons are pretty evident. M's trajectory is flat or declining under Harbaugh and after 5 seasons with him as HC. That's the facts ..... the ugly truth.

osu is always a tough out no matter and the Eight Ball predicts days' outlook to be good. I think talent would agree, the jury is still out on whether or not he can sustain osu dominance of the BTE but it's looking like he will. But if I were a betting man, I'd think Fickell, after a couple of seasons on the job in EL, will be a bigger PITA to osu than M will be if trajectories remain the same.

I also think PSU can be a threat to osu but again, I like the prospects of Fickell in EL as a strong player in the BTE a lot more than I like Frames Janklin's chances to be that guy.

TBH, JH has to get his act together at M, improve recruiting, player development and start winning the games he needs to win to be a factor in the BTE race. If he can't do that, M will be sucking hind-tit to both Fickell and Franklin who may challenge day at osu as long as he's M's HC.

[Hannibal]

[Jeff Buchanan]

Harsh but true. The Zoloft thing could be spot on and Hack's been hinting that for a while and I've been denying it. All that class of antidepressants have anxyolitics properties as well. They're great for anger control, fuck hollering in stressful situations and overall will dampen awareness at the top dosing range - not a great side effect if you expect to be on top of your game and Harbaugh's tenure at M has people questioning, and probably with a basis for that, if he is on top of it.

[froot loops]

It ain't Fickell yet, not sure who it would be if he turns it down. The contingent that went down there was far less impressive than the crew that went down to Cincy to get Dantonio. He hasn't turned it down that we know of so that's something. But how much did they offer and is he giving Cincy a shot at a counteroffer.

[lineygoblue]

There was a report on 24/7 that the MSU contingent returned to EL on Sunday night, but Fickell was not with them. Not sure that he would HAVE to be with them, but the reporter seemed to think it was a big deal. It could be a stunt, with Fickell coming up early in the week to dot the i's and cross the t's. I'm sure private jets are available at CincyTucky airport, and its only about an hour's flight from EL.

Not sure why Fickell would turn it down if it was offered. MSU can certainly pay him more than Cincy, the perks of the MSU job have to be better than Cincy can offer. I suppose they could have run into a "Les Miles" situation there, where they simply dropped the ball with their offer. Who knows ..

I'm thinking Fickell still comes to MSU. Maybe the selection committee had to come back to EL to discuss the negotiations before a formal offer could be made and accepted.

[Hannibal]

I'd be very surprised if he doesn't accept. It's an ideal step up for him. Good fit, with a program that has had recent success. The only reason to not accept would be if he is worried that they are facing severe sanctions, and they aren't.

[iam416]

Or he can keep winning 10+ at Cincinnati and bide his time for a better opportunity. I'll say it again -- dropping yourself into the B10 East like that means you are really up against it. And what's worse is that your predecessor actually managed to have a few very successful seasons in the East (albeit, under a little different circumstances).

The thing that makes it attractive, I guess, is that Fickell is a B10/Midwest guy. He's also stepping into a program that is largely in accordance with his football philosophy. So, the dreaded "transition costs" which so plague M shouldn't be too high.

Personally, I'd ride it out at Cincinnati. We've seen that good coaches at AAC-level schools can make the jump to big time jobs. They don't need a stepping stone job to get there. He's not a MAC coach.

[Jeff Buchanan]

Everything I'm reading on the web seems to indicate he's going to stay at Cincy. I'd leave this up to Froot's insights but from 10K feet, it seems like the situation Fickell would be stepping in to as football coach re the entire MSU administration isn't optimal ..... i.e., no matter the money or incentives, to sign, you have to feel like you're not boarding a floundering ship with all the attendant distractions that usually involves.

[hack]

I think Talent's got it sussed out from Fickell's perspective. I would imagine there are better jobs that will come available in the next few years. For that reason I didn't think it would get this far with Fickell though, so maybe he sees it differently.

[hack]

Thamel tweeted three minutes ago that Fickell is staying at Cincy.

[Hannibal]

There might be better jobs opening in the future, but where else would he be the top candidate? If I were a PAC-12 program o SEC program other than Kentucky, I wouldn't consider him unless he proves himself to be truly elite, which he hasn't yet and there's no guarantee that he will. If he goes 9-4 the next few years, why should Florida or Texas take a chance on him? There is always a crop of mid-major guys with 9-4 records to choose from.

He should take the job. IMHO it's a no-brainer.

[iam416]

If he goes 9-4 the next few years, why should Florida or Texas take a chance on him? There is always a crop of mid-major guys with 9-4 records to choose from.

If he goes 9-4 for 3 years at UC then he's not a good enough coach and he'll fail miserably at Michigan State. I think the assumption for his career trajectory has to be constant. If you're assuming he can only do HARBAUGH!!!! well at UC then he's not going to amount to much, whether there or at EL. If he actually is a good coach, then he'll continue to win 10+ at UC and eventually get another opportunity that (a) isn't the same sort of rebuild; and (b) isn't in the same DIVISION as OSU, PSU and M. I suppose you could also throw in the (c) other issue -- but those wouldn't be decisive for me.

The big questions, IMO, are (a) whether he has interest outside the midwest; (b) whether he feels like his style will cause fit concerns at other bigger name programs. But, there's no doubt that doing well in the AAC can lead to much bigger things that East Lansing. However, EL and that program may just be the perfect "bigger" program fit for Fickell.

Personally, I'd pass.