I think the issue is, this is the first hire MSU has had to make as a Big Ten East member.
You are always going to be spent into the ground by the three helmets, but there are SOME expectations, unlike the bottom three programs in the division.
Look at who Indiana, Maryland and Rutgers have hired in this alignment? Indiana promoted a coordinator from within; Maryland hired a pair of coordinators, one who they had passed on many times before; Rutgers hired an unemployed dude, who was most recently a coordinator, who Tennessee opted for continued embarrassment over hiring. If Fickell wants to wind up at OSU/ND, MSU, in the current environment, ain't the place for it.
To be honest the EMU coach is really growing on me. No, he hasn't won big there, but I think that's been the failure of other programs. They hire the hot MAC coach. Sometimes that works (P.J. Fleck or Matt Campbell), but too often, it's just a guy where everything lined up right for one year, like Turner Gill or Darell Hazell. Creighton has actually built arguably the worst program in the FBS into a decent middle of the MAC program. He's proven to have built a program there, over just having one great season.
