2020 Michigan State Offseason Thread

[ELA]

MSU's most recent resurgence was partly due to Dantonio, but it was also partly due to capitalizing on big brother's malaise. Dantonio was a great coach in the Kirk Ferentz model -- get halfway decent talent, but develop it better than most. They never had UM/PSU/OSU level talent, but player development helped at least keep them in the conversation.

Not that big brother has managed to get a division title, but they've probably reestablished their dominance in-state. MSU's only chance to maintain parity is if their next coach is an absolutely PERFECT hire. Someone with the personality to keep their recruiting on trend if not improve it, who also has the ability to develop players much better than average.

MSU was never beating UM for players.  What has hurt them more has been Kentucky and Cincinnati getting all of the Ohio kids just OSU didn't offer.  MSU was cleaning up on those guys, and that dried up.  That was the biggest deal about Fickell, was not just him coming here, but him leaving Cincinnati.  Him and Stoops had more to do with what has happened to MSU than Harbaugh and Franklin did.

[Hawkinole]

IMHO this is the death of MSU as part of the "big 4" in the East. I think they're destined for a slide back to join MD/IU/RU. Maybe still remain above those programs, but not ever in legitimate discussion for winning the division.

If they are sanctioned by the NCAA they may slide down. It may take them a year or two to get back on track, even if they are not sanctioned. But, I wouldn't write off MSU. They did well in the 1950s and 1960s. They slid back in the 1970s until about the late 1980s if memory serves me right.

MSU has almost always played winning football, I think, if you go decade by decade. After the Big 2, I think they had the best conference record % of wins when it was the Big Ten.

I don't have time to look that up right now. But, I think the doom and gloom about MSU will probably be brief, especially if Bret B coaches them and he apparently has said he is interested. Whatever happened in Arkansas, I don't know, but one learns from one's mistakes. He was a great recruiter when he was with Iowa and did well at Wisconsin.

[ELA]

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.

[FearlessF]

all it takes is the right coach if he has the proper backing

[bayareabadger]

Creighton is an excellent coach and I think will definitely make a good kind of hire. 

Bert would make me laugh. 

[Brutus Buckeye]

If you had to pick betwixt Pelini and Bert....

?

[847badgerfan]

Lance Leipold is raising his hand.

[MrNubbz]

Also, while I understand the pursuit of Fickell, there is no need for Sparty to panic.  Chris Creighton and Lance Leipold would both be fine hires.

I think Creighton from what Ive read would be a solid addition

[MrNubbz]

Sounds like a birdie may have told him ND was only a one or two year wait

Ya a Buzzard ND would have to be bat shit crazy to touch that backstabing tub - Kharma remember Bert

[ELA]

Ya a Buzzard ND would have to be bat shit crazy to touch that backstabing tub - Kharma remember Bert

No, Fickell

[Brutus Buckeye]

There's your answer. Brian Kelly.

[ELA]

There's your answer. Brian Kelly.

Same as 2007, hard pass.

[MrNubbz]

No, Fickell

He's reputed to be a great recruiter,hopefully no to ND or to recruiting.ND hits the Buckeye state pretty hard

[Brutus Buckeye]

Mike Hart?