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Coaching Carousel
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… Note … There are plenty of rumors/postings/random guesses out there with regard to CU head coach Mike MacIntyre as well as defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, co-offensive coordinators Darrin Chiaverini and Brian Lindgren … even offensive line coach Klayton Adams. Feel free to post in the comments section what you may have heard/read/inferred, but the main body will be limited to published reports …
December 12th
Jim Leavitt mentioned as a candidate for defensive coordinator positions at Oregon and Mississippi
From RebelGrove.com … Ole Miss announced Saturday afternoon defensive coordinator Dave Wommack is retiring following the 2016 season. Wommack is in his fifth year as Ole Miss defensive coordinator, joining Hugh Freeze in Oxford in 2012.
Here’s a list of potential candidates to replace Wommack …
Jim Leavitt – Colorado Defensive Coordinator
Why it would work: The money would be a tempting factor to make Leavitt consider a move to Oxford. He’s in his second season in Boulder after signing a $500,00 annual contract to join Mike Macintyre with the Buffs. He just helped Colorado to the Pac 12 South title. Ole Miss could double that salary, and he certainly fits Hugh Freeze’s desire to increase the toughness on his team. He was successful as head coach at South Florida and spent multiple years as the linebackers coach with the 49ers.
Why it wouldn’t work: Colorado’s staff is set to get new deals, but it’s unlikely Leavitt’s salary would get to the seven-figure level. His tenure ended at South Florida after he struck a player in the locker room, and that instance would likely cause hesitation for Freeze. Leavitt asked players and coaches to change their stories about what had happened. He’s known for his fiery personality, and Freeze may wonder how that would mesh with the rest of the staff.
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From Ole Miss Spirit … Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze does not have a time line for hiring a new defensive coordinator other than to say “by the first of January, but if the right guy surfaces, one I know is a sure thing, I will pull the trigger sooner than that.”
He reiterated what he said Saturday night, that he is looking for someone “with great energy, discipline and toughness” and he doesn’t really have a preference of a base defense because “all the good ones are multiple now and we will get a good one.”
The Buffaloes have been a doormat for the past decade, never finishing above last place in the South until this year, but they’ve rebounded in a big way, and Leavitt’s defense is a big reason why.
… In San Francisco, he tutored the linebacker corps, which included former Ole Miss Rebel and All-Pro Patrick Willis.
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From Football Scoop … Oregon: Colorado defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt is a “name to watch” for the Oregon defensive coordinator position reports Josh Newberg of 247. Willie Taggart frequently seeks Jim Harbaugh’s advice on things like this and Harbaugh knows Leavitt well from their time together with the 49ers.
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From the Oregonian … The most prominent assistant Taggart targeted thus far was former Texas coach Charlie Strong as defensive coordinator, but Strong took South Florida’s offer to become head coach Sunday. Colorado defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt, a former South Florida head coach himself before being fired in 2010, was named as a candidate to watch by 247Sports.com. The price could be right — Leavitt earned $511,900 in 2016, far less than the $700,000 ex-UO defensive coordinator Brady Hoke was set to earn each of the next two seasons — and so might be the fit.
Prior to leading the Buffaloes’ defensive resurgence in 2016, Leavitt coached linebackers for Jim Harbaugh — one of Taggart’s closest friends — with the San Francisco 49ers. Just as Harbaugh provided a key recommendation ahead of Taggart’s hiring, perhaps Harbaugh’s familiarity with Leavitt, combined with the eye-opening results from CU’s 17th-ranked total defense, could tip the scale in his favor.
As Taggart himself said Sunday, “When you see a Willie Taggart football team, you know a lot of that came from the Harbaughs.”
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December 8th
Willie Taggart an “underwhelming hire” by Oregon
From the Oregonian … A six-seat twin-jet that belongs to the wife of University of Oregon booster Pat Kilkenny left Teterboro, NJ airport in the wee hours of Wednesday. It carried not only Ducks athletic director Rob Mullens, but a big question.
No return of Chip Kelly?
That’s the next man in at Oregon. Taggart leaves the University of South Florida and replaces fired Ducks coach Mark Helfrich. Taggart knows the West Coast, having been an assistant at Stanford. He’s recruited Florida well, having set up shop there. He’s rebuilt things, having turned a pair of 2-10 programs into winners.
It ends up an underwhelming hire at face value for some, but one that should remind us that winning football can be built in a multitude of ways. How do you get to the top of a tree? Climb it? Catapult there? Plant a seed, then sit on the ground and wait? I’ll be fascinated to watch Taggart, armed with the UO resources, Nike’s backing, boosterpalooza and a roster of few good returners attempt to climb in a way Helfrich did not. At least not with his own players.
… This Taggart hire won’t sell a lot tickets. It wasn’t at all where I thought Oregon would end up. It will incite the pro-Helfrich apologists who remain blinded by their loyalty to the poor program trajectory. Taggart is 40-45 in his first six seasons as a head coach. Bill Belichick was 41-55 in his first half dozen in charge. In the 16 seasons after that, though, Belichick never won fewer than nine games. Ultimately, this hire will be judged not on your excitement level at the hiring, but on whether Taggart wins.
… Continue reading story here …
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Arizona State loses passing game coordinator to Nevada
From the Arizona Republic … Arizona State coach Todd Graham will have at least one position to fill on his staff.
Footballscoop.com reported Wednesday night that ASU receivers coach and passing-game coordinator Jay Norvell will become the next head coach at Nevada. Norvell replaces Brian Polian, who agreed to part ways with the school last month. Nevada went 23-27 in four years under Polian.
This marks the first head-coaching job for the 53-year-old Norvell, who has coached at some of college football’s biggest programs (Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and UCLA) as well as in the NFL.
During his one year in Tempe, he became a strong voice in the program
Graham last year interviewed Norvell for ASU’s offensive-coordinator job, which opened after Mike Norvell left to become head coach at Memphis. Graham ultimately hired Chip Lindsey from Southern Miss to run his offense. Lindsey then flew to Austin and talked Norvell into joining the ASU staff as receivers coach.
Throughout the season, Graham said Norvell was a positive influence on freshman receiver N’Keal Harry. Norvell also was instrumental in getting receivers Ryan Newsome (Texas) and John Humphrey (Oklahoma) to transfer to ASU. Both Newsome and Humphrey sat out this season because of NCAA transfer rules.
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December 7th
Oregon hires South Florida coach Willie Taggart
… Related … Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen a finalist for Oregon job … from ESPN
From the Oregonian … For the past 21 years, the searches for Oregon’s next football coach all yielded a familiar face.
Some introductions will be necessary this time around: Meet Willie Taggart.
Taggart, 40, is expected to leave South Florida to succeed Mark Helfrich as coach of the Oregon Ducks, according to reports by the AP and ESPN. An official announcement is expected Wednesday.
Taggart led the Bulls to a 24-25 record in four seasons and was 16-20 at Western Kentucky in three prior seasons as the Hilltoppers transitioned to the Football Bowl Subdivision. At each stop, the former Stanford assistant undertook ground-up rebuilds and left the programs better than when he inherited them. The Bulls were winless in 2012, prior to Taggart’s hiring, and won two games during his first season, but have won four, eight and 10 games since.
The length and value of Taggart’s deal have not been released. Helfrich was set to earn $3.5 million this season in total compensation, including $2.95 million in base salary. UO owes Helfrich $11.6 million for the three remaining years on his contract.
According to Taggart’s buyout with USF, he will owe the school $1.7 million.
Taggart’s hiring comes with several historical distinctions: He becomes the first black head football coach in the 122-year history of UO’s program; is the first to take the job with prior head coaching experience since Mike Bellotti in 1995; and is the first head football coach hired from outside the current UO staff since 1976.
… Continue reading story here …
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December 6th
Baylor hires Temple head coach Matt Rhule (thus ending any MacIntyre-to-Waco speculation)
From ESPN … Temple coach Matt Rhule, who guided the Owls to back-to-back 10-win seasons and an American Athletic Conference championship, will be named Baylor’s new coach, the school announced Tuesday.
Rhule, 41, replaces former Bears coach Art Briles, who was fired in late May in wake of the school’s sexual assault scandal. Rhule, a native of State College, Pennsylvania, has a 28-23 record in four seasons at Temple.
“We could not be more excited,” Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades said in a statement. “… When we set out on our search for a new leader of our football program, we wanted a coach who shared our values, who had demonstrated success, who showed a true commitment to the overall student-athlete and who we believed could lead Baylor to a national championship.
“We found all of that and more in Matt and I know he will be a perfect fit with the Baylor Family.”
December 5th
Oregon trying to pry away a sitting Power-Five coach?
From the Oregonian … The University of Oregon’s search for its next coach is still ongoing. The Ducks haven’t zeroed in on one candidate and are still working to interview more candidates, per a source.
I expect those candidates are sitting head coaches. The radio silence we’ve had in the recent hours isn’t because athletic director Rob Mullens took a nap or because he’s busy with the College Football Playoff committee. That work is done. Rather, Mullens is in contact with sitting head coaches he’s trying to pry away from established programs. I think Oregon knows it has some solid options that it really likes but is now exploring options with “lots of moving parts.”
Take that for what you will.
— Coaches we can cross off the list include: Ken Niumatalolo (Navy), Charlie Strong (unemployed), Rick Neuheisel (TV), Brian Kelly (Notre Dame), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), Lane Kiffin (Alabama coordinator), Les Miles (unemployed), Gary Patterson (TCU), Bill Musgrave (Raiders offensive coordinator), Norv Turner (NFL), Kyle Whittingham (Utah), Scott Frost (UCF).
… Continue reading story here …
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December 4th
Western Michigan coach P.J. Fleck not a likely candidate for opening Oregon position
Related … From FootballScoop.com … Oregon: Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin has interviewed for the Oregon opening, per Brett McMurphy. The report adds that South Florida’s Willie Taggart has also interviewed with the Ducks.
From the Oregonian … Western Michigan coach PJ Fleck is having a marvelous football season and is the Energizer Bunny in the post-game news conference. But despite being pushed toward Oregon by some influential people, the Ducks don’t appear to be ready to hire Fleck.
Sources on both sides confirmed on Saturday night that Fleck has not interviewed with Oregon. Fleck’s camp indicated that he had a banquet to attend on Sunday and then would begin recruiting for Western Michigan. No interview Sunday either. So it doesn’t look like the Ducks plan on seeing Fleck until at least Monday, if at all. And by then, this search could be wrapping up.
Fleck’s troubles, to me, sit squarely in the idea that the chief boosters involved in this Ducks search (Phil Knight and Pat Kilkenny) are grounded men, who are more interested in substance vs. style. Remember, Knight sold sneakers out of the back of his car and Kilkenny is from Eastern Oregon.
… Continue reading story here …
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December 3rd
Mike MacIntyre: “I love it at Colorado. And my family loves Colorado”
From ESPN … Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre quashed any speculation that he might be thinking about the Baylor Bears’ vacancy after the Pac-12 championship game Friday.
“I’m not going to Baylor,” MacIntyre told The Denver Post after the Buffs’ 41-10 loss to Washington. “I love it at Colorado. And my family loves Colorado.”
Earlier this week, Colorado athletic director Rick George said he “absolutely” expects MacIntyre, who has two years remaining on his contract, to remain with the school.
George also said he’d sit down with MacIntyre the Pac-12 coach of the year, to discuss the state of the program and a potential extension. According to USA Today, MacIntyre is the lowest-paid coach in the conference at a little more than $2 million per season.
“When he’s in his season we talk, but we don’t talk about those kinds of things during the season,” George said. “We wait until the season is over.”
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Dave Plati shoots down MacIntyre-to-Baylor rumor
CU Sports Information Director Dave Plati has shot down – no uncertain terms – a rumor that CU head coach Mike MacIntyre would be interviewing for the open Baylor position after the Pac-12 championship game.
Tweets from Dave Plati:
— “Rumors out there that MacIntyre is interviewing with Baylor tonight/tomorrow are NOT TRUE. Let’s put that to bed right now. See follow up”
— “Whoever started this is trying to make a name for themselves or trying to cause a disruption to our team today. You have been exposed”
— “Apparently these rumors with someone named C.T. Steckel who claimed he is a sideline reporter for Fox Sports. He made it up. Liar”.
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December 1st
CU AD Rick George: A “great compliment” that other schools are interested in Mike MacIntyre
From ESPN … Amid speculation that Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre is a potential candidate for other jobs, athletic director Rick George said he “absolutely” expects MacIntyre to remain at the school.
The No. 8 Buffaloes (10-2, 8-1 Pac-12) will play No. 4 Washington (11-1, 8-1) on Friday in the Pac-12 championship game, after which George said he will sit down with MacIntyre, as they do after every season, to discuss the state of the program. At that point, George said, they will talk about a potential contract extension for MacIntyre.
“When he’s in his season we talk, but we don’t talk about those kinds of things during the season,” George said. “We wait until the season is over.”
MacIntyre was named the Pac-12 coach of the year Tuesday and is among this year’s national coach of the year favorites, but he is the lowest-paid head coach in the Pac-12, according to the USA Today coaching salary database. He signed a one-year extension in 2014 that runs through the 2018 season and pays him a little more than $2 million annually.
Multiple national reports have cited MacIntyre as a potential candidate for the opening at Baylor, but George did not seem concerned about that possibility, nor was he surprised that his name had surfaced.
“Look, Mike has had a great year, and it’s not just Mike. It’s he and his coaching staff,” George said. “They’ve done a great job, and you would expect his name to pop up in a lot of different areas because of the success he’s had, and I think that’s a great compliment to what they’ve done. Beyond that, Mike and I will talk, like we always do, after the regular season is over, which ends Friday night.”
… No schools have reached out to George for permission to contact MacIntyre, and while that isn’t a requirement, George said he would expect to be extended that courtesy.
“Those schools that are ethical would absolutely reach out to me, yes,” he said.
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November 30th
CBS – Mike MacIntyre one of seven potential candidates for Oregon head coaching position
From CBS Sports … It’s not a good time to be changing coaches at Oregon.
This is more fact than opinion. Start with the fact the school hasn’t fired a coach in 40 years. The best names are off the board. Athletic director Rob Mullens is trying to recreate Camelot without his king.
Chip Kelly isn’t likely to come back, at least right now. Meanwhile, there is dwindling attendance, concern that the Oregon brand — as well as the program — is slipping.
Whoever takes over also faces a Pac-12 with Chris Petersen settling in for a long run at Washington. USC and Colorado are on the rise.
Here are seven names who may be persons of interest for Mullens. In no particular order …
Mike MacIntyre, Colorado: This may sound strange, but MacIntyre might have it better at CU right now. The Buffaloes’ foundation is a rock-solid defense. That philosophy has been the key to turnarounds at USC and Stanford in the Pac-10/12. Mac started the season on the hot seat but expect recruits to start flocking to the Flatirons. The Buffs once again are sexy. Oregon has to make the call, though. MacIntyre will get plenty of votes for national coach of the year. How many coaches have won 10 at both San Jose State and Colorado? A chance for a sizeable raise and better facilities could be tempting. But make no mistake, Oregon is a rebuild.
… Continue reading story here …
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Chip Kelly – Staying with San Francisco 49ers; not interested in Oregon opening
From ESPN … Long before the head coaching job at Oregon was available, San Francisco 49ers coach Chip Kelly said he had no plans to leave his current job. Now that the Ducks have fired coach Mark Helfrich and officially have an opening, nothing has changed.
On Wednesday, Kelly was asked again whether he planned to stay with the Niners. He repeatedly nodded in the affirmative before providing a response.
“Yep,” Kelly said. “So we’re all done with that, I hope.”
Asked if there’s any chance he will return to Oregon, Kelly shook his head and said “no.”
Kelly said he called Helfrich, his close friend, on Wednesday morning to offer support.
“I have not talked to anybody at Oregon except for Mark Helfrich,” Kelly said.
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Cal coach Sonny Dykes a favorite for open Baylor position
From ESPN … Baylor officials are expected to focus their search for a new football coach on California’s Sonny Dykes, after SMU’s Chad Morris elected to remain with the Mustangs on Tuesday, according to sources close to the search.
Morris, who is 7-17 in two seasons at SMU, was considered a top candidate to replace former Baylor coach Art Briles, who was fired in May after an independent investigation by the law firm Pepper Hamilton criticized the university’s handling of sexual assault allegations involving students, including football players.
Dykes, 47, has a 19-30 record in four seasons at California, including a 5-7 mark this past season. The Bears went 8-5 in 2015 and quarterback Jared Goff was the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams.
Dykes had a 22-15 record in three seasons at Louisiana Tech from 2010 to ’12. He is 41-45 as a head coach overall.
A native of Big Spring, Texas, Dykes is the son of legendary Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes. He played baseball at Texas Tech and worked as a football assistant coach at Kentucky and Northeast Louisiana before joining the Red Raiders’ staff in 2000.
Because of Dykes’ connections to Texas, he is also considered a potential candidate at Houston, which is seeking a replacement for former coach Tom Herman, who was named Texas’ new coach on Saturday.
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November 29th
Mark Helfrich out as coach at Oregon
… Related … “Mark Helfrich fired by Oregon Ducks after four seasons” … from the Oregonian
From ESPN … Mark Helfrich is out as Oregon’s football coach, the school announced.
“We want to thank Mark for his eight years with the University of Oregon and appreciate his efforts on behalf of Oregon football,” athletic director Rob Mullens said in a statement. “We wish Mark and his family the best.”
The move comes just days after the Ducks wrapped up a 4-8 season with a 34-24 loss to rival Oregon State.
It was their worst season since 1991 (3-8) and marks the first time since 2004 that they won’t appear in a bowl game.
“It is a great honor to have served as the head football coach at the University of Oregon,” Helfrich said in a statement released by the school. “It is with respect and disappointment that we receive this decision. Plain and simple — we didn’t win enough games this season.
“Thank you first to my wife, Megan, and our family, the fans, the campus community, the board, our donors and administration. To our coaches, staff and their families, it is impossible to communicate my gratitude for the environment we got to work in every single day.
“Finally, to the players — thank you, and I love you. The future is bright for this young, talented team, and we will be supporting them and their new leadership.”
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Former Colorado head coach Dan Hawkins returns to coaching
From ESPN … Former Colorado and Boise State coach Dan Hawkins has accepted the head-coaching job at UC Davis, sources told ESPN on Monday.
Hawkins, 56, was a fullback for UC Davis and started his coaching career as an assistant there from 1983-85.
Hawkins recently agreed to be the offensive coordinator at Florida International under new coach Butch Davis, but he instead opted to be a head coach at the FCS school that competes in the Big Sky Conference.
Hawkins was 72-50 in 10 years as a Division I college coach: 53-11 at Boise State from 2001-05 and 19-39 at Colorado from 2006-10.
Hawkins, who has worked as an ESPN college football analyst since 2011, was also the head coach at NAIA’s Wilamette College in Oregon from 1993-97 and the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes for five games in 2013.
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November 28th
Coaching Carousel … to date
| Team | Out | In |
| Baylor | Art Briles | – |
| FAU | Charlie Partridge | – |
| FIU | Ron Turner | Butch Davis |
| Fresno State | Tim DeRuyter | Jeff Tedford |
| Georgia State | Trent Miles | – |
| Houston | Tom Herman | – |
| LSU | Les Miles | Ed Orgeron |
| Nevada | Brian Polian | – |
| Purdue | Darrell Hazell | – |
| San Jose State | Ron Caragher | – |
| Texas | Charlie Strong | Tom Herman |
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Mark Helfrich remains Oregon coach … for now
From the Oregonian … Regardless of how you feel about Mark Helfrich as a coach, I think most of us agree he is a good person.
He was a big part of the run of success the Oregon Ducks enjoyed from 2009-15, a stretch in which the Ducks made themselves at home in college football’s upper echelon and played for the national title twice.
He has, to my knowledge, been a good soldier within the athletic department, both as offensive coordinator and, for the past four seasons, the head coach.
So he deserves a quick decision, up or down, about whether he will be back in charge of the program in 2017.
Media outlets both inside and outside the state are reporting the Ducks already have engaged a search firm to find a replacement.
… Continue reading story here …
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College Football News – Helfrich and UCLA’s Jim Mora on watch list
From the College Football News … After Week 13 Coaches Hot Seat Top 5 Ranking
1. Mark Helfrich, Oregon
He’s having one of those, “have a seat, close the door” meetings this week, and it’s being reported that his fate is already sealed. If that’s true, Helfrich goes from being the darling of college football just two years ago to gone. Going 4-8 with a team good enough to have contended for the Pac-12 North – and losing to the archrival by ten in the final game – will do that.
5. Jim Mora Jr. UCLA
There’s really no talk about firing him, and he just signed an extension this summer that pays him through 2021, but the team slipped last year and fell off the map this season. Injuries played a part in the problem, but there wasn’t a total rash of disasters like, say, Arizona had to deal with. After going 4-8, now Mora is an okay 41-24 in Westwood, but there’s a bigger problem – USC is getting great again. UCLA had its chance to be the hot program in LA, and now that’s gone.
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Coaches Hot Seat Ranking
From CoachesHotSeatRanking.com …
Pac-12 coaches on the hot seat:
2. Rich Rodriguez – Arizona
5. Mark Helfrich – Oregon
7. Todd Graham – Arizona State
17. Sonny Dykes – California
18. Jim Mora – UCLA
21. Gary Andersen – Oregon State
Safe for now:
93. Clay Helton – USC
94. Kyle Whittingham – Utah
97. David Shaw – Stanford
99. Mike Leach – Washington State
114. Chris Petersen – Washington
117. Mike MacIntyre – Colorado
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63 Replies to “Coaching Carousel”
Josh Falo. Is he coming to CU? Hope. He plays Tight end. 4 star. Brother plays here. Mom loves Mac2. Downlevel TE coach. Maybe end up elsewhere. Too bad.
Some don’t see it. Some can’t see it. Some were blinded by the “Baer-trap-light”
Again.
Evolve.
#New Era.
Note: But it is kinda funny (SAD) that that the belief in Dinosaurs continues……..meaning other than fossils.
Man Saban evolves like crazy. ie. Kiffen. Who would have that could happen let alone be successful. No “Peter in the house down there.” Learning curve not an issue.
I always enjoy your comments VK, but I’m confused. Do you like Mac2, don’t like? He’s done a good job of upgrading his staff since Year 1. Like you I’m hoping that Lindgren moves on. I’ve never been a fan of co-anything. Never really sure where the accountability lies. Maybe Lindgren is a great recruiter, and that is why he is kept by Mac2? Anyway let’s beat those pokes and coach mullet man!
I hope Mac2 retires at CU.
Rip Scherer? Remember him? qb coach for the Buffs. Brought “the other Webb” to colorado.
Now?
Tight End Coach for UCLA. Must be the position that old coaches (Dead Weight) get moved too when they become dinosaur and the HC is a buddy.
#NewEra
Hey VK, why are you ranting about Rip? What fuels your vitriol?
Just curious.
Go Buffs.
Oregon. What is the most disappointing is that Hoke-A-Joke will be out of a job again. The coach (really?) that “Detwat” said would be out of a job before Mac2. Said he/she was a Michigan Fan? No sightings. Only a “Shady Brady” fan.
#NewEra
SE coast and big name bias on Leavitt not winning the DC award. The bright side is maybe he will still stay somewhat under the radar for new coaching hires and give the Buffs at least one more fantastic year
Should the Baylor AD have said “we want a coach that shares our values?”
Great shot!
I wouldnt be so quick to write off Scott Frost at Oregon
I think the rationale there is that since Frost was the OC under Helfrich, that bringing back Frost would just be recycling the Helfrich regime.
But you never know …
Let’s not forget he was the receivers coach starting 2009 while Kelley was there. And now in one year as HC he is going to a bowl game. Also the kornkobs wanted him badly.
Go Buffs and SJS
gotta stick with VK on this one. The offense has stunk it up in 4 games 3 of which The D pulled their butts out of the fire. We caught Michigan by surprise and the O looked good against WSU and CSU….I wont even comment on the AZ teams. CSU could whack them right now.
the problem is consistency and redundancy in the O game plans and plays. When the kids are exercising their will and executing it works. When they are having trouble and struggling some I see very few adjustments.
Will we some some new wrinkles in the chmp game tonight? You know you will from the guy CU should have hired 8 or 9 years ago.
With respect to Stevie M. @ OU, the most impressive individual performance I saw this year was Fisher in the WSU game (I’m sorry who??). Truly remarkable against a very, very good passing offense. Kudos to him, but that was coaching at it’s finest. As we saw this year w/exception of Michigan the defense kept us in or won games when we needed it. Defense wins championships.
Let Mac walk, promote Leavitt to HC and Tumpkin to DC.
Next level defined as.
An offense that can dominate in key games against Great and real opponents. Like the wooleyirenes or the trojeans. That is the level. And Oh yes the special teams. The D can already do it.
This is a case where “Nice Guys do not finish last”
Congrats Mac2
Oh. I get it. You mean an offense that could be leading Michigan, in their little big house, for nearly three quarters, until their starting QB went down? An offense like that?
Maybe an offense that went into USC’s house, with their redshirt freshman QB playing in his first game and be four points shy of a win (ok five, if we get technical)?
Maybe an offense that, not once, but twice in the same year had a QB – for the first two times ever in CU History – get 300 yards passing and 100 yards rushing; and it’s two different guys?
Maybe an offense that not once, but twice ran roughshod over the league’s toughest run defense/s at that time?
Or, maybe an offense, like Neill said here: http://www.cubuffs.com/news/2016/11/30/football-record-setting-buffs-offense-could-just-be-scratching-surface-of-potential.aspx?path=football
That:
With one game remaining, the Buffs have already established a school record for most yards in a season, with their 5,639 yards this year eclipsing the 5,448 yards produced by the 1994 team.
For only the second time in school history, four different CU players — Shay Fields, Devin Ross, Bryce Bobo and Phillip Lindsay — have produced 100-yard receiving games.
The Buffs have produced the most red-zone trips (55) in school history.
CU has had six 500-yard games this year, tying the school record set in 1994.
For the first time in CU history, the Buffs had a player throw for at least 300 yards and rush for 100 in the same game — and it happened twice this season, with Steven Montez and Sefo Liufau both achieving the milestone. (Only four players in the nation this year hit that mark: Liufau, Montez, Alabama’s Jalen Hurts and Louisville’s Lamar Jackson.)
CU has produced a school-record 301 first downs.
These Buffs are just the fourth team in school history to score at least 400 points (417).
Colorado is currently leading the Pac-12 South in scoring (34.8 points per game) and total offense (469.9 yards per game).
The Buffs have produced four Pac-12 Offensive Players of the Week, with Liufau winning the honor twice and Montez and Lindsay once each.
Those are just some of the highlights, numbers made even more impressive when you consider two factors”
You mean “next level defined as” an offense like that?
Granted, they still need to do it against the UW D, which we all know is legit.
I’m just pointing out some key things you may have glossed over, in your alternate narrative.
Looking forward to seeing them give it their best tomorrow, and stun the world. Again.
Go Buffs!
Highlights are great.
Gotta win the big games.
You know I love stats. But only conference stats.
The Buffs offense is in need of Real OC work.
Go Buffs Beat Washington
Patience, vk, patience. Let’s see what they do tonight, as well as next year. As you are fond of pointing out, those 15 extra practices matter. That is 150 fewer coaching days and thousands of fewer reps over the lost decade. No more!
Go Buffs!
Actually they get 20 5 for this game and 15 for the bowl.
More than they get in spring practice
Mac2 coach of the year. Damn right. Deserved it for sure. Now get that next game
Buffalo Up
Yo Stuart,
The other head coaches in the Pac-12 this season made an average of $3,296,032 this year compared to MacIntyre’s $2,011,450.
Head coaches in the Top 10 not named MacIntyre averaged $4.4 Million this year.
The average cost per victory for the head in the Pac-12 (not including CU) was $592,000. Mac cost Colorado only $201,000 per victory, making him by far the biggest value in the conference and the biggest value in the country for a Power 5 school.
By the same token, Jim Leavitt’s pay was drastically less than the other defensive coordinators who are finalists for the Broyes Award. His $500k pay is less than half the average of the other three from Alabama, Michigan and Clemson.
Time for Rick George to open up the checkbook to keep these guys around. Otherwise, other schools can double their salary and still pay them “the going rate” for coaches of their caliber.
What Leavitt and MacIntyre have achieved is phenomenal. The other teams in the top 10 started with better talent to begin with. Colorado had to develop young men into the players they are now.
Few coaches could do what Mac has done in four years (and Leavitt has done in two), and much fewer still are the ones who would have done it for his salary.
Colorado needs to reward these men, or someone else will do it somewhere else.
Mark
Boulderdevil
Completely agree. Give both a big raise and make sure that Leavitt’s is so big that only a major HC job would lure him away, hopefully keeping him at least a year or two. Given enough money and the chance to play for championships right away along with the new facilities and Boulder in general, it would be hard to walk away from if paid enough. If both coaches and key members of this staff stay together, while improving on one or two members here and there this team could remain/be a top ten team nationally.
Think about that for a minute, from 1-8 in conference last year and last place in the division for the last five years to 8-1 PAC12 South Champs in one season with the possibility to stay in the top 15 nationally like they did through out the 90s and to 2005.
They (MacIntyre and Leavitt) got the team to the championship game, reward them and make/keep CU a top program again.
While I do think there may be a step back next year regarding W-L record, and I have nightmares about Leavitt leaving, I am quite excited about the incoming recruiting class. And the receiver we lost to season ending injury before the first game, as well as the returning players. All said, however, I can’t help but feel that this has been one of those once in a lifetime seasons. I have never seen the camaraderie and maturity this team has shown. DBs, O line, wide receivers, linebackers, D line, Liufau and the running backs… all have shown appreciation for each other, coaches, and the team as a whole. This has been special. I have been content for the last decade or more to simply hope that the Buffs would one day be a top-25 team again on a regular basis. Needless to say, this year has been an unexpected surprise! One thing I will watch in years to come will be the attitude of players wearing the black and gold. When Neuheisel took over at the pinnacle in the 90s, it seemed to me that players coming into the program thought they had “made it”, and I did not see the same desire and grit that I saw in the Mac years. This, to me, has been the most special thing about this year. These players have wanted it, and believed, since perhaps last year. Perhaps Mac II is a similar type of motivator to Mac I. And obviously there is the motivation and enthusiasm of Leavitt and some of the other ACs. Who knows what the future will bring. I hope I will continue to see that Buffalo pride exhibited by future players.
Go Buffs!!!
Agree 100% on your complete post…..especially Leavitt. That defensive unit has been the biggest difference, and had to make up almost solely for the failures seen in the special team’s play.
Special year indeed, I also hope that we experience it many more times but truthfully don’t expect to. The stars had to align just right this year for this season to have played out the way it did, and it isn’t even over yet!
Well well, here it comes.
Mac2 for president
Pay him whatever he wants
Can’t let him go
Continuity
No coaching change no coaching change
He deserves it
Pay him now
Renegotiate
Coach of the year
Coaching genius
Well, Doesn’t matter….Either way is good.
Just make sure Leavitt, Chev, Tumpkin, do remain
Mac2 will do what is good for Mac2 as he should and always does “I really believe that, I really do”
Go Buffs Beat Washingmachine
Note: I gotta tell ya there are some better receivers sitting behind “Jay…showboat-make-the-first-down-signal Mac”. JMO
You’re relentless, VK. Although I don’t dispute that there are probably “better” receivers behind JMac, in this case, the definition of “better” would be mostly relating to physically better (taller, faster, stronger). But, when you layer in football IQ, knowing your assignments, being in the right place, at the right time, every time (or nearly every time) and catching almost anything that’s thrown your way? Well? I’ll leave it up to Chev to choose his starters, with insight from Lindgren and Mac, too. Wow. Keep on keep’n on, VK.
Now, where we agree? Beat down dem dawgs.
Go Buffs!
Yup,
There are better receivers on the Buffs That should be playing more.
Yeah, kind of the same boat. No offense intended to VK, but Jay Mac is producing catches and first downs. That’s his job on the offense. Mike Mac is producing wins as the head of an excellent coaching team; that’s his job as HC. I don’t know why anyone would be dumping on them given that they have already pulled off the greatest single season turn around in the history of the PAC.
Both Macs deserve kudos. Mike Mac deserves a raise, as do his ACs. This team and this coaching team are producing results that verge on miraculous. I’ve seen CU fans dump on their team (not talking about VK here, just a parallel) for my entire life. Sometimes with more sense than at other times. But what this team and its coaches are doing is working. So why would anyone want to fix what ain’t broke in a town where everything’s been broke for a long time?
Yup it ain’t broken, so why try and fix it. Well, gotta get to the next level on offense. Better oline, Better play design, better play calling, better talent, better offense adjustments. You can argue it all ya want, but The Mighty Buffs need to get to the next level. Especially on the offense and of course the special teams.
Without Leavitt and his Legions the Buffs are probably 7 and 5.
That is all I am saying.
So if it is as you say, not broken, it does need a tune up.
VK, by “next level” you must mean a national championship, right?
I mean, this staff has already attained as high a level as any other CU staff in history. What’s the count, 8 10-win seasons in our entire history?
I agree. Mac and Co have to sustain it. What makes you think they cannot? What evidence of Mac’s “petering out” or hitting his ceiling, as you’re very fond of positing, do you have? Or, is just your overall outlook as a skeptic that shades your narrative?
Enjoy it man. Mac is for real. So is this team. I too wonder about next year. But, given what we’ve seen in Mac’s four years at CU, and taking his entire career into context (and that of his assistants) I’m pretty optimistic they’ll be even better next year than they are this year.
Very much looking forward to seeing them continue The Rise. And you know what? If they fall off to 7 or 8 wins? I’ll still root like hell for their continued success.
Go Buffs!
Even Alabama had to lean on its defense for a win or two this season.
A win should always be a team win not an “offensive win” or a “defensive win”. When a program starts dividing itself by blaming the other for not doing a better job, especially in a game they won, they are truly in trouble!
Why are you crapping on Jay Mac? That boy has wracked up quite a few first downs, which is what a #4 receiver is supposed to do when the others are being effectively covered.
And I guess I’m confused. Maybe I’m misreading it, but it sounds like you’re saying Mike Mac doesn’t deserve the credit he is getting for this turn around? The assistant coaches obviously deserve due honors as well. But, unless I’m misreading you, I really don’t understand what there is to be down on either Mac about right now.
Not down on either. Not crapping on Jmac. Just don’t like his showboat crap. Well so maybe i am. Play like ya been there before. Make the catch, give the ball to the ref and move on. Watch him when he doesn’t make the catch or the first down. As Chev says “Clear” and move on.
Mac2 deserves a ton of credit. Leavitt deserves the most. Did Mac2 hire Leavitt? Well some say he did. Some say RG made the move to get Leavitt and Chev and the RB coach.
Hey, I am glad Mac showed up here. I hope he stays for a long time. But it ain’t all about him.
Go Buffs
Definitely not all about him. Also, I’m not a huge fan of the showboat. But, hey, if that’s what Jay Mac needs to start feeling comfortable as a playmaker, so be it. It’s not like he’s being disrespectful to anyone or making himself into a clown.
More than thrilled Baylor is looking at Dykes but after looking at Dyke’s bio I cant understand why he is a hot commodity.
Will the depth at D line next year be a factor in Leavitt’s decision? Give us at least one more year PLEASE? Jim?
and RG, a 50 to 100% increase in Mac’s salary to keep him here isnt out of line.
The ducks will look past anyone on the CU staff (radio dudes were actually speculating Peterson), nobody wants to go to Purdue and Snyder hasnt said he is retiring.
Geeez, I guess like Eric I am whistling past the graveyard.
They definitely need to double both MacIntyre’s and Leavitt’s salaries. That would put them up where other ranked teams pay their coaches and maybe even triple Leavitt’s to get him up there enough to want to stay longer then just a year. Really, at only $500K Leavitt is a steal and keeping a top defense in conference will keep the Buffs on top.
The increase attendance from the Buffs winning again will pay for the raises, increasing from 34k-38K range up to 50k-54K range in attendance per game is a lot of revenue. Plus winning increases TV and Bowl revenue, so raises for Chev, Tumpkin and the ones MacIntyre wants to keep around for a while.
Who would want to coach at Rape U. Baylor Should be shut down. SMU did much less and got the death penalty.
Here’s why I don’t see Mac going anywhere (in no particular order):
– He knew this team would be good this year. But? As he said in his press conference last week, he actually felt they were a year away from really breaking through. That speaks volumes to what he feels he and his staff have found and developed for talent, and depth (despite many of our fears of talent train from this year to next).
– Jay’s got two more years, right? Sure, he could transfer wherever, but…why? Time with his kids is something largely lost in his profession. He gets to enjoy that now. Within a program they helped turn around. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?
– Sure, there’s the faith-based tie to Baylor, and his daughter went there, but… what else? He carries that mantle wherever he walks; not location specific.
– He’s got a great relationship w/ RG and the entire administration. Contract extension talks have been going on for quite some time (doesn’t mean he’ll accept them, but…seems most likely to me).
– He’s got more to prove. Sure, he’s been a turnaround guy – a quite successful one – throughout his career (and saw it happen during his formative years growing up). But? What’s next? It’s often said sustaining success is at least as hard as achieving it.
– His stint at SJSU was exactly that; and is for anyone taking that job. It’s a step, not a destination. CU Boulder? Well, that answers itself, doesn’t it?
– Turning around CU was no doubt stressful. Does he want to jump right into another turnaround (arguably a much tougher one, in many ways) at this point?
– doesn’t his youngest son have one more year in high school, as well? Why relocate him for his final year, after a lifetime of transient living?
– He’ll get paid to stay.
I’m more curious about shifts in his staff. But? We’ve already seen he’s also pretty adept at handling and maneuvering through that process, too.
All that said? First things first. Beat the dawgs.
Go Buffs!
PS- my best bets are UO and TX are much improved next year, less due to coaching, and more due to their very young, but pretty talented, rosters growing up. It will be interesting to see who lands in Eugene though.
The Ol Coaching job circle. Baylor Baylor Baylor
MacIntyre. Is he the top choice for coach at Baylor? Who by the way is down to 1 recruit in the 2017 class. Some close to Baylor say he is…… He could very well be. Think about it. Could be a perfect fit. Praise the Lord and pass the football.
Maybe Helfrich to Baylor. Mein Gott Go Buffs………….
Now Back to Mac. History says it is time for him to move. Baylor would pay him a ton. The “Praise the Lord” history is a perfect fit to “fix Baylor” And that is what Mac does…………Fix it……….. Looking at next year for the Buffs, this year will be very hard to duplicate……..Mac left sjs cause the run was done. and he got a better offer…….. Perhaps the run is done here for a while……….So we know Mac talks the talk………and walks when it is time………….Turn around guys always know………….His dye is cast…………….
But the good news is that The Buff coaching staff is strong. Who would leave with Mac? Lindgren, the TE coach (who needs to retire) maybe adams………the dline coach??? Staff would still look strong and upgrades available for sure.
So there ya go……..Mac to Baylor………….It could happen………It might….. Praise the Lord.
Go Buffs. Beat Washington………………Badly
I dont see that happening. I think he really wants to build and sustain something here. The run isnt done. Yes we will probably take a step back next year but we can still be a 7-8 win squad. But right now he is recruiting extremely well and in 2 years we will reload and get going again. CU needs to ante up and give him some $$$$$ because he has earned it. But I doubt he will leave especially with his son on the team.
I think coach Chiv, coach Leavitt & coach Tumpkin have made the biggest contributions to the Buffs team this year, not MacIntyre. I think he owes his PAC12 coach of the year award to them. Same players last year only won 4 games. I say let Lindgren go and if MacIntyre stays, fine…but make coach Chiv the OC. Do whatever it takes to keep coaches Chiv, Leavitt & Tumpkin.
Go Buffs!
Careful
can we do it with Hawkins like some of those autocratic countries that pretend certain portions of history never happened?
I don’t MacIntyre is going anywhere – his overall record remains bad, but if he has another year like 2016 then we need to be worried. Additionally, MacIntyre doesn’t seem like the type to chase money even though those other programs could offer more money.
Regarding Chiaverini, I don’t think he’ll go anywhere because he’s a BUFF. He also mentioned it was his dream to come back and coach at CU; however, I wouldn’t be surprised if Lindgren leaves the program during the offseason – and Chiaverini is named OC. I agree with WarBuff, Chiaverini has had a STRONG impact on this program – recruiting and offensively!
I’m hoping Leavitt is at the point in his career where he’s happy being a defensive coordinator and not wanting to be a head coach again – and take on all the additionally stress and job responsibilities that come along with being a head coach. I’m sure he doesn’t need the money, but CU needs to consider giving him a raise and convincing him Boulder is where he needs to be…
Lots to think about but for now let’s worry about the BIG GAME on Friday…GO BUFFS!!!!!!!!!
I say CU needs to dig deep and find the money to pay Mac2, Leavitt, Chiv, and even Lindgren to stay. I know some people blame Lindgren for everything that goes wrong. I could live without him. But clearly, whatever this coaching team is doing is working. So I figure, why change the formula unless we have to?
agree to that .its time to keep what is working . time for the AD to do his job.
Time for the AD to keep doing his job. So far, Rick George has been doing a good job from what I can see.
Coach Mac to Baylor? Excuse me? That’s Baylor fans starting rumors because they wish! Puuuhleeaase! If that happens I will A) eat my shoe, and B) never watch college football again.
Ha ha. I wouldn’t eat my shoe, but I think that’s malarkey, too. Wasn’t Baylor the Slimey U that tried to insert themselves into the PAC 12 talks and get themselves in instead of CU back in the day? I think the PAC got a good laugh out of that. They’re dirt balls, and this latest scandal is just more evidence. They seem like the nasty, underhanded kind of religious people that good religious, and non-religious people need to stay away from. I think (hope) that Mac will be too smart to fall for their smarmy come ons.
I agree that George should try to keep the entire staff…and add a legit, Special Teams coach! However, I think Leavitt is going to get multiple good offers. Hard to imagine him staying, as much as we want him to stay. I just hope he doesn’t take Tumpkin. Lindgren might go too, though I don’t see him getting amazing offers…
We’ll see…GO BUFFS!
Hawkins took the HC job at UC-Davis. Some will never learn!
Whoa now Helfrich can join him.
Exactly VK. They deserve each other. We all knew Helfrich wouldn’t last long. Even AZ!
That would be priceless!
after watching the Bruins-Buff game I wonder if Mora’s character is any better than Sarkisian’s. Is there something in the water out there in LA? Maybe Helton will break the mold.
Have to believe Oregon is canning Helfrich. Programs like theirs and Texas wont wait for a new coach to build a foundation or in Helfrich’s case, put up with one bad year. Hermann will benefit from Strong’s foundation work.
Also have to believe Phil knight will have the last word on a new hire (cant ignore his money even though he ignored the last game)so it will be an offensive leaning coach as opposed to Leavitt….although Leavitt could catch on there as a DC with quadruple the salary.
Going from half empty to half full, maybe lingering will catch on somewhere else and Chiaverini will be the one and only OC.
Mac to Baylor??? shuddder…I wont even let myself think about that. Karma would be that wonderful OC at Alabama getting that job
Lingering to SJS? I would think he might get a HC job there and it would work better for him to not be looking over his shoulder all the time. Chev has had a stronger impact, and is clearly capable of doing the OC job. Time to let him.
Yup right Yup.
Mein Gott…………..A win for everyone.
As much as I appreciate what MacIntyre has done for the program, Leavitt’s work with the defense is what allowed for this season’s success. If I’m forced to choose one of them, I’m taking Leavitt. Hope it doesn’t come to that, though
I agree. If it comes down to it and Mac leaves to do another turnaround somewhere, give Leavitt the head coaching role, promote Chev to full-time O coordinator, elevate Tumpkin to D coordinator. Continuity and strength, maintaining a strong recruiting class.
That’s foolish. Mac is the one who hired Leavitt and Tumpkin who is waiting in the wings if Leavitt leaves.
Really? You sure of all that?
There are different opinions on who said Leavitt would be hired and why.
I really really really hope these guys want to stay put for a few more years and build a legacy. I hope CU is ready to give out some raises.
Exactly. No more coaching carousel worries. Just pay these men the salary increases which they have so clearly earned. Keep them here. And appeal to their better natures…coaches always make tons of money compared to us little people…but not too many coaches get to build a true legacy. Mac2 could be CU’s version of Bill Snyder or Sonny Lubick or Lou Holtz. I don’t mean style, I mean legacy/legendary coach.
And, to be honest, CU must be making a lot more this season with this success. So Rick George needs to invest in success and pay these coaches enough to keep them in the ballpark of where they are performing.