Houston Nutt fired

[Machine Head]

Let's compare apples to apples. Mason's Big Ten winning percentage (.400) is significantly higher than predecessor Jim Wacker's (.200, 8-32) or successor Tim Brewster's (.250, 8-24). Over a comparable number of seasons, Mason won 32 Big Ten games in 10 years, Wacker/Brewster 16 in nine.

It should also be noted that Mason's worst years were his first, since there was no talent in the program; Brewster's best years were his first, meaning that Mason did not leave the cupboard bare. And at least Mason won those nonconference games and didn't lose to NDSU or South Dakota State.

A great coach? Perhaps not, but he was clearly better than the guy before him or after him at the U. This is about as good a hire as New Mexico could make, if it was looking for someone with head-coaching experience at a high level instead of an up-and-coming assistant/I-AA coach. And right now New Mexico is a disaster.

You really want to bring Brewster into the discussion? Really?

 

[micropolitan guy]

He might have been a terrible hire, but he was the head coach. No other way to spin it.

Holtz was the only coach that really had that program on the move. And he had to cheat, cheat, cheat his everloving ass off to make that happen.

 

[Oz]

OK, so far we have openings at...

Ohio State
Penn State
Ole Miss

What other ones are expected at BCS conference schools?

Arizona

Maybe Kansas with the Jayhawks going 5-24 since a 5-0 start to begin the 2009 season. Turner Gill's 5-22 overall and 1-15 in Big 12 play in his second season. They might use their share of the Mizzou/Texas A&M exit fee money to buy out Gill's contract -- Lew Perkins hired him, not the current AD, a football-first guy who's been outspoken about how KU needs to "fix" the program sooner than later.

Re: Ole Miss, I know it might not be splashy in so far as big names go, but Southern Miss' Larry Fedora's proven you can build a winning program in the state.

 

[Rufino]

Mason has denied the report on his Twitter feed, and says he isn't interested in the job.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Mason has denied the report on his Twitter feed, and says he isn't interested in the job.

Translation: They couldn't afford me.

 

[Machine Head]

He might have been a terrible hire, but he was the head coach. No other way to spin it.

Holtz was the only coach that really had that program on the move. And he had to cheat, cheat, cheat his everloving ass off to make that happen.

Brewster is one of the worst hires in college football history, and that falls on the AD, not the program.

At least Joe Salem and Jim Wacker had experienced some success as a HC.

Look, Mason is a better coach than Wacker was, and Brewster is, but he is not an elite-level coach.

How far back do we go Holtz is brought up? Cal Stoll had a better in-conference record than Mason, as did Warmath.

A grade of B on the coaching scale isn't bad at all, in my opinion.

 

[albert77]

Re: Ole Miss, I know it might not be splashy in so far as big names go, but Southern Miss' Larry Fedora's proven you can build a winning program in the state.

To be fair, Southern is playing in Conference USA, not the SEC, and he did have a winning tradition to build on when he got there.

Also, Fedora may have better options than Ole Miss, especially if Texas A&M fires Mike Sherman. Fedora was born and raised in College Station and A&M would obviously be his dream job.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

He might have been a terrible hire, but he was the head coach. No other way to spin it.

Holtz was the only coach that really had that program on the move. And he had to cheat, cheat, cheat his everloving ass off to make that happen.

Brewster is one of the worst hires in college football history, and that falls on the AD, not the program.

At least Joe Salem and Jim Wacker had experienced some success as a HC.

Look, Mason is a better coach than Wacker was, and Brewster is, but he is not an elite-level coach.

How far back do we go Holtz is brought up? Cal Stoll had a better in-conference record than Mason, as did Warmath.

A grade of B on the coaching scale isn't bad at all, in my opinion.

Aside from Holtz, you have to go back to Warmath.

Before Murray, you have to go back to the mid-30s, which was the last time the program was truly great.

 

[derwood]

Hudspeth? Are they broke?

 

[micropolitan guy]

Look, Mason is a better coach than Wacker was, and Brewster is, but he is not an elite-level coach.

Not disagreeing. I misconstrued your "B-grade coach" evaluation.

 

[Drip]

Fedora to UM. A logical fit and a better recruiter of in-state talent.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Fedora to UM. A logical fit and a better recruiter of in-state talent.

Southern Miss has seven starters (three offense, four defense) who are from Mississippi. And that includes a starting quarterback who is a fifth-year senior and was recruited by his predecessor (Fedora's first year at USM was 2008). Like everyone who has ever coached at Southern Miss, Fedora depends on players from New Orleans, Mobile and the Mississippi junior college system.