And I think if Minnesota wins on Saturday, Mason is gone. He's done as much as he can -- he's not getting a better job out of his Minnesota gig, he's going somewhere. I was thinking this and then I saw Sid suggesting he might get a look a K State. I think that, or some other school like it, makes sense. Go back to a mid level Big 12, Big East, ACC or SEC school that will have you and try to turn it into a winner fast enough to land another job where your genius an finally be recognized. At least that's what I think right now.
No way! Why would he go to K-State or a school like that. Parallel move for Mason. I hear his family really likes it in MN, so I really doubt he goes somewhere unless its a big time program like Penn State or a Southern School with a big fan base. I wish he would leave, but he's here for the duration..
Here's why it is possible, I think -- the parallel move argument worked when it seemed like Mason could use the Minnesota job to jump to a clearly better program. Why leave when he reall wants to leave for a really good job. He simply has not been able to do that. What is going to change about that in the next 2,3,4 years? Does he think he can do seriously better in the Big Ten than he has over the course of the last several years because that's what it would take. So, he might be able to win outright in a league like the Big 12 -- given his rep and his ability to recruit offense. That might be a path to a big time program. Unless he thinks he's going to the Capital One Bowl in the near future then I think the calculus is to leave and try and get to the BCS in a lesser conference and then perhaps he can get a Mason dream job.
Well, the main problem with that argument is that it takes time...and Mason is getting to be a little too old for it. I think he's in his mid-50's right now. So he really only has another 10 years or so of coaching left. I think he wants to stay at Minnesota and retire here as the most successful coach in the programs history. Plus they will eventually get the stadium built and he can take credit for that too.
I agree that Mason's age could be a significant factor. But it could also be that he may see this as his last chance at getting to an elite program. Win in 3 years, jump to dream job, coach at national powerhouse for 7 years. Retire as offensive genius.
A little beside the point, but...I think you're giving Mason too much credit for his offensive success. I think a lot of it is the assistant coaches that have been with him for a long time:
Vic Adamle, Running Backs Coach
Gordie Shaw, Centers and Guards Coach
...and especially this guy: Mitch Browning, Offensive Coordinator, Tight Ends & Tackles Coach
But of course the head coach always gets the credit for the assistants successes.
A) Walker Lee is going nowhere despite unsubstansiated reports elsewhere.
B) I have no interest for a WCHAHFL leauge (well, mabye just a tad).
C) Matt had 88 pts and the second most available. I had 90 so spent 89 to ensure my pickup. I'm trying to lock down Minny's running game for next season. If it's anything like the last few seasons, this could go down as a bold stroke of genius.
Actually, that's not my opinion, I think that's Mason's self image. And I think it is his driving reason to leave that he wants to be recognized as such. He won't be as long as he stays in Minnesota. Sure, he gets a fair amount of credit in the national media but not nearly as much as what he believes he's due and as he believes he'd get if he did this in Norman, or Columbus or State College or just about anywhere else.
PS. Glen Mason is going nowhere as well, unless.....Maturi is so very incompetant that he screws it up completely. Mason wants to coach in the Big Ten and only the Big Ten and has no ambitions outside the Big Ten. Did I happen to say Big Ten?
If Mason did leave, the one job he might sniff at will be MSU if JL gets canned. Keep in mind that Mason spurned the Spartans a few years ago though. And...Mason could quite possibly succed JoePa at PSU in a year or two. With that in mind, Mase may sign a short term contract. I believe we'll know much more within two to three weeks.
You guys are probably right about Mason. But I assume that when you say Mason wants to coach only in the Big Ten, the reality is he wants to coach at an elite institution in the Big Ten. That leaves Penn State. What has changed about his resume since Ohio State passed him over? Why would he expect to be a serious candidate at Penn State if he basically does the same thing in Minnesota for the next 3 years. I guess I think if he is thinking seriously about succeeding Paterno, then he has to consider going somewhere else and being more successful. Otherwise, I think he will have rsigned himself to staying until he's done as a coach.
Or, to think about it another way, how could Penn State possibly hire Glen Mason when he has never finished higher than 4th in the Big Ten. Can Mason get to 2nd or 3rd (note to mention 1st)in the Big Ten in the next 3 years. I doubt it. As much as Mason has done, its gotten tougher with the resurgance of Penn State. Now the Gophers have to pass Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern, and Wisconsin and get ahead of one of the trio of Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Maybe he thinks that can happen.
MSU was an elite FB school (ok, it was a while ago and so was MN) and could return given their recruiting base. Why would PSU want Mason? - Mason is a close personal friend of JoePa (not in the Sid sense of the word, but real close friends)
- Mase is a JoePa protege. He's a coaching throwback. He plays JoePa ball and JoePa loves him for it.
- In line w/ the above thinking, Mase also runs a straight and narrow program that JoePa likes.
- JoePa will have an enormous amount of say on who takes his place at PSU, and possibly may even be able to name his own successor lending greater wieght to the Mase/JoePa ties.
- Mase has beat Penn State numerous times. The most important win coming in 99. PSU fans and alum respect Mase.
- PSU fans, alum, and coaches also respect that Mase has accomplished a great deal w/ little support and no stadium. They probably also believe he could do much more w/ much more in the way of resources. If we belive he'd be the same ole' coach or not doesn't matter.
-Our offense has put up obsene #s and we are getting plenty of national attention for it. At least we are in the Big Ten. Our D is obsene in the other sense, but that hasn't gotten much in the way of notice outside of MN.
My money says he still stays in MN unless offered PSU. He will never be offered OSU so that doesn't even factor in. If Maturi fools around w/ Mase and MSU offers he's good as gone though.
I didn't know about Mason's ties to Paterno/PSU. But didn't he have close ties and personal connections to OSU? Wasn't that why OSU was going to hire him?
I just don't see it if Mason stays at Minnesota. Either one of Paterno's assistants gets the job or some very high profile in demand coach gets the job. Mason can be the latter but I just doubt that he can do so at Minnesota. Mason has, in his own mind, been a candidate for every big time college football coaching position that has come open but it doesn't appear that he has been in the Athletic departments where those hiring decisions are actually made.
BTW, I like the Pinnix pick up -- why not? Although even after last week I still think Pinnix is the next Terry Jackson but it is worth a shot. I really like the CJ Bacher pick up from a few weeks back. He might not be the starter next year but he might be.
19 comments:
That's hilarious -- Too bad Matt didn't bid all his points as well.
College fantasy Hockey?
I hope you're not kidding because I was seriously considering that.
WCHAFHL?
Whada ya think there? Are you in?
Have you seen the reports on Walker Lee Ashley?
YES....are you surprised for some reason? It's MINNESOTA, this always happens.
Not surprised it is just a bizarre story.
And I think if Minnesota wins on Saturday, Mason is gone. He's done as much as he can -- he's not getting a better job out of his Minnesota gig, he's going somewhere. I was thinking this and then I saw Sid suggesting he might get a look a K State. I think that, or some other school like it, makes sense. Go back to a mid level Big 12, Big East, ACC or SEC school that will have you and try to turn it into a winner fast enough to land another job where your genius an finally be recognized. At least that's what I think right now.
No way! Why would he go to K-State or a school like that. Parallel move for Mason. I hear his family really likes it in MN, so I really doubt he goes somewhere unless its a big time program like Penn State or a Southern School with a big fan base. I wish he would leave, but he's here for the duration..
Here's why it is possible, I think -- the parallel move argument worked when it seemed like Mason could use the Minnesota job to jump to a clearly better program. Why leave when he reall wants to leave for a really good job. He simply has not been able to do that. What is going to change about that in the next 2,3,4 years? Does he think he can do seriously better in the Big Ten than he has over the course of the last several years because that's what it would take. So, he might be able to win outright in a league like the Big 12 -- given his rep and his ability to recruit offense. That might be a path to a big time program. Unless he thinks he's going to the Capital One Bowl in the near future then I think the calculus is to leave and try and get to the BCS in a lesser conference and then perhaps he can get a Mason dream job.
Well, the main problem with that argument is that it takes time...and Mason is getting to be a little too old for it. I think he's in his mid-50's right now. So he really only has another 10 years or so of coaching left. I think he wants to stay at Minnesota and retire here as the most successful coach in the programs history. Plus they will eventually get the stadium built and he can take credit for that too.
I agree that Mason's age could be a significant factor. But it could also be that he may see this as his last chance at getting to an elite program. Win in 3 years, jump to dream job, coach at national powerhouse for 7 years. Retire as offensive genius.
A little beside the point, but...I think you're giving Mason too much credit for his offensive success. I think a lot of it is the assistant coaches that have been with him for a long time:
Vic Adamle, Running Backs Coach
Gordie Shaw, Centers and Guards Coach
...and especially this guy:
Mitch Browning, Offensive Coordinator, Tight Ends & Tackles Coach
But of course the head coach always gets the credit for the assistants successes.
A few points...
A) Walker Lee is going nowhere despite unsubstansiated reports elsewhere.
B) I have no interest for a WCHAHFL leauge (well, mabye just a tad).
C) Matt had 88 pts and the second most available. I had 90 so spent 89 to ensure my pickup. I'm trying to lock down Minny's running game for next season. If it's anything like the last few seasons, this could go down as a bold stroke of genius.
Actually, that's not my opinion, I think that's Mason's self image. And I think it is his driving reason to leave that he wants to be recognized as such. He won't be as long as he stays in Minnesota. Sure, he gets a fair amount of credit in the national media but not nearly as much as what he believes he's due and as he believes he'd get if he did this in Norman, or Columbus or State College or just about anywhere else.
PS. Glen Mason is going nowhere as well, unless.....Maturi is so very incompetant that he screws it up completely. Mason wants to coach in the Big Ten and only the Big Ten and has no ambitions outside the Big Ten. Did I happen to say Big Ten?
If Mason did leave, the one job he might sniff at will be MSU if JL gets canned. Keep in mind that Mason spurned the Spartans a few years ago though. And...Mason could quite possibly succed JoePa at PSU in a year or two. With that in mind, Mase may sign a short term contract. I believe we'll know much more within two to three weeks.
I never thought I'd say this...but I agree with Shawn.
You guys are probably right about Mason. But I assume that when you say Mason wants to coach only in the Big Ten, the reality is he wants to coach at an elite institution in the Big Ten. That leaves Penn State. What has changed about his resume since Ohio State passed him over? Why would he expect to be a serious candidate at Penn State if he basically does the same thing in Minnesota for the next 3 years. I guess I think if he is thinking seriously about succeeding Paterno, then he has to consider going somewhere else and being more successful. Otherwise, I think he will have rsigned himself to staying until he's done as a coach.
Or, to think about it another way, how could Penn State possibly hire Glen Mason when he has never finished higher than 4th in the Big Ten. Can Mason get to 2nd or 3rd (note to mention 1st)in the Big Ten in the next 3 years. I doubt it. As much as Mason has done, its gotten tougher with the resurgance of Penn State. Now the Gophers have to pass Iowa, Purdue, Northwestern, and Wisconsin and get ahead of one of the trio of Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State. Maybe he thinks that can happen.
MSU was an elite FB school (ok, it was a while ago and so was MN) and could return given their recruiting base. Why would PSU want Mason?
- Mason is a close personal friend of JoePa (not in the Sid sense of the word, but real close friends)
- Mase is a JoePa protege. He's a coaching throwback. He plays JoePa ball and JoePa loves him for it.
- In line w/ the above thinking, Mase also runs a straight and narrow program that JoePa likes.
- JoePa will have an enormous amount of say on who takes his place at PSU, and possibly may even be able to name his own successor lending greater wieght to the Mase/JoePa ties.
- Mase has beat Penn State numerous times. The most important win coming in 99. PSU fans and alum respect Mase.
- PSU fans, alum, and coaches also respect that Mase has accomplished a great deal w/ little support and no stadium. They probably also believe he could do much more w/ much more in the way of resources. If we belive he'd be the same ole' coach or not doesn't matter.
-Our offense has put up obsene #s and we are getting plenty of national attention for it. At least we are in the Big Ten. Our D is obsene in the other sense, but that hasn't gotten much in the way of notice outside of MN.
My money says he still stays in MN unless offered PSU. He will never be offered OSU so that doesn't even factor in. If Maturi fools around w/ Mase and MSU offers he's good as gone though.
I didn't know about Mason's ties to Paterno/PSU. But didn't he have close ties and personal connections to OSU? Wasn't that why OSU was going to hire him?
I just don't see it if Mason stays at Minnesota. Either one of Paterno's assistants gets the job or some very high profile in demand coach gets the job. Mason can be the latter but I just doubt that he can do so at Minnesota. Mason has, in his own mind, been a candidate for every big time college football coaching position that has come open but it doesn't appear that he has been in the Athletic departments where those hiring decisions are actually made.
BTW, I like the Pinnix pick up -- why not? Although even after last week I still think Pinnix is the next Terry Jackson but it is worth a shot. I really like the CJ Bacher pick up from a few weeks back. He might not be the starter next year but he might be.
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