Thanks for repeating what's been going in my head for, oh, about 6 years now. I would have recommended we go after Deion Sanders (he puts butts in seats, he recruits, he has a game plan, and his team is fun to watch), but Jimbo Fischer just became available. Hmmmm.
Cignetti signed a contract extension through '28 just this week. I haven't found contract buyout numbers.
OTOH, JMU projected costs and revenue that will result from the FBS jump, and it penciled out a plus. Can Jarmond project beyond a short term Dec 15, or Aug 2024 date for what's best for UCLA?
So, I guess I'm in the "conspiracy camp". I believe we should "follow the money". The Chipster (OG) has to know his days are numbered. They've been numbered for a couple of years now, but this season and last night's game should be the last nail. Now since The Chipster (OG) has a practice of getting into teams/organizations, trashing them, then leaving with a big fat check, the fatter that check the better. So, after losing to Arizona, in another poor performance, the Chipster (OG) says to himself, "Well they are going to let me go (they'd be stupid not to!), but if they let me go after December 15 (or whatever December date), I lose $4m. Well, the hell with that, I have to make UCLA fire me BEFORE that December date, because of course, I want that extra $4m". So how does The Chipster (OG) go about doing this? He has to make his teams' performances look so bad, the UCLA AD and administration have no choice! Meaning watch for SUC to put up 60 pts next weekend at the Mausoleum. No, the Chipster isn't "throwing the game", he's just having his team play like they normally do... BAD. The Chipster needs that extra $4m, after all he is still getting most likely millions from all the other schools and organizations he has trashed along the way, he needs to add UCLA to his list -- ANOTHER CHECK. But again, this is the UCLA AD and administration, we can't underestimate them as well. They will want to wait until AFTER the 2024 season where the financial penalties are even lower or so they think. But they aren't looking at the financial models in their entirety, they are just looking at the contract as they always do.
I am not being a naysayer here but Smith might be a tough get given that he's an alum at Oregon State (the QB of the Chad Johnson/TJ Houshmanzaheh team that ended up top 10 after blowing out Notre Dame in the bowl) and might not want to leave *his* school in it's time of need...
Believe me, I want Chip gone ASAP. But I’m wondering if the retirement of Block this year will delay the inevitable. How athletic friendly will the new chancellor be?
I wouldn't mind getting a rising star younger coordinator like Dan Lanning was on UGa's staff, perhaps we already have one...
On another note/thought - while I agree with some of us in previous threads that Mike Elko would fill a lot of boxes, for one, I'll bet he ends up at aTm where he used to be a coordinator and for two, we do have to be cautious about the 'head coach who's had one great early season'... Remember when some here thought there's "no way" we could ever get a Dave Aranda away from Baylor? Have you seen Baylor this year?
Greg Schiano is a good choice. So is Jason Candle (Toledo). They both recruit well and have a lot of experience. I love Cignetti, he's my vote for COY but he's a couple years out of FCS and has limited recruiting reach. If you want to win in the Big Ten you cannot take chances on "new/younger" coaches. You're supposed to be elite, so hire an elite coach. Schiano recruits in the Big Ten. Mack Brown is a good one too but his age is concerning. Jeff Brohm is doing great things at Louisville. Chris Klieman is also a good catch (Kansas State). Willie Fritz (Tualne) is undervalued, IMO. And say no to Jimbo.
Great honest (and depressing) write up Joe. I read earlier this morning that UCLA football succeeded to be named by USA Today to the top College Football Misery Index. Quite an accomplishment for a team that "peaked" after beating NC Central. We are now 1/3 of the way to lose our last 3 league games. Then it's off to the Gronk Kicks LA Bowl to lose against "high flying" Air Force.. It cannot get any worse than this with our current head coach. This is rock bottom. Question: Is there anyway UCLA can ease into the Big Ten next year by playing in a newly created Big Ten 7 on 7 passing league (with no contact) to allow our coaching staff time to get up to speed with the big boys?
The QB sneak(s) from the four yard line was the Rubicon: all the overstatement of the "fire Kelly" nihilists suddenly, for me, in that moment became the only reasonable response. But I'd suggest not this week as we are preparing for the Ketchup and Mustard trade school on Figueroa. Let's let this season play out, and when Chip's buyout reduces in December, let him go, thank him for his service, and let Lynn be interim for the Weedwacker Bowl or wherever we wind up. Next coach? Mysterious.
Joe, got no problem with politics (to a point) as this is another frame of reference and whatever applies applies. Being a Bus Ad major (one of the last 60 to go through the undergrad program for the BS degree; truly a bargain), I would say that not only politics apply, but also financial and break-even analyses are appropriate. Follow the money -- yeppers -- but also, find out what what the actual cash flows might be to determine exactly when our "black Friday" eventuates.
As some smarter than I have posted, the drop-off in season ticket sales and walk-in attendance (and vendor income, other football revenues, etc.) might reveal that the $8 millions or $4 millions are cheap compared to the bath we would be taking if the Old Chipster remained on the sidelines perpetually calling for the "three yard and a cloud of dust" offense in the red zone. (Three straight crashes into the line inside the five, can you believe it?)
While we'd probably not get precisely near what the guys on the high stools wearing the green eyeshades in the AD would calculate, I'll wager we could come pretty close -- especially since UCLA is a public university and the FOIA data is bare nekkid for the asking.
By the same token, we couldn't do any hiring decision projections with the info we'd get and the negotiations with any prospective coach would certainly not be available until the guy was hired. But my fever brain is pulsing, I am idle (sort of) since retirement, and if you need volunteers to turn the crank handle on the old desktop calculating machines, why don't you discretely request volunteers and suit up a team? Betcha you'd get some formidable brain power -- and water boys like myself.
Exit question: Anyone for doing a "whip 'round" to hire a plane and banner for the Toe Jam game?
There’s a saying - ‘Only when the tide goes out do you see who’s been swimming naked’. I think we all knew UCLA hasn’t been on the right path, but I didn’t expect the tide to go out until next year. Now, it seems that the Arizona game was the one that broke this team, physically and mentally, and exposed the reality.
This is a really good piece from Joe, us fans get hot under the collar and want action and drama - fire him on the tarmac!, but the business of running a program is somewhat different. There has been a lot of comments criticizing Jarmond for giving Kelly an extension, and having a contract with a buyout, but I find this few naive at best. There’s no situation where a CFB coach is going to just serve out their contract, shake hands and part ways with a school (Maybe a long serving coach heading into retirement with a successor appointed?). I can’t see a lame duck coach ever working - as bad as recruiting is under Kelly, how bad would it be if the pitch was simply, come to our school and hope they hire a coach you like for next year. And every time journalists asked questions it would be a the future of the program and the motivation to coach. It’s the same with a buyout - it’s just part of the deal. Imagine a coach without a buyout - not only does it say to the coach ‘we don’t really think you’re worth keeping’, if they actually are decent, they’ll be poached in the blink of an eye.
I think the odds of Kelly going sooner rather than later have greatly increased, and hope Jarmond takes the approach Joe has suggested. Have him coach the last 2 games (while compiling a list of replacements), wait until the buyout drops (no need to spend $4M for the sake of a few weeks), and appoint Lynn as interim for whatever bowl will have us. Choosing the replacement is interesting. Lynn should get a close look. He’s done well this year, but I’m not sure if CFB or NFL is where he’s best suited. I guess I know that we need a great recruiter, and someone committed to building a program over time. I also think we’re going to have a rough few years in the rebuild, and that’s a tough ask for anyone. So if not Lynn, then a young coach that can attract talent, not a big name is the way to go.
Fire Chip!
Thanks for repeating what's been going in my head for, oh, about 6 years now. I would have recommended we go after Deion Sanders (he puts butts in seats, he recruits, he has a game plan, and his team is fun to watch), but Jimbo Fischer just became available. Hmmmm.
What was the name of that really young guy they hired a long time ago and he did pretty good? Heck, I think they just put up a statue of him!
Cignetti signed a contract extension through '28 just this week. I haven't found contract buyout numbers.
OTOH, JMU projected costs and revenue that will result from the FBS jump, and it penciled out a plus. Can Jarmond project beyond a short term Dec 15, or Aug 2024 date for what's best for UCLA?
So, I guess I'm in the "conspiracy camp". I believe we should "follow the money". The Chipster (OG) has to know his days are numbered. They've been numbered for a couple of years now, but this season and last night's game should be the last nail. Now since The Chipster (OG) has a practice of getting into teams/organizations, trashing them, then leaving with a big fat check, the fatter that check the better. So, after losing to Arizona, in another poor performance, the Chipster (OG) says to himself, "Well they are going to let me go (they'd be stupid not to!), but if they let me go after December 15 (or whatever December date), I lose $4m. Well, the hell with that, I have to make UCLA fire me BEFORE that December date, because of course, I want that extra $4m". So how does The Chipster (OG) go about doing this? He has to make his teams' performances look so bad, the UCLA AD and administration have no choice! Meaning watch for SUC to put up 60 pts next weekend at the Mausoleum. No, the Chipster isn't "throwing the game", he's just having his team play like they normally do... BAD. The Chipster needs that extra $4m, after all he is still getting most likely millions from all the other schools and organizations he has trashed along the way, he needs to add UCLA to his list -- ANOTHER CHECK. But again, this is the UCLA AD and administration, we can't underestimate them as well. They will want to wait until AFTER the 2024 season where the financial penalties are even lower or so they think. But they aren't looking at the financial models in their entirety, they are just looking at the contract as they always do.
I am not being a naysayer here but Smith might be a tough get given that he's an alum at Oregon State (the QB of the Chad Johnson/TJ Houshmanzaheh team that ended up top 10 after blowing out Notre Dame in the bowl) and might not want to leave *his* school in it's time of need...
Yep, we know the answer. It's almost as if Doughnut Dan and the UC chancellors deliberately set out to destroy PAC 12 sports.
Believe me, I want Chip gone ASAP. But I’m wondering if the retirement of Block this year will delay the inevitable. How athletic friendly will the new chancellor be?
I wouldn't mind getting a rising star younger coordinator like Dan Lanning was on UGa's staff, perhaps we already have one...
On another note/thought - while I agree with some of us in previous threads that Mike Elko would fill a lot of boxes, for one, I'll bet he ends up at aTm where he used to be a coordinator and for two, we do have to be cautious about the 'head coach who's had one great early season'... Remember when some here thought there's "no way" we could ever get a Dave Aranda away from Baylor? Have you seen Baylor this year?
Greg Schiano is a good choice. So is Jason Candle (Toledo). They both recruit well and have a lot of experience. I love Cignetti, he's my vote for COY but he's a couple years out of FCS and has limited recruiting reach. If you want to win in the Big Ten you cannot take chances on "new/younger" coaches. You're supposed to be elite, so hire an elite coach. Schiano recruits in the Big Ten. Mack Brown is a good one too but his age is concerning. Jeff Brohm is doing great things at Louisville. Chris Klieman is also a good catch (Kansas State). Willie Fritz (Tualne) is undervalued, IMO. And say no to Jimbo.
Great honest (and depressing) write up Joe. I read earlier this morning that UCLA football succeeded to be named by USA Today to the top College Football Misery Index. Quite an accomplishment for a team that "peaked" after beating NC Central. We are now 1/3 of the way to lose our last 3 league games. Then it's off to the Gronk Kicks LA Bowl to lose against "high flying" Air Force.. It cannot get any worse than this with our current head coach. This is rock bottom. Question: Is there anyway UCLA can ease into the Big Ten next year by playing in a newly created Big Ten 7 on 7 passing league (with no contact) to allow our coaching staff time to get up to speed with the big boys?
The QB sneak(s) from the four yard line was the Rubicon: all the overstatement of the "fire Kelly" nihilists suddenly, for me, in that moment became the only reasonable response. But I'd suggest not this week as we are preparing for the Ketchup and Mustard trade school on Figueroa. Let's let this season play out, and when Chip's buyout reduces in December, let him go, thank him for his service, and let Lynn be interim for the Weedwacker Bowl or wherever we wind up. Next coach? Mysterious.
Joe, got no problem with politics (to a point) as this is another frame of reference and whatever applies applies. Being a Bus Ad major (one of the last 60 to go through the undergrad program for the BS degree; truly a bargain), I would say that not only politics apply, but also financial and break-even analyses are appropriate. Follow the money -- yeppers -- but also, find out what what the actual cash flows might be to determine exactly when our "black Friday" eventuates.
As some smarter than I have posted, the drop-off in season ticket sales and walk-in attendance (and vendor income, other football revenues, etc.) might reveal that the $8 millions or $4 millions are cheap compared to the bath we would be taking if the Old Chipster remained on the sidelines perpetually calling for the "three yard and a cloud of dust" offense in the red zone. (Three straight crashes into the line inside the five, can you believe it?)
While we'd probably not get precisely near what the guys on the high stools wearing the green eyeshades in the AD would calculate, I'll wager we could come pretty close -- especially since UCLA is a public university and the FOIA data is bare nekkid for the asking.
By the same token, we couldn't do any hiring decision projections with the info we'd get and the negotiations with any prospective coach would certainly not be available until the guy was hired. But my fever brain is pulsing, I am idle (sort of) since retirement, and if you need volunteers to turn the crank handle on the old desktop calculating machines, why don't you discretely request volunteers and suit up a team? Betcha you'd get some formidable brain power -- and water boys like myself.
Exit question: Anyone for doing a "whip 'round" to hire a plane and banner for the Toe Jam game?
There’s a saying - ‘Only when the tide goes out do you see who’s been swimming naked’. I think we all knew UCLA hasn’t been on the right path, but I didn’t expect the tide to go out until next year. Now, it seems that the Arizona game was the one that broke this team, physically and mentally, and exposed the reality.
This is a really good piece from Joe, us fans get hot under the collar and want action and drama - fire him on the tarmac!, but the business of running a program is somewhat different. There has been a lot of comments criticizing Jarmond for giving Kelly an extension, and having a contract with a buyout, but I find this few naive at best. There’s no situation where a CFB coach is going to just serve out their contract, shake hands and part ways with a school (Maybe a long serving coach heading into retirement with a successor appointed?). I can’t see a lame duck coach ever working - as bad as recruiting is under Kelly, how bad would it be if the pitch was simply, come to our school and hope they hire a coach you like for next year. And every time journalists asked questions it would be a the future of the program and the motivation to coach. It’s the same with a buyout - it’s just part of the deal. Imagine a coach without a buyout - not only does it say to the coach ‘we don’t really think you’re worth keeping’, if they actually are decent, they’ll be poached in the blink of an eye.
I think the odds of Kelly going sooner rather than later have greatly increased, and hope Jarmond takes the approach Joe has suggested. Have him coach the last 2 games (while compiling a list of replacements), wait until the buyout drops (no need to spend $4M for the sake of a few weeks), and appoint Lynn as interim for whatever bowl will have us. Choosing the replacement is interesting. Lynn should get a close look. He’s done well this year, but I’m not sure if CFB or NFL is where he’s best suited. I guess I know that we need a great recruiter, and someone committed to building a program over time. I also think we’re going to have a rough few years in the rebuild, and that’s a tough ask for anyone. So if not Lynn, then a young coach that can attract talent, not a big name is the way to go.
Fire Chip Kelly. He has done nothing but lose easy games. He hasn't won a bowl game somehow. Last year they had it in the bag and he gave 60 yards on 2 plays to lose. They better fire him. Also I designed a FIRE CHIP KELLY shirt. https://www.customink.com/designs/firechip/zdd0-00ct-nezh/hotlink?pc=HL-191722&utm_content=editbuylink&oe=44932274-9c03d&utm_source=Hotlink&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Hotlink%202%20Variation%20C%20%28XRBaF3%29&_kx=wYl6D6gV4IPzHWj8VGrd5OmcskVHlfOfTGtkdjkdrlfoSaiBUMuTHMobTow45NS0.SKGNUp
Guys, if Chip Kelly coached Michigan, Georgia, or Ohio State they would probably be 5-5 at best.