After watching the 10 p.m. news last night and hearing Vic Lombardi say Mac is officially out, I came to the following conclusions:
1. MB is a windsock, not a leader. He wants to find a hire that pleases everybody. He got walked on over the timing of firing Juicebox, and he is apparently happy to lay down if it saves his paycheck. So he is sticking his finger in the wind on this hire, instead of finding a guy who can do the job best.
2. Because he's a windsock, despite what he said, IMO, Mac was never, ever, ever going to get the job. MB just dangled that to keep the alums, former players and certain donors off his back.
3. To his credit, MB did go elephant hunting and tried to get a Richt, Miles type big name BCS coach, mainly to achieve point number 2.
4. Since MB failed to bag the elephant, he is now to his B list, which really isn't all that bad. McElwain, EB, Embree, Cabral, the farce of pretending Mac was a candidate...not bad. Fortunately, somehow, MB got over his man crush on Calhoun.
5. But true to form, MB is still going to find a way to foul this up. Mac is out, apparently MB is passing on Cabral, so EB or EmBree is the question. That is a no brainer. I love Embo as a Buff and he's a great recruiter and AC, but only EB has the panache to do those things AND be HC.
6. Despite #5 MB may have stuck his finger in the air and found out, GASP, not every single person he interacts with approves of EB. MB shifts back into spineless political hack mode and opts for the candidate who isn't a viable HC candidate anywhere else. As matter of fact, outside of Buff land Embo is probably viewed as a career AC. Embo is non-descript, non-controversial, and most importantly for MB, not in demand anywhere else as an HC which makes him a) low price and b) easily controlled. Winning potential is clearly a lower tier concern.
7. The above process is what makes MB's hiring track record the wasteland it is. He wants to please everybody, and in the end pleases no one. Not to mention, fails to pick a winner.
8. One word about McElwain. IF he ends up being the hire, he better win, and win fast, another untested HC with no goodwill from the Buff faithful (i.e. an outsider) coming in here stepping on his dick for three years will KILL the program. At least EB and or Embo will have a much more relaxed leash.
MB has apparently never understood the prime function of the AD isn't to be popular, it isn't to have the academics love you, it is to field competitive teams. I hope EB is actually the choice. If it is Embo, I'll be pulling for him big time, just like I would have Calhoun, or if it ends up being McElwain. I just think MB is passing on better candidates.
One last thought on McElwain. Those of you who are thinking, if he's good enough for Saban, he's good enough for me read this:http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2008/01/saban_targets_nebraskas_shawn.html
Saban was looking for Shortbus before McElwain too. My only point is any OC is a risk, MB had better hope and pray, McElwain is the real deal if he goes that way...
1. MB is a windsock, not a leader. He wants to find a hire that pleases everybody. He got walked on over the timing of firing Juicebox, and he is apparently happy to lay down if it saves his paycheck. So he is sticking his finger in the wind on this hire, instead of finding a guy who can do the job best.
2. Because he's a windsock, despite what he said, IMO, Mac was never, ever, ever going to get the job. MB just dangled that to keep the alums, former players and certain donors off his back.
3. To his credit, MB did go elephant hunting and tried to get a Richt, Miles type big name BCS coach, mainly to achieve point number 2.
4. Since MB failed to bag the elephant, he is now to his B list, which really isn't all that bad. McElwain, EB, Embree, Cabral, the farce of pretending Mac was a candidate...not bad. Fortunately, somehow, MB got over his man crush on Calhoun.
5. But true to form, MB is still going to find a way to foul this up. Mac is out, apparently MB is passing on Cabral, so EB or EmBree is the question. That is a no brainer. I love Embo as a Buff and he's a great recruiter and AC, but only EB has the panache to do those things AND be HC.
6. Despite #5 MB may have stuck his finger in the air and found out, GASP, not every single person he interacts with approves of EB. MB shifts back into spineless political hack mode and opts for the candidate who isn't a viable HC candidate anywhere else. As matter of fact, outside of Buff land Embo is probably viewed as a career AC. Embo is non-descript, non-controversial, and most importantly for MB, not in demand anywhere else as an HC which makes him a) low price and b) easily controlled. Winning potential is clearly a lower tier concern.
7. The above process is what makes MB's hiring track record the wasteland it is. He wants to please everybody, and in the end pleases no one. Not to mention, fails to pick a winner.
8. One word about McElwain. IF he ends up being the hire, he better win, and win fast, another untested HC with no goodwill from the Buff faithful (i.e. an outsider) coming in here stepping on his dick for three years will KILL the program. At least EB and or Embo will have a much more relaxed leash.
MB has apparently never understood the prime function of the AD isn't to be popular, it isn't to have the academics love you, it is to field competitive teams. I hope EB is actually the choice. If it is Embo, I'll be pulling for him big time, just like I would have Calhoun, or if it ends up being McElwain. I just think MB is passing on better candidates.
One last thought on McElwain. Those of you who are thinking, if he's good enough for Saban, he's good enough for me read this:http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2008/01/saban_targets_nebraskas_shawn.html
Saban was looking for Shortbus before McElwain too. My only point is any OC is a risk, MB had better hope and pray, McElwain is the real deal if he goes that way...
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