The Fake Lonnie Finch

...and, a teammate of Jim Leavitt at Mizzou. Maybe MizzouTiger will log back in and tell us about him.

Ancient Chinese Secret

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He was my third choice behind Canales and Glen Mason. Mason was never in the picture. Before Dodge was fired, and Canales took over, I'd have had Mason and McCarney as my top two. I've felt all along that we've needed a very experienced coach to pull us to higher ground - not just winning seasons, but a jump to a better conference as well. When Canales won two of his first three and almost beat Troy, he became my first choice. But, I'm very happy that we hired McCarney. Hiring McCarney is on par with hiring his former mentor, Hayden Fry. Nice job, Rick Villareal. This is the home run hire.

Many former head coaches are assistants now... John L. Smith...Arkansas Al Groh...Georgia Tech Mike O'Cain...Virginia Tech Rocky Long...San Diego State Gary Crowton...LSU Dan McCarney...Florida Chris Tormey...Hawaii Rick Minter...Indiana State (by the way, I'd take this guy as an assistant, too). Chuck Reedy...South Carolina Steve Logan...Tampa Bay Buccaneers Karl Dorrell...Miami Dolphins Paul Pasqualoni...Dallas Cowboys Gary Gibbs...Kansas City Chiefs Dirk Koetter...Jacksonville Jaguars Mike Shula...Jacksonville Jaguars Jim Fassell, Gregg Brandon, and Jeff Jagodzinski...the new UFL

Yes. But, back then he was committing the cardinal sin of actively promoting the program.

...any chance McCarney hires Leavitt to run the defense here? They coached together at Iowa and South Florida. Wouldn't that be a story - McCarney and Leavitt together in Denton!

Thanks for the post. The folks here that keep running him down don't have a clue as to how far down ISU was when he was hired - taking over an 0-10-1 team with the lowest budget in a league that had 3 or 4 Top 10 teams in every season he was there. People who know anything about football understand he did a great job at ISU. Having a 6-6 record versus Iowa tells me all I need to know. We'll welcome a coach who can get more than "moral victories" against BCS schools. I think this hire, also, makes us a more legitimate contender to move to a better conference. McCarney has played and coached in the Big Ten and coached in the Big 12, Big East, and SEC. There won't be a team in the country that will confuse him the way our coaches were confused from 2007-to-mid 2010.

He coached his a$s off all season: -Lost #1 QB in game two's final drive. -Lost #2 QB in game three's first quarter. -Lost #3 QB twice. -Lost #1 and #2 centers. -Lost #1 U-back in fall practice. Many of us have already lobbied for the man based on what he's done with our injury-decimated team. Wish more had jumped on his bandwagon sooner instead of criticizing him for "politicking" for the job. He wasn't politicking; he was just doing what anyone would expect their head coach to do. That he put so much of himself out there as an interim was good enough for me. Manny interims just ride out the season. Not Chico. If it's true we haven't hired him, I hope he gets one of the Pac-10 jobs that opens. He'll be a longshot for the Miami job, but it would be perfect for them - that school needs someone classy to run it. Although, they ran off Larry Coker, who's as nice a guy as has ever coached college football.

Called this one earlier in the year. Going 28-22 in four year doesn't cut it at some places. I think Mike Leach could end up at Miami. It's a quirky place, he's a quirky guy. It'd be a good fit. If not Leach, why not Mike Canales to Miami...with Todd Doge as QB coach?

Exactly. Our fan base was excited about a high school coach, but is upset that we'll hire a guy who coached with Hayden Fry, coached on two Rose Bowl squads, and took Iowa State to five bowl games in one of the two toughest conferences in America...with the smallest budget in the Big 12. Rick Villareal has good reason to not listen to the UNT fan base. Still holding out hope for Chico. But, will be happy if we get McCarney, the most experienced candidate. Either way, we will be getting a great coach.

Agreed. The year he took over at Iowa State - Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas State, and (Glen Mason-led) Kansas all had 10 win seasons and all finished in the Top 10 that year - Nebraska #1, Colorado #5, Kansas State #7, and Kansas #9. The Big 8 then absorbed Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Baylor from the failed SWC. Iowa State went to the North Division. In 1996, Nebraska and Colorado from that division finished in the Top 10 and Kansas State in the Top 20. in 1997, Nebraska and Kansas State finished in the Top 10 and Missouri in the Top 25. In 1998, Kansas State State finished in the Top 10, and Missouri and Nebraska in the Top 25. In 1999, Nebraska and Kansas State finished in the Top 10 In 2000, Nebraska and Kansas State finished in the Top 10...and McCarney's Iowa State Cyclones finished in the Top 25. I'm not even including the rankings of the Big 12 South schools. During those seasons, Texas A&M, Texas, and Oklahoma all finished in the Top 10 in one or more seasons. Texas Tech and Oklahoma State also had Top 25 finishes. McCarney was coaching in the toughest conference during its zenith. McCarney did an excellent job building Iowa State. Anyone who doesn't acknowledge that is simply willfully blind. He took of a team that had gone 0-10-1 the year before he arrived. The program hadn't won more than four games in six season, and had only three six win season in the prior 15 seasons (1981, 1986, and 1989). McCarney's out of conference record, which I've already documented (29-17 with a 6-6 record over Big Ten, state-rival Iowa), was stellar. He's an excellent coach. And, in the Sun Belt, will have us winning out of the gate, if he's the choice. He's a proven nationwide recruiter who hit all parts of Texas with Iowa State. He may not "excite" the fan base; but, with our schizophrenic, score-boarding fan base, that's probably a plus. High school coaches across the state and country know him and have trusted his players to him. It's a big pick up for us, if McCarney's the guy. To me, the microcosm of his work as a DL coach, as well, is the Florida-Oklahoma national title game two years ago when the Gators made two goal line stands in the first half that probably cost the Sooners the game. I'll take that DL coach leading our program. The game is still won and lost in the trenches; and, McCarney knows all about winning those line battles against the best in the country.

All true. Ask Dirk Koetter and Dan Hawkins what it's like to go coach in leagues that provide tougher weekly competition. I'd love to have either as our coach because they've proven they can prepare non-AQ teams for regular non-AQ competition. What's behind the whole non-AQ set up, Boise State has mastered - discipline. Disciplined players buying into disciplined coaches. College coaches. Competitive BCS schools have that as well - along with more overall speed and strength. I still marvel that Nevada offered Giovanni Vizza a scholarship. He was good athlete in Chris Ault's eyes...and many coaching staffs have made the trip to Reno to learn what he's doing. I laugh when i hear people pooh-pooh Ault and Nevada. The guy is very good at what he does at non-AQ level. And, his offense translates well when used by BCS programs as well. It's not the gimmicky fairy dust that Dodge/Ford sold our athletic director and 3/4ths of this board four years ago. Congratulations to Nevada. Good luck next year, Boise. Go local - TCU. ... There has been a ton of fretting about our new coach. The truth is - and Mike Canales has proved it - we are in a league that can easily be won with some structure. Todd Dodge struggled along for three and half seasons and wins no more than one conference game per season; Canales coaches four Sun Belt games and wins half with an injury decimated team. I'm not lobbying for Mike Canales, I'm simply pointing out that we've wasted a lot of back and forth time trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill. We simply need a legitimate college coach. Mike Canales would be fine. Lawsuit unencumbered Leavitt or Leach would be fine. Franchione would be fine. The coordinators on 90% of the BCS schools would be fine. Dan McCarney, if he's the guy, will be fine. Boise has a formula. The kids are disciplined to it and buy into it and they win their non-AQ conference. Ditto Nevada. Ditto Fresno State (in the big picture). Ditto TCU and Utah. Ditto Troy in the Sun Belt. There's no rocket science to it.

How long ago did Kent State hire a high school coach? Doug Martin, whom the just fired, was one of Steve Logan's assistants at East Carolina, so they couldn't be talking about him.

Particularly after Texas tried to screw you all, Kansas, and Iowa State this summer by trying break up the Big 12. Saaaaa-lute, bruthah!

Dignity? Texas? This was the $120 million dollar program that held Iowa State, Kansas State, Kansas, and Baylor over a barrel for their bowl money last summer in their threat to break up the Big 12. Over and over and over again...Screw Texas. Screw the Big 12. Screw the "traditional powers" that keep milking the system whether they win, lose, or draw. There's not a shred of dignity or integrity within the athletic department at UT. I guarantee you they'd take a bowl bid at 5-7...with Mack Brown mumbling his putrid crap all the way to the bank. They shamelessly whine and manipulate even when they are winning. A little losing won't humble those money-grubbing maggots.

At about 2:19 of the clip, McCarney at halftime of 2005 win over Iowa, "...this (Iowa) is one of the best second half teams in the country; I see one coach or player that's celebrating, I'll send their ass to the locker room!" Iowa State led 16-0 at half, and won 23-3. Iowa was ranked #8 going into the game; Iowa State, unranked. Seems "fiery" enough to me. And, sounds like a guy who knows how to get guys to pay attention for the full 60 minutes of a ball game.

Agree, on this suit. His suit against Tech has a shot, though, because the Tech good 'ol boys were caught e-mailing ideas about how to get rid of him after just one year of a contract he had yet to sign. You've got to deal "with clean hands." Tech didn't do so. The flip side is, he's now making $0.00 coaching; so, perhaps he's desperately trying to make up for it. Anyway, with the bevy of available former head coaches, current head coaches, and rising coordinators and assistants, it's hard to see Leach and Leavitt has being overly attractive to schools the longer their lawsuits drag out. Screw 'em both. As stated before, let the coaches coach, while those two play Ally McBeal.

He was 6-6 versus Iowa. Good enough? Out of conference: 1995: 2-2, wins: Ohio, UNLV / losses: Iowa, TCU 1996: 1-2, win: Northern Iowa / losses: Iowa, Wyoming 1997: 0-3, losses: Iowa, Minnesota, Wyoming 1998: 2-1, wins: Iowa, Ball State / loss: TCU 1999: 3-0, wins: Iowa, Indiana State, UNLV 2000: 4-0, wins: Iowa, Ohio, UNLV, Pittsburgh (bowl game) 2001: 3-1, wins: Iowa, Ohio, Northern Iowa / loss: Alabama (bowl game) 2002: 3-3, wins: Iowa, Troy, Tennessee Tech / losses: Florida State, Connecticut, Boise State (bowl game) 2003: 2-2, wins: Ohio, Northern Iowa / losses: Iowa, Northern Illinois 2004: 3-1, wins: Northern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Miami (OH) (bowl game) / loss: Iowa 2005: 3-1, wins: Iowa, Army, Illinois State / losses: TCU (bowl game) 2006: 3-1, wins: Toledo, UNLV, Northern Iowa / losses: Iowa Total out of conference: 29-17 McCarney's problems were never out of conference. No Iowa State coach had more than three wins over Iowa previously. And, certainly, none beat them five times in a row. He ended Hayden Fry's 15 year win streak against the Cyclones in 1998, then tacked on four more in a row. McCarney's problems was that he took over the program in the face of an era where Nebraska, Coloroda, and Kansas State were already rolling and perennially Top 10 programs. Combine that with the resurgence of Mizzou in the North and Oklahoma and Texas in the South, and his task winning in Ames were immeasurably higher that what he would face in Denton against the Sun Belt. If we get Dan McCarney, we are stealing him. He's an excellent recruiter and coach. We'd be lucky to have him lead our program. Most important of all, McCarney brings no baggage. No choking players. No hitting them. No selling of injury reports to boosters. He's clean and he built a winner in one of the top two BCS conferences. If it's not going to be Canales, and McCarney is willing to take the job for what we pay, then hire him yesterday.

The same people who think there is a Jim Leavitt Conspiracy that equals the JFK Conspiracy. Anyway, if it's not Canales, I'm 110% on board with McCarney. I like the idea of a defensive line guy going into the homes of future DL recruits and flashing his Rose Bowl (Wisconsin) and National Championship (Florida) rings to them. And, I especially like it this off-season when we will sorely be in need of some JUCO DLs. And, like Stoops and the rest, he's recruited Texas plenty. He also hauled in quite a few from Florida back in the day for Iowa State. The Cyclones also recruited all over Texas well. Look at past Cyclones rosters from that era and its got guys from Dallas, Forth Worth, Garland, Houston, La Marque, Richmond, Missouri City, DeSoto (current Philly CB Ellis Hobbs), Alief, Pittsburg, Bartlett, La Porte, Deer Park, Bastrop, Round Rock, Texarkana, Hurst, Granbury, Gainesville, Longview, Baytown, Spring, Rowlett, and Beaumont. I mean, there won't be many head coaches in Texas who haven't had a visit from this guy in all of his years with Iowa, Wisconsin, Iowa State, and Florida. They all pull guys out of Texas. And, believe me, if they guy found a player in Granbury, Texas, he and the guys he hires know how to go out and beat the bushes. Granbury was bad for a very long time, and until recently, small.

http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1156444 Before taking the Minnesota job, Mason had success at Kent State and Kansas. "A coaches' won-loss record can be misleading because it's harder to win at some places than others," said Mason, who is 123-121-1 in 21 seasons as a coach. "I won at three places that were perennial losers. When I left, they were consistent winners. And I did it the right way. I didn't break any rules and I had the respect of my colleagues." .... "There are a couple ways to look at it," he said. "I used to tell our coaches ... we are going to be fundamentalists. We are going to coach football and take the best players we can get and improve them. It didn't matter how well we recruited at Minnesota, we weren't going to out-recruit Ohio State, Michigan or Penn State. They have a lot of built-in advantages. But we could recruit ... good, hard-nosed, hard-working kids who may have been a step slow or an inch short ... and we were going to develop them. That's what we did. "...You need someone who can go out and sell the school and get the best talent you can. But then you better have a guy who can really develop them."

It's bad enough that UNT has fallen for this boondoogle of a project. Please don't compound it by having the stadium name have anything to do with it.

Venables would be fine if Canales isn't hired and we go the coordinator route. -He satisfies the Texas recruiting people's worries. -He satisfies the national recruiting people's dreams. -He's young enough (turns 40 in December) to satisfy those who age discriminate in their hiring preference. -And, if you've ever watched an OU game on TV, you know that he's more than energetic enough. Amazingly, the spoiled Sooner fans want him gone. In reality, his departure would likely lead to their continued "down years." And, that would be a boone for Sooner haters. So, in reality, there really is no down side to throwing Venables into the mix. My only concern about Venables is that there have only been three seasons in his coaching career that he wasn't in some way coaching with Bob Stoops. And, during those three years, he was still coaching with Mike Stoops. How much of his success is Bob and Mike, and how much is his alone? He was also a player as KSU when Bob was a coach. Although, I think his position coach at the time was Mike. Can he exist in the college football world without a Stoops brother on the sideline with him? There are coaches who turn out to be more riders/good position coaches/coordinators, but not so great running the whole show. Fro whatever reason, I'd feel better about Venables if he'd been somewhere other than Kansas State and Oklahoma at their zenith. Could he go somewhere else on his own - without being co-defensive coordinator, which he was at Kansas State and most of his tenure at OU - and make it work? I suspect he could. But, who knows. He's never done it.

Jerrell Young, being a scholarship player, was not in the same room at Joel Miller, a walk on, at the time of the choking and hitting. As the report notes, USF's scholarship players dress in a different area than the walk ons. Those witnesses in the room, with lockers next to and around Miller, say it happened. If they are ever called to a witness stand, their testimony will be given more weight than those, like Jerrell Young, who were not in the locker room when the incident occurred. In fact, I'd say that USF would welcome Jerrell Young as a witness for the very reason that he wasn't in the room at the time of the incident. If the trial ever occurs, it will be interesting to see if Leavitt's ambulance chasing attorney can figure that one out. Also, the firing is the official version of what happened - Jim Leavitt is and remains fired. The letter dismissing him give the reasons and list parts of the USF Rules and Codes he violated. USF is a State entity that has the right to enforce its own rules and codes. As noted, several times over, only a trial court or settlement can change the official version. Settlement without admission of fault or liability would have been the best case scenario, as Mark Mangino's attorneys knew and were able to do for him. Then again, Mangino's attorneys weren't ambulance chasers who dabbled in employment law in their spare time.

I know exactly what I'm talking about - I'm the one who originally posted all of the links to the public document. Further, the report lists the three reasons he was fired. And, after meeting with the school, he remained fired. He was fired for the reasons listed in the report. The report isn't incomplete. It is the finished product. Allegation were made, and they were investigated. During the course of the investigation, more breaches of policy were found and added to the list. And, he was fired for the three charged breaches. So, the official record is, and remains until such time as a trial court find differently or he settles with no liability admitted, he was fired for grabbing a student by the throat and hitting him twice, interfering with the investigation, and using his position to threaten students. You don't have to like the official record of what happened. But, that doesn't make it any less official.