The Fake Lonnie Finch

Of the 21 new hires in 2007: 16 have taken their schools to at least one bowl game Of the 18 new hires in 2008: 14 have taken their schools to at least one bowl game, and Texas A&M and UCLA are both 6-6 this season with an outside chance of going to a bowl game. As you can see, the majority of new hires get something going in fairly short order with "someone else's players." The notable exceptions are these: Given The Keys, But Wrecked The Car Steve Kragthorpe, recently fired at Louisville, and Rich Rodriguez at Michigan. Both jumped into bigger situations and couldn't do it. Kragthorpe jumped from Mid-Major/CUSA to BCS Big East. Rich Rodriguez jumped from BCS Big East to BCS legendary Big 10 school. Schools Who Thought They Were More Than They Really Are Or Will Ever Be Southern Mississippi - who were they kidding when they forced out Jeff Bower? No one will do better in that conference with those circumstances. Larry Fedora is proving you are what you are. Arizona State - who were they kidding when they got rid of Dirk Koetter? Those three consecutive bowl games he led the Sun Devils to in his final three seasons don't look so bad now, do they? Minnesota - they fired Glenn Mason for this? It's the same as it ever was. Minnesota should have been happy with bowl season after bowl season. They weren't. Tulane - those four and five wins seasons under Chris Scelfo don't look so bad now, eh? Arkansas - Houston Nutt/Bobby Petrino - interchangable parts? The Razorbacks are what they are - also rans of the SEC...same as they were for most of their SWC existence.

Third Year Coaches Troy Calhoun, Air Force Three years prior to hire: 5-6, 4-7, 4-8 = 13-21 Three years after hire: 9-4b, 8-5b, 7-5b with a bowl game remaining = 24-14 Nick Saban, Alabama Three years prior to hire: 6-6b, 10-2b, 6-7b = 22-15 Three years after hire: 7-6b, 12-2b, 12-0b with SEC Championship and bowl games remaining = 31-8 Neil Callaway, Alabama-Birmingham Three years prior to hire: 7-5b, 5-6, 3-9 = 15-20 Three years after hire: 2-10, 4-8, 5-7 = 11-25 Dennis Erickson, Arizona State Three years prior to hire: 9-3b, 7-5b, 7-6b = 23-14 Three years after hire: 10-3b, 5-7, 4-8 = 19-18 Butch Jones, Central Michigan Three years prior to hire: 4-7, 6-5, 10-4b = 20-16 Three years after hire: 8-6b, 8-5b, 10-2b with MAC Championship and bowl games remaining = 26-13 Brian Kelly, Cincinnati Three years prior to hire: 7-5b, 4-7, 8-5b = 19-17 Three years after hire: 10-3b, 11-3b, 11-0b with bowl game remaining = 32-6 Mario Cristobal, Florida International Three years prior to hire: 3-7, 5-6, 0-12 = 8-25 Three years after hire: 1-11, 5-7, 3-8 = 9-26 Robb Akey, Idaho Three years prior to hire: 3-9, 2-9, 4-8 = 9-26 Three years after hire: 1-11, 2-10, 7-5b with bowl game remaining = 10-26 Bill Lynch, Indiana Three years prior to hire: 3-8, 4-7, 5-7 = 12-22 Three years after hire: 7-6b, 3-9, 4-8 = 14-23 Derek Dooley, Louisiana Tech Three years prior to hire: 6-6, 7-4, 3-10 = 16-20 Three years after hire: 5-7, 8-5b, 3-8 = 16-20 Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville FIRED Three years prior to hire: 11-1b, 9-3b, 12-1b = 32-5 Three years after hire: 6-6, 5-7, 4-8 = 15-21 Randy Shannon, Miami Three years prior to hire: 9-3b, 9-3b, 7-6b = 25-12 Three years after hire: 5-7, 7-6b, 9-3b with bowl game remaining = 21-16 Mark Dantonio, Michigan State Three years prior to hire: 5-7, 5-6, 4-8 = 14-21 Three years after hire: 7-6b, 9-4b, 6-6 with a possible bowl game remaining = 22-16 Tim Brewster, Minnesota Three years prior to hire: 7-5b, 7-5b, 6-7b = 20-17 Three years after hire: 1-11, 7-6b, 6-6 with a possible bowl game remaining = 14-23 Butch Davis, North Carolina Three years prior to hire: 6-6b, 5-6, 3-9 = 14-21 Three years after hire: 4-8, 8-5b, 8-4 with bowl game remaining = 20-17 Tom O’Brien, North Carolina State Three years prior to hire: 5-6, 7-5b, 3-9 = 15-20 Three years after hire: 5-7, 6-7b, 5-7 = 16-21 Todd Dodge, North Texas Three years prior to hire: 7-5b, 2-9, 3-9 = 12-23 Three years after hire: 2-10, 1-11, 2-10 = 5-31 David Bailiff, Rice Three years prior to hire: 3-8, 1-10, 7-6b = 11-24 Three years after hire: 3-9, 10-3b, 2-10 = 15-22 Jim Harbaugh, Stanford Three years prior to hire: 4-7, 5-6, 1-11 = 10-24 Three years after hire: 4-8, 5-7, 8-4 with bowl game remaining = 17-19 Bob Toledo, Tulane Three years prior to hire: 5-6, 2-9, 4-8 = 11-23 Three years after hire: 4-8, 2-10, 3-9 = 9-27 Todd Graham, Tulsa Three years prior to hire: 4-8, 9-4b, 8-5b = 21-17 Three years after hire: 10-4b, 11-3b, 5-7 = 26-14 Second Year Coaches Bobby Petrino, Arkansas Two years prior to hire: 10-4b, 8-5b = 18-9 Two years after hire: 5-7, 7-5 with a bowl game remaining = 12-12 Art Briles, Baylor Two years prior to hire: 4-8, 3-9 = 7-17 Two years after hire: 4-8, 4-8 = 8-16 Steve Fairchild, Colorado State Two years prior to hire: 4-8, 3-9 = 7-17 Two years after hire: 7-6b, 3-9 = 10-15 David Cutcliffe, Duke Two years prior to hire: 0-12, 1-11 = 1-23 Two years after hire: 4-8, 5-7 = 9-15 Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech Two years prior to hire: 9-5b, 7-6b = 16-11 Two years after hire: 9-4b, 10-2with ACC Championship and bowl games remaining = 19-6 Greg McMackin, Hawaii Two years prior to hire: 11-3b, 12-1b = 23-4 Two years after hire: 7-7b, 6-6 with one game remaining = 13-13 Kevin Sumlin, Houston Two years prior to hire: 10-4b, 8-5b = 18-9 Two years after hire: 8-5b, 10-2b with CUSA Championship and bowl games remaining = 18-7 Rich Rodriguez, Michigan Two years prior to hire: 11-2b, 9-4b = 20-6 Two years after hire: 3-9, 5-7 = 8-16 Houston Nutt, Mississippi Two years prior to hire: 4-8, 3-9 = 7-17 Two years after hire: 9-4b, 8-4b with bowl game remaining = 17-8 Ken Niumatalolo, Navy Two years prior to hire: 9-4b, 8-5b = 17-9 Two years after hire: 8-5b, 8-4b with one reuglar season game and bowl game remaining = 16-9 Bo Pelini, Nebraska Two years prior to hire: 9-5b, 5-7 = 14-12 Two years after hire: 9-4b, 9-3b with Big 12 Championship and bowl games remaining = 18-7 Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois Two years prior to hire: 7-6b, 2-10 = 9-16 Two years after hire: 6-7b, 7-5 with possible bowl game remaining - 13-12 June Jones, SMU Two years prior to hire: 6-6, 1-11 = 7-17 Two years after hire: 1-11, 7-5b with bowl game remaining = 8-16 Larry Fedora, Southern Mississippi Two years prior to hire: 9-5b, 7-6b = 16-11 Two years after hire: 7-6b, 7-5b with bowl game remaining = 14-11 Mike Sherman, Texas A&M Two years prior to hire: 9-4b, 7-6b = 18-10 Two years after hire: 4-8, 6-6 with possible bowl game remaining = 10-14 Rick Neuheisel, UCLA Two years prior to hire: 7-6b, 6-7b = 13-13 Two years after hire: 4-8, 6-6 with possible bowl game remaining = 10-14 Paul Wulff, Washington State Two years prior to hire: 6-6, 5-7 = 11-13 Two years after hire: 2-11, 1-11 = 3-22 Bill Stewart, West Virginia Two years prior to hire: 11-2b, 11-2b = 22-4 Two years after hire: 9-4b, 8-3b with final regular season game and bowl game remaining = 17-7

So, 16 did better in year one with "someone else's players." Four did worse. One did the same. And, one - Oregon is yet to be determined. We really didn't need this to show progress is a matter of coaching, not whose players are on the roster. The "they're not his kids" theory is blown out of the water...as if it hadn't already been many, many times. What really needs to be done is a comparison is Dodge to how other third year coaches have done. Or, maybe we should look into two-year improvements like, say, the school down in Dallas.

You know what's ridiculous about this conversation? It only makes sense if Thompson had a snowball's chance in hell of starting for four years after he redshirted! That isn't going to happen with Dodge here. He's going to play his son. Look: (1) If Thompson had redshirted this season, how much would he realistically play in 2010 sitting behind Dodge and Tune? Probably none. So, at that point, he'd have had two full seasons 2009 and 2010 without playing a live snap of football. (2) Because Dodge is going to play his son come hell or high water, Thompson can redhist in 2010. Tune is still here to back up in 2010. (3) Finally, we got a good look at Thompson under pressure - and, it looked good! Here's where I sit in the pumpkin patch with Linus and hope Coach Dodge saw the Great Pumpkin in Thompson's play and allows him to compete for the starting job next spring with Dodge and Tune.

This is the exact scenario I've been proposing if Dodge stays. Look, it's clear that Todd Dodge has something. But, it's him that has it, or had it, not his high school assistants - offensive or defensive. The worst lapse in judgement was ever letting Todd Dodge hire any other high school coaches. The sheer number that he brought on was absurd. Also, recall that the original secondary coach was a guy who hadn't coached in 13 years, but who had been out in the business world, Butch LaCroix. (Hey, Rick - I've been out in the business world for about 20 years. Hire me! ) At the time, many of us said it was arrogant, stupidity or both to have that many inexperienced coaches on a I-A/FBS coaching staff. Everyone else waited in the pumpkin patch with Linus, waiting on the Great Pumpkin to arrive. Anyway, I think we've already got a guy on staff who can call offenses at this level in Petersen. He was Air Force's OC for several Falcon bowl seasons. He's coached wide receivers and quarterbacks. Make him the Co-OC/WR coach and kill two birds with one stone, moneywise. Take OL coach Spencer Leftwich and make him the Co-OC Run Game Coordinator/OL coach. I'd hire Andy Brewster away from Cisco JC (surely we can pay more than Cisco JC) and make him TE coach...and really use the tight ends for a change. On the defensive side, have Deloach and Buckels coach the secondary. Hire in Chris Hurd from Cisco to coach the linebackers. Keep everything else the same. Or, I'd even go for hiring Kenny Evans back in as co-defensive coordinator/LB coach. He can't be making that much jack up at the Division II Oklahoma school. Dodge's problem was that he came in here and tried to run the thing top down with amateurs everywhere. It can't be done. You can't be so dadgum nitpicky and overbearing that you have assistants chewing out guys on the sideline for cussing during a game. It's ridiculous. Players need to feel that they can show emotion at some points in a game. Letting a guy drop an F-bomb during a game isn't the end of the world. In the end, I predicted we'd go 3-9 and we went 2-10. I'm disappointed. I'm happy if we get a new coach. But, the only way I'm happy with Dodge staying is if the last vestiges of the original unwise hires is cleared away. If we do something similar to what I've suggested, we don't have to spend a ton of money doing it either. So, whomever Rick's current board spy is, print out this post and give it to him the next time he summons you.

Some of you need to find a place in your homes, open up a Corona, and relax. But, stay away from the keyboard and the general public tonight. (1) We lost to another injured team that was reeling from losses...yes, that's true. But, didn't we all half expect it? (2) Chase Baine didn't make the trip, Riley's arm was broken, and Nate's was separated (or something). Running the Wildcat instead of putting Thompson in would have been a disservice to the seniors on the team. Yes, even as few of them as there are, Dodge did what he could to keep competing to the end. A big, strong-armed Thompson was the thing that was going to give us a shot at winning this thing in miracle fashion, not snapping it to some tailback. I fault Dodge for many decisions over the past three years - this definitely isn't one of them. (3) Rick V will make a decision, then we'll live with it. Until then, man up with your second (or third) favorite team and enjoy the bowl season. BUT, FOR PETE'S SAKE QUIT RE-HASHING THE FINAL TWO MINUTES OF THE ARKANSAS STATE GAME! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y04wkGhaNe4

I like the way he sneaks in thanks to Pablo Cruise for holding down the overseas operations. Also, if you watched the game on channelsurfing.net and had to endure the awful Arkansas State crew, there's no way you don't appreciate Jub-Jub. You could have picked two random people off the street and they'd have been better than the Red Wolves announcers. Hell...you could stick any of my wife's relatives from Guanajuato who speak no English and know nothing about futbol americano in there and they'd have done a better job. Jub-Jub and Company do a great job...even when having to call awful football games year in and year out for five straight years. Isn't there some kind of radio award for announcers enduring crappy football? If so, give it to Jub.

It feels weird to be defending Dodge. But, you play to win and that's what the man did in that situation. I'm happy that Thompson did well. And, you never know...once you stop knee-jerking, consider this: -If Dodge is fired, the new coach will likely bring in a JUCO anyway, so Thompson can redshirt next year. -If Dodge isn't fired, Riley and Tune are back, so Thompson can redshirt next year. -Either way, Thompson isn't likely to start next year anyway, so he can redshirt next year.

Guys, look...I'm no ardent Dodge backers, but be realistic. We were in a situation where we needed to throw the ball to score quickly. No way we scored that last touchdown out of the Wildcat. Thompson gave us the best chance to complete the comeback.

The disappointing thing for me is that all three of our last four opponents - ULM, Florida International, and Arkansas State had tons of injuries. And, each of our four final opponents were struggling going into our game: ULM had lost two in a row, FIU had lost three of four, Army had lost two of three, Arkansas State had loss four in a row! I posted on the VIP board before the ULM game that Dodge needed to get his team to recognize a wounded animal and go in for the kill. ULM, injuries and losing streak and all, beat us. Then, a heavily-injured and stumbling FIU beat us. An Army squad who struggled to beat VMI at home the week before came in and beat us. Today, a beaten up Arkansas State team jumped on us, then clung to a lead with their redshirt freshman QB. It's just not good. Four very bad teams beat us over the last four weeks. There's no way around that. I shudder to think how bad we'd have been beaten if those guys had been healthy when they faced us. There was only one conference game this season where we didn't trail at some point by two touchdowns - the FIU game. In every other Sun Belt game we were at some point having to dig out of holes. It really shouldn't be that way.

Chase Baine didn't make the trip, they said on the radio. Anyone have any information as to why? I'm not upset about Derek Thompson's shirt being burned - Todd Dodge got to see what it looks like to have his offense directed by a quarterback who can see over his offensive linemen! Maybe he learned something from it. I doubt it...but, maybe.

So far, Boise has thrown three touchdown passes to their fullback tonight. Meanwhile, back here in Denton.... Anyway, as noted before, both the offensive and defensive coordinator at Boise make about $70k less per season than Todd Dodge. Let's give them a raise and a shot at being the head coach. Unlike our offensive coaches, those guys know the value of fullbacks and tight ends.

Yeah, their team blows this year. But, they always have a good fark section. We've got a more artsy school, so you'd figure we'd have a fark board. Alas. Anyway, Rump Shaker Katie Farked: http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/showthrea...191#post2775191

That came out in game one with man-to-man coverage on OU's Malcolm Kelly, Juaquin Iglesias and Manny Johnson - two of whom are now earning NFL paychecks, the others was drafted by the Cowboys and was kept until their final cuts.

Hey, easy...We're just saying, there may be another solution other than just cutting the man loose. The majority of us are on board with getting a new coach. Some of us are comfortable with the thought of at least a new OC.

That was last year. The people who voted four wins will have an excuse as to why he should be kept on. And, even I think he'd be fine if he'd just bite the bullet and get a full compliment of college coaches on the offensive side of the ball. Yes, even now. Maybe Rick will give him that choice. Otherwise, there won't be anyone in the booth or on the sideline to tell him to line up behind the center on short yardage situations and let the line pile drive forward for a yard. As it stands, he and Ford trying to reinvent the wheel on short yardage downs has gotten very old.

Hey, just watch an OU game this year. If Stradford couldn't break that pass-dropping two-deep...I'd be liking my chances of Cole breaking out more at this point than Stradford. The problem is, Cole doesn't have the size Stradford does. He's another 5-10/11ish 180 pound guy.

It's funny you should say that because when RV called me back in April, I tried to put the situation in business terms for him. One of my points to him was that although the almuni were likely to still come out no matter what, the job is selling the program to the community at large. And, that the community at large makes choices about where they spend their disposable income with different things in mind. That is, we spend and support because we feel have a stake in it, part of our lives were spent in Denton at the school. That's not true of the general public - even in Denton. Therefore, you've got to have something tangible to sell in order to get butts in the seats. "Cleaning up behind the scenes" doesn't sell tickets. If running a clean program with players who makes straight A's sold tickets, Northwestern, Baylor, Rice and Vandy would always be sold out. They aren't. What sells is winning. That's shallow, but that's sports. Unless you have a sick, weird, demented fanbase - like Chicago Cubs fans or South Carolina Gamecock fans - people don't fill up the stadium to watch you lose. The Cubs deal is a cultural thing. With South Carolina...hell, I still can't figure out why they'd ever sell that out, even with Spurrier at the helm. Maybe they hand out flasks at the gate. Anyway, people like you and I are customers because we will always want to be customers. What Rick needs and what the school needs are non-UNT people to become interested. He needs everyday buttholes walking down the street to be wearing Mean Green gear the same way everyday buttholes in Texas and Oklahoma wear Longhorn and Sooner gear with no logical connection to those schools. The more buttholes with your stuff, the more likely you get them in your seats to fill your stadium - and cofers. THE END.

It's the "we're a young team" baloney Dodge always throws out there that everyone is refering to. I've never once heard Boise State's Chris Petersen complain about his "young team" that has only five seniors on the roster. It doesn't matter. It is what it is. In this business, you are judged on wins and losses. In 35 games, Dodge has five - and three of those against one awful school in between FCS and FBS. The boss takes the blame. He's the boss. It was his decision to bring in a bunch of coaches who had no more than high school experience. He's been slow to fire them - one per off-season. He's been all about signing receivers, but not about getting defensive linemen in each class. Dodge badly misjudged this thing as something as something he could just fly under a "football plan." It was baloney then, and it's baloney now. Gary Deloach has skins on the wall and at this school. He does what he can with what Dodge has given him - which ain't much. Malign this defense all you want. But, the truth is, it's a heck of alot better than the 2007 and 2008 versions with high school defensive coordinators and defensive line coaches. You may be mad when Dodge loses his job here, but that's the game. You produce or you're shown the door. This isn't the University of Todd Dodge. It's not the University of Riley Dodge. It's not the University of Todd Ford. Some of you live in a world where we can only be coached by either Todd Dodge or Darrell Dickey. And, in a world where only Riley Dodge can play quarterback. That's bunk. There are freshman quarterbacks all over the country doing well - and, who didn't "grow up" in the system of the offensive coordinator. This isn't just a game. In the 21st century - hell, the last 30 years of the 20th century, for that matter - college football is a business. You can't let someone keep running your main product into the ground. That's what a football program is at this level. None of those other sports have a prayer of turning a dollar, save for men's basektball at a few select universities. RV needs to get this thing righted and righted while he has a good shot at it.

Dude, if the trajectory is too low, it doesn't matter if they don't break through...just an uplifted arm or the helmet of a jumping lineman will do.

1. If TD remains - Will his recruiting be damaged by lack of success on the field ? No. Others here may disagree. However, the recruiting hasn't been all that different than what we had under Dickey - a bunch of two-star or no-star recruits with a three-star mixed in here and there. It'll be the same if he stays. SMU, TCU, and everyone regionally is already getting close to their limit as well. So, we're getting the leftovers again anyway. 2. If TD goes - Will this recruit class be basically a wash ? Depend on who the new hire is. If it's a splash hire like a former head coach (John L. Smith, Dennis Franchione, Walt Harris, Glen Mason, Jeff Bower, Steve Logan, etc.), we'll likely get one or two more three-star recruits. We'd also have our recruiting territory expanded nationwide with any of those guys. If it's an unheralded assistant from somewhere or an FCS or Division II guy, the recruiting will likely be the same, which is fine. We're doing no better or worse than most teams in the Belt right now. It's been that way under both Dickey and Dodge. 3. Will the new stadium help to overcome our lack of success on the field and the will he or won't he coaching situation ? It didn't necessarily help SMU. Central Florida has had mixed results. The thing is, you still have to have a good coaching staff to compete...even if you are just playing in the Safeway parking lot.

No kidding. Care to peruse the OU meltdown after this weekend? They want everyone gone: http://www.soonerfans.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=2 Six conference titles in 11 seasons, one national title, and probably $100 million dollars worth of trips to BCS bowl games apparently aren't enough to please them...and, some people here think expectations for Dodge are too high? On the OU site, checkout threads like, "Should OU decline any bowl invitation?" To say that Dodge has it tough here is ridiculous. Compared to what is expected of other coaches in other places, he's walking on sunshine, bruthah! I haven't been to a Notre Dame fansite yet today, but I'll bet it's pretty similar to what OU fans are espousing.

Yeah! All the dude ever does is stand around on the sideline. I think he's just on the team to have a better chance at scoring with the chicks. I've never even seen him so much as turn his cap backward or hold a clipboard!

Here's an embarassingly long, 23 minute youtube thing of it: