Realistic coaching options for 2025...

[t4pizza]

I understand that on the face it looks like we could not afford Mullen. My problem is that I am not sure how anyone can know what he was willing to work for WITHOUT inquiring into him directly to him or his people. Since we apparently didn't do this, we will never know for sure. Again, make them turn us down don't just assume we aren't in play.

Probably a lot of convo behind the scene with a lot of guys. At this point doubt our job is super exciting unless you are trying to go forward. Mullen would be taking a big step back.

And UNLV isn't? He went to a G5 school, not some big time program. Clearly he just wanted back into coaching. We are still one of the biggest brands in G5, if a coach is willing to coach for a G5, I am not sure he wouldn't be willing to coach for us. And nobody is without inquiring into the matter with him or his people.

[DenverOfTheEast]

So UNLV got Dan Mullen.

I would really like to know for sure if we contacted him (or his people) about our opening. If we did not (as I strongly suspect) then I would like to know why. Look at the list of criteria that DG listed in the press conference and it is clear that Mullen checks all the boxes and some on a far greater level than our guy. I am not disparaging our coach, hope he is the best ever. I am more concerned about understanding the process and figuring out how a guy like Mullen would not even be contacted.

This may be one reason.

Part of UNLV’s pursuit of Mullen includes an NIL and revenue-share commitment, Nakos reported. The school is gearing up to roll out one of the top budgets in the Mountain West and, later, the Pac-12 once the Rebels make the move

You may be right that finances would have kept it from happening, but how does anyone really know that if we never contacted him or his people. I find it hard to believe that there are many (UNLV may be one but who knows) G5 schools that have significantly bigger revenue streams than we do. We are a brand and have great attendance and great donations compared to peers, so how can other G5 have such superior NIL? And we are talking about a UNLV team where the starting qb left after 3 games bc NIL promises were not kept. I am not saying that we didn't get the right guy, I just want to know why we wouldn't have at least shaken the tree on a well known winning coach who might have developed more nfl qb talent (haven't done any comparative research but he has 4) than any current G5 coach/staff. Doesn't make any sense why a call wasn't made to him. If we don't have the money, let him tell us that.

Totally agree Mullen would have been quite the coup

I am telling you - DG thought he had Neal Brown, then chased Woods and was spurned twice.

He was trying to find Drink 2.0 -- wanted to rush through the process too fast, settled.

UNC didn't panic
WVU didn't panic
CLT didn't panic
Tulsa didn't panic
UNLV didn't panic

All 5 hired proven winners!

He got that press conference done and he's on his Christmas Break boys.

DLO maybe the answer but damn Dan Mullen is the real deal, a proven winner.

[Pikapp79]

I understand that on the face it looks like we could not afford Mullen. My problem is that I am not sure how anyone can know what he was willing to work for WITHOUT inquiring into him directly to him or his people. Since we apparently didn't do this, we will never know for sure. Again, make them turn us down don't just assume we aren't in play.

Probably a lot of convo behind the scene with a lot of guys. At this point doubt our job is super exciting unless you are trying to go forward. Mullen would be taking a big step back.

And UNLV isn't? He went to a G5 school, not some big time program. Clearly he just wanted back into coaching. We are still one of the biggest brands in G5, if a coach is willing to coach for a G5, I am not sure he wouldn't be willing to coach for us. And nobody is without inquiring into the matter with him or his people.

Good point

[AppWyo]

I believe DLO may be special and we should not be envious of other programs. All five of those schools would love to have the success that App has had, even Apps record over the past five years. Actually only time will tell.

Another take, everyone talks about how the G5 has suffered because of the transfer portal and NIL, but it has been a real benefit for the G5 by allowing players that would have never considered playing at a G5 school, time playing at a G5.

Everyone says it should be all about the athletes then the system should benefit them first.

Think too about how many people you were freshmen with that transferred to another school or dropped out, because App was not a fit for them.

[AppDawg]

https://x.com/BDunnsports/status/1867254634852843898

This may be coastal but unfortunately he speaks truth.

[AppWyo]

https://x.com/BDunnsports/status/1867254634852843898

This may be coastal but unfortunately he speaks truth.

College football is changing, but the have and have nots have not changed. I believe the haves will out spend themselves while the have nots will be able to build something really special.

DLO said that he wanted to build his offence and defense around the players he has will be so much better than trying to recruit players to fit his system. If he does that he should be highly successful. When his system works, I hope we can keep him long enough to win everything there is to win in college football and not vacate any wins along the way. Win enough that someday people will say, "What was so special about Appalachian beating Michigan?"

[Bootsy]

The East Tower? Wow, that conversation seems like such a distant memory.

[BallantyneApp]

I understand that on the face it looks like we could not afford Mullen. My problem is that I am not sure how anyone can know what he was willing to work for WITHOUT inquiring into him directly to him or his people. Since we apparently didn't do this, we will never know for sure. Again, make them turn us down don't just assume we aren't in play.

Probably a lot of convo behind the scene with a lot of guys. At this point doubt our job is super exciting unless you are trying to go forward. Mullen would be taking a big step back.

Maybe but he did take Unlv. Which granted is prob $500k more than us at least but damn he was willing to step back

[BambooRdApp]

I understand that on the face it looks like we could not afford Mullen. My problem is that I am not sure how anyone can know what he was willing to work for WITHOUT inquiring into him directly to him or his people. Since we apparently didn't do this, we will never know for sure. Again, make them turn us down don't just assume we aren't in play.

Probably a lot of convo behind the scene with a lot of guys. At this point doubt our job is super exciting unless you are trying to go forward. Mullen would be taking a big step back.

Maybe but he did take Unlv. Which granted is prob $500k more than us at least but damn he was willing to step back

My guess it is much more than about the salary (even though higher too). I think it is more about nil promises. Time will tell if UNLV lives up to promises. UNLV had a good year despite losing starting QB a few games into season. Mullen does not have rebuild. Does well for a couple a years and back to a Power conference.
Unlike our situation, we are in rebuild mode..given several star players in portal....if we do well in portal, maybe not. Time will tell

[appst89]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

[proasu89]

I understand that on the face it looks like we could not afford Mullen. My problem is that I am not sure how anyone can know what he was willing to work for WITHOUT inquiring into him directly to him or his people. Since we apparently didn't do this, we will never know for sure. Again, make them turn us down don't just assume we aren't in play.

How do you know that we didn’t at least have a conversation with his agent/representative?

[Yosef10]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

Anything you can expand on?

[DenverOfTheEast]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

Dan Mullen average class recruiting ranking at Florida #11 -- he also had Dak Prescott at Miss State and got them ranked #1 in 2014. Florida pulled the plug on Dan too soon, in the middle of the pandemic. He had to clean up Jim McElwain mess also. 3 of 4 years had Florida ranked in the top 12 at end of the season. While he was at Miss St he was going head to head with Saban, Alabama and LSU while both were at their peak.

Billy Napier average recruiting class ranking #15 at Florida.

Where some of you guys come up with these posts is a mind boggle.

[appst89]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

Dan Mullen average class recruiting ranking at Florida #11 -- he also had Dak Prescott at Miss State and got them ranked #1 in 2014. Florida pulled the plug on Dan too soon, in the middle of the pandemic. He had to clean up Jim McElwain mess also. 3 of 4 years had Florida ranked in the top 12 at end of the season. While he was at Miss St he was going head to head with Saban, Alabama and LSU while both were at their peak.

Billy Napier average recruiting class ranking #15 at Florida.

Where some of you guys come up with these posts is a mind boggle.

"However, after a variety of reports came out regarding Mullen's mistreatment of players along with a lack of effort on the recruiting trails, UF athletic director Scott Stricklin decided it was time for a change after boasting a 5-6 record in 2021 in his last season with the Gators." From the Independent Florida Alligator.

It took me three seconds to find it. There's a lot more out there. Maybe you should look and then your mind wouldn't be boggled.

[appgrad95&97]

It's hard to imagine that Gillin would bring in a coach that would outshine him.

[t4pizza]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

That “didn’t recruit” line was a lazy excuse after his post game interview following the Georgia loss. When asked about recruiting he essentially said that it was an off-season discussion. Kirby took that bait and said something like ‘we recruit every day, if you’re not recruiting you’re not winning’. Mullen recruited fine, he just had some significant post game media gaffs starting with the LSU show game. His first 3 classes were actually rated higher than Napier’s first 3 classes and yet Napier is considered a great recruiter. And Mullen didn’t have the football facility to recruit with, it wasn’t finished until he was fired. He recruited well at Florida.
I hope DL is the best we ever had. I’m just curious about how we chose (Parker) candidates and why an obvious choice wouldn’t even have been contacted.

[t4pizza]

I understand that on the face it looks like we could not afford Mullen. My problem is that I am not sure how anyone can know what he was willing to work for WITHOUT inquiring into him directly to him or his people. Since we apparently didn't do this, we will never know for sure. Again, make them turn us down don't just assume we aren't in play.

How do you know that we didn’t at least have a conversation with his agent/representative?

I don’t but nobody that I have spoken with and nothing I have read or heard indicate that we did.

[t4pizza]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

Dan Mullen average class recruiting ranking at Florida #11 -- he also had Dak Prescott at Miss State and got them ranked #1 in 2014. Florida pulled the plug on Dan too soon, in the middle of the pandemic. He had to clean up Jim McElwain mess also. 3 of 4 years had Florida ranked in the top 12 at end of the season. While he was at Miss St he was going head to head with Saban, Alabama and LSU while both were at their peak.

Billy Napier average recruiting class ranking #15 at Florida.

Where some of you guys come up with these posts is a mind boggle.

"However, after a variety of reports came out regarding Mullen's mistreatment of players along with a lack of effort on the recruiting trails, UF athletic director Scott Stricklin decided it was time for a change after boasting a 5-6 record in 2021 in his last season with the Gators." From the Independent Florida Alligator.

It took me three seconds to find it. There's a lot more out there. Maybe you should look and then your mind wouldn't be boggled.

Yes, that lack of recruiting became an easy excuse after a post game media blunder of Mullen’s. Fact is that his classes were better than Napiers and everyone claims Napier is a great recruiter. I live down here and have significant ties to UF and much closer relationships to bull gators than I do to COE members here. Trust me, nobody said anything about recruiting until after that post game Georgia statement and then Strickland used it as a lazy excuse. His classes were well rated and he brought in players. Not playing Richardson despite Emory Jones not playing well (and the team losing) had more to do with him being fired than anything else . Richardson was/is an amazing athlete and fans wanted to see him on the field, problem is that his bad way outshined his good and he wasn’t quite ready (as the colts have learned). Dan Mullen is a great qb developer and if he doesn’t think a guy is ready, I’d rely on his judgement.

[appst89]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

That “didn’t recruit” line was a lazy excuse after his post game interview following the Georgia loss. When asked about recruiting he essentially said that it was an off-season discussion. Kirby took that bait and said something like ‘we recruit every day, if you’re not recruiting you’re not winning’. Mullen recruited fine, he just had some significant post game media gaffs starting with the LSU show game. His first 3 classes were actually rated higher than Napier’s first 3 classes and yet Napier is considered a great recruiter. And Mullen didn’t have the football facility to recruit with, it wasn’t finished until he was fired. He recruited well at Florida.
I hope DL is the best we ever had. I’m just curious about how we chose (Parker) candidates and why an obvious choice wouldn’t even have been contacted.

I don't claim to be an insider, but that is very widely reported by many different Florida sources, and not just the result of a single comment. It seems he either got complacent or started chasing the NFL, because he stopped doing much of anything at Florida.

I thought he was great at Mississippi State.

[AppSt94]

Re: Dan Mullen, he got fired at Florida because he didn't recruit. He hated recruiting. What is going to change in the NIL/TP world that is going to make him suddenly like to recruit? I'm not saying he wouldn't have been a good candidate, but this is a big red flag.

I wasn't sold on this hire at first, but after talking to some people who actually know what went on in the interview process and what's going on now, I feel better about it. I'm willing to wait and see. I figured we were going 3-9 next year anyway, so maybe it's better.

That “didn’t recruit” line was a lazy excuse after his post game interview following the Georgia loss. When asked about recruiting he essentially said that it was an off-season discussion. Kirby took that bait and said something like ‘we recruit every day, if you’re not recruiting you’re not winning’. Mullen recruited fine, he just had some significant post game media gaffs starting with the LSU show game. His first 3 classes were actually rated higher than Napier’s first 3 classes and yet Napier is considered a great recruiter. And Mullen didn’t have the football facility to recruit with, it wasn’t finished until he was fired. He recruited well at Florida.
I hope DL is the best we ever had. I’m just curious about how we chose (Parker) candidates and why an obvious choice wouldn’t even have been contacted.

I would not have opposed to Mullen, but to call him an “obvious” choice is a bit much.