I promise that I'll stop beating a dead horse with this write-up, but I'm going to throw this out one more time because it took a while and I researched my a@# off to write it. There are a couple of decent links at the bottom.
We need a coach that:
- is already a SUCCESSFUL HEAD COACH!
You can't say he isn't a successful head coach. 2004: 7-4; 2005: 11-1 & #1 1-AA Midmajor Program; 2006: 8-0 so far. They have won 22 of 23 of their last games. They are currently ranked #20 in all I-AA programs. UNI isn't far ahead of USD at #7, and they are able to give scholarships. I wish I had a better way to compare, but UNI beat Drake 48-7 and USD beat #2 Mid-Major I-AA Drake (6-1) 37-0 both at Drake. It just isn't how it works, but I thought I would include it for S#$%'s and giggles. Plus, I believe Drake is now 7-1. I don't think Harbaugh is any riskier than hiring Mark Farley, i.e. Terry Allen at Kansas. I would much rather see us hire Harbaugh than Farley.
He was the Oakland Raiders' QB/Quality Control Coach for 2 years in 2002 and 2003 before taking the job at USD. Al Davis thought he had the potential to be the Raiders' Head Coach.
Ohio State looked for a winner when they needed to replace John Cooper. They found it in the form of I-AA Youngstown State's Jim Tressel. Why can't we turn to a smaller school? I know the PFL and the Big XII are no even on the same map, but I wouldn't say you can even see the Gateway Conference from the Big Ten.
- has been SUCCESSFUL AT EVERY LEVEL OF PLAY!
I'm going to assume he was pretty damn good in high school. He was a 4-year letter winner at Michigan, the 1986 Big Ten Player of the Year, finished 3rd in Heisman Troph voting in 1986, and lead Michigan to a final #2 national ranking. He was a 1st Round Draft Pick for the Chicago Bears in 1987. He played in the NFL for 15 seasons for the Bears, Colts, Ravens, Lions, Chargers, and Panthers. Member of the Colt's Ring of Honor.
- can RECRUIT!
He helped to recruit for his father who was the head coach at Western Kentucky (I-AA) from 1994-2001 during his last 8 years in the NFL due to budget cut backs at Western Kentucky. His father's 2002 Western Kentucky team won the I-AA National Title. Seventeen of the players on the squad were recruited by the younger Harbaugh. He concentrated mainly on recruiting Florida, Indiana, and Illinois. I imagine he has expanded his recruiting base greatly in southern California since taking the head coaching position at USD. If he could get an assistant or two that could recruit Texas, he would be set. Our recruiting is really going to fall to pieces soon because high school players are going to really, really sense the change coming. I mean worse than it is currently.
- is somebody PEOPLE ALREADY KNOW!
He could recruit quarterbacks and recievers like no other. If he had more resources or any scholarships at all, he could do something special. He runs a West Coast offense with a formidable running game. I imagine it is similar to Nebraska. What quarterback wouldn't want to play for somebody like this guy? If you haven't heard of Jim Harbaugh you have been living in a cave for the last 25 years.
- can GENERATE MONEY! NOW MORE THAN EVER!
We need something to change, ASAP. I think any change would help to generate more money for next season/the not so distant future. Ticket sales will most likely take a huge hit if something isn't done. People might even buy tickets just to see something different. JP can sell just about anything, buy it is damn hard to sell a 3 or 4 win season. We need a glimmer of hope no matter who is the coach next season.
- can DEVELOP YOUNG TALENT!
2004 USD starting QB Todd Mortensen signed as free-agent with the Detroit Lions. He is now with the Patriots in NFL Europe. This is the same guy that was only competing for playing time at BYU. He graduated early from BYU and enrolled in graduate school at USD. Harbaugh helped to develop him into a player that could at least make an NFL squad in some capacity. He could really develop players into something special if he had them for 4 years.
It isn't all that impressive unless you consider the level of football the guy was playing at in college. A backup QB for BYU isn't impressive. That is like having Kyle Van Winkle, Waye Terry, or Austin Flynn at QB in my eyes. None of those guys will be going to the NFL to play quarterback in any shape or form. Note: I hope Flynn makes it as a reciever. Imagine Bret Meyer and Austin Arnaud under his tutelage. Plus, these guys can scramble.
He will also take snaps with the scout team at USD. Your D-backs would learn a thing or two practicing against Harbaugh which is something we desperately need.
- can OUTCOACH SOMEONE ELSE!
If he has won 22 of his last 23 games, he has been outcoaching most everybody he has coached against. He says that he has taken the time to learn the ropes from his father who coached at Western Kentucky for 14 years, Bo Schembechler at Michigan, and Mike Ditka at Chicago among others. He has others on his staff that know how to win. Dave Adolph (older than dirt) his defensive coordinator has coached at Ohio State under Woody Hayes, as D-line coach, defensive coordinator, assistant head coach/linebackers coach for the Chiefs, Browns, Chargers, and Raiders. He'll bring in the right people to help get the job done.
- wasn't a COACH AT IOWA!
Nope! Note: Ferentz was only the O-line coach for Pittsburgh and Iowa before going to the Browns and Ravens as O-line coach. He was also only 12-21 as head coach at I-AA Maine from 1990-1992. He also only played at I-AA (at the time) UConn. The point here being that I/most everyone else had never heard of him before he was hired at Iowa as head coach. We could have a household name right out of the blocks.
- can energize our FANBASE TO ANOTHER LEVEL!
Anything would help, but I think the presence of an NFL quarterback would get our entire fanbase ready to go. He is a leader that has been molded for a head coaching spot for nearly all of his life. He is only 41 and would surround the program with a lot of energy. He will win and bring in a lot of MONEY!
- didn't play O-LINE or D-LINE! I want a coach that played a SKILL POSITION! O-LINE/D-LINE Players should be O-LINE/D-LINE Coaches!
He is a great quarterback that wants to be a great collegiate head coach. Finally this completes my last requirement. It isn't impossible.
Please take the time to read the link with my first post and the following:
http://www.sdhoc.com/main/articles/t...&year:int=2005
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...gh-cover_x.htm
Why not start talking about a change? What are we going to do? Perhaps lose all of our games or get embarrassed everytime we take the field. We can't just accept our current state. If JP doesn't make a change, he is the one that doesn't have enough sense.
You are correct, Dennis Green will be available for hire...SOON! I would gladly take Gene Chizik if we could get him. He would be an outstanding hire.