Things that come to mind with Mullen leaving
1. It doesn’t seem that long ago that a number of Gator fans wanted Mullen’s head on a platter and now everyone is in panic mode. It hasn’t been decided, as of this post, whether or not Mullen will coach the title game, but Meyer has stated that they will determine what is in the best interest of our football team when the decision is made.
2. Billy Gonzales has been game-planning our redzone offense all season. Given our performance in the redzone, I cannot argue that Billy G isn’t ready to take over fulltime. I am hearing that the position will be given to either Billy G or Steve Addazio.
3. Some interesting names are being bantered around as replacements on the offensive staff, including Kerwin Bell. The idea of bringing Kerwin back to the University sounds great to me, especially when you consider his relationship with John Brantley – the next great QB at Florida. Kerwin was also be an excellent asset in recruiting the middle and northern parts of Florida (remember Mullen wasn’t big in recruiting). If Tim decides to stay, you would like to think Kerwin could help Tim in the passing game. If Kerwin isn’t the man, I would like to see Greg Brandon get the call. For those of you that don’t know, Brandon was Meyer’s OC at Bowling Green and got the job when Meyer left for Utah. Meyer and Brandon developed Meyer’s version of the spread-option. In my opinion, this would be the fit with regards to continuity.
4. Mullen leaving is definitely a distraction, but having it happen on December 10th allows the staff plenty of time to deal with the situation and put it behind them before the game-plan is developed. Now with being said, if Mullen “poaches” a couple of coaches from the staff, I fear that may be too tough to overcome.
Mentioned in Austin Murphy's book 
17 comments:
Mullen sucks and is a yahoo for taking that job, which proves what we all thought. This team will be better next year.
I read some of this stuff and just shake my head. Aligator, I sincerely hope you didn't actually attend UF (as I did) because if you did you're an embarrassment.
1. Mullen is an excellent OC and will be missed.
2. He would be an idiot not to take a head coaching position in the SEC. He probably will increase his comp by 3-5X. I'm sure, Aligator, in a similar position, you would stay put in your current position. (Not!)
3. Meyer will promote/hire excellent replacements--UF is an elite program and can attract virtually anyone it wants to--and we'll be fine.
AceG8tr
"Some interesting names are being bantered around as replacements on the offensive staff, including Kerwin Bell. The idea of bringing Kerwin back to the University sounds great to me, especially when you consider his relationship with John Brantley – the next great QB at Florida. Kerwin was also be an excellent asset in recruiting the middle and northern parts of Florida (remember Mullen wasn’t big in recruiting). If Tim decides to stay, you would like to think Kerwin could help Tim in the passing game. If Kerwin isn’t the man, I would like to see Greg Brandon get the call. For those of you that don’t know, Brandon was Meyer’s OC at Bowling Green and got the job when Meyer left for Utah. Meyer and Brandon developed Meyer’s version of the spread-option. In my opinion, this would be the fit with regards to continuity."
Scully, I like this thought. I had mentioned Andy Ludwig in another post; what are your thoughts on him as an OC replacement?
If Meyer decides to hire an OC from outside the current I believe Ludwig would have to be at the top of the list.
Funny thing is now that Mullen is a HBC he will most likely be looking at the same people we are. Brandon would be a smart choice as his OC, especially if Mullen stays on the staff for the bowl game. Brandon has experience as a HBC and would be more than competent to manage things in Starkville for a month.
I am also hearing that Kerwin might be too hot of a comodity to come in as a QB coach.
Remember that Meyer will hire the best coach available, not just someone that he knows.
AceG8ter, Not only am I a UF Grad I was a walk-on in the early 90's. So I speak from some experience.
Mullen has always been a goober. It took him several games to get his head on straight this season, which should never happen. Also, If I had Tebow and Harvin, I could work miracles too. Realize that he still lost a few games with those guys going Tebow right, middle, left or Harvin right middle left will only work so long (did you see the Michigan game)?
He is also famous for running 180 tailbacks up the gut, which is moronic considering that each time those guys got off tackle they would run to the end zone? Did you see the plays he kept calling in the SECCG? Lets run Brandon James up the middle.
We will be better off now that he is gone. Urban will bring in a Greg Brandon or Kerwin who will work well with the staff and will score points.
MSU will kill his career and he will be back working for Urban or someone else in a few years.
Aligator,
Your bona fides as a former Gator player notwithstanding, I think you are wrong on a couple of counts. For one thing our OC was selected by our HC so any responsibility for any shortcomings of the OC must also be be bourn by the HC.
When we have the ball isn't Meyer talking to Mullen on that headset? I thought that's what it's for. He's telling Mullen in broad strokes what he wants like "let's keep it on the ground here" or "let's take a quick shot", etc. Presumably he hears each play being called by the OC and has veto power.
Also, I would argue that we lost the games we lost last year because we couldn't stop the run and we couldn't stop the pass. We couldn't stop anything. The real difference between last year's team and this year's is the defense.
Would it really be best for Kerwin Bell's career to leave a head coaching position to come be an assistant?
no offense to JU but I don't think the jobs are even comparable.
QB coach for a team just coming off a BCS game vs. Div III HBC?
Looks like Strong is gonna be named UCFs HC in the next few days too.
"Looks like Strong is gonna be named UCFs HC in the next few days too."
If somebody told you the sky was falling, would you believe that too? UCF's holding a press conference as I'm posting this and according to the Sentinel, the issue of O'Leary's job was not going to bbe addressed.
I'd just like to thank Mississippi State for deliberately trying to ruin their own conference's reputation and shot at a national title. because that's the way I see it.
I think colleges shouldn't be allowed to hire coaches away from bowl bound teams until after that particular team's game is played, recruiting be damned. You don't see NFL teams hiring coaches of playoff teams away before the postseason has started, do you?
BTW this will mark the second straight time the Sooners will be playing a team whose offensive coordinator was hired away before the game. How much luckier can they be???
Dolfan, I know you're a regular reader and commenter and I thank you for that but c'mon. MSU's only responsibility is to themselves. Urban Meyer got hired by Florida and still managed to win the fiesta bowl with Utah.
Hey my source was wrong, at least for now. All indications were after a second incident regarding the health of a UCF player, that O'Leary was gone. For the record, I was not the only one that had heard O'Leary was wrong.
Also for the record, I trust this source, just like I trusted my source that told me Tommy Bowden would be fired, which was reported here before any other website.
Finally, I am hearing good news about the remainder of the staff remaining at Florida. Maybe the sky isn't falling.
I think our coaching staff is deep enough to dip into for vacancies. Kerwin Bell would be a great addition in some capacity, I think.
If there is any "embarrassment" in these comments, it is one Gator calling another names just because of a disagreement of opinion.I don't agree with Alligator, but AceG8r needs to re-evaluate his manners. Cheap shot.
In the event that any assistant coach leaves either voluntarily or involuntarily, Coach Meyer has a "just-in-case" short list of candidates he feels would be a good fit for the Florida program. Judging on how well he filled the vacancies after Mattison, Drayton and Doc Holliday left I will feel comfortable with whomever he hires to replace Dan Mullen.
Since Gregg Brandon was in on the inception of the "spread" offense, he would be a natural choice to come in as OC; he also worked with Meyer in the past so it won't be difficult for them to establish a working relationship.
In the event that any assistant coach leaves either voluntarily or involuntarily, Coach Meyer has a "just-in-case" short list of candidates he feels would be a good fit for the Florida program.
If only Foley thought the same way...
"If only Foley thought the same way..."
Yeah - especially if he had a clear mind back in January of 2002.
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