Desert Duck

Is it just me, or does Chip's UCLA record of 18-25 get anybody's attention?

Anyone who thought guys like Chip, Taggert, & MC were going to stay in Eugene for more than 4-ish years were/are just kidding themselves (thankfully, Taggert was much less time than that. Talk about a horrid HC). Part of the problem is when D1 HC's are paid as much money as they are today, and even paid huge money to leave, money becomes less of a motivator or controlling factor with them. You have a lot of options available when you have $10-20 million in the bank.

I'm guessing MC is going to share the least greatest kept secret since about time began.

IMHO, Cal football is an unmitigated disaster and has been for quite some time. Given the conditions there (including political), I don't think anyone could turn that program into a consistent winner.

I'd suggest getting the flushing out of your system, because the MC is gone. Even if he wanted to come back, he is now a tainted product... at best. That contract they put in front of him on Saturday is now long gone. I wish MC all the best, but like Cortez, he has destroyed his ships -- along with any dream of a possible return ticket. Even the Panama Canal is now officially closed to Mario. Next coach up! And fast -- as in like within 1 week.

In the words of Obi-wan Kenobi: "This is not the coach you are looking for."

I loved what Chip did while at Oregon. It was nothing less than beyond cutting edge and jaw dropping. What he did with the talent we had was spectacular. I'm not sure if we'll ever have another coach with a 86+% winning record over 4 seasons. But the product had a shelf life and the defenses out there caught up. Since Oregon, he's done nothing remotely impressive. I don't think we're going to catch "lightning in a bottle" with him again. And if I'm him, knowing how high the expectations are today, unless he's just looking for a money grab, I'd pass on the gig. Besides that, the guy despises the entire recruiting realm.

Mario might be attempting to be creative here with the truth... as in simply being misleading. He very possibly might not have directly engaged himself in conversations with Miami -- and deliberately so. This is another reason most high-profile head coaches have an agent.

Thank you and very kind of you as well. It's fun to join the crew here.

No.

As Jesus pointed out: “No prophet (or head coach) is accepted in his hometown." Luke 4:24 DDT (Desert Duck Translation) As much as I like Wilcox & Musgrave, I'm a hard pass on them for Oregon HC.

Nobody is going to "hold onto" Lane Kiffin. But he might be able to do something exciting within 3 years.

IF OREGON WANTS TO COMPETE for a national championship, you just nailed it. As I mentioned in another comment, college football today is "Not your father's Oldsmobile."

"there is no way that a deal like this gets done without conversations going on for quite a while." It seems like some people are referencing mid-November as if it were months ago... but it's only been about 20 days. Unfortunately, these kind of negotiations do not typically open-and-close overnight. And as clean & tidy as I'm sure Mario would have liked this to have gone, rarely does it work like that. Would any of us be surprised if Miami "quietly" leaked that Mario was in negotiations with the Canes in order to put heavy pressure on him, and poison the well for him with Oregon? At least Mario didn't set our program back as our two previous HC's did. If we get the right replacement, as in Dave Aranda (but I don't think he'd leave Baylor for Oregon), we will continue to improve. Obviously, recruiting will take a hit this year, but I think Aranda would be able to hang onto most of our current players, and next year we would be very competitive in the recruiting world. I wish Mario all the best. Those who are a bit but hurt over this, need to recognize that this is no longer your "Father's Oldsmobile" -- and hasn't been for at least a couple decades.