"I am not looking for an offensive coordinator," he said. "I've run the offense the last six years, I'll continue to do that, I'll continue to call the plays...play calling's not going to change, game planning's not going to change."

My take . . . HALLE FRICKIN LUJAH

"The gift that keeps on giving..."

Yes, nice to know this Fisch will remain catch and release.

There's too much on a head coach these days, to be a play caller. It was one of the things that doomed Billy Napier. It's been a problem for Sarkasian and Day.

Name a National Champion the last decade that had also been a primary play caller.

1 hour ago, GatOrlando said:

There's too much on a head coach these days, to be a play caller. It was one of the things that doomed Billy Napier. It's been a problem for Sarkasian and Day.

Name a National Champion the last decade that had also been a primary play caller.

Gat, how about your man, Steve Spurrier? OK, it was back in the 1990s and not in the 21st century, but Spurrier won many games, including the year of the messenger QB.

Even more back, back, back, Paul Brown, who called the plays using a messenger guard.

Lane Kiffin, although I think most of the plays are whispered in his ear by Charlie Weis, Jr. And also as you noted, Sark. Sark does not have a Natty, but he has many wins.

Wherever he coached, the Pirate, Mike Leach, called the plays.

And back in the dark ages, when I played, and through most of the 20th century, the QB on the field of play called the plays following the game plan crafted by his coach, including Jim Plunkett and many other successful QBs.

And the best, experienced college QBs playing for successful programs, are allowed to audible. I don't think the person calling the plays matters more than the players executing the play calls.

Jedd Fisch has called plays for college programs, including Michigan, and professional programs. I don't believe Fisch's calling plays is a detriment to his program. Is there a better Husky play caller? I don't know, and I don't care.

Yes, play calling matters, but play calling success comes down to the Jimmies and the Joes.

9 hours ago, Jon Joseph said:

Gat, how about your man, Steve Spurrier? OK, it was back in the 1990s and not in the 21st century, but Spurrier won many games, including the year of the messenger QB.

Even more back, back, back, Paul Brown, who called the plays using a messenger guard.

Lane Kiffin, although I think most of the plays are whispered in his ear by Charlie Weis, Jr. And also as you noted, Sark. Sark does not have a Natty, but he has many wins.

Wherever he coached, the Pirate, Mike Leach, called the plays.

And back in the dark ages, when I played, and through most of the 20th century, the QB on the field of play called the plays following the game plan crafted by his coach, including Jim Plunkett and many other successful QBs.

And the best, experienced college QBs playing for successful programs, are allowed to audible. I don't think the person calling the plays matters more than the players executing the play calls.

Jedd Fisch has called plays for college programs, including Michigan, and professional programs. I don't believe Fisch's calling plays is a detriment to his program. Is there a better Husky play caller? I don't know, and I don't care.

Yes, play calling matters, but play calling success comes down to the Jimmies and the Joes.

I get what you're saying Jon. There are a select few that can do that, but it's just such a chore imo. Even a guy like Venables, who did it successfully this past year, he only did so because they struck out on hiring Jim Knowles. I just think the head coach needs to oversee the entire game, with his full attention.

I think there's just too much on the plate of guys these days. Steve didn't have to worry about player retention, plus the support staffs were all dudes just happy to be Grad Associates. Now you have run coordinators, QB mental health practitioners, and assistant to assistant coordinators.

Steve and Urban actually spoke on this a few weeks ago on Gator Digest. Steve told Urban how much his assistants were making, and Urban then talked about how much things have changed since his days to today.

Hitting closer to home is something Chip Kelly said two years ago about leaving UCLA as the head coach, to just be an offensive play caller at Ohio State. He spoke about the major differences between his time at Oregon and coming back to college about six years later.

It can be done, but there's a reason why Saban never tried it, why Kirby doesn't do it, why Day hired an ex NFL coach a year after letting an inexperienced WR coach try it out after losing Chip Kelly. Heck Curt Cignetti has spoken about having coordinators he has one hundred percent trust in. It gives him time to evaluate more game tape each week.

5 hours ago, GatOrlando said:

I get what you're saying Jon. There are a select few that can do that, but it's just such a chore imo. Even a guy like Venables, who did it successfully this past year, he only did so because they struck out on hiring Jim Knowles. I just think the head coach needs to oversee the entire game, with his full attention.

I think there's just too much on the plate of guys these days. Steve didn't have to worry about player retention, plus the support staffs were all dudes just happy to be Grad Associates. Now you have run coordinators, QB mental health practitioners, and assistant to assistant coordinators.

Steve and Urban actually spoke on this a few weeks ago on Gator Digest. Steve told Urban how much his assistants were making, and Urban then talked about how much things have changed since his days to today.

Hitting closer to home is something Chip Kelly said two years ago about leaving UCLA as the head coach, to just be an offensive play caller at Ohio State. He spoke about the major differences between his time at Oregon and coming back to college about six years later.

It can be done, but there's a reason why Saban never tried it, why Kirby doesn't do it, why Day hired an ex NFL coach a year after letting an inexperienced WR coach try it out after losing Chip Kelly. Heck Curt Cignetti has spoken about having coordinators he has one hundred percent trust in. It gives him time to evaluate more game tape each week.

Spot on, Gat, thanks.

Is it better to invest millions of dollars in a play-caller or in picking the portal?

Ohio State won a title with a $6 million Chip. But Chip and the O no-showed in a close home game win vs. Nebraska and disappeared in the loss to Michigan, and only reached its potential when the players told Day to open things up. (Where were these guys before Brutus was blown away by the Hurricanes in the Cotton Bowl?)

Again, I agree with all of your points, but how big is the football budget in Seattle? I imagine it's millions of dollars less than the budget in Columbus?

I hope Jon Sumrall is the answer for your Gators. The schedule is not easy by any means. Whoever calls the plays for UF will not have to be all that wise to defeat the FAU Owls, or get over the Campbell Camels' hump, but then?

At Auburn, Ole Miss, at Mizzou, South Carolina, and at Texas. Whew!

After a needed week off, it's on to the Cocktail Party versus UGA, followed by Oklahoma, before playing Will Stein and Kentucky in Lexington, then Vanderbilt, and at FSU.

Welcome to the SEC, Mr. Sumrall, and have a really nice day. 😁