New AP poll - look who checks in at No. 13

[froginaustin]

Whereas we are mediocre in a weak Big 12, sadly.

I wish we were mediocre.

I hope that we can hang onto the promising young line prospects SD has brought in, when portal time comes around.

 

[Chongo94]

Mike Houston, the guy at James Madison before Cignetti was 37-6 in his three seasons there and won a National Title in 2016, then went on to East Carolina and has gone 27-38 in six seasons there, worse than his predecessors. Prior to ECU his career record was 80-25 in eight years of coaching with one losing season (5-7). Certainly with tha kind of record Mike Houston is (or was, I guess) a good coach, right? Then why the struggles at ECU?

When picking coaches, hindsight is awesome. And let's give Cignetti a little time. I have a good friend who went to IU and just talked to him yesterday about how good the Hoosiers were. He said this new coach brought a bunch of his better upperclassmen players over from JMU and they were ready to go from Day 1. Let's see what happens when that immediate pipeline of seniors isn't available in the coming years, and they have a target on their back. I'm not saying he's going to fail but the numbers of coaches at IU that got everyone all excited for a bit only to come quickly back down to earth is pretty long.

Final point, count up all the double digit seasons coaches have had at La Tech, Cal, and SMU through the years. Where you coach is a huge factor in W-L records. Nick Saban was 34-24-1 at Michigan State. In the 15 years Lou Holtz was at William & Mary, NC State, Minnesota, and South Carolina he never had a double digit win season. Only when he was at Arkansas (when they were in the SWC) or at Notre Dame was he able to do that.

Knew you’d reply.

Curt Cignetti was 67-26 before he ever stepped foot on James Madison’s campus. I’d also suggest you take a look at the records of the schools he was at other than James Madison prior to his tenure with them.

And I’m not buying that location argument anymore. If a dude can win at Elon and IUP, he’s a good coach. A good coach who also knew to try to get his better players to follow him. But it’s not just the JMU players. Dude brought in a bunch of transfers and has seemingly gotten them to perform thus far. What have all our transfers done for the most part?

He may very well fail at Indiana in the long run but he’s building momentum it would seem and it would also seem that thus far his history doesn’t indicate he will fail, by Indiana standards. What does Sonny Dykes’ history say, however?

And you mean the predecessors that had 4 losing seasons in a row by the time he got there? You’re doing your straw man bs as usual. I’m not saying Cignetti couldn’t fail, I’m not saying Dykes won’t succeed. I’m saying that there are good coaches out there if one makes an effort to look hard enough and I’m not sure we did so.

 

[Wexahu]

Knew you’d reply.

Curt Cignetti was 67-26 before he ever stepped foot on James Madison’s campus. I’d also suggest you take a look at the records of the schools he was at other than James Madison prior to his tenure with them.

And I’m not buying that location argument anymore. If a dude can win at Elon and IUP, he’s a good coach. A good coach who also knew to try to get his better players to follow him. But it’s not just the JMU players. Dude brought in a bunch of transfers and has seemingly gotten them to perform thus far. What have all our transfers done for the most part?

He may very well fail at Indiana in the long run but he’s building momentum it would seem and it would also seem that thus far his history doesn’t indicate he will fail, by Indiana standards. What does Sonny Dykes’ history say, however?

Well, Dykes' history is well documented. And his first year at TCU we were in the NCG.

Mike Houston seemed like a hell of a coach too, that was my point. Look where he coached and their records prior to his tenure at JM. And then he goes to East Carolina and all the sudden he's not a good coach because he struggles to win there? If you're gonna cherry pick certain hirings to make a point, well, that's pretty easy to do on both sides.

Like I said, hindsight makes it real easy. Let's see how Indiana is doing in a year or two.

 

[Diehard]

Along these same lines.......... Looks like he may be doing it again.......Willie Fritz's lifetime head coaching record is 247 wins, 121 losses, and 1 tie. Fritz has coached at the FBS, FCS, Division II, and junior college levels:

• Blinn College
  Fritz's record at Blinn College from 1993–1996 was 39 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. He led the Buccaneers to two national junior college championships in 1995 and 1996. Fritz was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame for his work at Blin.

 

[Chongo94]

Well, Dykes' history is well documented. And his first year at TCU we were in the NCG.

Mike Houston seemed like a hell of a coach too, that was my point. Look where he coached and their records prior to his tenure at JM. And then he goes to East Carolina and all the sudden he's not a good coach because he struggles to win there? If you're gonna cherry pick certain hirings to make a point, well, that's pretty easy to do on both sides.

Like I said, hindsight makes it real easy. Let's see how Indiana is doing in a year or two.

Ahhhh yes, Mr “I’m the Smartest person to ever grace KFC” is lecturing me about cherry picking…..when practically every post you make twists the point into a straw man.

 

[Chongo94]

Along these same lines.......... Looks like he may be doing it again.......Willie Fritz's lifetime head coaching record is 247 wins, 121 losses, and 1 tie. Fritz has coached at the FBS, FCS, Division II, and junior college levels:

• Blinn College
  Fritz's record at Blinn College from 1993–1996 was 39 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. He led the Buccaneers to two national junior college championships in 1995 and 1996. Fritz was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame for his work at Blin.

Agreed, he seems like a great coach. For what Houston needed to do, rebuild their program, that would seem like a good hire.

I’m sure Wex will disagree.

 

[Wexahu]

Agreed, he seems like a great coach. For what Houston needed to do, rebuild their program, that would seem like a good hire.

I’m sure Wex will disagree.

He does seem like a good coach. Seems good for now at least. It's early though. Heck, a couple years ago people were saying that about our hiring of Dykes. And to bring up Indiana again, they were saying that about Tom Allen when he went 14-7 in 2019-2020 with some good wins. What a guy, from Indiana, perfect fit, bleeds crimson, yada yada yada. Then he goes 9-27 the next three years. Oops.

I do think it is interesting that Tulane stuck with Fritz despite him going 31-43 in his first 6 seasons there, and 2-10 in 2021. Good for Tulane for not pulling the plug on the guy so soon or they'd have most likely never had those good seasons in '22 and '23.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

This is where I get frustrated though. And I’m not calling you out 82, just using this as an example. The coach at Indiana had to replenish nearly as many players as this if not more if I remember correctly and he’s already got them performing better than they have in well, almost forever it seems. If he wins one more game at Indiana he will have had double digit win seasons at 3 of his 4 head coaching stops. Dykes will have 2 in his entire head coaching record, and that includes our NC run.

If you take away Dykes’ NC run year with us, his career record is 51-55. 51-55…..that is indicative. My point with all this is there are good coaches out there if one is willing to look hard enough. Were we?….I kinda doubt it. We went for the the hottest dish on the neighborhood diner menu that smelled good and did some quality spice work for a bit but now that it’s chosen to franchise out, it doesn’t seem to have any flavor (recently and historically speaking.)

The Indiana coach has never had a losing season at any school he’s been at his entire head coaching career. A good coach is a good coach regardless of location. There are good coaches out there and while the jury may not be out on Dykes yet, his career record for me and the last two seasons are evidence that my jury is definitely starting to lean one way over the other.

Yup, I agree with a lot of that.
In terms of Dykes recruits making early impacts, I’m not seeing much. Part of that is the Dykes staff is leaning way too hard on experience & transfers that were never starters, and not enough on our own young talent.
Also, they definitely had a huge portal miss in Dec. ’22 that has had a major bad impact. The staff was unable to coach the NC run and still focus on recruiting.
In addition the ‘23 HS recruiting class is not panning out that great. Out of the top 5 players signed Cordale Russell & Randon Fontinette transferred after year 1 and Cam Cook is a bust.
This coaching staff has major problems to overcome and I have no idea how they’re gonna do it.
That’s why I said if Dykes doesn’t win at least 2 of the next 3; then TCU should start to discreetly look for “real” upgrades. If we had lucky timing, it‘s possible a really good coach could suddenly come on the market.
And if we don’t win 8 + a bowl in ‘25, it’s time to throw in the towel on all of this staff. Even then the price would be in the $25m range in just buyouts.
Briles‘ contract is up this year, do they give him a 3 year deal?

 

[Chongo94]

Yup, I agree with a lot of that.
In terms of Dykes recruits making early impacts, I’m not seeing much. Part of that is the Dykes staff is leaning way too hard on experience & transfers that were never starters, and not enough on our own young talent.
Also, they definitely had a huge portal miss in Dec. ’22 that has had a major bad impact. The staff was unable to coach the NC run and still focus on recruiting.
In addition the ‘23 HS recruiting class is not panning out that great. Out of the top 5 players signed Cordale Russell & Randon Fontinette transferred after year 1 and Cam Cook is a bust.
This coaching staff has major problems to overcome and I have no idea how they’re gonna do it.
That’s why I said if Dykes doesn’t win at least 2 of the next 3; then TCU should start to discreetly look for “real” upgrades. If we had lucky timing, it‘s possible a really good coach could suddenly come on the market.
And if we don’t win 8 + a bowl in ‘25, it’s time to throw in the towel on all of this staff. Even then the price would be in the $25m range in just buyouts.
Briles‘ contract is up this year, do they give him a 3 year deal?

So wait, just so I understand it better cause I know you’ve detailed this to me before. Even after next year the buyout for the entire staff would be somewhere around $25m?

Dykes’ buyout would be less though, correct?

 

[Wexahu]

Yup, I agree with a lot of that.
In terms of Dykes recruits making early impacts, I’m not seeing much. Part of that is the Dykes staff is leaning way too hard on experience & transfers that were never starters, and not enough on our own young talent.
Also, they definitely had a huge portal miss in Dec. ’22 that has had a major bad impact. The staff was unable to coach the NC run and still focus on recruiting.
In addition the ‘23 HS recruiting class is not panning out that great. Out of the top 5 players signed Cordale Russell & Randon Fontinette transferred after year 1 and Cam Cook is a bust.
This coaching staff has major problems to overcome and I have no idea how they’re gonna do it.
That’s why I said if Dykes doesn’t win at least 2 of the next 3; then TCU should start to discreetly look for “real” upgrades. If we had lucky timing, it‘s possible a really good coach could suddenly come on the market.
And if we don’t win 8 + a bowl in ‘25, it’s time to throw in the towel on all of this staff. Even then the price would be in the $25m range in just buyouts.
Briles‘ contract is up this year, do they give him a 3 year deal?

It can be overcome pretty quickly. Just depends on how much the boosters want to spend. If they want Dykes to fail, that'll be pretty easy for them. Same with if they want him to succeed.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

Along these same lines.......... Looks like he may be doing it again.......Willie Fritz's lifetime head coaching record is 247 wins, 121 losses, and 1 tie. Fritz has coached at the FBS, FCS, Division II, and junior college levels:

• Blinn College
  Fritz's record at Blinn College from 1993–1996 was 39 wins, 5 losses, and 1 tie. He led the Buccaneers to two national junior college championships in 1995 and 1996. Fritz was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame for his work at Blin.

Willie Fritz has been an outstanding coach for a very long time, and now he’s sitting in a recruiting hot bed. 2 years from now they will be a very tough out.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

So wait, just so I understand it better cause I know you’ve detailed this to me before. Even after next year the buyout for the entire staff would be somewhere around $25m?

Dykes’ buyout would be less though, correct?

Dykes’ buyout is rumored to be 85% of his $7.5m annual salary thru 2028.
Avalos is approx. 85% of his $1.6m annual salary thru 2028.
Briles’ contract is up this year, but his new contract will also have a buyout

 

[Chongo94]

Dykes’ buyout is rumored to be 85% of his $7.5m annual salary thru 2028.
Avalos is approx. 85% of his $1.6m annual salary thru 2028.
Briles’ contract is up this year, but his new contract will also have a buyout

Ahhhh ok. Thanks, 82. The percentage makes it easier for me to better visualize it all.
That’s a lot of money….

 

[Wexahu]

Dykes’ buyout is rumored to be 85% of his $7.5m annual salary thru 2028.
Avalos is approx. 85% of his $1.6m annual salary thru 2028.
Briles’ contract is up this year, but his new contract will also have a buyout

Coaches salaries are ridiculous. All of them. What do guys like Malcolm Kelly and Paul Gonzalez make?

In 1982 Barry Switzer's salary at OU was $48,000 and he made an additional $150,000 from his radio and TV shows, and had a $5,000 housing allowance. I bet he got a company car too, lol.

 

[82 Frog Fever]

This is where I get frustrated though. And I’m not calling you out 82, just using this as an example. The coach at Indiana had to replenish nearly as many players as this if not more if I remember correctly and he’s already got them performing better than they have in well, almost forever it seems. If he wins one more game at Indiana he will have had double digit win seasons at 3 of his 4 head coaching stops. Dykes will have 2 in his entire head coaching record, and that includes our NC run……

Attached are two projected rosters for 2025 that Eight sent me a couple weeks back. He removed all the seniors from the current roster with the exception of Avery Helm.
He also recognized there are some juniors who could and most likely will leave after this year, such as Bud Clark, as well as other players who choose to leave or are told to do so.
What is important to see is:
- how critical playing time for younger players will be in the last 1/4 of the year.
- how big of a hole was dug in the offensive line, as well as created in the defensive line with the change in DCs/formations
- and once again the Frogs are going to have to hit the transfer market in those areas. We must break this over dependence on the portal!!

 

[Chongo94]

Attached are two projected rosters for 2025 that Eight sent me a couple weeks back. He removed all the seniors from the current roster with the exception of Avery Helm.
He also recognized there are some juniors who could and most likely will leave after this year, such as Bud Clark, as well as other players who choose to leave or are told to do so.
What is important to see is:
- how critical playing time for younger players will be in the last 1/4 of the year.
- how big of a hole was dug in the offensive line, as well as created in the defensive line with the change in DCs/formations
- and once again the Frogs are going to have to hit the transfer market in those areas. We must break this over dependence on the portal!!

This is great, thanks! Kinda scary reading in parts ha. Seeing this makes me want a bowl more than ever for those extra practices.

 

[bmoney214]

In the first official cfp rankings right now, smu is the first team out. If they keep winning they are going to make the playoffs.

 

[Wexahu]

In the first official cfp rankings right now, smu is the first team out. If they keep winning they are going to make the playoffs.

Of course they will. And?

 

[bmoney214]

Of course they will. And?

What is the point of your post? Why reply to my post? All I did was make a comment. There's no reason for you to reply with "And?" at all. Stop be a scheissing jerk all the time.

 

[Wexahu]

What is the point of your post? Why reply to my post? All I did was make a comment. There's no reason for you to reply with "And?" at all. Stop be a scheissing jerk all the time.

lol. I actually thought you were another poster on here, can’t see on my phone all that well. Anyway, sorry for pissing you off. I do think it’s pretty obvious that if SMU keeps winning they’ll be in the playoff.