Topic: Similar Coaching Situation But Diff. Results

[GreenBison]

Mickey Mathews did it!

Matthews in 1999 took his JMU job a week before spring practice was to begin, inheriting a team that had won only five of its previous 18 games and was picked to finish next to last in the A-10.  Add that the Dukes were to open at eventual Division I-A runner-up Virginia Tech and that they had one of the nation's tougher Division I-AA slates (six Division I-AA foes won seven or more games in 1998), and it's understandable that expectations weren't high.
 
However, Matthews said he would be disappointed if JMU didn't reached the playoffs, and his team quickly made itself one of Division I-AA's top 1999 stories.  The Dukes lost their opener at Virginia Tech but then won seven straight games and finished the regular season 8-3 overall and 7-1 in the A-10.  They tied for the A-10 crown (JMU's first title in 20 I-AA years), reached post-season play for the first time in four years, and were nationally ranked for the final nine weeks of the season.
 
The success was recognized by Matthews being named coach of the year in the A-10 in addition to his national award.  JMU players were the A-10's offensive (Curtis Keaton) and defensive (Chris Morant) players of the year, and Dukes were named to 12 spots on the league's three all-star teams.  The same team winning both player awards in a year hadn't happened in the league since 1980, and never before had the same program gotten both player awards and the top coaching honor.
 
Matthews was introduced as JMU's fifth head coach March 22, 1999.  He succeeded Alex Wood, who resigned to become quarterbacks' coach with the NFL's Minnesota Vikings.

http://www.jmusports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=71030&SPID=8113&DB_OEM_ID=14400&ATCLID=795617&Q_SEASON=2007

[marshallsoccer]

So, taking over a team not on probation, being able to add some stud D1 caliber prospects, is similar to taking over a team on probation that wasn't able to immediately at guys like Keeton?

[GreenBison]

So, taking over a team not on probation, being able to add some stud D1 caliber prospects, is similar to taking over a team on probation that wasn't able to immediately at guys like Keeton?

READING COMPREHENSION... The similar parts are taking over a team a week before spring practice that had a bad season before hand.

Get off your high horse Soccer.. you're being awfully defensive lately.

[2xBison]

other than the late hire, not much similarity

[banker]

So, taking over a team not on probation, being able to add some stud D1 caliber prospects, is similar to taking over a team on probation that wasn't able to immediately at guys like Keeton?

So, Soccer, do you consider us a well coached team?

[marshallsoccer]

So, taking over a team not on probation, being able to add some stud D1 caliber prospects, is similar to taking over a team on probation that wasn't able to immediately at guys like Keeton?

So, Soccer, do you consider us a well coached team?

No, but we don't the depth/talent to help a young coach learn on the job and win.

[Thundering Accountant]

To be honest, Rich Brooks and Snyder have the similarities.

Brooks had losing season his first four years at UK. He built a decimated program back up and did it the "right way" by redshirting players.

UK fans were calling for Brooks' head after the 2005 season.

However, Brooks does differ from Snyder in one respect: He took a bad Oregon team to the Rose Bowl and was coach of the St. Louis Rams.

[ThunderValley]

No, but we don't the depth/talent to help a young coach learn on the job and win.

I don't believe head coach at Marshall  is the right place for on the job training

[marshallsoccer]

No, but we don't the depth/talent to help a young coach learn on the job and win.

I don't believe head coach at Marshall  is the right place for on the job training

It was for Pruett. He had never been a college coach before, he walked into a situation with absolutely loaded talent, more scholarships than his competition, etc and all of those factors helped him learn on the job.

[Thundering Accountant]

Pruett had been in major college football for several years as a DC. Comparing him to Snyder who held a DC spot for one year is different.

Also, its alot harder to get a decent coach to go to a 1-AA school than a C-USA school.

1-AA can afford to take a chance, CUSA can't.

[marshallsoccer]

Pruett had been in major college football for several years as a DC. Comparing him to Snyder who held a DC spot for one year is different.

Also, its alot harder to get a decent coach to go to a 1-AA school than a C-USA school.

1-AA can afford to take a chance, CUSA can't.

Pruett came to Marshall because it was a chance to come home and be the head coach and Spurrier was going to let him go at UF.

We couldn't afford to take a chance, yes we were 1-AA, but we were moving up to 1-A in a year, that was a very, very important hire to get the right guy.

[Thundering Accountant]

We did get the right guy.

I don't think anyone ever question Pruett's gameday coaching ability. The guy was a seasoned vet and was perfect for the job.

I'm not buying that Spurrier was going to let him go.

[marshallsoccer]

We did get the right guy.

I don't think anyone ever question Pruett's gameday coaching ability. The guy was a seasoned vet and was perfect for the job.

I'm not buying that Spurrier was going to let him go.

After Tommie Frazier took Spurrier's MNC by rushing for what almost 250 yards, Pruett was going to be out looking for another job. He would've gotten one no problem, but he was definitely done as DC at Florida. There was a guy at K-State that Spurrier wanted bad, SoS let him come in and told him to fix the defense, you have carte blanche to do whatever, just fix the defense.

[Thundering Accountant]

Spurrier was gonna fire Pruett for one game against one of the greatest football teams of all-time? Still don't buy it.

[marshallsoccer]

Spurrier was gonna fire Pruett for one game against one of the greatest football teams of all-time? Still don't buy it.

yeah, then he got his man and won the national title the next season holding FSU to almost half their season scoring average in the title game.

I'm glad, it worked out great for us!

[muherd34]

Comparing one Coaching situation to another is ridiculous.  When I saw that list of great coaches that started out bad I bursted out laughing. Yeah, that nice.  NOW where is the list of coaches that started out bad and are bad.  I bet that list is a lot longer.

[Dreamherd]

Snyder just doesn't have it.  He's always playing with something on the sidelines.  Whether it be his balls or headset.