Wake forest

[bgdodgeball4]

First, can't blame Clawson really. Money talks. You could build a dynasty at BG if you had the funding to do so. Unfortunately, we do not. (Side note: if I ever hit one of those $200 million+ lotteries, I'd be the Phil Knight of BGSU). He'll turn Wake around, but he won't win there like he could have here.

I think Elko has to be your number one choice at this point - though I think he leaves with Clawson.

Ruggiero is next in line after that. I wouldn't be as thrilled with him for a variety of reasons. Hard to overpass him with Elko, but Elko just seems like the better fit as a Head Coach and the players respond to him. I can't see Ruggiero passing up the opportunity but I fear we would fall back significantly if he gets the job.

After that, probably beg Durkin. I'd actually rather have Durkin over Ruggiero but you can't completely change the program after you win a Conf. Championship.

I want NOOO part of Fickell.

[MarkL]

Not interested in Fickell. He was the HC for a year and completely lost his team down the stretch. Lost their focus, team played lazily, not good signs of his head coaching ability. Outstanding assistant? Sure. Head coach? Nope. I'd severely question it if he were to be the guy but I've been wrong before.

I'm hoping for Elko. I'm hoping he is the interim and is outstanding in the bowl, hits a home run in the interview, then sticks around and maintains much of the staff and the continuity. If Elko isn't here, he'll be the best DC not named Bud Foster in the ACC.

[thewebboy]

This link is very interesting...
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/ ... aaf/coach/

Top salaries in the MAC are around $500,000 (Solich, Campbell, Molnar). Clawson is around $400,000.

Wake Forest coach made $2.25 mil last year. Not sure what Clawson will get.

You can't fault Clawson for making the jump. Likely 4x the salary. I'm sure their facilities are nice. ACC is a winnable, stable conference. I can see him doing well there.

[thewebboy]

Check out the last several coaches at Wake. This is a great place for Clawson, they'll have the patience with him.

I see 1 coach with a winning record since 1937. Good ol' Coach Peahead.


1937-50 D.C. "Peahead" Walker 77-51-6 .597
1951-55 Tom Rogers 21-25-4 .460
1956-59 Paul Amen 11-26-3 .313
1960-63 Billy Hildebrand 7-33 .175
1964-68 Bill Tate 17-32-1 .350
1969-71 Cal Stoll 15-17 .469
1972 Tom Harper 2-9 .182
1973-77 Chuck Mills 11-43-1 .209
1978-80 John Mackovic 14-20 .412
1981-86 Al Groh 26-40 .394
1987-92 Bill Dooley 29-36-2 .448
1993-00 Jim Caldwell 26-63 .292
2001-2013 Jim Grobe 77-82 .484

[bgdodgeball4]

I will say this: in the short term, I think we're okay. This team has a ton of talent and I realistically don't see a bunch of guys leaving because of this. Clawson was the program builder, but Elko and the assistants I think (my opinion) did a lot of the recruiting and their philosophies are more why we were successful. Nothing against what Clawson has done, but I think this staff has been pretty outstanding to support him.

The challenge will be keeping this recruiting class together and sustaining the recruiting we've had. The staff has done an excellent job finding unheralded guys both at normal high schools and through the JUCO route. If we can continue to do that, you can continue building the program and we will operate just fine (see Carey, Rod). A lot of that depends on who you hire though.

The biggest key is definitely coming up with creative ways to fundraise. You've gotta pay to keep these good coaches around - you can recruit to BG better than a place like Boise. But without the funds, it's just a vicious circle.

[bgdodgeball4]

Check out the last several coaches at Wake. This is a great place for Clawson, they'll have the patience with him.

I see 1 coach with a winning record since 1937. Good ol' Coach Peahead.


1937-50 D.C. "Peahead" Walker 77-51-6 .597
1951-55 Tom Rogers 21-25-4 .460
1956-59 Paul Amen 11-26-3 .313
1960-63 Billy Hildebrand 7-33 .175
1964-68 Bill Tate 17-32-1 .350
1969-71 Cal Stoll 15-17 .469
1972 Tom Harper 2-9 .182
1973-77 Chuck Mills 11-43-1 .209
1978-80 John Mackovic 14-20 .412
1981-86 Al Groh 26-40 .394
1987-92 Bill Dooley 29-36-2 .448
1993-00 Jim Caldwell 26-63 .292
2001-2013 Jim Grobe 77-82 .484

That is brutal.

[MarkL]

He'll be at a place where the AD will be patient. Some places in the ACC place enormous pressure to win the second you get the job ... FSU, Clemson, etc. Wake Forest will be patient and allow him to work his magic. It might be a rough first couple of years but he'll find huge successes there.

[daspollak]

BG is going to have to significantly up its salary if it wants to draw in a top assistant coach. Coaching salaries at the major powers have gone up a lot since Clawson came to BG, so replacing him with someone from one of those schools will mean a big raise in salary for whoever they hire as a replacement.

I would hate to see BG "cheap out" because of this, especially given how much talent is in the bullpen waiting for the right coach to come aboard. With the right hire, there's no reason BG can't repeat at champions.

I don't think so, the chance of future rewards are enough for some of these guys to take a pay cut. I believe Malzaun did that when he went from Auburn OC to coach Arkansas St.

[slashba33]

I too knew he was gone after we won Friday night. Also, friends of ours know the Clawson family and confirmed his parents live in North Carolina so another big reason to make the jump.

I want to be clear that we do NOT want Fickell as our coach. He will be lucky to be retained at OSU after this year.

[Class of 61]

I say congratulations Dave....you deserve a shot based on your performance.

I also say.... Luke Fickel....you might get bounced at OSU but PLEASE look elsewhere than in the state of OHIO for a job. Sorry, but this guy just doesn't impress me....and the mighty buck defense against the pass should/would scare the heck out of me if he were to come here. No thank you.

[BGGrad01]

I agree the administration will be patient with clawson but how much patience does the school have with the AD? I certainly don't know but That basketball program has gone off the tracks (yes, I know they're 8-2 so far against cream puffs) and the football program has been dreadful forever. It will be interesting to see how things stand after 3 years.

[musicman2343]

Dreaming here probably, but any chance WF and BG agree to let Clawson coach the bowl?

[MarkL]

Dreaming here probably, but any chance WF and BG agree to let Clawson coach the bowl?

I'm not sure if I'd want that. The chemistry between the coaches would clearly not be there. Too much uncertainty. And from WF's perspective, if BG were to lay an egg (I HOPE NOT!!), they might have second thoughts. I'd rather keep the rest of the staff intact and appoint somebody to be interim HC. Realistically the staff all know what they are doing so for somebody to take over the duties of deciding what to do on fourth down, go for one or two, and yell at the coach wouldn't be too demanding. The assistants would take care of the rest.

[musicman2343]

Dreaming here probably, but any chance WF and BG agree to let Clawson coach the bowl?

I'm not sure if I'd want that. The chemistry between the coaches would clearly not be there. Too much uncertainty. And from WF's perspective, if BG were to lay an egg (I HOPE NOT!!), they might have second thoughts. I'd rather keep the rest of the staff intact and appoint somebody to be interim HC. Realistically the staff all know what they are doing so for somebody to take over the duties of deciding what to do on fourth down, go for one or two, and yell at the coach wouldn't be too demanding. The assistants would take care of the rest.

Good points, Mark. Didn't think about chemistry. That will be huge in the bowl.

[Flipper]

Luke Fickell? Nooooooooooooooooooooooo............