Gentlemen, reality.
The same guys who were criticizing a handful of us for our long-running criticism of the coaching staff over the past two years are suddenly coming up with coaching alternatives.
This next hire MUST be a sure thing to rebuild the program. No guessing, not a coach with a flash here and a flash there. We MUST get this next hire right.
1. Reality.
The reality is that Miami has a limited budget. The reality is that many of those mentioned are not interested in Miami, or Miami is not interested in them.
2. Need meets Need.
The coach must want to coach at Miami, he must meet the unique needs of Miami, and Miami must provide the needs of the coach. Miami met the financial/opportunity needs of Golden, but Golden did not meet the unique needs of Miami. This mistake cannot be made again. Not four in a row.
3. Credibility.
Credibility is rare as it is aggregated over time, over great difficulties, and credibility is what any good hire must have. Golden had the right words, he spoke well, he had a binder which showed organization, but Golden, like many of the choices put forward in this thread - didn't have real credibility.
4. Proven Skills.
Proven talent evaluator. Proven program builder. Proven talent developer. Proven ability to assemble a National Championship team. Proven ability to assemble top staff. Unequaled recruiter.
Most of those mentioned here have some of these abilities in short bursts - some - but it's much better to have all of these abilities as this minimizes your hiring risk.
5. Timing.
Sometimes a coach that's available, at the right price, with credibility, proven skills, and where needs meet needs are negated because the timing aspect is not available by one party or the other. We need to nail down a coach BEFORE the end of the season for recruiting continuity and improvement.
Butch Davis.
How do you drop that name after this?????
Because I'm not a dumbass.
If this were a business, and if the hire is approached as a business, no more BS hires.
1. Butch would love to come back - he knows exactly what he can do here.
2. Butch meets Miami needs, and being the rich recruitment center UM is, the University meets Butch's needs.
3. Butch has program building credibility, and at NC, he did much the same thing with the talent he brought in and developed. They were kicking OUR asses.
4. He's proven as a talent evaluator - putting together the greatest college team ever assembled, he's already brought Miami back from the ashes to a NC, he's proven able to assemble a top staff (no more best friend incompetents), and Butch is certainly a top recruiter.
5. The timing is right. We'll either get Butch, or likely play against him. And Butch beats our ***.
Butch never screwed Miami. The U screwed the U, screwed Butch, and they continue to ***** the team and the fans.
Get Butch, and then the Administration won't have to worry about the goddam football team. Nor will we.
Business decision. Proven, credible, track record.