Blue Blood Dark Ages

[djw004]

I had posted this on Deab's site prior - But wanted to throw it out here and see what discussion might come of it. Got really bored during the offseason and did a deep dive on blue bloods and their Dark Ages/Return to Prominence. The biggest takeaway I found was - It doesn't take a "saving coach" longer than 4 seasons at any other stop to show some significant "we back" improvement. Not necessarily NC's - but significant BDE.

Some things to consider - Almost all of them had "done it" for an established time period elsewhere first. Stoops and Richt were about the only who hadn't, but they were under some incredible coaches in their career that made them locks for HC jobs out of the gate. We are in year 4 and whatever you believe about Frost and his fit for the job - we do not look like we have any level of "we back" improvement.

My Questions for you:

is it ever worth trying to push past the 4 year window if leadership sees potential that hasn't come to fruition?

Coaches that COULDN'T turn it around in their time at the schools below never really found success anywhere - Muschamp and Willingham are the only that had "decent" P5 after their Blue Blood Stop - What do you think Frost's future as a coach is knowing he was such a hot commodity when making his jump?

PROGRAM	LAST NC	ALL TIME WINS	DARK AGES	RATIONALE	SECONDARY "BAD"	COACHES DURING DARK AGES	SAVING COACH
Alabama	2020*	905	1997-2007	8 of 11 seasons @ 7-5 or worse		Mike Shula, Dennis Franchione, Mike Dubose	Nick Saban
Notre Dame	1988	897	1997-2009	8 of 13 seasons @ 7-6 or worse	1994 (6-5-1), 2016 (4-8)	Bob Davie, Ty Willingham, Charlie Weis	Brian Kelly
Ohio State	2014	911	1999-2001	21-15 over 3 year span	1987-1988 (10-10-2), 2011 (6-7)	John Cooper	Jim Tressel
Oklahoma	2000	896	1992-1999	7 of 8 seasons @ 7-5 or worse (5 straight .500 or lower)		Gary Gibbs, Howard Schnellenberger, John Blake	Bob Stoops
USC	2004	839	1996-2001	5 of 6 seasons @ 6-5 or worse	1991-1992 (9-13-1), 2012, 2018	Larry Smith, John Robinson, Paul Hackett	Pete Carroll
Michigan	1948	953	2008-2014	5 of 7 seasons @ 7-6 or worse	2020	Rich Rodriguez, Brady Hoke	Jim Harbaugh
Texas	2005	908	2013-2017	31-32 during span	1986-1993 (47-42-1 w/ 1 10 win season), 2010 (5-7)	Mack Brown (end), Charlie Strong	Tom Herman (fired)
Nebraska	1997	897	2015-2020	31-38 during span, 5 of 6 sub .500	2002, 2004, 2007	Mike Riley, Scott Frost
LSU	2019	812	1989-1995	32-45-1 during span	1998-1999 (7-15), 2020 (5-5)	Mike Archer, Curly Hallman, Gerry DiNardo	Nick Saban
Penn State	1986	887	2000-2004	4 of 5 Seasons under .500	Besides Sandusky and the cover up: 2010 (7-6), 2013-2015 (21-17), 2020 (3-5)	Joe Pa (and I give the credit to Sandusky)	No one?
Florida	2008	743	2011-2014	3 of 4 seasons 7-5 or worse	2002-2004 (Ron Zook 23-15), 2017 (4-7)	Will Muschamp	Urban Meyer
Georgia	1980	839	1989-1996	6 of 8 near or below .500	2010 (6-7)	Ray Goff, Jim Donnan	Mark Richt

 

[Alcaus]

I'll have to digest this some more but I know the kneejerk reaction will be "Nebraska is such a unique place that the rules don't apply".

There's some merit to that but I think improvement in general should be pretty obvious. I think if you're 4 years in to a new staff and the general consensus is that improvement across the board is yet TBD, then you probably already have your answer.

 

[Jim14510]

Only one I'd have an issue with is Texas. They're still looking for their savior.

 

[KidsSeeGhosts]

Yeah--I don't know that Texas is back at all yet (but maybe Sark does it). For all the talk of Nebraska's fall off this decade, our record over the last decade is better than Texas FWIW.

 

[Jim14510]

Yeah--I don't know that Texas is back at all yet (but maybe Sark does it). For all the talk of Nebraska's fall off this decade, our record over the last decade is better than Texas FWIW.

That's interesting. Would have thought they Were a little better.

 

[djw004]

Only one I'd have an issue with is Texas. They're still looking for their savior.

Yeah - that is very fair - I thought Herman had it turning, then pissed off the money there.

 

[djw004]

Only one I'd have an issue with is Texas. They're still looking for their savior.

Herman was like 32-18 (not great) but 4-0 in bowl games at least. But certainly not BACK to their standards.

 

[DrinkItIn]

Yeah - that is very fair - I thought Herman had it turning, then pissed off the money there.

Texas has got as much or more dysfunction within their Athletic Department as UNL does. Hopefully, Turd can get that shit cleaned up.

 

[Tyneb23]

I will say this Nebraska is vastly different than all those. All those can basically recruit from there car. Nebraska imo needs a system that is unique to what everyone else is doing in CFB. Then do your damn best to get majority of the HS in Nebraska to run the same system.

 

[LoudHogRider]

Only one I'd have an issue with is Texas. They're still looking for their savior.

Agreed, and I'd add that Penn State seems to be trending positively under James Franklin.

With respect to the OP, I don't know if HCSF can ever lead us back to the promised land. That's a Turd problem. My job is to cheer on the kids and opine like crazy on message boards.

 

[Jim14510]

opine like crazy on message boards.

I'm pretty good at this. Maybe not quality but definitely quantity.

 

[djw004]

Agreed, and I'd add that Penn State seems to be trending positively under James Franklin.

With respect to the OP, I don't know if HCSF can ever lead us back to the promised land. That's a Turd problem. My job is to cheer on the kids and opine like crazy on message boards.

Yes. Penn state this year - they’ve just been so volatile to consider them “back.” You have something like last year followed up by a great product this year. That’s kinda been their flow.

for the record - I’d take their “bad” over ours any day of the week right now