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Aggy 2024: Still waiting on the Looch 44

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Tex-19

Tex-19 2,872

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13 hours ago, Lobwedgephil said:
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We're closing in on a hire, folks.

From day one, the goal of Ross Bjork and those involved in finding the next Texas A&M football coach felt like it was to have a hire made shortly (if not as early as the day after) the Ags concluded the regular season at LSU. In other words, if things are still on track (and that's a big if when it comes to coaching searches), we could hear something as early as 48 hours or so from now. Even if that's not the case, it's probably safe to say we'll enter “any day now” mode by the last day of Thanksgiving week.

• Let's start with the two biggest names everyone seems to be now talking about: Ohio State's Ryan Day and Kalen DeBoer of Washington.

I was actually in Kansas City last week and visiting with several longtime Ohio State fans and got the same vibe from that particular group that I've gathered from Buckeye fans on social media. If Day loses to Michigan again on Saturday, the majority of that fanbase probably wouldn't shed a tear if the Day-to-A&M rumors were true. That would be an emotional mistake, of course. Day walked into a great situation in Columbus, but he's also 56-6 with three playoff appearances (and possibly a fourth) in nearly five full years at the helm.

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Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Day and the Buckeyes face Michigan on Saturday at 11 a.m. CT. Ohio State has last two straight to its archrival.

However, the real question is whether or not the rumors of mutual interest between the two sides are even true.

I've talked to enough folks to state I am very skeptical this was ever a two-way street. Day leaving a $10 million/year job at Ohio State is far-fetched. The only way I think he'd even have a CHANCE to come into play would be if the Buckeyes fall to Jim Harbaugh and Michigan tomorrow. At that point, will the Ohio State brass be willing to waive some of that buyout in order to push a coach who will have dropped all of seven games in five years out the door? Tough to imagine, right? Now combine that with the fact that my sources have told me that neither Day nor his representation have expressed any legitimate interest in terms of leaving Columbus. I think this is an example of a rumor taking on a life of its own via various social media avenues.

As for DeBoer, I feel very confident in saying that he was a prime-time candidate for Bjork and the Aggies.

The issue here is that DeBoer’s Huskies are in the playoff and national title hunt, and I continue to hear that the head man isn't open to any real discussion until after Washington's season.

Considering that could very well be in early January (or at least after the Pac-12 title game), and there's no guarantee of how interested DeBoer really is, it's tough to see the Ags waiting this one out, barring anything short of Bjork holding a signed MOU or feeling incredibly confident he'd accept the job. That's obviously not the case.

Two names that I'm keeping a closer eye on than most of you would expect as we are likely to be nearing a conclusion to what has truly been a national search? For me, it's Kentucky's Mark Stoops and Utah's Kyle Whittingham.

Stoops has done all he can do at Kentucky. He has won 10-plus games in Lexington twice (the two previous ten-win seasons came in 1977 and 1950), and the Wildcats — who play second fiddle to hoops in Bluegrass Country — simply aren't going to overtake Georgia in the SEC East and will always fight an uphill battle for talent against no fewer than eight or nine of the sixteen teams in the new-look conference.

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Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen
Entering Saturday’s Governor’s Cup game with No. 10 Louisville, Stoops is 72-64 in 11 years at Kentucky.

Those are the reasons Stoops might leave. The news here is that contacts close to the situation, in Lexington, in the agent world and a couple of other outposts around the SEC have told me that the longtime Kentucky boss is listening and that he's a legitimate target for Bjork and the Aggies. If you're looking for one of these situations where the desires of both sides seem to align, this one looks like a potential match. In fact, Stoops' name is the one I've been hearing a lot more of in recent days, and there appears to be legitimate momentum.

Whittingham was passed along to me via an outside source with knowledge of the search on Thanksgiving morning, which came as a bit of a surprise.

I'm following up and plan to do some more digging throughout the day, but this one came from a pretty interesting place. That said, I know the longtime Utah boss is very happy in Salt Lake City and has been rumored as getting closer to calling it a career than making a move. However, that was more than a week ago, and things can and oftentimes do change. It's also worth noting that Whittingham was legitimately interested in the job when Jimbo Fisher was hired six years ago.

Apart from the fact that I've had multiple sources reference both as candidates, another reason I'd pay close attention here is that — after hiring four straight head coaches who had strong offensive backgrounds since R.C. Slocum — if I were a betting man, I'd lean towards the Aggies next hire being a defensive guy.

Experienced, defensive foundation, physical football teams, having done more with less, program-builder. Understanding they'll essentially have a blank check to hire an offensive coordinator (and said coach would have to have proven willing to embrace modern offense...that goes without saying, right?), those are the likely characteristics unless one of the big-time but less likely names like DeBoer (yes, he's ascended to that level) or Day end up taking over in College Station.

• Someone else who fits that description — sans the decade-plus experience as a head coach — is Mike Elko.

Contrary to a recent report making the rounds elsewhere, Elko is still very much in play and is considered one of the few candidates I'd describe as “top tier.”

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Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
After four years as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator, Elko is 15-9 in a two-year stint at Duke.

He has been squarely on the A&M radar from day one, and nothing has changed.

The second-year Blue Devil boss is being dismissed by various outlets, but that's not all the case. While there's likely a bigger, more proven name on the list, Elko has already shown staying power, and I've been told has been quite impressive when explaining his vision for the Aggie program under his guidance.

• As for Arizona's Jedd Fisch, sources close to the third-year head coach have told me that Fisch is expecting to hear from the A&M brass this weekend, at which time he'll find out if a face-to-face meeting will take place following the Wildcats' season.

Arizona is done on Saturday unless they beat Arizona State and No. 16 Oregon State upsets No. 6 Oregon, in which case the Wildcats would play in the Pac-12 title game a week later.

I was first to mention Fisch as a candidate, and it's something that seemed to take on a life of its own early this week, to the point that folks around the country were calling me and talking to me as if it were a lock. It never was. Not close to that, actually, but the up-and-comer is very well-respected in coaching and media circles. Fisch is still very much in the mix, though what I would call a secondary target at this time.

Pay attention to the phrasing here — “at this time.”

If Bjork does meet face-to-face with Fisch, things could change in a hurry, as folks I've spoken to say that there's quite a bit of intrigue here. If it's not A&M for Fisch, I'd keep an eye on UCLA and especially Florida if the Gators were to surprise and cut Billy Napier loose after two disappointing seasons.

• When Bjork and Justin Moore embarked on their search for Rob Childress' replacement, two or three giant names topped the initial list, including eventual hire Jim Schlossnagle, Texas Tech's Tim Tadlock and Tony Vitello of Tennessee. Along the way, Bjork and the Ags came away very impressed with a bit of an under-the-radar candidate, East Carolina's Cliff Godwin. He didn't get the call but may have been much more of a factor with just a little more experience at a bigger, P5 program.

If there's a similar name that has come up along the way during the A&M football search, it's probably Jon Sumrall of Troy.

“Beyond impressive” is how he was described to me by a source with knowledge. Tough to imagine seeing A&M as Sumrall's first Power 5 opportunity, but it sounds like he's a rising star who we'll see hit the big time in pretty short order. Just one of those interesting coaching search notes you pick up along the way.

• A final note: Stop with the Dan Lanning stuff. If anyone is telling you that's still in play, go ahead and eliminate them permanently from your working list. Oh, and as I'm about to hit send on this story, we get a tip from our Mississippi contacts that Lane Kiffin is going to be the next A&M head coach, per "sources very close to the situation." You can't make this stuff up.

 

Credit to Looch for calling a spade a spade regarding Ryan Day (and sorta with Deboer). Straight up saying the Day rumors are ridiculous and Day hasn't actually shown interest

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you guys aren't going to believe this, but i may have misjudged the potential floor here.

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Aggie - Fisher - Plan 2024 Synopsis, as I've come to hear about it: Spoilered for the tl;dr crowd that doesn't give a shit and doesn't want to scroll.  

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I have to tell you, I don't know if I can handle this if it is true. They are speculating on the aggie 247 board that, because Elijah Robinson is still an employee at Texas A&M and because he is c

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Neonmoon

Neonmoon 38,129

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49 minutes ago, Tex-19 said:

Credit to Looch for calling a spade a spade regarding Ryan Day (and sorta with Deboer). Straight up saying the Day rumors are ridiculous and Day hasn't actually shown interest

Looch literally started the fucking rumor earlier this week. The only credit that fat cleat chaser deserves is an extra punch on his Arby’s card. 

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victory88

victory88 5,663

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Lmao.  So they hire a guy that has to keep the current staff and help keep a roster together of guys that can’t stay disciplined.  This feels like Charlie Strong after Mack Brown in certain ways although.  I fully expect an exodus of players after they try to instill a disciplined culture.  That or they will continue to let the mercenaries run the locker room and nothing will change with the same staff.  

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Michael Knight

Michael Knight 12,977

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3 hours ago, Skipper said:

Seems to me like Agent's are doing Agent things leaking shit for the pregame shows to get their guys raises.  I've thought from the second Jimbo was fired it was Elko + retaining a big chunk of the defensive staff.  My guess is that deal was all but done before the Jimbo news even went public.  I'll still be pretty damn surprised if that's not the case.

What in all of this makes you think anything was planned out 

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Elmer_Fudd

Elmer_Fudd 22,214

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1 minute ago, Rickylovesweed said:

I don't know why aggy wants to keep this defensive staff so much. They've been torched against the only good offenses they've faced. 

Yep, was coming to post this.  Any offense with a semblance of a pulse they get lit up.  They look good statistically by playing three cupcakes and dog shit offenses like Auburn, Arkansas, Mississippi State, and a South Carolina team with a terrible OL.

Edited by Elmer_Fudd
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BurntOrange&White

BurntOrange&White 39,931

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2 minutes ago, Rickylovesweed said:

I don't think it's just that. They legitimately think this defensive staff is good. 

it's legit that.....

 

Elijah Robinsons buyout is like 3 million, Durkin's is like 5-6 million.....that's another 8-9 million they'd need up front....they just don't have it.

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Chips O'Toole

Chips O'Toole 1,322

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16 minutes ago, TexasRenegade said:

Because they are terrified the greatest recruiting class in history will bolt if they don't....

This is pretty crazy even for them, but it sounds like they may be trying to assemble a coaching staff around a single recruiting class that was rife with character risks and future transfers and inflated by mercenaries at a couple of positions.  They now view their team as "plug and coach" even after seeing the roster fall apart over two straight seasons with gaping holes across both sides of the ball. 

"Hey, that Ryan Day guy took over a tosu roster with a similar talent level, probably, and didn't miss a beat, we should see about getting him to do the same thing here for a little more money!"...checks salary..."or for the same money! Or less money but with some sweeeet incentives!"

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Vermin

Vermin 3,043

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4 minutes ago, Chips O'Toole said:

This is pretty crazy even for them, but it sounds like they may be trying to assemble a coaching staff around a single recruiting class that was rife with character risks and future transfers and inflated by mercenaries at a couple of positions.  They now view their team as "plug and coach" even after seeing the roster fall apart over two straight seasons with gaping holes across both sides of the ball. 

"Hey, that Ryan Day guy took over a tosu roster with a similar talent level, probably, and didn't miss a beat, we should see about getting him to do the same thing here for a little more money!"...checks salary..."or for the same money! Or less money but with some sweeeet incentives!"

Only aggy could turn a class of eight 5*s into a 9 figure debacle that sets them back a decade.

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Deej

Deej 76,759

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21 minutes ago, RomaVicta said:

He doesn't want Day messing up his surprise announcement that he's returning to football at A&M for a 5 million dollar base salary plus incentives.

He gets a bonus for showing up at the Dixie Chicken once a week and fingering any corps member who grinds on him.

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Laxtonto

Laxtonto 12,080

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37 minutes ago, Deej said:

He gets a bonus for showing up at the Dixie Chicken once a week and fingering any corps member who grinds on him.

Does this job come with a lifetime supply of rubber gloves or wet wipes or is Urban into the hershey? If they are dumb enough to be in the corps those guys also probably struggle with the basics of wiping their ass...

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Deej

Deej 76,759

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3 minutes ago, Laxtonto said:

Does this job come with a lifetime supply of rubber gloves or wet wipes or is Urban into the hershey? If they are dumb enough to be in the corps those guys also probably struggle with the basics of wiping their ass...

They have their own version of a bidet.

 

 

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Vermin

Vermin 3,043

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On 11/19/2023 at 1:33 PM, Vermin said:

My commentary in []

Bjork is going to hire a sitting head coach. [Georgia DC declined.]

Looch started off talking about the obvious candidates of Elko, Traylor, Leipold.

He then threw out Jonathan Smith and Jedd Fisch as western candidates with no ties. [Those are a smokescreen that will never happen.]

He throws out Matt Rhule. [Huge buyout, never gonna happen.]

He said there could a surprise big name that SHOCKS college football. He said it would be a coach frustrated with where they're at and don't feel appreciated. Mack told Dabo that he should've left Texas sooner because the fans didn't appreciate him.

Name drops Ryan Day, Lincoln Riley, and DeBoer. [LOL]

[Billy keeps throwing out Dabo even though nobody else is talking about him. He is a big name, doesn't feel appreciated, doesn't have resources with the bad ACC TV contract, and is the only reasonable big name that could've reached out seeking a retirement plan. I'm shocked. I'm not pissed. It's Dabo Swinney.]

 

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TexasRenegade

TexasRenegade 2,435

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1 of 2 things is happening.  Either Bjork is even more inept then I have been told, which I've been told is pretty damn inept, or there are multiple factions fighting over who the next coach will be.

 

It serves no purpose, other than disappointing and splitting your fan base to have this many coaches supposedly linked to the job.

 

1. When you do hire your guy, it give the perception that other guys said no.

2. It divides your fan base in too many directions over who the coach should be.....

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Vermin

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4 minutes ago, TexasRenegade said:

1 of 2 things is happening.  Either Bjork is even more inept then I have been told, which I've been told is pretty damn inept, or there are multiple factions fighting over who the next coach will be.

 

It serves no purpose, other than disappointing and splitting your fan base to have this many coaches supposedly linked to the job.

 

1. When you do hire your guy, it give the perception that other guys said no.

2. It divides your fan base in too many directions over who the coach should be.....

Think how many boosters he has to fellate for $76 million.

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TexasRenegade

TexasRenegade 2,435

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49 minutes ago, TexasRenegade said:

1 of 2 things is happening.  Either Bjork is even more inept then I have been told, which I've been told is pretty damn inept, or there are multiple factions fighting over who the next coach will be.

 

It serves no purpose, other than disappointing and splitting your fan base to have this many coaches supposedly linked to the job.

 

1. When you do hire your guy, it give the perception that other guys said no.

2. It divides your fan base in too many directions over who the coach should be.....

And it's not like these names are coming from random media guys obviously being linked by agents trying to get raises, if Bjork isn't saying the names himself, Lucci is and that's practically the same thing.

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Xminus6

Xminus6 790

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7 minutes ago, TexasRenegade said:

And it's not like these names are coming from random media guys obviously being linked by agents trying to get raises, if Bjork isn't saying the names himself, Lucci is and that's practically the same thing.

Yeah. I’m not getting there strategy here. Seems like the play is to usually float unimpressive names and surprise with a very good hire. If it ends up being Elko or Traylor or even Fisch it starts their whole regime out with a huge disappointment.

 Can’t imagine it’ll help their recruiting to play it that way either. 

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Duane Moore

Duane Moore 5,237

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Stoops, Day, and Dabo are three guys who already have retirement plan contracts in place. They could be fired tomorrow and live comfortably off the buyouts for those deals for the rest of their lives. All three are hearing criticisms from their fan bases. Their names being floated smacks of getting some appreciation from the fans, if not possible raises. 

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NoName

NoName 16,351

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45 minutes ago, Xminus6 said:

Yeah. I’m not getting there strategy here. Seems like the play is to usually float unimpressive names and surprise with a very good hire. If it ends up being Elko or Traylor or even Fisch it starts their whole regime out with a huge disappointment.

 Can’t imagine it’ll help their recruiting to play it that way either. 

I secretly hope Texas and others are floating these huge names to fuck with them

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ousux

ousux 5,597

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You mother fuckers won’t think it’s funny when Ryan Day steps off the plane to his band of greeters and is immediately handed his national championship trophy (date TBD). 
Oh you're wrong, I'll get plenty of lulz seeing him march past the band to his tin pot dictator welcome.
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SydneyCarton

SydneyCarton 48,080

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Just now, ousux said:
On 11/24/2023 at 2:24 AM, Coelenterate Fuccboi said:
You mother fuckers won’t think it’s funny when Ryan Day steps off the plane to his band of greeters and is immediately handed his national championship trophy (date TBD). 

Oh you're wrong, I'll get plenty of lulz seeing him march past the band to his tin pot dictator welcome.  Sacrificial contractually obligated 10 year old boy

FIFY

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