Not a Jon Gruden Rumor…
Posted by frankpos on November 3, 2009
I assure you: This is NOT a rumor about Jon Gruden coming to U of L.
This is simply one man’s reasoned ruminations, one might say, as a business owner —and a former owner of a exec search firm. If I was Tom Jurich, I would:
- Give my current Koach his 3rd year with certain expectations about the team at least playing hard and showing progress.
- As TJ, I might even have seen a few good things in that defeat to UK. But …the second half of that Pitt game might have really pissed me off, since our team quit playing hard and in effect gave up.
- I would have decided to start the search process then, given the 1-2 record at that time, and the ugliness of the Pitt game.
- I’d concentrate on my #1 target, and make him an offer. I think TJ’s #1 target is Gruden. I think I’d offer him somewhere around, oh say, $3.8 mil/yr.
- While negotiations are going on with #1 candidate, I’d still be in on-going contact with my other top candidates too.
- If my top candidate committed, I’d have him start lining up his staff right now, so they could hit the ground running immediately on recruiting, etc. as soon as a coaching change was announced.
- If the #1 target is indeed Jon Gruden, I’d probably allow him to make his brother, Jay Gruden, the OC, because of his proven track record and history with U of L. I might also allow him to bring in others he is familiar with, that have U of L connections and proven records of success– say someone like a Mark Sander.
- I would have Coach Nord handle most of the visits and contacts with recruits right now– he is the one most likely to be retained from the current coaching staff. I’d have him emphasize the recruit is committing to U of L, not the coaching staff.
- Once negotiations are concluded with my #1 candidate, I’d be ready to announce it at any time–but I’d probably wait until the current Koach is statistically assured of a losing season. This may occur as soon as after the Syracuse game, or almost surely after we play South Florida.
- So, if I was Jurich, I’d probably be ready to make my announcement as soon as the South Florida game…which happens to also be where my #1 target, Jon Gruden, lives.
- And if my #1 coaching candidate had committed to U of L by that South Florida game, well then heck, I think I’d make my announcement then, just so I wouldn’t lose any time on recruitment.
Yep, now that I think about it some, that’s what I believe I would do if I was Tom Jurich…
Advertisement
CardsLady said
How coincidental that one of our recruits this past weekend met only with Coach Nord. ;) As always, love it Frank!
Squat Parallel or Don't said
1- Offer the Gruden Brothers a package deal;
2- Jon here for 2 years with a 3rd year option; leaves for NFL with no penalty after
period of 2-3 years.
3- Jay comes in as O-Co-Ord; stays as head coach after Jon leaves for continuity
and his offensive expertise continues using the fast paced arena QB style(Kurt
Warner/St Louis/Arizona)
4- Bring back Mike Cassidy to run the defense (3 losses in two years… not bad good
guy who got railroaded by Krags)
5- Put emphasis in strength room back on big strong and explosive-bench, incline,
squat, deadlift and powerclean to be as big and strong as possible. Quit doing all
of this 20 lb military presses on a big rubber ball working th core it is a joke. If you
want a strong core do lots of medicine balls and abs. Lift for strength and power.
Football teams need to be big and strong. Doing the plyometrics and agilities on
the conditioning field are fine if you build all of your strength and power in the
strength room. Are we making aerobics instructors or football warriors????
6- Recruit only the top 10 Kentucky prospects and get everyone else from FL, GA, AL,
MS, LA, TN and TX. Schnellenberger, John L, and Petrino found countless
diamonds in the rough overlooked by everyone else. Talent abounds in the South.
7- No more of this one day off to be with your famlies if you are a coach. If you want to
be a family man sell insurance. Div 1 college football is 24/7/365 any less
commitment is balderdash. PREPARE TO WIN ; OUTWORK YOUR OPPONENTS!
8- Work with the discipline problem kids, show them and teach them commitment by
your own actions and the rules you hold them to. Don’t run off talent just because
they won’t be Pope someday, work with them and keep them on the field and help
them graduate to be the husbands and fathers their families will need them to be
someday.
9- To Believe is to Be Strong-Preach the Dream-A National Championship!!!
Tom S said
Good information, Frank! Strange that you just happened to pull that 3.8 million out of thin air. Me thinks you know MUCH more than you’re letting on.
The Gruden talk also is coming from a big donor in a completely different area of the U of L program.
There is also some chatter about Brent Venables if Gruden has already declined. And Kyle Whittingham may be locked in at Utah and uninterested.