Al Golden To Coach at Miami, Is Holgorsen the Best Option?
by BobPurkey34 on Dec 12, 2010 8:53 PM EST
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PrintWell, we can cross one name off the potential head coaches list.
As reported by the Associated Press, Temple head coach Al Golden will accept the vacated position at Miami, replacing Randy Shannon and will not coach in the Canes bowl game against Notre Dame.
I know Golden's name has came up several times on Pitt's list of possible head coaches, as he was able to transform an 0-11 Temple team into winners, going to their first bowl game in 30 years a season ago and finishing 8-4 in 2010 including a multiple touchdown victory over UConn. But with Golden now off the list, does this now mean the Pitt job is Dana Holgorsen's for the taking?
As reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Holgorsen has interviewed for the job already and is now Pederson's top choice for coach. The 39-year-old OKST offensive coordinator has also served under Mike Leach at Texas Tech and at Houston, also as an OC. It's absolutely no question what he brings to the table - high powered offense, all the time. Check out his offenses while serving as OC:
2010 Oklahoma State - 44.9 PPG
2009 Houston - 42.2 PPG
2008 Houston - 40.6 PPG
2007 Texas Tech - 40.9 PPG
2006 Texas Tech - 32.5 PPG
You get the point. Holgorsen's offenses put up points in bunches, no matter where he goes. But would that formula of success translate to a northern school like Pitt, where field conditions are certainly not always perfect and throwing the ball in November can be a tremendous challenge? Could Tino morph into Graham Harrell Part II or Case Keenum Part II?
There's no doubt that under Wannstedt, Pitt was able to lure in some very talented offensive players that would definitely translate into a high powered spread offense.
But if hired, how long would it take Holgorsen to transform Pitt from a more pro-style offense to a wide open Big XI style passing juggernaut? If it could be done at all? All I can hope is, that Pederson doesn't choose to hire Holgorsen simply because he would fill the stands and excite the crowds with a new brand of offense.
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Good post
Still not sure if I’m sold on Holgorsen over Bradley if I were given the option, but we’ll see how it plays out.
“If I were given the option” is the key phrase there. We may not have the option if Holgorsen is the only one of the two interviewing.
I think purely from a strategical standpoint, Bradley would be a more ideal fit because of his defensive pedigree, especially seeing how awful the grass at Heinz Field can get. Holgorsen as a spread guy, I just don’t know if that would work here. But it would certainly make for some very exciting football and offense puts people in the seats.
That's like a pumpkin pie right in the face!
by BobPurkey34 on Dec 12, 2010 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
His recruiting is what I would worry about as he is not known
as someone willing to go that extra mile
If he hires a good Recruiting Coord, then I think he has a chance to succeed
I don’t know how he would do there. It would also be interesting to see if he could maintain some of the pipelines Wannstedt created. The Stache was able to pull quite a few good players out of Florida. Maybe if not, he could find a few players that pass through the Oklahoma/Texas colander and create a pipeline there, and could be assisted by the fact TCU is joining the Big East.
But another thing we’ve seen is that he doesn’t need the most elite, 5-star recruits to be successful. He certainly didn’t have a ton of top talent when he was with Houston and still had a fantastic season in 2009. He makes offensive players across the board better.
That's like a pumpkin pie right in the face!
by BobPurkey34 on Dec 12, 2010 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
Bradley vs. Holgorsen
Bradley is definitely a more ‘Pitt-type hire’, being a defensive-minded Pennsylvania guy with strong ties to western PA. No doubt, he’d be great for recruiting and his traditional style of play would fit Pitt well.
The possibility of Holgorsen is very intriguing to me. I don’t know a whole lot about him, but everything I’ve read is very positive. It’s also hard to dislike his ultra-potent offenses that he’s been able to produce year in and year out. He’s certainly not your typical Pitt guy though, so it would be very interesting to see how well our players/recruits took to him. As was said, I hope Pederson doesn’t hire him just because he thinks his high-powered offense would sell tickets, but if he really thinks Holgorsen is the best candidate, I’d have no problem with the hire.
Hail to Pitt, Hail to Pitt Every Loyal Son
I couldn’t agree with this any more.
They really are polar opposites, they have nothing in common. Bradley is defense, Holgorsen is offense. Bradley is the local guy that’s been coaching/playing in Pennsylvania essentially his entire life while Holgorsen is very well travelled. I’m glad I’m not making the final decision between the two but I think it comes down to really who would want the job more. If one or the other has any doubts then go to the other.
But Pederson can’t hesitate if he really does like Holgorsen, because I know he’s not going to hang around forever. There’s too many solid coaching positions available for him to choose from, and even at worst, staying at OKST is hardly a bad thing. That might hurt Bradley as well, because that haste in Pederson’s decision might discourage Bradley, who won’t be easily lured away from Happy Valley.
Also, a fan of Bethel Park? Did you go there?
That's like a pumpkin pie right in the face!
by BobPurkey34 on Dec 12, 2010 11:41 PM EST up reply actions
Any other candidates?
And who knows, it wouldn’t surprise me if at least one more serious candidate emerges within the next day or two. I believe Pederson is going to move quickly though, and Holgorsen and Bradley appear to be the two big names right now.
And yes, I did go to Bethel Park, class of ‘09. I’m assuming you’re related to the Purkey Field namesake?
Hail to Pitt, Hail to Pitt Every Loyal Son
Other names I’ve heard come up are Russ Grimm (won’t happen), Mike Leach (won’t happen), Brady Hoke (really hope not) and previously Golden. Grimm would be a nice idea but he’s never coached in college and can’t as he doesn’t have a degree, I really don’t think Pederson would take the baggage Leach brings especially when he could get a duplicate in Holgorsen, who is younger, cheaper and less distraction proned. Hoke appears to have bigger dreams in sight.
So for now it seems like it’s between Holgorsen and Bradley. I don’t see any potential dark horses riding in late but you never know.
Yes, I am, Bob Purkey was my uncle. I went to Peters Township, class of ’07.
That's like a pumpkin pie right in the face!
Go with OC
I would prefer a HC at a smaller school because they have proven they can win without the best talent. But, if I had to choose over an OC or DC, I will most always take the offensive guy and for a simple reason. Offensive guys want to score a lot of points. They hire a DC and let him do his thing. Usually, a DC will focus more on defense but tend to hire an OC that will call plays that fit into their game plan. Usually a lot of runs to give the defense rest, and to play the field position game. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a yinzer and love a defensive game, however, I’ve seen the Panthers and the Steelers lose to many of the games they should’ve won playing that way. I’d rather put up 35-40 points a game and use a lot of stunts and blitzes on defense. I can’t stand having an offensive arsenal and using an ultra-conservative game plan.
What about Chucky?
Is this a consideration. I know he started out at Pitt, and he turned down the Miami job. Do you think Pederson even called him? I don’t really care for former NFL coaches, but Gruden is smart and is a great motivator. And you think Dave Wannstedt brought in the recruits? Everyone loves him.
It would be great, but I don't see it -
He’s got a cushy job right now and the money would have to be fantastic. When he was apparently wanted by Miami, the reports out there were saying around $4M per and that’s the bottom of the barrel compared to what he could make in the NFL. I don’t see him going to any college.
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