Thursday Afternoon Coaching Search Update
CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind
Today's hot name? Fulmer, err scratch that, Stoops.
With another day closing fast, the latest name to take boosters and media personalities by storm is Mike Stoops, head coach at Arizona. Some rumors among boosters have Stoops having interviewed for the job and having done a good job - one has him already in negotiations with Pollard. My gut feeling? He's probably interviewed and done well and has been given some level of a contractual outline. It could be that the rumors are all wrong, but boosters don't get fed false information very often.
For one - Pollard still has to get Stoops in front of Geoffrey - which presumably hasn't happened yet. Just like with Chizik, Geoffrey is going to interview the candidate - especially one that has a lackluster track record and obviously because of the situation we're currently in.
Second - Stoops has his team in a bowl game this weekend so it's hard to sense what type of guy would be signing contracts for a new gig while his team is practicing for their first bowl game in a decade.
My only real problem with Stoops being the guy is that he doesn't have any remarkable history. He has a name, but you can read my article from last night on why that's not always a good thing. Sure he would probably be an easier sell to the fans (the vast majority that don't read forums) than somebody without a recognizable name, but I would hope we're past the time when we need a name to sell tickets to already loyal fans. We've already sold the stadium upgrades, now we need to find a true coach. Is Stoops that guy? I don't know.
Look at it this way; Stoops has done an above average job at Arizona considering where they were, but he hasn't overachieved by any means and he has background chatter of odd behaviors. I could care less that he has ties to U of I, I just want to make sure he's the right candidate for Iowa State if he is in fact in negotiations. Arizona was in a somewhat similar state when Stoops took over and he has improved their competitiveness, albeit in a very down conference - but he hasn't overachieved in any of his seasons there.
At this point, Stoops could be a name that is just spreading due to incorrect information. It's also possible that he's going to go shopping for ISU gear this weekend. Time will only tell. Remember, Kelly wasn't a smokescreen last time around, he was the guy until very late in the search. It's quite possible we have our man, but it's also possible we've got our "smokescreen".
Mike Stoops at AZ:
2004 Arizona 3–8 2–6 T–8th
2005 Arizona 3–8 2–6 8th
2006 Arizona 6–6 4–5 T–5th
2007 Arizona 5–7 4–5 6th
2008 Arizona 7–5 5–4 5th
Total Record: 23–33 16–25
CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind
Today's hot name? Fulmer, err scratch that, Stoops.
With another day closing fast, the latest name to take boosters and media personalities by storm is Mike Stoops, head coach at Arizona. Some rumors among boosters have Stoops having interviewed for the job and having done a good job - one has him already in negotiations with Pollard. My gut feeling? He's probably interviewed and done well and has been given some level of a contractual outline. It could be that the rumors are all wrong, but boosters don't get fed false information very often.
For one - Pollard still has to get Stoops in front of Geoffrey - which presumably hasn't happened yet. Just like with Chizik, Geoffrey is going to interview the candidate - especially one that has a lackluster track record and obviously because of the situation we're currently in.
Second - Stoops has his team in a bowl game this weekend so it's hard to sense what type of guy would be signing contracts for a new gig while his team is practicing for their first bowl game in a decade.
My only real problem with Stoops being the guy is that he doesn't have any remarkable history. He has a name, but you can read my article from last night on why that's not always a good thing. Sure he would probably be an easier sell to the fans (the vast majority that don't read forums) than somebody without a recognizable name, but I would hope we're past the time when we need a name to sell tickets to already loyal fans. We've already sold the stadium upgrades, now we need to find a true coach. Is Stoops that guy? I don't know.
Look at it this way; Stoops has done an above average job at Arizona considering where they were, but he hasn't overachieved by any means and he has background chatter of odd behaviors. I could care less that he has ties to U of I, I just want to make sure he's the right candidate for Iowa State if he is in fact in negotiations. Arizona was in a somewhat similar state when Stoops took over and he has improved their competitiveness, albeit in a very down conference - but he hasn't overachieved in any of his seasons there.
At this point, Stoops could be a name that is just spreading due to incorrect information. It's also possible that he's going to go shopping for ISU gear this weekend. Time will only tell. Remember, Kelly wasn't a smokescreen last time around, he was the guy until very late in the search. It's quite possible we have our man, but it's also possible we've got our "smokescreen".
Mike Stoops at AZ:
2004 Arizona 3–8 2–6 T–8th
2005 Arizona 3–8 2–6 8th
2006 Arizona 6–6 4–5 T–5th
2007 Arizona 5–7 4–5 6th
2008 Arizona 7–5 5–4 5th
Total Record: 23–33 16–25
