Four interviewees confirmed....

Mark Hudspeth reminds me of Bob.

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Originally Posted by SlappyCajun

_ Not to put down RC90, but, this could be the reaction of many people, b/c the hire will lack sizzle. _

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Sizzle? Really? Sounds like man drizzle!

What man makes you get all sizzly, slappy?

Looks like Hudspeth is happy in Mississippi.

http://blogs.clarionledger.com/msu/2...lafayette-job/

Coachspeak. He still interviewed for the job and from what I hear is a strong candidate.

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Originally Posted by cajungrad00

Looks like Hudspeth is happy in Mississippi.

http://blogs.clarionledger.com/msu/2...lafayette-job/

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igeaux.mobi

Look at my posts. I've pulled for Hudspeth all along. I love Marlin. My personal opinion is that after Hudspeth and Crowton everything else is a shot in the dark. B/c they have no head coaching experience.

My general comment was that the general consensus by the casual fan is that these guys lack a WOW factor, b/c they are not a big name.

igeaux.mobi

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Originally Posted by BrockMeaux

_ Crowton is certainly the biggest name of the bunch, and he's had some success at schools much like our own in BYU and LaTech, but as Jay mentioned, his best year is usually his first and it's downhill from there. That's a scary proposition, especially if he can't find a QB to fit his system.

Brewer definitely has the "feel" of a guy that we're looking for. Fairly young, has prior head coaching/coordinator experience, is an offensive guy who's spent time working with another hot commodity (Holgorsen), has football in his blood. I have the feeling that he'll be in top 2 consideration when it comes down to it.

Mark Hudspeth is the most ready to succeed here now and in the long-term, I think. Of all the candidates, he reminds me most of Bob Marlin and that "type" of hire. He was ultra-successful at North Alabama, so he knows what it takes to win at a school with budgetary and recruiting constraints like our own, and he's got some connections having spent a year in the SEC. He's also fairly young...I just question if we'll have the opportunity to grab him before somebody swoops in with a bigger, better offer.

Joe Deforest is, for me, the most intriguing candidate. He's got no head coaching or coordinator experience, which makes the thought of handing the program over to him very scary because it could be very bad for us long-term if he isn't successful. However, if we take that risk and he DOES pan out, it'll be an absolute home run. He's a local guy, he'd bring an upgrade to the weaker parts of our team (special teams and defense), he's the recruiting coordinator at one of the best, most talented teams in the Big XII, and he REALLY wants to be here, which lets me know that, if nothing else, he wouldn't be lacking in the effort department as head coach at our university. If he doesn't get the head job, I'd hope that he's considered for job on the staff, perhaps as defensive coordinator, because he's an exciting young talent.

All in all, I love that group of candidates. They all have their flaws, but they could also all easily succeed here if they had the right support. It's going to be an exciting couple of weeks. _

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Position: Associate head coach, special-teams coordinator, safeties coach.

Hometown: Titusville, Fla.

Age: 45

As a player: Linebacker at Louisiana-Lafayette (graduated with a marketing degree in 1987). In two seasons of pro football, he was on the roster of the Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints and Calgary Stampeders of the CFL.

As a coach: Rice assistant from 1990-94 and Duke assistant from 1994-2000. Joined the OSU staff in 2001 as a Les Miles assistant.

For 10 seasons, Joe DeForest has coached Oklahoma State's special-teams units and defensive backs. He is credited for establishing OSU's strong recruiting presence in the Houston area and along the Texas Gulf Coast. As a linebacker at Louisiana-Lafayette (then known as Southwestern Louisiana), DeForest played against visiting OSU in the 1986 opener. OSU prevailed 21-20 on a Hart Lee Dykes touchdown catch with 11 seconds left. Mike Gundy was a freshman quarterback at OSU, but did not play.

You played football and baseball at Louisiana-Lafayette. What can the Cowboy football team expect at Cajun Field?

In the past, the student section was pretty rowdy. ... But it's fun. It's a great environment. We just have to make sure our kids control themselves.

What makes Lafayette a unique town?

You hear about New Orleans, but Lafayette is where it all started. That's where the French-Canadians migrated to. There's great food. There's great fun. There's great people. I've got a lot of good friends still there.

As a pitcher who attended high school in Florida, why were you attracted to Louisiana-Lafayette?

I was able to play both football and baseball. That's where (former Yankee great) Ron Guidry was from. My roommate (Xavier Hernandez) pitched for the Astros and the Yankees.

In the 1986 opener, you competed against the OSU football team. What do you remember about that game?

We lost on the last play of the game to Hart Lee Dykes. I've talked to Hart Lee Dykes about it. I've talked to Barry (Sanders) about it. I've talked to Coach Gundy about it. It's sort of ironic that I'm (on the OSU staff) and we're getting ready to go play them. By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

But does the casual fan realize that before Nick Saban became a "big name" he was NOT a big name?

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Originally Posted by SlappyCajun

Look at my posts. I've pulled for Hudspeth all along. I love Marlin. My personal opinion is that after Hudspeth and Crowton everything else is a shot in the dark. B/c they have no head coaching experience.

My general comment was that the general consensus by the casual fan is that these guys lack a WOW factor, b/c they are not a big name.

igeaux.mobi

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igeaux.mobi

Who's the "big name" you would want to see on the list?

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Originally Posted by SlappyCajun

Look at my posts. I've pulled for Hudspeth all along. I love Marlin. My personal opinion is that after Hudspeth and Crowton everything else is a shot in the dark. B/c they have no head coaching experience.

My general comment was that the general consensus by the casual fan is that these guys lack a WOW factor, b/c they are not a big name.

igeaux.mobi

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igeaux.mobi

Oh snap!

I'll gladly trade you sizzle today :) for pop tomorrow

RCAJUN90....where is YOUR list of "impressive" candidates?

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Originally Posted by Just1More

Ah... nothing's good enough for good ol RC90. You must be one incredibly successful person. Just out of curiosity... please provide the four you expected?

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igeaux.mobi

Listen to what I am saying. I WANT MARC HUDSPETH. I am simply saying what I think the majority of casual fans think.

Also, explain why Deforest and Brewer are better on paper candidates than Ricky Bustle was when he was hired?


igeaux.mobi

For what it's worth, here's my blog on today's interview with B. J.

http://www.espn1420.com/Home/tabid/8...0/Default.aspx

From a UL perspective, Hudspeth would be my #1 on this list, Crowton would be my 4th choice.

From an LSU perspective, I hope you hire Crowton. Actually, it doesn't matter because he's history at LSU regardless if he gets the job or not.

igeaux.mobi

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Originally Posted by steve jones

_ I agree Brian Jenkins should get an interview. Hopefully they will strongly consider him for the job. I think during his time here he proved the high level of coach he is. He has also proven that he can turn a program into a winner. He took a school that was picked to finish last in the conf. and finished first. He took a team that was 5-6 last year and has led them to 10-1, the conf championship and into the play-offs his first year. Speaks volumes about him and his ability. Hopefully he gets more than just an interview. _

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While I agree that he should be considered a strong candidate, the timing is not right in my mind. If Jenkins was in his 4th or 5th year as a HC with continuous winning season, he is a top candidate. 1 year head coach at Bethune-Cookman, not so sure.

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Originally Posted by seehard

_ By BJ Thompson on NBC this afternoon...

Joe DeForest
Gary Crowton
Mark Hudspeth
Gunner Brewer

A minority candidate will need to be interviewed. But chances are our next coach will be one of these 4.



igeaux.mobi _

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My take on the four:

Joe DeForest - Could be a great coach, but hard to tell with his experience being mostly Spectial Teams. We can't mess this up, so I wouldn't take the chance.

Gary Crowton - He's ready to leave LSU, We made that mistake before, no thanks. Really though, He has good exp as a head coach, but seems to have 1 good year then leaves.

Mark Hudspeth - The most likely to get the job, if he interviews well and has a plan that includes hiring good coordinators. My top choice.

Gunner Brewer - My second choice, mainly because he has worked under an excellent program with good coaches, and has good coordinator experience. Might be an up and coming type coach.

Regardless of who we name as a head coach, we can always name RC90....

That's cold....(but fitting)

igeaux.mobi

I did a quick google search of the list of names and I'm sorry but
none of them are getting me real excited. I'm not professing to be an expert on any of these guys. We tend to get really excited when we hire a new coach but forgive me if I'm skeptical. I remember the buzz when Bustle was hired and yes I had a "Bustle Up" T-shirt at one time. I really thought he was the answer until after his 5th year or so. At least from my search I don't see one with a lot of real head coaching experience. I would love to see a successful head coach from a Mid Major or even a 1-AA school. I believe one of those guys was a head coach at Georgia Southern and another at the University of Northern Alabama.

I feel this is our last rodeo if we don't find someone to get us to a bowl game. Just from what I've seen I'm not all to excited. Perhaps someone like Cajun T shed some light on these guys. Just expressing my humble opinion.

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Originally Posted by RCAJUN90

_ Not an impressive list! _

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You are very wrong on this.

Brewer is the best recruiter out of this group by far and he is a great offensive coach.

Hudspeth is the best coach out of this group and he is a winner, not quite as strong as Brewer in recruiting.

Crowton, well I do not like him.

Deforest, now way he should get the job.

IMO it is out of Brewer and Hudspeth, I am leaning towards Brewer because he is the strongest recruiter and a very, very good offensive mind. He recruited Randy Moss, Dez Bryant, Blackman and many other NFL players to porgrams who at the time were not world beaters. Okie St. just recently became a great program, but he was getting Superior athletes to Stillwater way before that.

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Originally Posted by RCAJUN90

_ I did a quick google search of the list of names and I'm sorry but
none of them are getting me real excited. I'm not professing to be an expert on any of these guys. We tend to get really excited when we hire a new coach but forgive me if I'm skeptical. I remember the buzz when Bustle was hired and yes I had a "Bustle Up" T-shirt at one time. I really thought he was the answer until after his 5th year or so. At least from my search I don't see one with a lot of real head coaching experience. I would love to see a successful head coach from a Mid Major or even a 1-AA school. I believe one of those guys was a head coach at Georgia Southern and another at the University of Northern Alabama.

I feel this is our last rodeo if we don't find someone to get us to a bowl game. Just from what I've seen I'm not all to excited. Perhaps someone like Cajun T shed some light on these guys. Just expressing my humble opinion. _

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I think your skepticism is healthy seeing that most college coaching hires do not work out. However, allowing yourself to get excited is one of the perks of being a fan.

The history of our football program shows that.

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Originally Posted by steve jones

_ I agree Brian Jenkins should get an interview. Hopefully they will strongly consider him for the job. I think during his time here he proved the high level of coach he is. He has also proven that he can turn a program into a winner. He took a school that was picked to finish last in the conf. and finished first. He took a team that was 5-6 last year and has led them to 10-1, the conf championship and into the play-offs his first year. Speaks volumes about him and his ability. Hopefully he gets more than just an interview. _

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IMO if he had more than 1 year as a HC he would be a leading candidate. But, he has not yet had a recruiting class at his current gig and that is a sticking point.

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Originally Posted by RCAJUN90

_ I would love to see a successful head coach from a Mid Major or even a 1-AA school. I believe one of those guys was a head coach at Georgia Southern and another at the University of Northern Alabama. _

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Why would a successful head coach from another Mid Major come here, with our athletic budget? Why would he not remain at his current job until offered one with a BCS school?

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Originally Posted by RCAJUN90

_ I did a quick google search of the list of names and I'm sorry but
none of them are getting me real excited. I'm not professing to be an expert on any of these guys. We tend to get really excited when we hire a new coach but forgive me if I'm skeptical. I remember the buzz when Bustle was hired and yes I had a "Bustle Up" T-shirt at one time. I really thought he was the answer until after his 5th year or so. At least from my search I don't see one with a lot of real head coaching experience. I would love to see a successful head coach from a Mid Major or even a 1-AA school. I believe one of those guys was a head coach at Georgia Southern and another at the University of Northern Alabama.

I feel this is our last rodeo if we don't find someone to get us to a bowl game. Just from what I've seen I'm not all to excited. Perhaps someone like Cajun T shed some light on these guys. Just expressing my humble opinion. _

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T can't shed enough light for you. The sun isn't bright enough for you sir.

I'm sorry your "Bustle Up" T-shirt didn't work out. I'll help UL with a sizzling WOW slogan for the next coach... and I promise you... you will get all goosebumpy and fuzzy about it. You might even catch a man crush. Stay tuned...

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Originally Posted by RCAJUN90

I did a quick google search of the list of names and I'm sorry but
none of them are getting me real excited. I'm not professing to be an expert on any of these guys. We tend to get really excited when we hire a new coach but forgive me if I'm skeptical. I remember the buzz when Bustle was hired and yes I had a "Bustle Up" T-shirt at one time. I really thought he was the answer until after his 5th year or so. At least from my search I don't see one with a lot of real head coaching experience. I would love to see a successful head coach from a Mid Major or even a 1-AA school. I believe one of those guys was a head coach at Georgia Southern and another at the University of Northern Alabama.

I feel this is our last rodeo if we don't find someone to get us to a bowl game. Just from what I've seen I'm not all to excited. Perhaps someone like Cajun T shed some light on these guys. Just expressing my humble opinion.

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Your opinions are based on "a quick google search". Zip it.

igeaux.mobi

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Originally Posted by cajun4life

_ IMO if he had more than 1 year as a HC he would be a leading candidate. But, he has not yet had a recruiting class at his current gig and that is a sticking point. _

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You better do some research my friend. his First recruiting class was not bad for the time he had. I certainly hope we wont insult him and just interview him because we need a minority to interview . That would be be a slap in his face by us. Im a ragin cajun inside out and I dont want to see that take place. Never the less I think the job he has done without time to bring his on kids in says alot. But all the guys mentioned are good picks.