FIU coach Mario Cristobal going to Rutgers ? NOT

[awadelewis]

Lots of talk this morning on Twitter that FIU football coach Mario Cristobal will be offered the Rutgers job today.

Just some of the posts:
@StevePoliti: Mario Cristobal will be your new Rutgers coach.

@nickbaumgardner: So, after two years of trying, Mario Cristobal finally makes it out of FIU -- just two days before Signing Day, too. Ouch.

@JoshuaParrott: If Cristobal leaves #FIU for #Rutgers he'll be 2nd #SunBelt HC to land power conference job. Freeze left #ArkansasState for #OleMiss in Dec.

Tough on the FIU folks to lose their head coach two days before signing day...

[RaginFan2]

That would be good for the conference, but bad for FIU. I would rather these coaching changes happen in December rather than the end of January. But things happen ...

[gatadotcom]

If this were to happen 2 days before National Signing Day it would put a big hurt on FIU's signing class.

http://www.nj.com/rutgersfootball/in...e_mario_c.html

[VObserver]

Been reported on ESPN.. and confirmed by some FIU supporters.

[VObserver]

This is a done deal

[bigearl]

I'm not sure it's going to sting that bad... Where else are they sign 2 days before signing day. I'm sure a few may have opportunities, but not many. How many schools are holding spots for guys that are "committed" to other schools. I think Schiano hurt Rutgers more doing this a couple of weeks before signing day - there was still enough time in a week or two to make some moves that only 2 days doesn't provide.

[moorecajun]

I'm not sure it's going to sting that bad... Where else are they sign 2 days before signing day. I'm sure a few may have opportunities, but not many. How many schools are holding spots for guys that are "committed" to other schools. I think Schiano hurt Rutgers more doing this a couple of weeks before signing day - there was still enough time in a week or two to make some moves that only 2 days doesn't provide.

You're probably right. And the school that supplies the next FIU coach, right after signing day ... although this is probably a FCS school or FIU assistant.

[CajunEXPRESS]

I'm not sure it's going to sting that bad... Where else are they sign 2 days before signing day. I'm sure a few may have opportunities, but not many. How many schools are holding spots for guys that are "committed" to other schools. I think Schiano hurt Rutgers more doing this a couple of weeks before signing day - there was still enough time in a week or two to make some moves that only 2 days doesn't provide.

IMO nothing happens either way for FIU. Nobody can contact their players or any players since midnight Sunday. These kids will have to go on faith, wait for openings and there will be some, or wait til next year and have lots of options. I do believe Rutgers may have been successful in retaining their commits, and potential commits. In that case not much happens at all.

I hate to lose a good coach in the Sun Belt. It will be really hard to replace him for FIU with almost all the slots filled along with assistant coaches.

[BabbForHeisman]

Cristobal is not going anywhere.

[zephyr]

It likely hinges more on who is hired as the new coach. That is where the carnage will either start or damage control. If its someone within his staff, they may see little to no issues with this class but if the staff is replaced, there may be big issues. Something tells me that they will be able to go out and afford a bigger hire such as ASU did with Malzahn and they will be in a good spot. They've had good success the past 3 years and have the money to get a solid coach that is well known. the timing doesn't help though.

[moorecajun]

It likely hinges more on who is hired as the new coach. That is where the carnage will either start or damage control. If its someone within his staff, they may see little to no issues with this class but if the staff is replaced, there may be big issues. Something tells me that they will be able to go out and afford a bigger hire such as ASU did with Malzahn and they will be in a good spot. They've had good success the past 3 years and have the money to get a solid coach that is well known. the timing doesn't help though.

Cristobal said he is staying at FIU ... maybe they upped his salary.

[zephyr]

Cristobal said he is staying at FIU ... maybe they upped his salary.

They absolutely had to. I'd bet he is being paid in line with Malzahn at ASU at around 900k