Dan Mullen thread (merged)

[Hubbard]

Every volnation thread has “Hire Mullen”posts so I thought it would be interesting to take an objective look at Mullen:

Mullen is 6-21 against top 25 teams. He’s never beaten Bama and never won the sec West. In fact, in 8 seasons at MSU, he’s only finished greater than 2nd in the SEC West one time, every other season has been 4th or worse... in 8 seasons he’s only had above .500 record in SEC play 1 time.

His best season and only season to achieve 10 wins was 2013 when they went 10-3 and lost in the Orange Bowl. That was in year, wait for it..... 6 at MSU

Year 1 record - 5-7 (3-5 SEC)
Year 2 - 9-4 (4-4 SEC)
Year 3- 7-6 (2-6 SEC)
Year 4- 8-5 (4-4 SEC)
Year 5- 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
Year 6- 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
Year 7 - 9-4 (4-4 SEC)
Year 8 - 6-7 (3-5 SEC)

An objective look at his numbers suggests Mullen and Butch are cut from the same cloth. Average 8-4 consistent coaches.

I appreciate your post.

I do like Mullen for our next coach. I, like most here, are not an AD or a talent scout for coaches, so my opinion could be entirely wrong.

One thing to consider is that he is at MSU, which is inferior to UT in so many of the important ways. I may be the best driver in the world but my Jeep is not going to outrun a Vette. My obvious point is that I think, given the assets at UT, Mullen will have a much better record than at MSU.

In the end, there is no given home run hire (apologies to the Gruden gang), so, it comes down to who you think has the skill set and personality to maximize and grow the potential at UT.

Mullen seems to develop talent, motivate his team, manage a game, and handle pressure well. He has recruited and coached in the SEC and understands the challenges without blind ambition.

Again, I appreciate your post and hope we get the best coach to move this program into the SEC championship on a regular basis.

 

[zidanefan]

Seriously though, I don’t see how anyone can make the argument that Mullen is not an upgrade over Butch from an X’s and O’s standpoint.

That said, I understand the argument that we should be able to do better.

 

[Volfan574]

Mullen acts uninterested in leaving Miss st, surely he is tired of hearing cowbells.

 

[Hubbard]

Mullen acts uninterested in leaving Miss st, surely he is tired of hearing cowbells.

Rocky Top sounds like angles singing and cow bells are, well, cow bells.

I suspect we would not know his interest until he is announced or shortly before. He still has a team to coach and an admin to please.

 

[jakez4ut]

Curious after everything shown about Mullens on here, why do you think Scott Frost is better ? Where is a Scott Frost win that just tells you he is the one ? I know he is undefeated this year, but look at who he beat. The one game that could tell Vol fans something was the cancelled game against Ga Tech. He has a good history and has been associated with good people but there is still a bigger gamble with Frost than Mullens.

just the "it" factor. on paper, Mullen has everything over Frost.

i just look at Frost and see a potential Urban Meyer. that's not a "will be urban meyer"...just i think Frost has that kind of ceiling.

Mullen would do well here, and i'd have no problem if he's the one.

but my gut tells me Frost is that guy....for all the reasons i've outlined earlier.

 

[BigOrangeD]

We'll get Mullen or another up and comer according to SEC Country's Jesse Simonton on Swain Event. I'm hoping for Mullen.

Jimbo Fisher is a possibility if money not an issue.

 

[jakez4ut]

Seriously though, I don’t see how anyone can make the argument that Mullen is not[\I] an upgrade over Butch from an X’s and O’s standpoint.

That said, I understand the argument that we should be able to do better.

he is an upgrade over Butch. and Butch was an upgrade over Dooley.

i think those that are dead set against Mullen, just see it as another poor attempt to just "get better" vs. legitimately making an effort to be a championship level program.

and i get that. i don't think it's necessarily fair to mullen, but i do understand it.

 

[fryeguy93]

About once every 10-20 years a coach from a successful top-tier program changes jobs.

Majors did it because of loyalty....in this day and age no one would do the same with all the money and uncertainty involved.

Any ignorant hillbilly on message boards and calling sports radio automatically sounds like a mouth-breathing moron when they intimate that all Tennessee needs to do is offer a few more bucks to a top-tier guy to get him

Nearly all big time coaches that hint they are interested, are doing so - with their agent's help, to get a bigger contract. UT fans were played before in this game by guys like Gundy and they will be played by Jimbo as well.

The mouth-breathers that harp on Gruden are simply fools. They couldn't be admitted to UT as a student and certainly not graduate because most of them can't spell "UT".

I think it's way past time for the alumni of many school (including UTK) start putting the ignorant sidewalk/barnyard fans in places where they can get the mental health they need.

If I close me eyes and listen to sports radio at all the old ignorant coots ranting to the hosts and I feel like I'm living in Birmingham again. Shut your traps! and quit embarrassing the part of the fanbase that can read and do long division.

 

[Tidal Surge]

and i'd still take Frost over Mullen. but i wouldn't be mad at all if we got Mullen.

Probably the two best realistic cadidates for UT, imo.

Frost: If Frost doesn't prefer NE, he may prefer UF over UT. I think UF may prefer Frost over Kelly. It looks like Sexton has gotten NE in the mix to get UF and NE to compete and up Frost's offer$. UF may be moving on Kelly (different agent) in part to gain leverage, in case Frost actually prefers UF. I think Kelly would be most interested in UCLA and UF, maybe ATM too.

Mullen: If Mullen has the itch to compete for championships and his wife is on board, I think Mullen might make a move to UT. But I also wonder if ATM may have reached out to Mullen to guage his interest.

Edit: Saw a post on TD by a Gator poster who says he knows a former Miami player who's now in the agency business. He said he's gotten early info from him before on firings and hirings that were dead on. He said UF and Kelly have an agreement in principle and barring any snags there could be an announcement by Fri. Tifwiw.

 

[vols1707]

Miss St is a job with no pressure to win and Mullen vs top 25 record is TERRIBLE.

So a job like Tennessee where the is pressure to win those games and the pressure is massive. How do you expect a coach that's always in a position to win those games as an underdog with no pressure that always finds a way to loose at state.

Then go to Tennessee with more pressure and suddenly win games he has proven he cannot win.

Butch Jones would have done close to what Mullen has done at state.

Yes Mullen developed talent, but Butch would have recruited better.

End up with the same record

Only difference Mullen got to #1

Hard pass after Saturday night on Mullen

 

[Crazy Ivan]

And I'm not a Butch apologist?! Attack the premise of my argument, not me. I don't want Butch. I don't want Mullen. They're pretty much the same.

They are nowhere close to the same. Butch is 0 for forever against the West. Mullen holds his own in the West at a school that ranks 13th in the SEC in spending budgets, barely ahead of Ole Miss. MSU spent $830,000 in recruiting last season, compared to $823,000 for Ole Miss. Compare that to UT's $1,900,000 recruiting expenses last season. Then compare facilities at the 2 schools. Give Mullen UT's facilities and recruiting budget, then put him in the East, and I feel confident in saying he gets us to Atlanta regularly.

I just don't think you can judge him for being middle of the pack in the West considering the recruiting juggernauts that are also in the West - Bama, Auburn, LSU, and TAMU, and even Ole Miss while Freeze was there. That is a lot to overcome.

I would be very happy with Mullen.

 

[LSU-SIU]

Mullen holds his own in the West at a school that ranks 13th in the SEC in spending budgets, barely ahead of Ole Miss.

He is a solid coach, the problem being he already has the best gig in college football. He'll probably get a raise and an extension for beating LSU, after last year getting a raise and extension on a losing season. I would suspect he will be top 10 paid in the country or very close to it, if they sign another extension.

Many of the things about doing more with less seems very Houston Nuttish though - Nutt actually won and won a lot in the West. Mullen has basically beaten the East and gets a few victories in the West.

 

[Vol1962]

Exactly! The state of Mississippi produces more D1 talent per capita than Tennessee so why can't he get any of those guys to stay home?

If Dan Mullen came to Tennessee he would put a fence around the state.

 

[Vol1962]

They are nowhere close to the same. Butch is 0 for forever against the West. Mullen holds his own in the West at a school that ranks 13th in the SEC in spending budgets, barely ahead of Ole Miss. MSU spent $830,000 in recruiting last season, compared to $823,000 for Ole Miss. Compare that to UT's $1,900,000 recruiting expenses last season. Then compare facilities at the 2 schools. Give Mullen UT's facilities and recruiting budget, then put him in the East, and I feel confident in saying he gets us to Atlanta regularly.

I just don't think you can judge him for being middle of the pack in the West considering the recruiting juggernauts that are also in the West - Bama, Auburn, LSU, and TAMU, and even Ole Miss while Freeze was there. That is a lot to overcome.

I would be very happy with Mullen.

Couldn't have said it better. I would take him today.

 

[Vol1962]

Miss St is a job with no pressure to win and Mullen vs top 25 record is TERRIBLE.

So a job like Tennessee where the is pressure to win those games and the pressure is massive. How do you expect a coach that's always in a position to win those games as an underdog with no pressure that always finds a way to loose at state.

Then go to Tennessee with more pressure and suddenly win games he has proven he cannot win.

Butch Jones would have done close to what Mullen has done at state.

Yes Mullen developed talent, but Butch would have recruited better.

End up with the same record

Only difference Mullen got to #1

Hard pass after Saturday night on Mullen

He just out coached Saban. He hit them in the mouth. Mullen got to #1....at State....think about that...in the West. He knows pressure. Tebow said he's the best coach he's ever had. Tebow said the two years he was with Mullen he got him ready for the NFL.

I'd take him in a minute.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

He just out coached Saban. He hit them in the mouth. Mullen got to #1....at State....think about that...in the West. He knows pressure. Tebow said he's the best coach he's ever had. Tebow said the two years he was with Mullen he got him ready for the NFL.

I'd take him in a minute.

Except Tebow isn’t playing in the NFL.

A lot of coaches have gotten teams to an #1 ranking and still got fired from previous jobs. Doesn’t mean anything.

Mullen has no pressure at his current gig and will probably get another raise soon after beating LSU.

He’s in the SEC West. Ok so what? Are we just going to keep giving Mullen a pass every year for failing to beat certain teams in the West just because he’s at MSU? That’s incredibly stupid.

Also, he’s 32-38 against the SEC.

We just fired Butch for not beating SEC teams on a consistent basis.

Not one trait about Mullen screams “Homerun Hire” besides his ability to coach & develop QBs.

We’re trying to make a Home Run Hire that’ll bring us back to a Championship Contender.

Not someone who’s just better than Butch.

 

[LSU-SIU]

Also, he’s 32-38 against the SEC.

He's like 19 - 33 in the West, and 5 of those wins are against Ole Miss. But as you mentioned, not sure why he would want to leave there without $7-8m+ for like 8-10 years, if not more than that. Very little pressure where he is... become bowl eligible they keep giving extension - beat LSU or Bama ever 5th year or so... collect raise.

 

[jakez4ut]

Probably the two best realistic cadidates for UT, imo.

Frost: If Frost doesn't prefer NE, he may prefer UF over UT. I think UF may prefer Frost over Kelly. It looks like Sexton has gotten NE in the mix to get UF and NE to compete and up Frost's offer$. UF may be moving on Kelly (different agent) in part to gain leverage, in case Frost actually prefers UF. I think Kelly would be most interested in UCLA and UF, maybe ATM too.

Mullen: If Mullen has the itch to compete for championships and his wife is on board, I think Mullen might make a move to UT. But I also wonder if ATM may have reached out to Mullen to guage his interest.

there's a lot here to digest.

twitter is blowing up with Kelly to Florida.....and i have no idea what to think about Frost to NE...i still have doubts, but the misinformation that's coming out today is ridiculous.

same with Mullen.

i still think (hope) those are the waters we're swimming in....but i think right now it's just better to wait and see vs. trying to interpret every smoke signal coming on the horizon.......

 

[Ez_Vol]

The only numbers that matter:

Kentucky, 8-0
Vanderbilt, 2-0
Tennessee, 1-0
Missouri, 1-0
Ole Miss, 4-3
Arkansas, 4-3
Georgia, 1-2
Florida, 1-1
Auburn, 3-5
Texas A&M, 2-3
LSU, 1-6
South Carolina, 0-2
Alabama, 0-8

:ermm:

 

[Tidal Surge]

there's a lot here to digest.

twitter is blowing up with Kelly to Florida.....and i have no idea what to think about Frost to NE...i still have doubts, but the misinformation that's coming out today is ridiculous.

same with Mullen.

i still think (hope) those are the waters we're swimming in....but i think right now it's just better to wait and see vs. trying to interpret every smoke signal coming on the horizon.......

Here's an edit I added to my prior post:

Edit: Saw a post on TD by a Gator poster who says he knows a former Miami player who's now in the agency business. He said he's gotten early info from him before on firings and hirings that were dead on. He said UF and Kelly have an agreement in principle and barring any snags there could be an announcement by Fri. Tifwiw.

 

[Lawrence Wright]

Miss St is a job with no pressure to win and Mullen vs top 25 record is TERRIBLE.

So a job like Tennessee where the is pressure to win those games and the pressure is massive. How do you expect a coach that's always in a position to win those games as an underdog with no pressure that always finds a way to loose at state.

Then go to Tennessee with more pressure and suddenly win games he has proven he cannot win.

Butch Jones would have done close to what Mullen has done at state.

Yes Mullen developed talent, but Butch would have recruited better.

End up with the same record

Only difference Mullen got to #1

Hard pass after Saturday night on Mullen

:blink:

 

[vols1707]

^^^^^^^^

Butch wouldn't have done much worse....

Your crazy looking at these #'s if you think Mullen is a great coach that would instantly make Tennessee a feared team in the East.

The only numbers that matter:

Kentucky, 8-0
Vanderbilt, 2-0
Tennessee, 1-0
Missouri, 1-0
Ole Miss, 4-3
Arkansas, 4-3
Georgia, 1-2
Florida, 1-1
Auburn, 3-5
Texas A&M, 2-3
LSU, 1-6
South Carolina, 0-2
Alabama, 0-8

:ermm:

 

[jakez4ut]

Here's an edit I added to my prior post:

Edit: Saw a post on TD by a Gator poster who says he knows a former Miami player who's now in the agency business. He said he's gotten early info from him before on firings and hirings that were dead on. He said UF and Kelly have an agreement in principle and barring any snags there could be an announcement by Fri. Tifwiw.

i saw somewhere that a press conf was scheduled for THursday......so we'll see.

BREAKING: Sources telling me Chip Kelly and The University of Florida have officially agreed to terms. 6 years/4.5 M per year. Press Conference is set for Thursday at 11 am.

Twitter

 

[jakez4ut]

^^^^^^^^

Butch wouldn't have done much worse....

Your crazy looking at these #'s if you think Mullen is a great coach that would instantly make Tennessee a feared team in the East.

someone should post James Franklin's record at Vandy and tell me how there's no way he could win the Big 10 at PSU after they sandusky issues.

context people. Mullen is a good coach.

 

[Ez_Vol]

someone should post James Franklin's record at Vandy and tell me how there's no way he could win the Big 10 at PSU after they sandusky issues.

context people. Mullen is a good coach.

So Vandy and Miss St. are the same? Okay.