I dont have a huge issue with Mullen, although hes not one of my top choices.
This issue is you have to be sure that recruiting/facilities, etc. at Mississippi State are the reason he hasnt won more. Personally, Im not 100% convinced.
We could do worse though. I think that it at least shows a commitment from the AD to go after Mullen and not another mid-major hopeful.
yep, and as you work your way down the list, i'm afraid you're going to find yourself in these waters.
and while it wont' satisfy the gruden group, or their back up plans of Peterson, Patterson, Franklin...mullen is a name. and he has a really good resume.
i agree with your quesions, i have them too. my brother and sister in law are MSU alum and while they readily admit they don't want him to leave, they've asked the same questions about some of the losses.....my brother still blames him for the S Alabama loss.... "dude, he showed up for a D1 football game wearing shorts...who does that?" direct quote...lol.
so i get the anxiety over him.
i just think if it is him, you have to start looking at ways he would translate in to success here.
there's no real debate about his record, the losses, the recruiting. the numbers are what they are.
the unknown is the "why". my brain tells me MSU is just a hard place to really win at, both on the field and with a recruit, that's going 90 miles east to tuscaloosa next weekend, 100 miles south to Baton Rouge the next, 200 miles east to GA the next etc, etc, etc...you get the idea.
and he's still winning at an all time rate...FOR MSU's standards.
so, with that...he's not my #1, but he's no lower than #3 on my list. (my list does not include Patterson, Peterson, Fuente, Franklin etc...i think you guage interest, and if one bites, yeah, go after it...but i don't think any of those conversations ever get real serious).
Gruden, Frost, Mullen. in that order.