In Reply to: Would Gruden be a splash hire posted by bakersfield4ucla on September 20, 2024 at 09:00:23
no, not in my opinion.
Besides, no matter what you think of the decision to hire DeShaun Foster as our HC (I wasn't fond of it - too big a jump for a position coach and enthusiasm is no substitute for knowledge and experience), this is game three of the first year of Foster and his staff who took control far too late to be effective in upgrading talent in the program for this season. Anyone the authorities at any school choose to hire deserves at least a chance to start recruiting and putting their own program in place.
imo Bieniemy's offense is too complicated for a college level program with all its turnover and DeShaun has made some obvious blunders as HC - not at all surprising as this is his first time at this and he never even had the chance to learn as a coordinator. And the talent - or lack of same - in key areas make our ability to adjust effectively this season questionable at the very least, But the coaching staff can see what's happening (and not) and at least try to simplify some things and adjust strategies as they also learn on the job.
Gruden got a lot of mileage from his first job and then showing his face as a highly promoted expert on ESPN - the latter PR job has blown up others whose reputations as coaches far far eclipsed the reality of their accomplishments as coaches - see Steve Lavin for example, Gruden just isn't anywhere on any list I would consider to be head coach of any university I care at all about.
I think the odds aren't greatly in DeShaun's favor to be successful here at his first HC position starting with a program that is well down the ladder coming into the season but he deserves the chance to at least get to try to succeed