Dennis Erickson, David Cutcliffe and Paul Pasqualoni

[Alex]

All three of those guys have coached at and been successful at the highest level of college football (and in Erickson's case, the NFL as well). They were also all fired within the last month. With currently no openings at the 1-A level, what happens to these guys? They are all capable of guiding programs and it seems that they will have to wait a year now to get anywhere.

Dave Cutcliffe got a raw deal at Ole Miss. He was 44-29 in six years at Ole Miss. In 2003, he guided them to a 10-3 season with a win against Oklahoma State in the Cotton Bowl. He lost one of the greatest college quarterbacks of the past decade (maybe even longer) in Eli Manning and his top receiver Chris Collins. Did Rebel fans really expect Cutcliffe to have as good a season with an inexperienced quarterback? We're not talking about Auburn or LSU here, it's Ole Miss. Their fans used to say "We may not beat you on the field but we through the best parties". What happened to that? Cutcliffe has one poor season and is crucified. Ed Orgeron, Cutcliffe's successor, won't have any more success at Ole Miss than Cutcliffe did. The Rebels made a mistake.

Dennis Erickson is a terrible pro coach wherever he has been. He failed in Seattle and he failed in San Francisco. While 2004 wasn't entirely his fault as the Niners often seemed to need name tags in the locker room to identify some of the players they had to play after being ravaged by injuries. However, the team still wouldn't have been much better. Erickson had success at Miami, failed with the Seahawks and then returned to the college ranks at Oregon State and completely turned that program around and showing the nation that with their 41-9 victory over Notre Dame in the 2001 Fiesta Bowl.

Paul Pasqualoni is an interesting case. In 14 years at Syracuse he took them to nine bowl games and won ten games twice. His overall record was 107-59-1. However, 'Cuse has struggled since Donovan McNabb's last season in 1998. Pasqualoni has the numbers and he isn't as appealing as a younger candidate (he turns 56 in August) but could be a good hire for a mid-major program looking for a "name" coach and a potential quick fix.

Schools seemed very quick to find replacements this season for fired coaches or coaches hired at other schools. Recruiting has an awful lot to do with it. Frank Solich ended up not coaching last season before taking the Ohio U. job in December. Unless there is a surprise or two that will probably be the case for all three of these guys. It is probably most disappointing for Pasqualoni as he was slated to become president of the American Football Coaches Association. Unless he find another job, he not get the position.

The only job that could realistically open up is Temple. Bobby Wallace has done jack**** there and any job security he has is undeserved. Pasqualoni would be a good fit as he has recruited that region for Syracuse and played his college football at Penn State. Turning Temple around would be nothing short of a miracle especially with the schedule they play in 2005 and no conference affiliation. Pasqualoni may need Temple as much as Temple needs him.

[doublee]

Most of these guys make enough money to be able to afford to take a year off and odds are they all got nice buyouts to tide them over for the next year. I suspect we may see Cutcliffe and/or Pasqualoni on ESPN.

If I am not mistaken Erickson's buyout with San Fran was several million dollars so he can easily afford to take a year or two off and wait for the right college job to come along, or maybe he goes the TV route as well.

[#47]

I agree with your assesment of Cutliffe and the fact he was given a raw deal.

PP is a tough call. Its also not totally true that his struggles have been since Donovan left, one of his best seasons as a coach was 2001, when he went 10-3. But its been since then, 3 seasons now.....4-8, 6-6, 6-6 that had the followers barking. The last 3 seasons have also shown and alarming rate of inconsistentcy, especially losing to teams, they should not be losing too.

His overall record says he deserves to still be there, his last 3 seasons say the program is not moving forward. Unfortunately we are in a win now climate.

Erickson gets no sympathy from me. He chose to be a football vagabond. He opted for the life of uncertainty in the NFL, leaving behind what could have been a 20 year run at Miami that would have left him as a coaching legend if he wanted.

Fight On!

[Alex]

My point with Pasqualoni isn't that he should have been retained by Syracuse, the new AD had every reason to fire him. However, PP could help out a program like Temple or even Buffalo if they fired Hofhoer (I think that's this name). He isn't going to be brought in by a team in a major conference but could be an asset to a mid-major looking to build a decent football program and get to a bowl game.

[#47]

Yes, PP could be a good hire and he would bring years of experience and a bit of a name with him. Personally, I would rather see someone get a chance who hasnt had one, especially at a mid-major.

I like seeing the young fresh guys get a chance over retreading guys, but that is just what I like to see, I'm just a fan, I'm not the AD who is required to find a way to win games.

Fight On!

[Alex]

It all depends on what kind program you want to build. A guy like Pasqualoni is good for a quick fix and brings a name to the program and helps recruiting. Or you hire a lesser known and build the program for the long haul. Good examples of the latter are Jeff Bower at Southern Miss, Bob Pruett at Marshall and Dan Hawkins at Boise State. Ohio U. has gone the "quick fix" way by hiring Frank Solich. Another guy that got a raw deal. Makes you wonder what Steve Pederson was thinking since Bill Callahan cut Nebraska's win total in half in 2004.

[#47]

Oh boy, yes Frank Solich did get the Raw deal, it might not get worse then that.

He only once wins fewer then 9 games in a season, when he went 7-7 in 2002, he then rebounds to win 10 games in 2003(well pelini coached the bowl win) and he gets fired. He won over 75% of his games at Nebraska in 6 years...............and he gets canned. I will gladly root for the Big Red to continue losing, they deserve it.

Fight On!

[Alex]

The thing that I find amusing is that Steve Pederson is Pitt's ex-AD. With my vehement hate for Pitt and the idiocy that surrounds that university, it made me laugh when he canned Solich and brought in Bill "Mr. Mumbles" Callahan.