1st1 coach fired prediction

[Zstatman]

USA Today has an article today listing predicitons for the coming season. The first is who will be the first coach fired. Since we've discussed Matt Ruhle and his $65M buyout I thought we might find this interesting.
What's really interesting to me is the Norvell has a $45M buyout.

Here are the first two sentences in the article:

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule recently let us in on a little secret.

"College football is as great as it's ever been," Rhule said.

Following is the first coach fired section:

Mike Norvell of Florida State will be the first coach fired​

Why this counts as a bold take: The hot seat is crowded. It includes Luke Fickell (Wisconsin), Dave Aranda (Baylor), Mike Locksley (Maryland), Bill Belichick (North Carolina) and Shane Beamer (South Carolina).

Why this take isn’t crazy: Florida State has seven wins combined the past two seasons after going 13-1 in 2023. That’s beyond hot seat terrain. That’s the scalding zone, and we learned FSU sniffed around Lane Kiffin last year. It couldn’t lure in Kiffin, but it’ll have to face the buyout music if Norvell can’t reinject momentum.

Norvell’s future will be in the hands of another transfer-laden roster, including his fourth starting quarterback in as many years.

Unlike last fall, when multiple premier jobs opened, Florida State could be one of the hottest openings this year. Plant your flag first?

College football firings come sooner than ever. The coaching carousel started spinning in September last year.

Four of Florida State’s first seven opponents are ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. That schedule positions Norvell for a swift firing.

Norvell told The Athletic he doesn’t “fear failure.” Why should he fear failure? If FSU fires Norvell, he’ll be owed more than $45 million in failure money. Nothing to fear. Better question: Do opponents have any reason to fear the spear? FSU starves for national relevance, making the fearless man in Tallahassee the top candidate to be the first coach fired.

end of section

Do we want the Noles in the B1G?

 

[thedukeofearl]

USA Today has an article today listing predicitons for the coming season. The first is who will be the first coach fired. Since we've discussed Matt Ruhle and his $65M buyout I thought we might find this interesting.
What's really interesting to me is the Norvell has a $45M buyout.

Here are the first two sentences in the article:

Nebraska coach Matt Rhule recently let us in on a little secret.

"College football is as great as it's ever been," Rhule said.

Following is the first coach fired section:

Mike Norvell of Florida State will be the first coach fired​

Why this counts as a bold take: The hot seat is crowded. It includes Luke Fickell (Wisconsin), Dave Aranda (Baylor), Mike Locksley (Maryland), Bill Belichick (North Carolina) and Shane Beamer (South Carolina).

Why this take isn’t crazy: Florida State has seven wins combined the past two seasons after going 13-1 in 2023. That’s beyond hot seat terrain. That’s the scalding zone, and we learned FSU sniffed around Lane Kiffin last year. It couldn’t lure in Kiffin, but it’ll have to face the buyout music if Norvell can’t reinject momentum.

Norvell’s future will be in the hands of another transfer-laden roster, including his fourth starting quarterback in as many years.

Unlike last fall, when multiple premier jobs opened, Florida State could be one of the hottest openings this year. Plant your flag first?

College football firings come sooner than ever. The coaching carousel started spinning in September last year.

Four of Florida State’s first seven opponents are ranked in the preseason US LBM Coaches Poll. That schedule positions Norvell for a swift firing.

Norvell told The Athletic he doesn’t “fear failure.” Why should he fear failure? If FSU fires Norvell, he’ll be owed more than $45 million in failure money. Nothing to fear. Better question: Do opponents have any reason to fear the spear? FSU starves for national relevance, making the fearless man in Tallahassee the top candidate to be the first coach fired.

end of section

Do we want the Noles in the B1G?

Perhaps Not

 

[BuiltLikeWilt]

Whiskeys Coach

 

[Westernhawk]

The back half of the Bugeater schedule is pretty tough, and includes: Indiana, Oregon, Washington, Ohio State, and Iowa. Those are the ranked teams (preseason). They also have to travel to Illinois, which won't be easy.

6 losses are very possible.

 

[MelroseHawkins]

I'll never get over the money now that is getting thrown around college sports and coaching. Unreal!

 

[Westernhawk]

The fighting Fickells play ND, PSU, MSU, UCLA, USC, Iowa, Minny. Easier than Nebby but no cakewalk.

 

[Zstatman]

I'll never get over the money now that is getting thrown around college sports and coaching. Unreal!

I thought Ruhle's $65M buyout was unbelievable. But Norvell at $45M is not that far behind. Must be a thing now. Can't blame the coaches at all.........

 

[Fryowa]

Fickell or rhule.

People can say all they want about fatt rhule's buyout but they also don't realize the amount of money donors will blow to be the biggest swingin' d*ck in the room.

 

[Fryowa]

Do we want the Noles in the B1G?

Conference affiliations mean nothing in 2026 unless you're an also rand school that wants the money.

It's an archaic label only.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

Frankly I was surprised Fickell survived last season... If this yr is half as bad as how last yr started for him I can't see how he'd survive this one. But I've been wrong before.

 

[haydensly]

Frankly I was surprised Fickell survived last season... If this yr is half as bad as how last yr started for him I can't see how he'd survive this one. But I've been wrong before.

I think Fickell survived last season for two reasons. First, the AD at the time, Chris McIntosh, was the one who hired him and didn't want to admit he made a horrible hire. And secondly, Wisconsin finished out the season beating Illinois and Washington. That allowed McIntosh the breathing room he needed to keep him. But IIRC, McIntosh came out in support of Fickell in the middle of the season but we all know how that works sometimes. There is a new AD now so the leash is probably pretty short.

 

[thedukeofearl]

The back half of the Bugeater schedule is pretty tough, and includes: Indiana, Oregon, Washington, Ohio State, and Iowa. Those are the ranked teams (preseason). They also have to travel to Illinois, which won't be easy.

6 losses are very possible.

Sob

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I think Fickell survived last season for two reasons. First, the AD at the time, Chris McIntosh, was the one who hired him and didn't want to admit he made a horrible hire. And secondly, Wisconsin finished out the season beating Illinois and Washington. That allowed McIntosh the breathing room he needed to keep him. But IIRC, McIntosh came out in support of Fickell in the middle of the season but we all know how that works sometimes. There is a new AD now so the leash is probably pretty short.

Yeah see I thought he should've been let go before that point even. They were trash I thought. I thought their fans were done with him too. But yeah getting those two Ws at the end are what brought him back for this yr I suppose. He can't have a yr like that again though. I agree that new AD from Neb wouldn't stand for it.

 

[guffus]

I thought I saw somewhere that Wiscy's NIL went from $10M last year to $35M this year. That was a big reason given why Wiscy expects dramatic improvement even though they brought back the same coach.

But I don't remember seeing anything about Wiscy bringing in a lot of top talent from the portal. So if its the same players from last year, will Wiscy actually be any better?

 

[haydensly]

I thought I saw somewhere that Wiscy's NIL went from $10M last year to $35M this year. That was a big reason given why Wiscy expects dramatic improvement even though they brought back the same coach.

But I don't remember seeing anything about Wiscy bringing in a lot of top talent from the portal. So if its the same players from last year, will Wiscy actually be any better?

They are relying heavily on the new QB, for one..... Supposed to be a good add. We'll see. I believe he came from FCS or maybe Group of 5 school. Either way, the B1G will be a big step up for him.

 

[hawkdrummer1]

Fickell or rhule.

People can say all they want about fatt rhule's buyout but they also don't realize the amount of money donors will blow to be the biggest swingin' d*ck in the room.

Rhule is only in his fourth year. He's had them in a bowl the last two years after a 7 year drought. If they end up with a winning record he's not getting canned. If after 2027 he's still no better than 7-6, maybe.

 

[Westernhawk]

Rhule is only in his fourth year. He's had them in a bowl the last two years after a 7 year drought. If they end up with a winning record he's not getting canned. If after 2027 he's still no better than 7-6, maybe.

So my hope is 6-6 and a low tier bowl. Everyone wins.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Fickell or rhule.

People can say all they want about fatt rhule's buyout but they also don't realize the amount of money donors will blow to be the biggest swingin' d*ck in the room.

Yep. There is recent precedence. Frost was fired midseason and if they had waited a few more weeks the buyout dropped precipitously, but they paid the larger buyout to fire midseason. The season was already lost, but they acted in face of a bad financial choice. Nebraska is one of the smaller B10 schools and doesn't have donors in the OSU, Michigan realm, but they have plenty of donor money to grab if they need it.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Rhule is only in his fourth year. He's had them in a bowl the last two years after a 7 year drought. If they end up with a winning record he's not getting canned. If after 2027 he's still no better than 7-6, maybe.

6-6 would be chalk for Nebbie. So, they beat the three scrubs at the beginning of the season and then add MSU, Maryland and Rutgers. Then they lose to all the teams they are favored. That meaningless bowl game may be pretty critical to the spin and view of the season for Rhule's survival.

 

[Fryowa]

So my hope is 6-6 and a low tier bowl. Everyone wins.

6-6 would be chalk for Nebbie. So, they beat the three scrubs at the beginning of the season and then add MSU, Maryland and Rutgers. Then they lose to all the teams they are favored. That meaningless bowl game may be pretty critical to the spin and view of the season for Rhule's survival.

Did any of you guys watch rhule's season opener presser yesterday? It's on YouTube, I recommend it...

Here's why...

Usually those pressers are the most upbeat ones of the year. The media doesn't usually have tough questions and the coaches don't have to answer for any shortcomings yet.

In the presser yesterday it was 100% softball questions and reporters even tried to lightheartedly joke around, but rhule never even cracked a smile. He did the same stare at the floor, give short answers, don't turn your head towards the reporters side-eye thing he did after the last few years' late season meltdowns. Definitely way different than his opening pressers in prior years. Showed zero enthusiasm whatsoever.

Could it be he's already been told in private that his seat's on fire unless he makes a splash...and he realizes it's impossible because his team is the wet fart everyone outside nebraska knows it is? He's no Bear Bryant, but rhule has been around the sport long enough to know when a squad doesn't have the stones...