Re: Traylor…To me, losing two close games to Houston means less than winning back-to-back conference titles (and being in position to win a third this year). This from a program that had never won consistently before he got there. He’s respected enough in this state that rumors have the Aggies considering him. Personally, I think they go for a bigger “splash,” but it says something about the man.
I like the idea of Kinne. He’s turned two smaller programs around quickly, is young, coaches exciting offense.
Fritz? I wish we had hired him years ago after Sumlin left us. If we hired him this time, I feel confident we’d be a stronger program.
Hartline or other top assistants? I’m less excited about the possibility of a hotshot assistant taking his first head-coaching job. I know it worked out well (briefly) with Herman, but more often than not, you find out those guys are not cut out for the job at the top of the org chart.
The UTSA insider JJ Perez reported that Traylor had standing offer by a Tx P5. Football Scoop later reported that UH was on the verge of firing Dana before holding off. Seemed like a connection there
None of the OC names have anywhere near the resume that Herman had (11 years coaching experience in Texas, 10 years as OC, 6 as OC in P5, 3 at OSU with a Broyles award and national championship). Hartline is still probably my favorite out of the group because he played in the NFL and has been at Ohio St long enough to learn how a program is run. Will Stein would scare the hell out of me as HC.
Kinne is boom or bust to me. Still hasn’t beaten a team with a winning record. Traylor has positives and negatives, more likely to just be an average coach. If he was doing better with recruiting and had another QB ready to take over this season (wouldn’t have lost to Army), then I would be all in. I would be fine and supportive if either were hired though.
Has anyone ever ran data on this? I’m curious if there are metrics on the two philosophies and if there is glaring success of one over the other.
Hire a highly successful HC from a G5
Hire a top flight disciple/assistant from a successful P5 powerhouse
IMO, there’s just too many variables to consider one over the other. Programs and the surrounding communities have distinct cultures. Some programs have a plethora of boosters and donors while others have one or two with deep pockets.
It got me to thinking that CDH’s mindset of stepping down a league and being Tilman’s drinking buddy contributed to “mail it in” in some aspects of the job. CTH was stepping up in his position from OC to a HC and was literally on his hands and knees scraping the floors in the athletics building late at night.
Houston is blue collar, diverse, and 3rd coast. We need someone to identify with that culture and sale these kids in the area on that identity.
My point is, I don’t think you look in one area for the right coach. You look for the right person who can not only coach, but also build a culture that falls in line with Houston’s identity.
