Jon Joseph

But I was surprised Mario was not on Florida's radar? Billy Napier has been great in the G5; has not been a HC in the P5. This to me is telling when it comes to teams looking at Mario and whether Mario deserves a raise because of these other hires? With Mario not in the mix for the big time jobs why move him into the $9M club when his big W to date is a Rose Bowl win against a 3L team?

CHA-CHING! Don't know if the coach deserves a raise but a guy who just made bank? The agent who represents both Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly. BTW - Kelly who will be paid @$9M a year, took the Irish to a BCS Champ game and 2 CFP appearances. Lincoln Riley? 4 trips to the CFP. Mario? 1 Rose Bowl W over a 3L team. 1 Fiesta Bowl and a not in the game loss to Iowa State.

30, I don't know? But I am 100% certain that our new commish was doing back flips. I do know that the hire says at least 1 school besides the Ducks is all in from the president on down on CFB.

If we don't see a different Ducks team something is very, very wrong. With all the big jobs open did Mario get an offer? No and he won't get an offer from ND and I very much doubt he is going to get an offer from OK?

I agree, terrific post. But 2022? The season starts 'at' UGA with the Ducks QB starting his 1st game. 3rd game on the schedule? BYU.

If Fickell doesn't take the ND job will he ever leave Cincy?

Good point. I don't see 2020, which I will discount due to COVID, as having been a moving forward season? As to this season? The Final 4 was Right There. Then came a road game face plant. We will know Saturday if the team has stayed the course this season? Will it or will it not qualify for a NY6 Bowl? If not, that is not moving forward. I don't see the Alamo Bowl as going forward. 2nd best in this conference? Not a significant accomplishment.

B1G teams received $20M+ more than Pac-12 teams last season. B1G schools other than NW have many more alumni than does Oregon. B1G stadiums sell out? Pac-12 stadiums? The B1G has a network with 3x+ the # of subscribers that has the Pac-12 network and the B1G network is owned and operated by FOX. B1G schools have much larger budgets for football than does the Pac-12 schools. B1G administrations are solidly behind the B1G being excellent in athletics; especially, CFB and CBB.

Thanks Charles, great post. 'THIS" is why CFB is headed to a Super League, with players paid, players likely being players and not student-athletes, a high school draft, players members of the NFL Union and CFB coaching salaries dropping to the level seen in the NFL. It's also the reason the majority of the Pac-12 teams will be playing 'JV' football.

Just for the record and I can understand why you believe Mario deserves a raise. But Jim Harbuagh is being paid $4M base salary this season. Mario makes less than Shaw but Shaw beat Mario. Stanford is not bowl eligible. Whittingham makes more than Mario. Utah is 9-3 with an L against Oregon State and a decisive beat down of Oregon. 6 Pac-12 teams are bowl eligible. Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic. The roster is young? Yes. Injuries happened? Yes. But Oregon still has a Blue Chip roster. The only other school with a Blue Chip roster, USC, fired its coach in-season. Considering how weak the Pac-12 is in 2021, a conference championship is the floor for this Oregon team. Does any coach who lost to Stanford deserve a $4M+ bump in pay?

Great take? Too harsh? Maybe, somewhat? But is there any excuse at all for the team no showing at Stanford and Utah? I'll take Ws over excuses. As to Brown, I get it. But Brown starting means the QB recruiting was muffed; or, the QB coaching is being muffed? 10-2 is based on the roster and based on how bad the conference is (6 teams going bowling? 1 out of 4 CA teams going bowling?) is between the 9 to 12 wins many of us predicted in the preseason. As bad as the conference is, I think a legit case can be made for the team to be 12-0 or at least 11-1, and on the doorstep of the Playoff?

How about get to the final 4 first? Tucker has not been there granted, but Kelly and Riley have often played for a title. IMO, Tucker will turn out to be way overpaid. $9M is a lot of dough? Are you sure Oregon can come with this amount? Are you certain based on his record to date that Mario is ELITE? This is elite-kind of money.

4 of the above drop sugar on the Pac-12; the others don't. A Natty and final 4 appearances gives Commish GK a lot more to bargain with. GK had to be jumping for joy with the Riley hire news. A national contender in LA helps close the financial gap between the Pac-12 and the B1G/SEC.

I respect your point. But have you seen the Ducks under Mario out-scheme another team? The W at Ohio State was the base O being run to perfection against an OK, not great, OH ST D. I just do not see Mario being willing to give his OC control of the O? If I am correct, then other than for recruiting props does it matter to that great of an extent? I love Coach Boles article. But there is no way Mario is going to run the Coastal O or anything like it. No way he is going to go hurry up. He is an old school guy running an old school O. I would really appreciate it if you would expand on why you think the new OC will matter a great deal? Thanks.

He is seriously considering retirement after this season. Hw is not going to leave SLC for any other job.

QB - Spencer Rattler - Oklahoma/ Gunnar Holmberg - Duke WR - Jordan Haselwood - Sooners 2nd best WR in 2021/ Jake Bobo - Duke/ Tarique Martin - Iowa State RB - Jahmyr Gibbs - Georgia Tech/ Zach Evans - TCU/ DeaMonte Trayanuan - ASU OL - Pierce Quick - Bama/ Mike Frazier - FIU/ Tate Heitnieiar - TX ST LB - MoMo Sanogo - Mississippi/ Chris Ojoh - NM ST

Thanks for the post. I have no doubt regarding Mario as a human being a a salesman but I have significant doubts about his ability to take Oregon to the Final 4.

I stopped caring when McCaffery didn't win; and the award should be given out after the champ game is played.

Sound thinking but formulaic? I think COY should be more subtle? Who did the best with the least? Who finished higher than expected? IMO< OR to date has finished up to expectation with 2Ls; Utah had 2 bad OOC Ls.

Good call, But Mullen just got a $6M check from UF and is owed $6M more. I don't believe he would have any interest in coming west and reporting to Mario. I don't see him taking an assistant job anywhere but if he did he would demand free rein. BTW - Mullen is not the easiest guy in the world to get along with.

THE SEASON OF CHANGE - 2021: NIL, The Portal, Coaches bouncing around like ping-pong balls, new players in the PO. Latest - Brian Kelly to LSU! Hats off to Joe. I wonder if he ever heard from the UW administration? New OC? In all seriousness and without any sarcasm intended, does it matter? This is Mario's show. What matters is that the next guy is very good at selling the program to recruits and guys off the portal.

2 new coaches in the SC/ND rivalry with Brian Kelly off to LSU

And Bowlsby had no idea UT and OK were off to the SEC.

I agree. Williams comes to SC and Dart is in the portal. Williams would immediately be the best QB in the conference. A threat as a passer and a runner.

Williams is a generational type talent. He transfers to SC and Dart is headed elsewhere.