Babers and Dykes have the same issues: Both have had horrid defenses since becoming HCs.

Now, some could say that's a reflection of resources and assistant coach availability/hiring. And that might be right.

But it also could just be that those guys' programs set Ds up to fail.

You heard anything else?

They're targeting a championship game coach right? I mean if it were Odom...he'd have it already right?

That is my assumption.

I still think Rhoades' actions this week smack either of 1) A smoke screen to hide interest in the real top choice; 2) Incompetence.

I don't believe he's incompetent, so 1) makes more sense to me.

I don't think anybody other than Mack Rhoades and maybe a few of his closest confidants have any idea what's going on. Everyone I talk to is confused.

Makes a lot of sense...the Calhoun, Bobo, etc. stories never really added up.

I do think he's going to make a surprise hire whoever it is...

What about 3) Out of his depth.

This is the SEC; its big boy football. And he's still out there beating the bushes for under the radar coaches like he's back at Houston and has to find unheralded guys on the cheap. He's approaching this like he would have at a smaller school that doesn't have the resources and conference cache that Mizzou has.

Finally, I'm not going to dismiss Incompetence out of hand either. Extending Tim Jamieson and not moving on from Kim Anderson has put a damn foul taste in my mouth. Thus far he's had 2 decisions by which to judge his tenure here and I believe he's made the wrong call both times.

If forced to make a decision, I'd say he's just ****ing this up. This feels so much like the Pioli/Haley hire that it's terrifying. Everyone kept saying "don' worry, Pioli knows what he's doing" even though he'd never assembled a coaching staff. When the good candidates went off the board, we started saying things like "well it's clear his real candidate just isn't available yet....just wait". Then everything kept falling through and he hired a golfer as his head coach.

I turned on Pioli as soon as that Haley hire was made because it told me that the guy had been Peter Principled. Rhoades had better damn well pull a rabbit out of his hat because right now this has the same feel.

Petro trying to make the case for Schiano...ehhhh....

Here is what I will say about Schiano. Under his watch Lavonte David had his best seasons. Josh Freeman ****ed him and he treated grown men like they were college kids. MU could do worse. He made Rutgers viable.

True and I do think he's better suited for the college game...I mean I wouldn't hate the hire.

Keitzman thinks it's Herman.

I would be shocked if it's Herman.

No he doesn't. He loves to act like Mizzou is about to do something great so he can crush them if they don't. He's done this for years.

They're going to hire a bum and we all know it.

Yeah. I'm trying to not get my hopes up.

Yeup.

And when it's not Herman, he'll raise a fuss about how he was right there for the taking and Mizzou clearly wasn't interested or didn't make a strong enough push for him.

Herman's just not looking to move right now. He's waiting for Texas to open up and that's just tough breaks for Mizzou. If he were job hunting right now, I think MU would be in the driver's seat for him.

He's not. Can't fault Mizzou for that.

Texas isn't hiring him...not for several years, anyway. Even if Strong leaves, they don't have to hire a coach on the come. They'll be aiming at a Chip Kelly or someone similar.

Mizzou just isn't a particularly attractive job right now. Odom will be a solid hire given the circumstances.

So... a BoC meeting was supposed to happen tomorrow, but now is moved back.

Inderdasting. Vewwy inderdasting.

It makes me the optimist of this group of Mizzou fans, but the only thing that makes sense is that the new coach is coaching in a championship game this weekend, and Rhoades doesn't want it to leak beforehand.

That, to me, means it's someone worth keeping secret. I don't think Babers/Calhoun qualify. To me, it's Herman or Fedora.

If we get to Sunday/Monday, and Odom is announced, that means - I think - that Rhoades waited until after the title game for an answer from his top guy, before coming back to his plan b.

I've heard that Odom gave Mizzou 48 hours to give him an answer yesterday.

Granted, most of what we hear now is bullshit, but it makes sense. If the Memphis offer is there, Odom has to strike while the iron is hot. Memphis is a perfect opportunity for him. If Mizzou isn't his, he'll not get a better offer than Memphis.

Rich Rodriguez supposedly to meet with USC junior now...if Fedora is indeed the target, looks like there isn't much competition...

Chris Landry is saying he thinks it'll be Odom...just can't imagine this went on this long if he's the guy.

Would be completely underwhelmed...

That is a step down from Zona. Not to mention having to deal with Clemson in your pipeline states.

Would you rather have Sonny Dykes?

I'm so used to taking nutshots from these coaching searches that a candidate like Odom would be a goddamned miracle.

Not really. South Carolina is a step up from Arizona, although you could debate that it's a small one (spoiler: It probably is).

More money, better facilities, SE recruiting pipeline.

Also think he would prefer to be recruiting mostly in his old stomping grounds again.

Fair point lol.....

Just wonder how Odom would transition to HC...be interesting to see who would be his OC.

@UofMemphisPres: Hired a great football coach today.
Details to follow, presser tomorrow 430.

The plot thickens.....

Mike Norvell going to Memphis.

Welp Mizzou is either hiring Odom or they're burning a bridge with Odom.

No idea why they would delay this whole thing if Odom is the guy.

They might be torching a bridge.

Team meeting tonight. It's Odom.

Looks like it is Odom... according to Dearmond.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">NEWS: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mizzou?src=hash">#Mizzou</a> Football Announces Barry Odom as its 32nd Head Football Coach <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MizzouMade39?src=hash">#MizzouMade39</a>

<a href="https://t.co/aMRFKnki62">https://t.co/aMRFKnki62</a> <a href="https://t.co/E4mMPdcKul">pic.twitter.com/E4mMPdcKul</a></p>&mdash; Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/MizzouFootball/status/672597683090014208">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Barry Odom has agreed to a five-year contract to become Mizzou&#39;s head coach. Curators will vote to approve figures at next week&#39;s meeting</p>&mdash; Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dave_Matter/status/672598550681907200">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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"Thank you for this opportunity. My first official act is to tell Josh Henson and A.J. Ricker to hit the bricks."

They could have done better and they could have done worse.

The hire is meh, but will see what moves Odom makes. Will come down to the assistants.

Throwing out Ricker will be a good start.

Is this a sign that Mizzou is toxic and couldn't get anyone else to take the job? Seems like Odom could have been hired 10 days ago.

Sure does, with the hoops program destroyed as well I think most of the fan base and boosters will move on. This program is now SMU. RIP

I think you have to wonder. I'd be surprised if Kul stays around and if he goes so does Dline U.

My take:
Barry Odom is not my first choice. But if Rhoades couldn't pull Herman or Fedora (and I don't think this goes this long
If he isn't waiting for word from one of those guys.

Odom is my favorite pick from the rest of the candidates.

He's going to put together a strong staff.

Hill and Walters will stay. The rest will hit the bricks.

The OC will be Seth Luttrell of UNC unless he takes a HC job.

Josh Heupel and Sonny Cumbie are the backups.

Odom will call plays on D, which encourages me.

Overall, I'm excited to see the staff he puts together. Could see Grinch coming back.

I heard one booster took the university out of his will

I'm very pleased with this hire. Only thing that we know is lacking is experience as a HC, but by all accounts he is a leader, is organized, a great recruiter, and innovative/creative. I'm interested in who his offensive hires will be, but aside from maybe Herman, or some huge name, this is about the best case, IMO. Like I saod earlier today, I had Odom and Fedora about even as far as who I'd want.

PM saying Kul is gone

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/Kentrell_Mizzou">@Kentrell_Mizzou</a> picked up his 153rd tackle of the year when hearing <a href="https://twitter.com/Coach_Odom">@Coach_Odom</a> would be <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mizzou?src=hash">#Mizzou</a>&#39;s next coach!
<a href="https://t.co/PSXG2narwo">https://t.co/PSXG2narwo</a></p>&mdash; Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) <a href="https://twitter.com/MizzouFootball/status/672604709371310082">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Just saw that.
That's awesome.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Appreciative of the past and extremely excited for the future with Coach Odom and this team!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MIZZOUMADE?src=hash">#MIZZOUMADE</a></p>&mdash; Drew Lock (@DrewLock23) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrewLock23/status/672608408055353344">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Seriously, just stop. Everyone gets that you hate Mizzou.

I think that sums it up pretty well.

This would have felt a lot better a week ago. And losing Kul, apparently?, is a huge blow. But otherwise I like this hire quite a bit.

Kul leaving if Odom was the coach has been a foregone conclusion for a while.

The only way he stayed was as DC for a new blood coach, and even that was an extreme long shot.

Hopefully, Ivey and the new strength coach can keep things going.

It's also not like Odom is unaware of what they look for in DEs. If Kul was the sole DE recruiter, it would be one thing. He isn't, it is shared, so everyone knows what they're looking for.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Quick thought before I write: I expect Andy Hill &amp; Ryan Walters to be back under Odom at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mizzou?src=hash">#Mizzou</a>. Craig Kuligowski maybe too. Not much more.</p>&mdash; Gabe DeArmond (@GabeDeArmond) <a href="https://twitter.com/GabeDeArmond/status/672618906163392512">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Kul was leaving regardless of who was hired.

Jesus, dude. Odom may end up sucking, but for ****'s sake it's not like we just hired Kim Anderson. He's a highly respected coach in line for HC positions and big time DC positions. Give the guy and chance.

Bielema and Pinkel met at a coffee shop in Denver today. Speculation that Bielema was talking with Pinkel about Kul as a hire.

It would be a great hire for Arkansas.

Knowing what to look for in an athletic 2- or 3-star DE & being able to coax the production out of that raw talent are different things, no?

Most of it is identifying guys you can work up with high level S&C work, identifying guys who have the athletic attributes (quickness, hip flex, ability to bend the edge, arm length, frame, etc).

Coaching technique is the finishing aspect. Kul is really good, but its not like this is ALL his coaching.

It was CoMO not colorado. My bad. Bielema was supposedly on recruiting visit with Hayden Johnson and meeting was random.

Finding a kid is only a small part of the process. Being able to take a more unknown talent and turn them into an NFL product is what made the difference.

If he follows through with it, and probably will, losing Kul is a crushing blow to the program.

They are pushing out the best assistant on the staff for an unknown.

Developing technique is the most important aspect. Not the cherry on top.

Gotta nail the OC hire...I hope they try for Tyson Helton or try to lure away Doug Meachem, doubt either happen.

****Official 2015 Missouri Tigers Football Thread****
 

Plan A rejected them.
Plan B rejected them.
Plan C rejected them.
Plan D rejected them.
Plan E said ok.

Yep

Razorbacks just got a great coach.

That's not what I've been told by college football coaches. Technique is technique. There are differing philosophies, but none are that

Identifying guys and making sure they're developing physically are important. Coaching them up the way they need it is important, too, and is something Kul was great at.

He's a great position coach. He's one of the best. But he isn't an irreplaceable asset, and keeping him is not as important as making a good head coaching hire.

I'd rather have Odom and a new DL coach than Dykes with Kul staying as DC.

I remember when the Chiefs rallied around Frank Ganz.......

Odom was never below Plan B, from what I have been told. It's hard to say, because Rhoades played this so close to the vest. Personally, I think Herman finally gave him a firm "No, thanks!" and he moved to Odom.

But Herman and Fedora were the only guys out there who were clearly better than them.

If they wanted Campbell/Rhule/Dykes/Wells/Babers one of those guys would be announced on Sunday (if they hadn't been already).

As for OCs, I'm confident about the guys Odom reportedly has lined up. It will be one of Seth Littrell (if he doesn't get a HC job), Josh Heupel, or Sonny Cumbie (if he doesn't become sole OC at TCU, and maybe not over even then).

Odom has a strong list of assistants ready to roll. I'm confident this staff is going to be a strong one.

Good God some of you are just ****ing miserable. All Odom has done is excel at every job given him, and he's regarded as a good recruiter.

This is a good hire and miles from Kim Anderson.

Not sure how I feel about yost returning (if that happens).

I think it's pretty safe to say the team is excited about it.

Freakin' awesome.

I must have missed that tidbit. Is that a possibility?

I don't know what to believe.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MizzouMade70?src=hash">#MizzouMade70</a> Keep Ricker here</p>&mdash; Evan Boehm 7⃣7⃣ (@BIGboehmTHEORY) <a href="https://twitter.com/BIGboehmTHEORY/status/672640206214791168">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Click on this and read Boehm jawing back and forth with fans.

Yost is not returning.

Sounds like Josh Heupel will be the OC next year. He got scapegoated by Stoops after last season, when the Sooners failed to score 30 points only two times.

Littrell is going to get the UNT job.

Heupel is young, good, and a good recruiter. It's a nice fit.

Walters and Hill likely stay, too.

Have seen a few rumors that Ricker was restricted by Henson and Pinkel, who were the driving forces behind the playing time guys like Chappel and Mitch Hall received.

Good news (about Yost returning. I don't know much about huepel)

Does that make sense though? The two changes from last year to this year were Ricker and OL personnel so one, or both of those took it downhill. Did our OL talent go down that dramatically?

What kind of offense would Heupel run?

Also, please get rid of Ricker. Or demote him and get a real O-Line coach in here.

Hasn't OU typically run a lot more under center, a TE at times, and a fullback at times, too? Some heavy stuff at the GL?

I'm not sure off the top of my head.

Ricker was the OL coach last season as well. It makes sense to me. Apparently, Ricker had to fight like crazy to get McGovern back to RG last season (which is when the offense/run game started producing), and had his hands tied with McGovern at LT this season.

He also was pushing for more playing time for guys like Kevin Pendleton, but couldn't get it pushed through Henson.

His roots are in the Air Raid spread, which Mike Leach coordinated when Heupel led OU to a national title, but his Os have been more multiple than Henson's.

And if we're lucky, we saved enough money on the Odom deal that Rhoades has banked enough coin to fire Anderson and get a real basketball coach in here as well.

Winning all the way around.

Yeah, it's a little underwhelming after having Herman's name tossed out there (and even from Fedora), but it's still a good hire. And if he grabs a few guys like Heupel to build a dynamic, smart young coaching staff, we'd have a foundation to really build on over the coming decade.

It's going to be a bit bumpy at first I would imagine, but unlike Anderson, there's a long time for Odom to grow into this role and the sky really is the limit for the guy.

Good and bad:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Good source tells me only <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mizzou?src=hash">#Mizzou</a> assistant staying with Odom is Ryan Walters. Fate of analysts/ GAs not yet announced.</p>&mdash; Pete Scantlebury (@PeteScantlebury) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteScantlebury/status/672806925042515968">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Addendum:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Feeling among some in program is that Andy Hill will take Montana State job. We heard he could have stayed.</p>&mdash; Pete Scantlebury (@PeteScantlebury) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeteScantlebury/status/672808953969926145">December 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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