Mercer To Hire DREW CRONIC

[apaladin]

Not good news. This is according to www.Footballscoop.com

[Bootie]

Not good news. This is according to www.Footballscoop.com

Stronger conference opponents = stronger conference, right?

[The Jackal]

I mean, this seems like the least surprising news I've heard this year.

[Paul C]

O/U on how long he will stay has opened at 2 years...

[FUpaladin08]

So another run-based team in the SoCon?

[FUBeAR]

O/U on how long he will stay has opened at 2 years...

Wow...you really think he’s going to do well enough @ Mercer to be offered an FBS Head Coaching job after 2 years? That’s a strong vote of confidence from you, Mr. C.

[Paul C]

O/U on how long he will stay has opened at 2 years...

Wow...you really think he’s going to do well enough @ Mercer to be offered an FBS Head Coaching job after 2 years? That’s a strong vote of confidence from you, Mr. C.

“Good enough” in the eye of the beholder. History would support my hypothesis

[FUBeAR]

So another run-based team in the SoCon?

Run-based, yes. Run-exclusive, no. L-R ran the ball about 75% of the time this year & about 70% of the time last year. That’s roughly double the passing that the bellhops & anklebiters do. Some interesting stats can be gleaned from looking at the run/pass mix of the remaining 8 Teams in the FCS Playoffs (Hint: they are mostly run-based)...

Only one remaining team [in the FCS Elite 8], Montana, is in the top 40 in the FCS in passing yards per game. In fact, 5 of the 8 remaining teams are ranked 79th or lower in the FCS in passing yards per game...

So, if you want to win & advance in the Playoffs in FCS Football, you might had better RUN THE DANG BALL!

* Illinois State has the lowest ranked Passing Attack at #117 / 19 ATT / 123.8 ypg | 70/30 Run/Pass
* Montana State is next lowest at #99 / 26 ATT / 174.6 ypg | 64/36 Run/Pass
* Northern Iowa is next @ #90 / 25 ATT / 190.3 ypg | 59/41 Run/Pass
* The favorite to repeat, NDSU, checks in at #87 / 19 ATT / 190.8 | 70/30 Run/Pass
* Weber State, who beat Kennesaw last week, is #79 with 30 ATT / 197.9 ypg | 56/44 Run/Pass
* JMU, the favorite to knock off NDSU, is #54 & 24 ATT / 226.9 ypg | 67/33 Run/Pass
* APSU (FUBeAR’s ‘rooting favorite’) comes in at #41 with 30 ATT / 242.6 ypg | 58/42 Run/Pass
* Montana, as mentioned, is the only Team that slings it a bunch - #8 with 38 ATT / 304.9 ypg | 48/52 Run/Pass

Conclusion...yes, you need to RUN THE DANG BALL (#4, #8, #9, #28, #33, #45, #64, and, somehow, #101 (#7 in Total Defense, I guess) remain standing) but you better be able to throw it about 20-25 times for about 200 yards also.

[FUBeAR]

O/U on how long he will stay has opened at 2 years...

Wow...you really think he’s going to do well enough @ Mercer to be offered an FBS Head Coaching job after 2 years? That’s a strong vote of confidence from you, Mr. C.

“Good enough” in the eye of the beholder. History would support my hypothesis

In somewhat of an information vacuum, you are correct.

But, we have info beyond the raw data to which you allude.

We know that Coach Cronic’s step from HC @ an NAIA school to an OC @ an FCS school after 2 years in that HC spot was a ‘baby-step’ & some might say a step back. We know that Coach Cronic’s steps from an OC @ an FCS school to a HC @ a D2 school was a ‘baby-step’ & some might say a step back. IF he becomes the HC @ an FCS school from a HC @ a D2 school, that is a clear step up; so the dynamic is significantly different than those 2 prior moves.

Moving from an FCS HC to an FBS HC is an even bigger step up & it rarely happens without (relatively) sustained success @ an FCS school. Granted, Tom Arth going from Chatt to Akron was quite the WTFer, but the Zips were 0-12 this year, proving the folly of that hire. Now...there is the possibility that Coach Cronic could leave an FCS HC job (IF he moves to one) for an FBS OC gig, BUT, his ‘brand’ is Wang-T Offense. No non-Service Academy Fan Base is going to stand for that kind of OC hire...unless he loses/mitigates that brand while an FCS (possibly) HC.

Hence...FUBeAR would dispute your hypothesis & set the O/U at 4 years IF he becomes the HC @ Mercer.

[Paul C]

Line has moved to 2.5 yrs.

[aqualung]

Line has moved to 2.5 yrs.

It gives me great pain to agree with FUbear but I think that 4 years is a much more reasonable O/U.

[Mr. Taggart]

To quote my grandfather... the grass is always greener ... over the septic tank.

I would negotiate a substantial buyout were I the Mercer AD.

[Paul C]

Line has moved to 2.5 yrs.

I think (and FUBear knows much better than I would) that Cronic is going to inherit a pretty good roster. Better than their record showed. So wouldn't be surprised if he adds a couple wins next year, and then a couple the year after. And then if past is prologue, bolts in 2 or THREE years for a low level FBS program.....

OK the line has moved to 3.0 years

[sluggo]

What's the u/o that he'll be at Texas State if he does leave in 2 years?
I'll take that bet if I can combo the exacta with South Alabama.

I'm just going to assume that he will refuse to live in New Mexico.

LOL!

[FUBeAR]

Line has moved to 2.5 yrs.

I think (and FUBear knows much better than I would) that Cronic is going to inherit a pretty good roster. Better than their record showed. So wouldn't be surprised if he adds a couple wins next year, and then a couple the year after. And then if past is prologue, bolts in 2 or THREE years for a low level FBS program.....

OK the line has moved to 3.0 years

Roster is good, but has a few holes (will not elaborate - watch their film if you want more info). Will compete in the SoCon next year...as they have every year; but competing in the SoCon is CLEARLY not good enough to be relevant nationally in FCS. I hope Mercer blows the top off of the Asst Coach Comp budget & ‘forces’ FU & all SoCon schools to do the same & I hope they do the same with the Recruiting budget & start paying FCOA to Players. SoCon has to improve & ‘staying competitive’ (with each other) is not going to accomplish that. Somebody’s gotta be the lead dog. If it’s Mercer, fine. If it’s Furman, fine...as long as the other one keeps pace, FUBeAR is happy. I’ve heard the view is much better for the dog(s) leading the sled & the SoCon sled needs to get back on the course.