No Butch at Purdue; Attention Potentially On Hazell

It now appears official that Butch Jones will not be the head coach at Purdue. Multiple sources, including GBI and Carmin, are reporting that fact but not where he will be coaching.

CBS says Jones will attend a presser regarding the Bearcats bowl game, which seems odd since he supposedly will not be addressing his future. Good luck with that, Butch.

The current thinking is that Purdue has turned their attention to Kent State's Darrell Hazell, who quite frankly, I'm very high on at the moment. I watched the MAC title game and while I haven't seen much else of Hazell, I found myself more enamored of him during that game than of Doeren.

Hazell has, to me, the qualities you want in a leader of men. He exudes a confidence and a "Follow me, men" persona that, no matter the odds, gives the impression that he's got a plan. Of course, as a good friend of mine always says, "Custer had a plan, too."

As for "losing out" on Butch Jones, I wouldn't fret too much about this, Boiler faithful, and this isn't just me trying to make you feel better. Jones is a capable coach, no doubt about it. However, we've heard more than a few reports that he's a hothead and at times unlikable. Those characteristics still wouldn't make us not consider the guy, but you also have to take into account the fact that, like it or not, he was a reach for Purdue. He's a successful coach at a D1 program who already makes a lot of money. Purdue was simply incapable of blowing him away with a money offer, so it had to be the right fit for him and his family. Maybe it wasn't. Or maybe he's in it for top dollar, which, hey, it might be his best payday ever, so who are we to criticize that?

Also consider that Butch Jones inherited Brian Kelly's 4th-ranked, 12-0 Cinci team that played in the Sugar Bowl (and got worked over by Florida). So he walked into a pretty good spot and, to his credit, has not let them down. But is it what Hazell has done this year, for example? Taking a truly terrible program and getting 11 wins out of them?

All I'm saying is that Butch Jones was a stretch-goal for the Boilermakers and it hasn't worked out. This is not a reason to feel despair. If Morgan Burke comes through with a solid hire that we're all excited about, then he's done right by our alma mater and his very public courtship with Jones will be forgiven and forgotten. Until then, it looks as though Burke got played a little bit by Jones' agent. As I said, though, the final judgment on this search process is far from ready to be cast.

As I said on twitter the other day, I think you speak to Darrell Hazell and offer him $1.5 M per season, plus incentives, thus guaranteeing him five times his current salary at Kent State.

Get it done, Morgan.

What do we really know?

Really not many people know much of anything...well not much absolute truth, anyway.

Jones spent four hours in West Lafayette and brought his wife along for the trip yesterday...a day later (today), he spent six hours at Colorado...brought his wife again.

Colorado was very public with their thoughts about the interview...perhaps that was because they had reason to be confident (read as a contract signed)...perhaps not.  The called today's meetings "very productive."

Jones seeking a home where the Buffs roam?

Burke has handled the process much more privately and quietly than CU's AD...it could be because he hasn't had confidence or it could be because that's just his chosen tactic.  It still makes no sense to me that Burke allowed Jones to be seen on campus yesterday as it clearly wasn't in the bag; it seems the photos and public exposure could have been avoided.  I read that as an intentional leak and confidence that Jones was the guy...I think I read incorrectly.

There's wiggle room in this process and that's by design...agents are smart enough to take what they're given...if it's silence, it can be used to help their client...if there's talk, it can be used too.  We saw this in Painter's re-negotiations...we're seeing it now as Purdue seeks to find its next head football coach.

In Painter's case, "Buddy" Baker didn't want Purdue to look dumb at the end of the day in order for his client(s) to make money...so he negotiated and pulled strings that helped three of his clients get raises...all as Painter sat back and had Mizzou chase him, and finally Burke had to pony up.

In the football coach candidate case, there are still rumors that Jones is a target of University of Tennessee...probably perpetuated by Trace Armstrong; who, by the way is OK with making Purdue look like a pawn as he and his client make a play for extra cheddar.

Back in 1996, Burke sought Bob Davie and landed on Joe Tiller. That ending was A-OK for Burke and the university.

This time, he wanted Butch Jones...and it sure seems like he's not landing for good in West Lafayette either.  The signs are pointing to Darrell Hazell as the guy now...Burke's not standing pat as Jones seeks a prettier girl.  In fact, the trustees' plane took a trip to Akron this afternoon...which is about 20 miles from Kent State's campus. Then this evening, GBI reported via Twitter that Darrell Hazell is "very much in play"...according to a source.

Hazell took over for Doug Martin at Kent State.  In those seven seasons prior to Hazell's last two years, Kent State's best record was 6-6.  After a 5-7 first season...Hazell's flashes were 11-2 this season.  Kent State's program wins about 39% of their games historically...and has been to two bowls prior to being invited to the GoDaddy.Com Bowl this season.

Hazell was asked today about being named in connection with other program openings...he said nothing to deny it...nothing to confirm it; feels like we've heard this before.

Hazell is 48 years old, has coached from the East Coast to the Midwest and is originally from New Jersey. He went to a small school in Ohio for college and spent most of his coaching years, 7 seasons, at aOSU coaching a ton of very good wide receivers and even being Tressell's Assistant head coach.

A few days ago, it was Jones, then DeRuyter was the second fiddle in this contest...a week ago Jones, Dykes and Doeren...and today Hazell has floated to the top of this nebulous list.  I guess we'll all know soon what's truth and what's conjecture...hope to, anyway.

Monday Football Gumbo

Sunday afternoon and evening lit up the Purdue football Twitterverse as a lot was happening.

First, Butch Jones came to West Lafayette via the Purdue trustees' private plane along with his wife.  Whatever they did/talked about took around four hours...Then he went back to Cincy without any announcement.

Not Purdue's plane.

During his visit on campus, it was revealed that Purdue would be playing in the Heart of Dallas Bowl...but at that point, our Boilers didn't know who they'd be playing.  A bit later, it was revealed that they'd square off versus their bowl opponent from 1997, Oklahoma State.  And just as Purdue is involved in coaching opening news, so is Okie State...but on the other side of the rumor mill.

The Cowboys' coach is linked to talks for both the Arkansas and Tennessee jobs...and, of course, he won't confirm or deny any of these suspicions.  So as Purdue's team looks to follow an interim coach into battle on January first, Oklahoma State might not be following their 8th-year coach...but an interim of their own, should Tennessee or Arkansas get their way.

But, with T. Boone Pickens and his large bags of cash on the side of OK St., who knows what will happen.  What we do know is both programs are in separate states of limbo at this point. If you have any questions about the situation, don't ask Pickens, he's an old man...whereas Gundy...he's a (younger) man...he's forty (five).

Oklahoma State is 7-5, and unlike Purdue, had no glaringly-bad losses during the season.  In fact, all of their losses came to bowl teams and they were competitive in most of those.  Unlike Purdue, they had two wins versus bowl teams, but those two teams (Iowa State and Texas Tech) weren't world beaters. In a ten-team Big 12, they're fourth.  In a 12-team Big 10, Purdue is eighth-best in the conference...and the RPI has the Big 12 as a slightly-tougher conference.  But, Oklahoma State is a top-five offense in many categories...and Purdue's defense has struggled for much of the year...so that doesn't seem like it's great news for our boys.

We'll talk more about this in the coming weeks.  In fact, we've got 30 days to really think about this one and chew on it as the game will be played on January 1.

Before then, Purdue will surely have a new coach...but as of now, we don't know who it'll be.

Burke, Marve and the rest of the team talked about their upcoming bowl game at the late afternoon presser...but Burke refused to answer questions about the coaching situation.  Since Jones was brought on campus, I was hoping we'd hear an announcement this afternoon...but since then, we've all learned that he'll be going to Boulder to talk to the University of Colorado about their opening.  From everything I've heard, Colorado, like Purdue, is very serious about finding the right coach and is ready to give Jones' a sizable raise to move out West.  But, according to Colorado's Rivals site, Colorado's search isn't as far along as Purdue's seems to be.

Jones and his wife met in college in Michigan, and Jones has never worked further West than he currently does...but, he definitely will soon; hopefully it'll be a bit more to the near-West.  It seems we'll know either way early this week.

My thought is that a half million dollars is a lot of money, and it sounds like Colorado will offer Jones that much more than Purdue.  That's kinda tough to turn down, regardless of where you come from and where you've been.  My gut feeling isn't good about this right now...and really, isn't very good about the hiring process at this point.  The guy I wanted to see at Purdue took a job at NC State for about $700,000 less than Burke seems to be willing to pay the next guy, and it seems he never really got past the initial phase of this search by the Athletic Department.

NC State's hiring of Doeren over Sonny Dykes shook everything up a bit...Dykes is now rumored to be talking to Cal who is also talking to DeRuyter...who is said to be in the running for the Purdue job along with Dykes. DeRuyter is also said to be a candidate for the Colorado job if Jones doesn't take it first.

Until we see and hear a press conference formally introducing the next coach, it's going to be a pretty tense time.  Regardless of when that conference comes, here's to it being the right fit.

Just In Case: A Lil' Butch Jones Info

It seems like just yesterday, Brendan Murphy was talking to us about Brock Spack on our little podcast called the Handsome Hour...and now, Mr. Murph has gone big time.

If you do a Google search for "Butch Jones Purdue" you'll see a bunch of hacks quoting a "source" or Twitter as the way they heard that Butch Jones has been offered the head coaching job by Morgan Burke. Well, there's one source that's in the know who's talking, and it's Murphy. I did a little investigating of my own to see if our pal would squeal like a pig about the juicy details*...and of course, like all good girls, he doesn't kiss and tell. If you want to ask me if I believe the source- Hells yes, I do. Murphy doesn't lie.  Let's be clear though, no one has said Jones has taken the job...yet...accept for one moron on the radio out of Cincy.  But he even backpedalled in the last 24 hours as well.

If you jump in the way back machine, you might remember this article that showed Jones as the apple of J's eye. Before he published this piece, we discussed Jones...and I told him that he was dreaming.  I didn't think Burke would be able to pay Jones' buyout or subsequent salary...but we all know now that the rules have changed a bit as Burke understands the importance of hiring a guy who will win quickly win...and subsequently, quickly get the enthusiasm among Boilers back to an acceptable level.

Burke made the firing of Hope official on Sunday evening (as you all know)...Shortly after, this listing for the job was posted.  Since there's yet to be a final decision, you should apply- Chase that dream dagnabbit!

We'll see what happens in the next few days with this situation...but here are some interesting details around this story:

-GBI has reported since this was made official that Jones was the number one candidate and that he was contacted with the first group of "feeler" calls.

-Jones is 0-3 v. Purdue as a coach (while at Central Michigan)...All three losses came versus Joe Tiller-coached teams; all were close, if my memory serves me correctly.  Maybe most-interestingly, all three losses came in just over one year (07-08). The most-notable loss for Jones' CMU team v. Purdue was the 51-48 barn burner in Detroit that pitted Painter v. Lefevour gave Purdue its first Motor City Bowl Championship (meh).

-Jones took the Cinci job in 2010...following Brian Kelly...and before Kelly, Mark Dantonio.

-He's been a head coach for six seasons...four of those seasons ended in bowl appearances.  His combined record at CMU and Cincy is 49-27.

-Before being HC, he was WR coach under Rich Rodriguez at West Virginia...before that, his first stint at CMU was from '98 to '04, coaching tight ends, then running backs, then becoming the offensive coordinator. He was OC for his alma mater, Ferris State, OC for tiny, private Wilkes college and GA for Rutgers after his playing days at Ferris State were over.

-Purdue is set to play Cincinnati in the last day of August, 2013...the season opener; I'm sure they'd be happy to see him back, should he choose to come to Purdue.

-Cincinnati will be looking for its ninth win this season on Saturday at Connecticut...so I don't expect to hear anything before Sunday. But like I've been for much of this of this process, I'm speculating.

"Purdue is that way from here, correct?"

*For the record, I wouldn't have published our conversation had he told me...but since he stayed tight-lipped, I thought it'd be A-OK to share with the class.

Burke Makes it Official: Hope Out

Burke addressing the media Sunday evening

One of the worst-kept secrets in Purdue's athletic department was officially aired this evening as Morgan Burke addressed Danny Hope's firing after four years as a head coach that followed a transitional year under Tiller.

Hope was 22-27 at the helm...and in spite of leading Purdue to a second-straight bowl after another 6-6 season, it seemed like the right time to change direction.

Hope was not at the press conference, but Higgins was there as he has been named the interim coach for the bowl game.  Nord will be Higgins' advisor during bowl prep.  Higgins said he's playing the role of about three or four coaches during the next few weeks.

Perhaps Hope wasn't at the conference because of the way he had handled the press in the last day/weeks? Perhaps not...Burke didn't address it.

Burke touched on a few points:

-He started the conference by saying he accepted some of the responsibility for the current state of the program...but doesn't feel bad for having to change direction at this point.

-He gave credit to the players for being able to recover from the five game slide and win the final three games of the B1G schedule.

-Hope isn't going to coach in the bowl game because he believes that move puts too much pressure on the exiting coach and his family.

-Purdue has lost 1/3 of its season ticket holders.  He said this isn't the sole decider, but was emblematic of the lack of enthusiasm within the fan base.

-Said the move was needed to hold on to ticket holders who have stayed on during this stretch and to get some ex-season ticket holders back into the fold.

-His goal for the program is for Purdue to be a perennial top-25 program and to get back to Pasadena in the near future.

-He said he doesn't have a "quick trigger" when it comes to hires.

Agreed- that might be the reason Sumlin is not at his alma mater right now...and his slow movements on decisions nearly pushed Painter to Missouri.  Let's hope his methodology doesn't lead to losing the right candidate.

-Burke is using Ryan Grigson, Rick Smith and Bill Polian as consultants for the hiring process. Grigson is the current GM for the Colts, and is a Purdue alum...Smith is also a Purdue alum and is GM of the Texans. Polian is the former President of the Colts...and has no connection with Purdue.

-He said the candidate does not need to have Purdue ties, but a Purdue tie might be a tie breaker, of sorts.

-Burke addressed that Purdue fans value Purdue being the Cradle of Quarterbacks...and wants to have a coach that will help bring back an offense that continues that heritage...said the current team had not embodied this philosophy and direction.

-He said he'd prefer a coach with head coaching experience.

-He didn't give a timeframe for when the hire would be made.

Notes:
GBI reported earlier tonight that Dave Doeren (NIU HC), Sonny Dykes (LaTech HC), Butch Jones (Cincy HC), Mark Helfrich (Oregon OC) and Tim DeRuyter (Fresno State HC) have all been contacted by Purdue.

We like this list.

Burke reiterated that he hasn't made a decision and isn't close to doing so...I'm not positive that he isn't a bit further along in the process than he's letting on as we have heard that this search began over a month ago...and Dave Doeren's comments a few weeks ago make me believe he's the guy.

As we learn more, we'll pass it on and let you know our thoughts.

Addendum:
So far two verbal commitments for Purdue's class of 2013 have backed out and are looking elsewhere...I believe this number will go up.  But, as we've always thought, none of these guys are guaranteed to make it to campus until they've signed their LOIs...that doesn't come until after the new year.