All that said, the damage on this season seems to be done. I've heard from a few sources that the wheels are already in motion for Purdue to find a successor for Danny Hope. Shellackings at the hands of good and not-so-good teams have led many fans to stay home on Saturdays...and the lack of enthusiasm in the fanbase is crushing the bottom line of the Athletic Department. If the rumors of a transition away from Hope and his staff are true, ticket sales probably have everything to do with it.
Morgan Burke has hired two head football coaches during his tenure at Purdue...and the most-recent was supposed to be a smooth transition from the winningest coach in the history of the program to a hand-picked successor that would take Purdue back to being one of the best teams in the conference.
But let's be real honest about Burke's first hire before we move on to the second- Burke lucked out with Joe Tiller. Burke's first choice was Bob Davie, but UND stepped in before Purdue could pull the trigger. Davie's traditional style of play didn't work with well even with UND's soft schedule and deep talent pool. But, Cowboy Joe's basketball on grass was the perfect antidote for Purdue's 13 year bowl drought. Until nearly a decade into his time at Purdue, much of the B1G couldn't catch up with Purdue's pass-happy offense that put pressure on defenses to stop 4 or 5 receivers nearly every down, and put pressure on the opposition's offense to try to keep up.
Cowboy Joe was brilliant at keeping players positive and changed the outlook of the program. Right away his Boilers seemed to believe that the improbable would happen and they could win games that they had no business winning. Early on, he said there was no reason that his program should strive for anything less than championships...and within just a few seasons, Purdue was in contention for the Big Ten title regularly. Tiller had changed the culture of Purdue football.
As he did, his pay began to reflect that his program was one of the best in the league...and many programs tried to copy the offense he had learned out West. And get this, as Purdue beat the best, Purdue fans changed. They began planning their vacations around the bowl season, traveling to road games and filling Ross-Ade. The ticket sales fueled a renovation of the stadium that made one of the dogs of the conference into a stadium that had a big time feel...and Morgan Burke thought there might be more in store. Burke eyed Purdue reaching ticket sale marks they had never seen...and talked about expanding Ross-Ade...but we all know now, that never happened.
Tiller got older and Cowboy Joe was replaced by Fisherman Joe. Tiller was sick of the difficult recruiting battles and sick of disciplining the guys on the team. Arrests went up, overall discipline went down and the program stopped believing that it belonged among the elite. I knew things had changed with Chaney and Tiller both began saying that all Purdue needed to do was win by one point...and the next season, Tiller openly admonished fans who wanted to see more out of the program, as he famously warned them to "manage their expectations."
As Tiller's outlook changed, he became looser-lipped with his tact in the media. Tiller was once a master of the room during press conferences, but he became increasingly-annoyed by the grind of jumping through their hoops and trying to please a fanbase that wanted more innovation from a guy who had turned a conference on its ear.
But as it happens for many, as Tiller turned 60, he didn't want to focus on details as much on the job, and the product suffered from it. The culture that he had changed began to fade back into its old ways. Jan. 1 bowls were replaced with cold weather bowls...then those were replaced by no post-season play at all. The program that Tiller re-built had slipped back into habits of old.
From 1956-2012, Purdue has had nine head football coaches. Three of them won more games than they lost- Mollenkopf, Young, and Tiller. That's it...that's the list. Jim Young is the only coach to win 10 games...and Mollenkopf and Tiller each took Purdue to one Rose Bowl...Purdue's record in the Grand Daddy of them all, is of course, 1-1. The point of this quick look back over our shoulder is to remind us that Purdue's football culture, especially in the modern era of football (let's call that from the early 1980s forward), is generally an unsuccessful one.
Purdue's favorite coaching son is currently coaching at Texas A&M. And while he learned the college game in God's Country, and cut his teeth as a coach for some mediocre and fair programs, he really learned how to run a program from a traditional power: Oklahoma.
Traditional powers have some inherent advantages over programs like Purdue.
Before I go any further, make no mistake that I'm not making excuses for why Purdue doesn't succeed with regularity, but I'm trying to offer a solution that will allow my alma mater to do so.
Traditional powerhouse programs have coaching trees with deep roots. If they want to rectify a problem, they can often look within their own ranks...I don't think Purdue can say that. Even if Purdue wants to go back a few decades for advice and help on a change of direction, there just aren't many options that have the resume that garners respect.
This might be why Purdue is in the shape it is right now. From what we understand, Tiller and a committee of ex-players and coaches helped Burke decide on Hope as the coach of the program in 2009. But Purdue's philosophy wasn't the only hinderance, obviously...the boss was a factor as well.
We've talked about what we think of Burke's philosophy for his athletic department ad nauseam...so we're not going to rehash that here. Burke answers to the President of the university and the board of trustees. This cabal has never made championships their number one priority. I'd wager a guess that championships are actually pretty far down on their list. But Purdue is what it is because of these pillars...and like the columns of the Parthenon, these aren't budging either. So as fans, alums and boosters, we all have to strive to change the culture within these parameters.
I had the chance to speak to a parent of an ex-Purdue football player...and he presented a solution that might change the trajectory of the football program: the next coach needs a mentor.
This idea works well in business and the sports world alike...but Danny Hope and most Purdue coaches before him haven't had anything like this while trying to build their program. Who can Hope go to as things get out of control? Burke hasn't given him the budget to hire assistant coaches with a ton of experience, and, outside of Joe Tiller, there aren't many coaches within the Purdue family that could/would present ideas and critiques...The next guy, whether it's Doeren, Kingsbury, Dykes, Helfrich, Sumlin (one can dream) or someone else, should be given the tools to succeed...and one of the most cost-effective ways of finding success might be a Director of Football Operations.
(That's right Mr. Burke, I said cost-effective...listen up, won't you?)
This Director could be a CEO-type of guy. He wouldn't need to recruit, he wouldn't need to be on the sidelines on game day...heck, he wouldn't even have to be on campus most days. I'd see this guy having an office that was occupied a few days/month...and he'd also have great seats for each game in a comfy glass-walled box. His responsibilities would be simple, but significant: offer guidance and expertise based on a wealth of knowledge that few could counter and fewer can match. Purdue couldn't afford to pay him what a head coach would make, but would help lessen his load by flying him in and out of West Lafayette with one of the university's planes.
The ideal candidate would either be out of football in retirement or would be out of football due to unusual circumstances...but still wanted to be involved in the sport. Here are a few that might fit the bill:
Jim Tressel
I wouldn't want him running the program, but I do believe his attention to detail and understanding of the game would help about any head football coach. Mentioning his name to recruits surely wouldn't hurt either. Plus, we know he's willing to take lower-paying jobs as he was a paid consultant for the Indianapolis Colts in 2011...Midwestern guy.
Bill Cowher
Cowher has a job in broadcasting that pays him well...he could keep that job and take this one as well. He understands organization and is a winner.
Tony Dungy
A guy of high character who is also a tremendous motivator. He has heavy connections to Indianapolis, another form of income as a broadcaster and is humble, but extremely successful.
Bobby Bowden
He's intentionally stayed away from FSU as to not overshadow Jimbo Fisher...he's the winningest coach of all time and he's still a knowledgeable football guy.
Dick Vermeil
Knows how to change mentalities for teams...ridiculously-deep resume...retired, well-respected, lives in the Midwest.
Phil Fulmer
Currently an analyst, but has expressed interest in getting back into football.
Jon Gruden
He's a perpetual top candidate for every job that comes up...but very few entities, pro or college, are willing to match his hefty MNF salary. By taking the position with Purdue, he could still be a broadcaster, but would be able to get directly back into football...which he's said he hasn't ruled out.
Joe Tiller
Not nearly as successful as many on the list, but a tremendous judge of talent and, as we eluded to above, he's the winningest Purdue football coach ever. If nothing else, he understands the job.
9 comments:
I know we like to dream a little here on this site, but I think it is safe to say that after this weekend, Sumlin is not coming to coach at Purdue anytime over the next decade, and most likely beyond.
That said, getting someone like Tony Dungy in just to talk to these guys on a regular basis could do nothing less than help.
This sounds like a good idea, that’s why it will never happen.
If Purdue Athletics handled things like Purdue academics we would not be having this conversation. When it comes to the university, Purdue does not like things to stand in its way. Purdue is on the cutting edge of technology and constantly looks for new ways to attract high level students and faculty. They will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars just to come up with a slogan. Also they are not afraid to go outside the norm as we have seen with their hiring of Mitch Daniels instead of the normal stuffy academia type. The board saw their chance to get their “big name coach” and got the deal done. It is evident the France was not pleasing the board so they wasted no time with going into a new direction. Purdue often looks towards its peers in and out of the Big Ten to become better and better and to climb the rankings as one of the best universities in the country and the world. Mention Purdue to many and they are impressed. Does this sound like the way athletics is managed?
Top academics and athletics is very much a doable concept look no further than schools in our own conference. During the Painter saga, it became apparent to many what was known but few were willing to admit that Purdue plays small ball when it comes to sports. Painter showed that if Purdue wanted to compete with the best it had to open its purse strings. Burke, while not crazy with being put on the spot had to pony up to Painter. If you read between the lines whenever he was interviewed about it, it’s obvious that Burke was all not too happy about it.
Want to change things around Purdue? Start with the top. After the softball field is complete Burke will have successfully changed every sports venue at Purdue for the better, putting Purdue to having one of the worst faculties to at least even with the rest of the conference. That will be his legacy and he did it all on a tight budget. The external facelift of Purdue sports will be complete and Burke should step down. Someone with new ideas and likes wearing jeans rather than cardigans should step in to continue the internal facelift of Purdue sports and maybe just maybe complete Ross-Ade stadium.
While Purdue wants to be known as the Ivy League of the Midwest, it forgets its land grant roots and public university obligations to enlighten the young people of Indiana not necessarily everyone outside Indiana. Also while the JPC Club is important Purdue must not forget the ones who gave Purdue its Boilermaker namesake. “Those burly Boiler Makers from Purdue” make up the bulk of the crowds that support Purdue sports.
just sayin...
I like the idea of the GM type hire but it is really hard to imagine that happening. What actually worries me is that we make it to 6-6 go bowling, win a crappy bowl game and have another go with Hope next year.
Separate thought but why is it that Purdue has played so much better on the road this year? (aside from the Minnesota game)
Why not hire Phil Fulmer as coach? I'd like to see him lose a some weight, but he ran a top-flight program for a long time and won a National Championship. He also managed to recruit one Peyton Manning to play for him. And he wouldn't NEED a mentor!
Can we stop even mentioning Sumlin. Bottom line is that unless he has 3 straight losing seasons, he is never coming to Purdue. Even if we had gone after him last year, I doubt we would have gotten him. Texas AM is hands down a better job. Way better facilities, more money, plus Sumlin is from the South.
Also, Mark Helfrich would be an extremely risky hire. While he is the OC for offensive juggernaut Oregon, it is well documented that Chip Kelly calls 100% of the plays. The most we could hope for out of Helfrich is that he learned a lot from Kelly.
Not a bad dream. As far as the AD/Board/etc are concerned - Cheap means you don't go out and add another layer of payroll to the football program you don't care about anyway.
Why does Dungy's name keep popping up - especially on the HC rumors - I've never heard it said anywhere other than by PU fans???
This is by far the most outlandish of all your posts! LOL!
Purdue will go either 6-6 and keep Hope (firing Nord) or 5-7...
We will not hire anyone special. We will not remotely consider their ability to win. We want someone cheap, not very bright, and moustachioed.
I was flabergasted that Burke wanted Davies over Tiller.
Boy, I'm thankful for ND today...
L2F- I mention him because I think it's one of the worst misses by Burke and every time he wins big, I'm reminded of it...so I want other reminders out there to be reminded as well. The sad thing is that he wasn't even mentioned as a guy in the running four years ago...still don't understand that.
PU- I'm not insinuating a rumor with Dungy...in fact, none of the names in my post were to be intended as rumors...but they're all guys who have unusual circumstances in which they could help a program build a foundation, I believe. Hope's confusion from week-to-week as well as his staff's and players' lack of understanding of why things are happening makes this idea make more sense. BUT, if the right guy is hired, he wouldn't need a mentor as much, obviously.
A guy with no HC experience should have a mentor of sorts...it'd lessen the time he needs to figure out what he's doing.
There are still a ton of variables in this equation...and the fact that many believe Hope might still be back says a lot about the Athletic Department. But I am hearing from multiple sources, a couple not in my own head, that Hope will not be back next year.
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