UND92,96

Can anybody with either a really good memory, or easy access to the Herald archives, recall how long the process took from start to finish when Lennon was hired to succeed RT?

You may very well be correct about Beschorner, but he's still really young--30 at most. Plus, all his experience is at USD. I suspect he would be a much riskier hire than would DeBoer.

Are these policies available online? I'm specifically referring to whatever rules are in place which require a job to be posted for x number of days, etc. What is the quickest time in which you have seen a hiring process take?

I understand it would result in a likely pay cut if Bubba came to UND in an assistant capacity, but hypothetically it may make more sense to start over at UND than stick with the status quo at SIU, given the fact that one more non-playoff season could mean Lennon and the whole staff are ousted.

I have to think that if DeBoer doesn't get the UND job, he's going to be a strong candidate to replace Joe Glenn, who will be 65 in March, in another year or two at USD.

The SIU offenses haven't been explosive under him, but have been pretty consistent--mid-20's to 30 ppg and mid-to-high 300's per game in terms of yardage. Pretty balanced between run and pass. Knowing how Lennon prefers to be conservative on offense and rely on defense, special teams and field position, I'm not surprised SIU hasn't had especially explosive offenses. UND was much the same way until the two years with Chappell and Dressler. I don't know how they've ranked in the MVFC, or how they compared to Lennon's first couple of seasons.

He apparently did apply right before the deadline yesterday, per Miller and Nelson.

I know not too many people are as high on DeBoer as they would have been three or four years ago, but it should be noted that his overall record as a head coach is 67-3. Regardless of what level you're talking about, that's pretty astounding. And he's still not even 40 years old.

Thanks, I needed that.

Sorry to bring up ancient history, but is this the same "points system" that resulted in Steve Weemer, who was the coach of a poor high school program at the time and is now out of coaching altogether, being one of four finalists to replace Rich Glas as basketball coach several years ago?

According to my 2013 directory of lawyers and judges from the State Board of Law Examiners, she is licensed. Not that it makes me any more comfortable with her advising Faison, if that indeed is the case.

Is Faison getting his legal advice from Julie Evans? This is getting quite frustrating. I had believed that 30 days was pretty much the absolute maximum this process would take, and even that is far too long compared to virtually any other state.

So of the 11 coaches originally listed by SFI as possible candidates, the only two who actually applied were Bubba and Pflugrad. I wonder how many others had informal discussions with Faison and decided not to apply...or maybe still will?

Buning.

Hiring a prominent athletic department position from West Point worked out so well the last time...

I don't believe that's an entirely accurate portrayal of the situation, but I guess we'll see what Faison thinks. Based exclusively on merit, Pflugrad clearly warrants an interview. If he doesn't get one, I don't think we will need to speculate too much as to the reason. That's not to say it's necessarily fair. There's just a good chance things will go down that way.

Yup, if Pflu is out, I don't see how Bleil can be seriously considered, either.

How did he end up in the midwest anyway? I believe he's from Connecticut or someplace, but has spent a long time in Minnesota and the Dakota's.

Kill made playoffs his last five years there. Made semi's his final season. He's a hero there. Crazy how much better Lennon did as a dII coach than Kill, though.

Unfortunately, coaching is very much a "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately?" profession. I still think Lennon is a great coach. I just don't think that was the right situation for him. It seemed like a good move at that time, though.

The problem is that he took over when the program was a perennial playoff contender. They just finished their fourth straight non-playoff season, and they have gone 5-6, 4-7, 6-5 and 7-5 since they last made the playoffs. Throw in how much he's making, and their fan base is decidedly unhappy. The "Fire Dale Lennon--2013 version" thread is at 65 pages so far on their message board.

Here is one of the new applicants: http://coachingroots.com/football/coaches/mike-cummings

Not that it necessarily impacts the UND situation, but it sounds like there could be another prominent FCS opening soon. EIU coach Dino Babers is being mentioned as a strong candidate for the Eastern Michigan job. John Wristen, who has been mentioned as a potential UND candidate in the past, was also linked to the EMU job.

I would have no problem with somebody new, but the problem is who? Pflu is the most qualified, but chances are very good Faison passes due to his real or perceived baggage. So then who is left? Marshall? Montana St. has been kind of an under-achieving program IMO, and failed to make the playoffs despite a lofty ranking most of the season. Most of the rest of the legit applicants are essentially journeymen. The only other candidate so far who might be intriguing is the guy from Florida Atlantic by way of UNI. I don't know enough about him to say whether he's the next-best after Pflu or not. I'm still hoping for Caruso or some other late applicant.

It's hard to say. Nielson is a very good coach, but on the other hand he was basically coaching Bubba's players. Would Bubba have done as well? Impossible to know, but I suspect he'd have won at least one title.