Dino Babers

[Summy1]

One guy that I would like to see replace Hazell would be Dino Babers. He has experience with Purdue in 91-93 as an assistant. His daughter has a nickname after the bucket game. He has some coaching experience with Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green. His team at Bowling Green can light up the score board and would be fun if he could do the same with Purdue.

 

[uncleboiler]

I'm pretty sure Dino Babers would want to advance his career. Purdue is looked at as a dead-end head coaching job. If his desire is to get a big time coaching gig someday, a few years in West Lafayette will ruin that dream.

 

[Summy1]

I'm pretty sure Dino Babers would want to advance his career. Purdue is looked at as a dead-end head coaching job. If his desire is to get a big time coaching gig someday, a few years in West Lafayette will ruin that dream.

I disagree. There is no were to go with this program but up. If he comes in next season and wins 4 games that would be an improvement. If he comes in and leads us to a bowl game then he be labeled as a hero

 

[pboiler18]

I'm pretty sure Dino Babers would want to advance his career. Purdue is looked at as a dead-end head coaching job. If his desire is to get a big time coaching gig someday, a few years in West Lafayette will ruin that dream.

So you're saying its Purdue's fault that Hazell sucks...which is not what you've argued up and down this board.

Pull the loaded gun out of your mouth and chill out. The blame goes ALOT of places as to why this program is where it's at. The good news is that all the blame doesn't fall in one place, and that with a few good pieces in place we can start to take advantage of facilities upgrades, play better offense, recruit better and win!

 

[uncleboiler]

So you're saying its Purdue's fault that Hazell sucks...which is not what you've argued up and down this board.

 

[uncleboiler]

No, I'm saying Purdue is not a "destination" or "stepping-stone" coaching job. The coaches that have come here are either a "last stop" guy before retiring or a borderline coach that gets fired and goes back to being an assistant somewhere. Face it, we've won more than 8 games in a season, what? 10 times in history. We just need a guy that can consistently win 5-7 games a year, with an occasional 8 win season and a bowl game 3 out of 5 years. That's who we are. Hazell can't even do that. But 1-4 win seasons are unacceptable. However, I certainly don't have any illusions that we'll consistently be a football powerhouse, win the B10, go to a great bowl game or be in the playoffs...but a competitive team every year should be an achievable goal. Finding the right coach is the problem.

 

[Summy1]

No, I'm saying Purdue is not a "destination" or "stepping-stone" coaching job. The coaches that have come here are either a "last stop" guy before retiring or a borderline coach that gets fired and goes back to being an assistant somewhere. Face it, we've won more than 8 games in a season, what? 10 times in history. We just need a guy that can consistently win 5-7 games a year, with an occasional 8 win season and a bowl game 3 out of 5 years That's who we are. Hazell can't even do that. But 1-4 win seasons are unacceptable. However, I certainly don't have any illusions that we'll consistently be a football powerhouse, win the B10, go to a great bowl game or be in the playoffs...but a competitive team every year should be an achievable goal. Finding the right coach is the problem

It's a shame too because the Big Ten championship game is in Indy. Imagine all the Purdue fans that would come out to that. Home field advantage.

 

[pboiler18]

No, I'm saying Purdue is not a "destination" or "stepping-stone" coaching job. The coaches that have come here are either a "last stop" guy before retiring or a borderline coach that gets fired and goes back to being an assistant somewhere. Face it, we've won more than 8 games in a season, what? 10 times in history. We just need a guy that can consistently win 5-7 games a year, with an occasional 8 win season and a bowl game 3 out of 5 years That's who we are. Hazell can't even do that. But 1-4 win seasons are unacceptable. However, I certainly don't have any illusions that we'll consistently be a football powerhouse, win the B10, go to a great bowl game or be in the playoffs...but a competitive team every year should be an achievable goal. Finding the right coach is the problem

I don't feel that Dino Babers will get a better offer than Purdue this year. He's 54 so it's not like he's got 30 years of coaching ahead of him.

There are a lot of jobs open, but USCe, USCw, Miami and several others will shoot higher than Babers and most likely do better.

He's a fit offensively and seems to be a good coach.

What type of coach do you think we should hire? I agree we aren't a legit BIG championship contender year in and year out but I don't think it's THAT hard to be in the 5-7 win range annually with the occasional good and bad outliers.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Fuentes needs to be priority #1 in my mind.

If that isn't doable, I wouldn't mind hiring Ed Orgeron or Brady Hoke. Then surrounding them with some top flight coordinators. Both are proven recruiters (if you can recruit to Ball State, you can recruit anywhere...honestly, who wouldn't take that qb he had a few years back). I would prefer Ed Orgeron and grabbing Bob Stitt and then letting Orgeron focus on the defense and letting Stitt go crazy on the offensive side.

 

[SDBoiler1]

Fuentes needs to be priority #1 in my mind.

If that isn't doable, I wouldn't mind hiring Ed Orgeron or Brady Hoke. Then surrounding them with some top flight coordinators. Both are proven recruiters (if you can recruit to Ball State, you can recruit anywhere...honestly, who wouldn't take that qb he had a few years back). I would prefer Ed Orgeron and grabbing Bob Stitt and then letting Orgeron focus on the defense and letting Stitt go crazy on the offensive side.

This is a pipe dream. Fuentes is going to get hired by a southern school for huge dollars. Book it.

Ed Orgeron is dirty. He helped get Ole Miss in trouble and bailed before getting fingered at USC.

Dancing Bear is not what Purdue needs.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

One guy that I would like to see replace Hazell would be Dino Babers. He has experience with Purdue in 91-93 as an assistant. His daughter has a nickname after the bucket game. He has some coaching experience with Eastern Illinois and Bowling Green. His team at Bowling Green can light up the score board and would be fun if he could do the same with Purdue.

I am not sure if Babers is that much different than Hazell. 2 more years head coaching experience, BUT 2 years at current job- I would like someone with a body of work of 4+ years to see how they can recruit. Hazell won with someone else's players at Kent. Babers also has a few years of OC experience so he at least has a system.

I heard the idea of Brady Hoke. I think this may be an option. He is "damaged goods" for a big time program, probably wouldn't take a pay cut to go to the MAC again. I think he is a good recruiter and recruited Indiana well. The con, again, no coordinator experience but if he could surround himself with some good people I am for that hire.

 

[pboiler18]

I am not sure if Babers is that much different than Hazell. 2 more years head coaching experience, BUT 2 years at current job- I would like someone with a body of work of 4+ years to see how they can recruit. Hazell won with someone else's players at Kent. Babers also has a few years of OC experience so he at least has a system.

I heard the idea of Brady Hoke. I think this may be an option. He is "damaged goods" for a big time program, probably wouldn't take a pay cut to go to the MAC again. I think he is a good recruiter and recruited Indiana well. The con, again, no coordinator experience but if he could surround himself with some good people I am for that hire.

Purdue can't afford to wait on guys IMO. If we do, they rise up the tote board and become candidates for better and higher profile jobs.

While we can afford to pay very well, so can other schools.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

Purdue can't afford to wait on guys IMO. If we do, they rise up the tote board and become candidates for better and higher profile jobs.

While we can afford to pay very well, so can other schools.

I think Babers is the "hot name" or "sexy pick" of 2015. Kind of like how Turner Gill was at one point, add Butch Jones, etc. Babers will go to a struggling team that used to be good like a Miami or something like that. The safest pick might be Brady Hoke. Plus he is fat and kind of looks like Jeff Garlin so if nothing else, I don't have to look at a guy who dresses differently than his staff with his white vest.

 

[nat100]

I am not sure if Babers is that much different than Hazell. 2 more years head coaching experience, BUT 2 years at current job- I would like someone with a body of work of 4+ years to see how they can recruit. Hazell won with someone else's players at Kent. Babers also has a few years of OC experience so he at least has a system.

I heard the idea of Brady Hoke. I think this may be an option. He is "damaged goods" for a big time program, probably wouldn't take a pay cut to go to the MAC again. I think he is a good recruiter and recruited Indiana well. The con, again, no coordinator experience but if he could surround himself with some good people I am for that hire.

Babers has 4 years as a head coach and has had a winning record each year. The advantage there (IMO) is his offense is QB friendly and he appears to know how to handle QBs (that would be a revelation).

I think Illinois will be a player for him. They will aim high, then realize they arent a big boy.

 

[pb1941]

I think Babers is the "hot name" or "sexy pick" of 2015. Kind of like how Turner Gill was at one point, add Butch Jones, etc. Babers will go to a struggling team that used to be good like a Miami or something like that. The safest pick might be Brady Hoke. Plus he is fat and kind of looks like Jeff Garlin so if nothing else, I don't have to look at a guy who dresses differently than his staff with his white vest.

Hoke reminds me of the guy that's first in line at the triple X and the last one to leave! Babers or Campbell from Toledo

 

[RegionWarrior101]

Babers has 4 years as a head coach and has had a winning record each year. The advantage there (IMO) is his offense is QB friendly and he appears to know how to handle QBs (that would be a revelation).

I think Illinois will be a player for him. They will aim high, then realize they arent a big boy.

EIU since Babers left was 5-7 and is currently 4-3. This year would be his senior group. I guess my fear is DH had 2 seasons at Kent. One winning season. Kent since Hazell left has been 4-8, 2-9, and is currently 3-5. That leads me to believe he did not leave the cupboard stocked.

 

[nat100]

EIU since Babers left was 5-7 and is currently 4-3. This year would be his senior group. I guess my fear is DH had 2 seasons at Kent. One winning season. Kent since Hazell left has been 4-8, 2-9, and is currently 3-5. That leads me to believe he did not leave the cupboard stocked.

I dont give as much weight to that since you dont know how good the current coach is. You are depending on the new guy to be able to use Baber's recruits as effectively. Not a solid metric.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

Hoke reminds me of the guy that's first in line at the triple X and the last one to leave! Babers or Campbell from Toledo

Campbell would be OUTSTANDING. 4 year body of work- 7-0 with his first recruiting class. Coordinator experience so he has an offensive system. In fact when Beckman went to Illinois and many assistants would rather stay with Campbell that was an eye opener. Chicago media reported that Campbell was the brains behind the Beckman success anyway. I would love Campbell in West Lafayette.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

I dont give as much weight to that since you dont know how good the current coach is. You are depending on the new guy to be able to use Baber's recruits as effectively. Not a solid metric.

Mark my words, Dino Babers is flavor of the month. Dino Babers = Turner Gill.

I would still take Turner Gill over Darrel Hazell, but I am not going to be heartbroken when we miss out on Babers. Hazell will be back again anyway so I am not sure why I get excited for change. And even if we do move on, we will have to hope our "blue ribbon" committee puts together a list of good candidates, then even crazier, Morgan picks the right one. Search 1 - Bob Davie (35-25 at ND), Glen Mason (47-54), and Joe Tiller. Search 2 - Paul Chryst (25-21 lifetime; Burke found him very, very impressive) (jury is out), Jay Norvell never got a shot at a head job, Brock Spack (52-27), and Danny Hope (35-22 at EKU). Search 3 - Butch Jones (50-27 prior to TN) and Darrel Hazell (16-10 at Kent).

 

[nat100]

Turner Gill had four years of blah results at Buffalo. 1 bowl in 4 years. Im not sure what Kansas was thinking.

The comparison is a bad one.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

Turner Gill had four years of blah results at Buffalo. 1 bowl in 4 years. Im not sure what Kansas was thinking.

The comparison is a bad one.

I am comfortable it will be accurate. Especially if Babers goes to any place with expectations. I heard him rumored for Miami. That would not work at all. Illinois could work, but then again, no one has won at Illinois. I saw something that had Sumlin to USC and Babers to TAMU. I don't know if that would work out, but another flash in the pan, Charlie Strong, has Texas as the 4th best team in that state.

 

[nat100]

Charlie strong a fluke? 37-15 at lousiville including a sugar bowl win. bowl in first season at UT and has actually beaten a ranked team. UT's issues are with how bad a mess Mack Brown left behind.

I just dont see Sumlin at USC. He doesnt do what they want to do. I could see Troy Calhoun there (i would love to hire him here)

 

[RegionWarrior101]

Charlie strong a fluke? 37-15 at lousiville including a sugar bowl win. bowl in first season at UT and has actually beaten a ranked team. UT's issues are with how bad a mess Mack Brown left behind.

I just dont see Sumlin at USC. He doesnt do what they want to do. I could see Troy Calhoun there (i would love to hire him here)

Charlie Strong may be cleaning up a mess, but the blowouts do not sit well in Austin. I wouldn't be surprised if patience wore thin. Then Charlie needs to go back to a less pressure job and can reinvent himself.

I agree with all of the rest. Sumlin is a name I consistently hear with the USC opening and I don't think he is flashy enough for them. But we will see. I thought they may go the NFL route. Bill O'Brien could be a hot name, especially with the fights with the GM, he may look to leave.

I too would love to see Troy Calhoun here. You look at Paul Johnson and how he was able to have success at Navy and now is consistently above average at Georgia Tech. I would take that here. I think Calhoun is an AF alum and it may be hard for him to leave there.

I missed big time on Tim DeRuyter from Fresno. I wanted Purdue to take a look at him when Hope was fired. He went 6-8 and is now 2-6 in years 3 and 4. Not sure he can recruit like Pat Hill.

 

[pboiler18]

There are a lot of things that go into making a coach successful. The problem with Hazell is that he wants to grind out wins with lessor talent than his competitors. It has led to A LOT of close losses but really no close wins....and it's the wrong strategy for Purdue to use. He'd also be successful with a different OC, but IMO not much more successful than now because of the fundamentals of his strategy. Couple that with his average to poor recruiting and you are exactly where we are at right now as a program.

With Babers, his O philosophy is the one we NEED to have to win. We need to try to score on every play. BGSU runs the offense we NEED to run and should always run. When you don't have great talent on D, you don't emphasize that by trying to control and grind out games.....you go out and try to score as many points possible in 60 minutes so that even if your D makes mistakes or has a bad game you still have a chance to win! I think Babers could have this team back to 5-7 wins a year, excite the crowd a bit with the offense and get butts back in seats pretty easily.

Is he the best coach out there? Certainly not, but he's probaby the best fit that will be available after this year. Again, I don't think he's a legit candidate for USCe or w or even Miami, but he's in our range pay, experience and presitge wise and we'd be glad to get him and have him.

You can't look exclusively at the records of the teams they have left and say the coach is good or bad. Sure, its a great talking point for Hazell to make him look bad, but there are plenty of coaches out there who leave good programs and they suddenly nose dive. Especially in the MAC or lower divisions where there is rarely a talent differential between teams....its generally a coaching differential.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

There are a lot of things that go into making a coach successful. The problem with Hazell is that he wants to grind out wins with lessor talent than his competitors. It has led to A LOT of close losses but really no close wins....and it's the wrong strategy for Purdue to use. He'd also be successful with a different OC, but IMO not much more successful than now because of the fundamentals of his strategy. Couple that with his average to poor recruiting and you are exactly where we are at right now as a program.

Of the 26 losses in the current era, only 6, 23%, have been by 7 points or less, what I could consider close. ND (7) and IL (4) in 2013, MN (1) and IU (7) in 2014, and BGSU (7) and MSU (3). Of these 6, I only felt like realistically we could win 3, Illinois in 2013, and Minnesota and IU in 2014. I had a gut feeling we wouldn't hold on against Notre Dame, Bowling Green, or MSU. Our second half performance, by in large, has been awful under this staff. Many times we are within striking distance only to get blown out in the 3rd quarter.

 

[pboiler18]

Of the 26 losses in the current era, only 6, 23%, have been by 7 points or less, what I could consider close. ND (7) and IL (4) in 2013, MN (1) and IU (7) in 2014, and BGSU (7) and MSU (3). Of these 6, I only felt like realistically we could win 3, Illinois in 2013, and Minnesota and IU in 2014. I had a gut feeling we wouldn't hold on against Notre Dame, Bowling Green, or MSU. Our second half performance, by in large, has been awful under this staff. Many times we are within striking distance only to get blown out in the 3rd quarter.

But what about MSU and Nebraksa in 2014 as well? We had drives at one point to tie the game and the offense directly gave up points to the other team on those.

And even though the VT game turned into a blowout, the D only really gave up 28 points in normal field situations. Not that that's good, but the O being unable to move the ball at all vs. a REALLY average D put us in situations to have to go for it on 4th down late in the game in our own territory...and then giving a short field for them to score on multiple times.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

But what about MSU and Nebraksa in 2014 as well? We had drives at one point to tie the game and the offense directly gave up points to the other team on those.

Yes and we lost by more than one score. Not a close loss. Especially MSU in 2014.

 

[pboiler18]

Yes and we lost by more than one score. Not a close loss. Especially MSU in 2014.

Being able to tie a game with less than 2 minutes left in a game isn't close?

Ok.....

 

[Summy1]

Purdue can't afford to wait on guys IMO. If we do, they rise up the tote board and become candidates for better and higher profile jobs.

While we can afford to pay very well, so can other schools.

Exactly, we aren't going to get a guy that has been at the same college for 5 years. If they are a great coach then they will go to a higher school than us. I do cringe a little when I think about Hazell, but hopefully he was a fluke. Babers has lots of years of being an assistant coach and I just love how his teams puts up points on the boards. Would love to see that at Purdue.

 

[RegionWarrior101]

Being able to tie a game with less than 2 minutes left in a game isn't close?

Ok.....

If you want participation trophies and juice boxes and to revel in the fact that we almost came within a few plays of tying a team, then God bless. You enjoy that.

 

[pboiler18]

If you want participation trophies and juice boxes and to revel in the fact that we almost came within a few plays of tying a team, then God bless. You enjoy that.

Nobody is saying any of that. Insinuiating those games weren't close or entertaining deep into the 4th quarter is ignorant though.

 

[PaBoiler78]

Nobody is saying any of that. Insinuiating those games weren't close or entertaining deep into the 4th quarter is ignorant though.

I think Fuente will go to the U, Babers would be alright w/ us but I would love Matt Campbell, he has Toledo playing good O and D. He's young and not just a one yr. wonder. I believe he's 37-13 so far in his 4th yr. at Toledo.

 

[PacerUP]

I agree with Babers and those that say he may not be the best coach, but he is the best fit for us. QB high offense--that is the one area for which we are known and can recruit. I remember the original Hazel press conf announcement with MB asking/questioning/hoping that DH was a passing coach. DH comment was essentially that you must use the talent you have, as he had just led his league in rushing and was at the bottom in passing. Babers has a passing scheme system and what MB wanted 3 years ago--apparently MB did not realize that DH was not what he wanted.

 

[Summy1]

[QUOTE

I heard the idea of Brady Hoke. I think this may be an option. He is "damaged goods" for a big time program, probably wouldn't take a pay cut to go to the MAC again. I think he is a good recruiter and recruited Indiana well. The con, again, no coordinator experience but if he could surround himself with some good people I am for that hire.[/QUOTE]

At first I didn't like the idea of Brady Hoke but then I thought he may not be too bad. He is a good recruiter and things just didn't work out in Michigan. Maybe he could actually do a good job at Purdue? I know he wants to coach again in the P5.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

This is a pipe dream. Fuentes is going to get hired by a southern school for huge dollars. Book it.

Ed Orgeron is dirty. He helped get Ole Miss in trouble and bailed before getting fingered at USC.

Dancing Bear is not what Purdue needs.

He didn't bail at USC. He took over as interim coach when their coach was fired mid-season and led them to a winning record. Orgeron holds a key that Purdue desperately needs...an ability to recruit and he is a nationally recognizable name. You aren't going to get that with Babers.

 

[JohnnyDoeBoiler]

Watched a segment in ESPN about HC's for Miami and Fuentes wasn't mentioned. They are looking for a guy with Miami ties and Fuentes doesn't have those. Even dropped Butch Davis in there as well.

 

[loftygoal]

[QUOTE

I heard the idea of Brady Hoke. I think this may be an option. He is "damaged goods" for a big time program, probably wouldn't take a pay cut to go to the MAC again. I think he is a good recruiter and recruited Indiana well. The con, again, no coordinator experience but if he could surround himself with some good people I am for that hire.

At first I didn't like the idea of Brady Hoke but then I thought he may not be too bad. He is a good recruiter and things just didn't work out in Michigan. Maybe he could actually do a good job at Purdue? I know he wants to coach again in the P5.[/QUOTE]
Brady Hoke couldn't win with talent and resources that MI attracts. No way he can succeed at Purdue. We need to think out of the box and not settle for retreads or one hit wonders out of minor conferences located in the midwest.

 

[SDBoiler1]

He didn't bail at USC. He took over as interim coach when their coach was fired mid-season and led them to a winning record. Orgeron holds a key that Purdue desperately needs...an ability to recruit and he is a nationally recognizable name. You aren't going to get that with Babers.

He did too bail. He was offered a position on Sark's staff, and he turned it down. Orgeron is dirty. Not even close to being on Purdue's radar and he never will be.

Babers is a guy with strong Midwest ties and he runs a very attractive style of offense - an aerial attack that fits with Purdue's traditional strengths. He is a good recruiter and he's won every place he's been. He's also beaten 3 BIG schools in 2 years, including Purdue. Purdue could do much worse.

 

[PaBoiler78]

He did too bail. He was offered a position on Sark's staff, and he turned it down. Orgeron is dirty. Not even close to being on Purdue's radar and he never will be.

Babers is a guy with strong Midwest ties and he runs a very attractive style of offense - an aerial attack that fits with Purdue's traditional strengths. He is a good recruiter and he's won every place he's been. He's also beaten 3 BIG schools in 2 years, including Purdue. Purdue could do much worse.

still want Matt Campbell.

 

[SDBoiler1]

still want Matt Campbell.

Good young coach, less proven.