From Pat Hobbs' vantage point, there were plenty of reasons to extend Ash. I ran down a list of reasons here.
There is an interesting question or two that could come up as early as next year. Say Rutgers wins seven or eight games and Ash becomes a hot name on the coaching carousel...does he leave? And what if there was a job closer to his midwest roots, would that be something he jumps at? Of course, this is all hypothetical. However, the RU schedule sets up very favorably next season and a bowl game should be achievable. Add in an upset and these questions could come up sooner than people think.
Now, the grass may not always be greener. When Schiano was coaching at Rutgers, he said one time after a practice that he could stay at RU for the rest of his career. All he had to do was not get in trouble and he pretty much had a career of job security. Now, I don't think he saw Rutgers going to the Big Ten at that point in time. I know it would be hard to turn down an NFL job, but he pretty much ruled the roost at Rutgers. Had RU been going to the Big Ten, it would have made staying a lot more enticing. Now, with Ash's extension and the capability of bringing this program back to the postseason, he may have a similar chance. There are other factors to consider as well. What would a move mean for his family and how much would they welcome staying or leaving NJ? And jumping ship to another fan base is not always rainbows and fairytales...just ask Schiano. But Hobbs has made a bold statement about Ash as he is his guy for the future. Perhaps the only thing that could change that is Ash.
There is an interesting question or two that could come up as early as next year. Say Rutgers wins seven or eight games and Ash becomes a hot name on the coaching carousel...does he leave? And what if there was a job closer to his midwest roots, would that be something he jumps at? Of course, this is all hypothetical. However, the RU schedule sets up very favorably next season and a bowl game should be achievable. Add in an upset and these questions could come up sooner than people think.
Now, the grass may not always be greener. When Schiano was coaching at Rutgers, he said one time after a practice that he could stay at RU for the rest of his career. All he had to do was not get in trouble and he pretty much had a career of job security. Now, I don't think he saw Rutgers going to the Big Ten at that point in time. I know it would be hard to turn down an NFL job, but he pretty much ruled the roost at Rutgers. Had RU been going to the Big Ten, it would have made staying a lot more enticing. Now, with Ash's extension and the capability of bringing this program back to the postseason, he may have a similar chance. There are other factors to consider as well. What would a move mean for his family and how much would they welcome staying or leaving NJ? And jumping ship to another fan base is not always rainbows and fairytales...just ask Schiano. But Hobbs has made a bold statement about Ash as he is his guy for the future. Perhaps the only thing that could change that is Ash.
