This info is coming from both Bobby and I....
I am going to begin with something I posted in another thread.... EVERYTHING you are hearing from ANYONE is part of an elaborate game of telephone. This Hobbs gentleman knows what to say - and what not to say. He is a professional, and he is playing everything close to the vest.....And when it comes to Barchi, in his entire tenure here, I have never had a person tell me, "You wouldn't believe what Barchi just told me." I am having a good time trying to track down information that comes out, as most of it is of questionable origin. For example, I spoke to a player's parent the other day who was happy to oblige me and give me some inside scoop. I dug around a bit to see if his son got the info from a coach or administrator. It turned out that the info was from Twitter. Likewise, a Rutgers administrator gave one of us some info, and once again I traced it back to the fans. The Moglia candidate was suggested on a whim by one of you, yet the name has spread up and down the Rutgers food chain. We are at a time when you can say ANYTHING into the wind, and suddenly someone - somewhere - will spout it out as the truth, and then others will pick up on it.
One of the many names being talked about in the RU coaching search is Dan Mullen, the current head coach at Mississippi State. Going back to my first paragraph, is the "buzz" due to actual interest, or is it because fans are talking about him and the word is spreading? It could be both because - whether through true inside info or as a result of picking up on fan chatter - there are people higher up the food chain at Rutgers who mention him when talking about candidates. Rutgers now has the funds to go after a bigger name coach, although this one might really be a real reach. Mullen currently makes $4 million per year with incremental raises going through 2018 when his contract expires. If he were to want to pursue a future as Rutgers head coach, it would cost quite a bit.
Sources have informed Scarlet Nation that Rutgers would be willing to swim in the waters of Greg Schiano’s old salary which was a little over $2 million, but could go higher for the right candidate. Now, trying to rival that Mississippi State money would be a bit of a surprise as funds are not unlimited. In fact, less than a month ago, we were told by a very good source that Rutgers probably only had enough money to target a coordinator, not an established coach. Suddenly, in recent days, there has been an uptick in salary talk. Wishful thinking? Not sure at this point. I should say here and now that the best source on this was the one who said:
1) Rutgers would have a hard time coming up with big money.
2) Any payment would be tiered, with less coming now and more coming down the line.
Mullen does not have a history in New Jersey, although Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs is not necessarily looking for a coach with a built-in New Jersey connection. Bobby actually asked him about that Monday night and here is what he told him.
“Being able to recruit in New Jersey is really important. We have wonderful high school programs here, some of the best recruits in the nation," Hobbs said. "I guess they have been leaving the state. We want to stop that. We want to get more than our fair share here in New Jersey. If it is a head coach or assistant coach and they have ties, that's great. But if any of the candidates present a case for how they will turn the recruiting corner here in New Jersey, we are going to be looking into that.”
Mullen is from Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, so a move to New Jersey could make sense. However,this one remains a longshot scenario as of now.
In regards to Schiano, the fact that a consulting firm was brought on is a telling sign that RU is looking in another direction. It would not have taken many phone calls to quickly wrap up a deal with the former RU head man. It continually looks like RU is going to go another direction. If you recall, weeks ago I told everyone here that Schiano would be hard to reel in. He has told anyone who would listen to him that he is very happy in Florida and isn't pining away for the northeast at the moment. He would move for the right job, but no one I have spoken to has suggested that Rutgers is the right one.
Moving onto Matt Rhule of Temple, who is no longer in the running for the Missouri job.... From all of our sources, Rhule does not appear to be interested in the Rutgers job. And unless things took a drastic change, he will not be one of the final candidates for the RU head coaching spot.
The name that has been gaining more and more momentum is Al Golden, who looks as though he would fit right into Rutgers’ price range.
Meanwhile, Mario Cristobal is busy preparing for Alabama’s SEC title game, so any word of his hiring would not likely come until after Saturday. He still remains a solid contender for the job and if he would be RU’s next head coach, an announcement would not likely come this week. I have heard varying reports on Cristobal. One good source said that there is some "bad blood" between Rutgers and Cristobal regarding how things went down the last time he was a candidate for a job at the University....but if the price is right, I'm sure bad blood can be forgotten.
As we mentioned in our Fat Cat Tuesday, the search could extend beyond a week, but is not expected to go longer than about a week and a half.
I am going to begin with something I posted in another thread.... EVERYTHING you are hearing from ANYONE is part of an elaborate game of telephone. This Hobbs gentleman knows what to say - and what not to say. He is a professional, and he is playing everything close to the vest.....And when it comes to Barchi, in his entire tenure here, I have never had a person tell me, "You wouldn't believe what Barchi just told me." I am having a good time trying to track down information that comes out, as most of it is of questionable origin. For example, I spoke to a player's parent the other day who was happy to oblige me and give me some inside scoop. I dug around a bit to see if his son got the info from a coach or administrator. It turned out that the info was from Twitter. Likewise, a Rutgers administrator gave one of us some info, and once again I traced it back to the fans. The Moglia candidate was suggested on a whim by one of you, yet the name has spread up and down the Rutgers food chain. We are at a time when you can say ANYTHING into the wind, and suddenly someone - somewhere - will spout it out as the truth, and then others will pick up on it.
One of the many names being talked about in the RU coaching search is Dan Mullen, the current head coach at Mississippi State. Going back to my first paragraph, is the "buzz" due to actual interest, or is it because fans are talking about him and the word is spreading? It could be both because - whether through true inside info or as a result of picking up on fan chatter - there are people higher up the food chain at Rutgers who mention him when talking about candidates. Rutgers now has the funds to go after a bigger name coach, although this one might really be a real reach. Mullen currently makes $4 million per year with incremental raises going through 2018 when his contract expires. If he were to want to pursue a future as Rutgers head coach, it would cost quite a bit.
Sources have informed Scarlet Nation that Rutgers would be willing to swim in the waters of Greg Schiano’s old salary which was a little over $2 million, but could go higher for the right candidate. Now, trying to rival that Mississippi State money would be a bit of a surprise as funds are not unlimited. In fact, less than a month ago, we were told by a very good source that Rutgers probably only had enough money to target a coordinator, not an established coach. Suddenly, in recent days, there has been an uptick in salary talk. Wishful thinking? Not sure at this point. I should say here and now that the best source on this was the one who said:
1) Rutgers would have a hard time coming up with big money.
2) Any payment would be tiered, with less coming now and more coming down the line.
Mullen does not have a history in New Jersey, although Rutgers athletic director Pat Hobbs is not necessarily looking for a coach with a built-in New Jersey connection. Bobby actually asked him about that Monday night and here is what he told him.
“Being able to recruit in New Jersey is really important. We have wonderful high school programs here, some of the best recruits in the nation," Hobbs said. "I guess they have been leaving the state. We want to stop that. We want to get more than our fair share here in New Jersey. If it is a head coach or assistant coach and they have ties, that's great. But if any of the candidates present a case for how they will turn the recruiting corner here in New Jersey, we are going to be looking into that.”
Mullen is from Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, so a move to New Jersey could make sense. However,this one remains a longshot scenario as of now.
In regards to Schiano, the fact that a consulting firm was brought on is a telling sign that RU is looking in another direction. It would not have taken many phone calls to quickly wrap up a deal with the former RU head man. It continually looks like RU is going to go another direction. If you recall, weeks ago I told everyone here that Schiano would be hard to reel in. He has told anyone who would listen to him that he is very happy in Florida and isn't pining away for the northeast at the moment. He would move for the right job, but no one I have spoken to has suggested that Rutgers is the right one.
Moving onto Matt Rhule of Temple, who is no longer in the running for the Missouri job.... From all of our sources, Rhule does not appear to be interested in the Rutgers job. And unless things took a drastic change, he will not be one of the final candidates for the RU head coaching spot.
The name that has been gaining more and more momentum is Al Golden, who looks as though he would fit right into Rutgers’ price range.
Meanwhile, Mario Cristobal is busy preparing for Alabama’s SEC title game, so any word of his hiring would not likely come until after Saturday. He still remains a solid contender for the job and if he would be RU’s next head coach, an announcement would not likely come this week. I have heard varying reports on Cristobal. One good source said that there is some "bad blood" between Rutgers and Cristobal regarding how things went down the last time he was a candidate for a job at the University....but if the price is right, I'm sure bad blood can be forgotten.
As we mentioned in our Fat Cat Tuesday, the search could extend beyond a week, but is not expected to go longer than about a week and a half.
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