Those of you who have been around here a very long time know that I don't do much in the way of homerism, cheerleading or things like that. That's not really what I'm going for here either, but here goes.
I understand that some (or many?) of you wanted a change at the top last Friday. It didn't come to pass, but tightened the leash quite a bit in the end. As such, we're probably looking at a 1-2 year period in which if there is not a substantial reversal of on-field results, that change will happen - and is now much more financially do-able. At the end of the day, I don't think even Mike Gundy's harshest critics want to see OSU football go to the gutter just to see him gone?
I mentioned this in a couple of threads, but they were long ones and maybe it wasn't widely seen. I listed to the radio post-game following the debacle at CU all the way to the end. Mike said something there that was not said in the main post-game that I think was extremely important. This is not a direct quote, but a pretty good paraphrase.
MG - I realized I made a mistake in how I approached NIL and the portal, I got it all wrong. There is a plan in place to correct that.
It's too bad that probably only a few hundred people heard it. And those interviews don't get posted anywhere as far as I know. But to me, it was a very important acknowledgement of both mistakes made and a new, totally different approach.
I am aware of some parts of that plan, and it's been in place for months. Specifically, the Bradford/Wright combo and their team of analysts have been pre-scouting the portal all season long. They have identified players who they believed for one reason or another were likely to enter the portal. That's at levels from P4 on down. This is exactly why you're seeing OSU be the first offer out to players at the FCS and D2 levels. Those are fairly easy to ID as likely entries, because they've been dominant at that level and with NIL and profit-sharing are looking to get their share of the $'s. So, OSU had already evaluated film, talked to coaches of theirs (both current and past) and ID'd who is worth pursuing. As soon as they're officially in the portal, that offer goes out immediately. The evaluation is very, very in depth and values production and playing with heart and toughness very much.
OSU is also playing the game of dealing with agents before the portal actually opened. I don't mean tampering, which is reaching out to players directly and trying to get them into the portal and then to your program. That is still happening currently elsewhere. What OSU is doing now that wasn't the case before is fielding those calls from player's agents, gathering information and then going into their evaluation process.
I'm reporting here and now that Mike has completely changed his stance on current players who have or will enter the portal. Now, today, the opportunity for them to return exists whereas before - except in very rare cases - that door was closed completely. The staff now understands this is all a business and OSU players entering are just part of that business. For the ones they want to return (which will not be all of the scholarship guys who enter), meetings and negotiations will occur.
Coaching staff changes will be a part of the discussions with all portal guys. For potential returners that's pretty key. They will want to know what the plan for their side of the ball is and who will be coaching them. I do not have information on additional, specific changes coming to the on-field coaching staff, but definitely expect there are more coming. Obviously, we know there will be new coordinators on both sides, with DC being filled. The hiring of Ryan Osborn, that's another defensive coaching spot that will have to come out. It's reasonable to assume Grantham will coach DL's, while Osborn will coach LB's. So, Paul Randolph and Joe Bob Clements are likely out. On offense, every OC possibility I know of coaches QB's. Thus Rattay is probably moving on, and there will be a new WR's coach added. There are likely some more changes coming, on both sides of the ball.
All of the above says Mike means it when he says he's realized his mistakes and has a plan. Whether or not it is a good plan will play out on the field next fall. If it's not good or not good enough, then there's probably a change this time next year. If it is good enough, well then OSU football will look to be back on track.
I understand that some (or many?) of you wanted a change at the top last Friday. It didn't come to pass, but tightened the leash quite a bit in the end. As such, we're probably looking at a 1-2 year period in which if there is not a substantial reversal of on-field results, that change will happen - and is now much more financially do-able. At the end of the day, I don't think even Mike Gundy's harshest critics want to see OSU football go to the gutter just to see him gone?
I mentioned this in a couple of threads, but they were long ones and maybe it wasn't widely seen. I listed to the radio post-game following the debacle at CU all the way to the end. Mike said something there that was not said in the main post-game that I think was extremely important. This is not a direct quote, but a pretty good paraphrase.
MG - I realized I made a mistake in how I approached NIL and the portal, I got it all wrong. There is a plan in place to correct that.
It's too bad that probably only a few hundred people heard it. And those interviews don't get posted anywhere as far as I know. But to me, it was a very important acknowledgement of both mistakes made and a new, totally different approach.
I am aware of some parts of that plan, and it's been in place for months. Specifically, the Bradford/Wright combo and their team of analysts have been pre-scouting the portal all season long. They have identified players who they believed for one reason or another were likely to enter the portal. That's at levels from P4 on down. This is exactly why you're seeing OSU be the first offer out to players at the FCS and D2 levels. Those are fairly easy to ID as likely entries, because they've been dominant at that level and with NIL and profit-sharing are looking to get their share of the $'s. So, OSU had already evaluated film, talked to coaches of theirs (both current and past) and ID'd who is worth pursuing. As soon as they're officially in the portal, that offer goes out immediately. The evaluation is very, very in depth and values production and playing with heart and toughness very much.
OSU is also playing the game of dealing with agents before the portal actually opened. I don't mean tampering, which is reaching out to players directly and trying to get them into the portal and then to your program. That is still happening currently elsewhere. What OSU is doing now that wasn't the case before is fielding those calls from player's agents, gathering information and then going into their evaluation process.
I'm reporting here and now that Mike has completely changed his stance on current players who have or will enter the portal. Now, today, the opportunity for them to return exists whereas before - except in very rare cases - that door was closed completely. The staff now understands this is all a business and OSU players entering are just part of that business. For the ones they want to return (which will not be all of the scholarship guys who enter), meetings and negotiations will occur.
Coaching staff changes will be a part of the discussions with all portal guys. For potential returners that's pretty key. They will want to know what the plan for their side of the ball is and who will be coaching them. I do not have information on additional, specific changes coming to the on-field coaching staff, but definitely expect there are more coming. Obviously, we know there will be new coordinators on both sides, with DC being filled. The hiring of Ryan Osborn, that's another defensive coaching spot that will have to come out. It's reasonable to assume Grantham will coach DL's, while Osborn will coach LB's. So, Paul Randolph and Joe Bob Clements are likely out. On offense, every OC possibility I know of coaches QB's. Thus Rattay is probably moving on, and there will be a new WR's coach added. There are likely some more changes coming, on both sides of the ball.
All of the above says Mike means it when he says he's realized his mistakes and has a plan. Whether or not it is a good plan will play out on the field next fall. If it's not good or not good enough, then there's probably a change this time next year. If it is good enough, well then OSU football will look to be back on track.
