I have seen many comparisons to Nebraska and their Frank Solich and/or Bo Pelini decisions this week and I think the comparison is wrong. To me, the most apt model is from a different sport and time. This is the Bulls replacing Doug Collins with Phil Jackson. Mac had the guy he really wanted on his staff already. CPC was great, solid, dyed-in-the-wool Wisconsin, but he wasn't going up anymore and appeared to be trending the wrong way, so Mac acted. Jim has all the Wisconsin bona fides anyone would need (i.e. not what Nebraska did) to keep boosters and fans happy, plus he's young, proven DC success, likely open to offensive modernization, and hopefully capable of adapting to the new worlds of recruiting and NIL. The fact that he is both 1) the Anti-PJFleck and 2) not going to lose every press conference are additional bonuses.
Look, I was very much in the "I have no problem with CPC" camp; I enjoyed rooting for my team, was happy with 10-3 and being a regular West Champ. Maybe I still remember too much of the Don Morton era, (hell, even the Jardine era), and I damn well don't want to become the Auburn of the North like some of you seem to want. As much as I respect and honor CPC, I'm not mad. I certainly hope that Jimmy delivers most of what we all have projected on him.
Look, I was very much in the "I have no problem with CPC" camp; I enjoyed rooting for my team, was happy with 10-3 and being a regular West Champ. Maybe I still remember too much of the Don Morton era, (hell, even the Jardine era), and I damn well don't want to become the Auburn of the North like some of you seem to want. As much as I respect and honor CPC, I'm not mad. I certainly hope that Jimmy delivers most of what we all have projected on him.
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