Ruffian McNeil out at ECU
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This was an odd fire, and at an odd time (one week after the season). Is there something else going on down there that we don't know about? Did they get a verbal agreement from a desired candidate before they would fire McNeil? Reports out of ECU are indicating that McNeil would not make staff changes, which led to his being relieved of his duties. Sounds like the old David Cutcliffe situation at Ole Miss many years ago.
McNeil had a losing season this year because he lost his genius offensive coordinator, Lincoln Kennedy, to Oklahoma. Judging from Oklahoma's success this year, it must have been a huge loss for ECU. Kennedy is currently linked to some head coaching jobs. Don't know if he would return to ECU after his old boss or not. Kennedy is a Mike Leach disciple of the Leach Coaching Tree.
McNeil had a losing season this year because he lost his genius offensive coordinator, Lincoln Kennedy, to Oklahoma. Judging from Oklahoma's success this year, it must have been a huge loss for ECU. Kennedy is currently linked to some head coaching jobs. Don't know if he would return to ECU after his old boss or not. Kennedy is a Mike Leach disciple of the Leach Coaching Tree.
would think if the Pirates are looking around in Virginia, they're probably more interested in H-Burg...
Withers has a history in the state as interim at Carolina...as a non ACC member in NC they need to make as big a splash as they can...
don't think Coach Rocco fits their profile or need...
Go Spiders!
Withers has a history in the state as interim at Carolina...as a non ACC member in NC they need to make as big a splash as they can...
don't think Coach Rocco fits their profile or need...
Go Spiders!
Ruffin McNeil was well respected and liked by fans, so this one came out of nowhere. This is first bad year he has had. He has owned VA Tech last few times playing.
In fact the big four in NC are not anxious to play ECU for the their fans travel well and are noisy and ECU usually wins. Have no idea who they are after but will check in
with some of my Pirate Chronies.
In fact the big four in NC are not anxious to play ECU for the their fans travel well and are noisy and ECU usually wins. Have no idea who they are after but will check in
with some of my Pirate Chronies.
McNeil was 6-6 overall against the ACC and 5-1 in the last 3 years. He averaged 7 wins a season for 6 years including 10 wins in 2013. He was 8-8 in conference play the last two years in the AAC after ECU jumped from Conference USA. They don't come any better than Ruffin McNeil as a person or a players coach.
Really a head scratching termination. I think the AD is looking around the conference and UCF just signed a new coach at 1.7M a year, Houston just agreed to pay their guy 3M a year to keep him from going to a Power 5 school, and Chad Morris, another big name and the former Clemson OC is trying to get things cooking at SMU. I guess he feels the need to upgrade big time to compete, so I don't think Coach Rocco will give the AD the hiring "pop" he is looking for. I Really don't know who they could get that will be significantly better than McNeil, the guy can coach and is an alum who bleeds Purple and Gold. By far, the best coach at ECU since Steve Logan.
Really a head scratching termination. I think the AD is looking around the conference and UCF just signed a new coach at 1.7M a year, Houston just agreed to pay their guy 3M a year to keep him from going to a Power 5 school, and Chad Morris, another big name and the former Clemson OC is trying to get things cooking at SMU. I guess he feels the need to upgrade big time to compete, so I don't think Coach Rocco will give the AD the hiring "pop" he is looking for. I Really don't know who they could get that will be significantly better than McNeil, the guy can coach and is an alum who bleeds Purple and Gold. By far, the best coach at ECU since Steve Logan.
When was contact made?Was contact made on the phone or in person?Details,please share facts with all readers.
Spoke with Pirate alums yesterday and they are in shock. No clue as to who next coach.
Mentioned Satterfield at App State.
Mentioned Satterfield at App State.
Odd firing but the timing is dead on. Get it done and hire a coach quickly. Not only did he lose his OC but he lost his QB the first week. I don't think Rocco fits their mold but Withers at JMU does. He would recruit well there.
was just thinking, which is dangerous, but mendanall knows nothing about recruiting the east, middle atlantic, DR would be a perfect hire at twice what he is earning at UR , for him. know DR wants to be a head coach but is now heading towards retirement and may want to put away as much money as he can over the next number of years. ecu has never gone after a caa,a-10 coach to be their head guy so probably not this time either.
Putt, said that DR would be perfect for mendalhalls new staff at uva because he knows the area, the acc, the recruiting and bronco does not. don't think a fit at ectc at all
I am thinking that the former ECU OC was FRANKLIN, who is now probably the hottenst coaching commodity out there, at age 27 or so. He is truly a genius, and likely to lead Oklahoma to the National championship. lIf ECU could get him as their HC, they would be crazy not to offer him. I see Franklin and London both as possible candidates, and possibly as higher priorities. London should actually look better on paper than DR, because he was in the same job as DR, won the national championship at UR, and then got some big-time head coaching experience (probably learning a few lessons too). He is also clearly "on-the-market," and hopefully DR would like to build on his resume, at least another year, given the excellent talent he has recruited. He may also be having some fun and may want to see his own recruits make it to the title game. At least this would be a happy outcome for UR players and fans.
David Glenn show out of Raleigh today reporting lengthy discussions between ECU and two candidates. JMU coach Everett Withers and Virginia Tech assistant Shane Beamer. Looking like the two leading candidates at the current time. Did not indicate a hiring is imminent.
Can't imagine most ECU fans would approve of Wither's as replacement----no way they will see him as an upgrade.
Agree, gonna see how well he can coach now that he doesn't have Vad lee. Better hope he has another 4 star transfer.
I believe that Lee's injury burst Wither's delusional plans for his moving up to an FBS head coaching job.Purple people would have been playing this weekend and likely beyond with Lee at QB.Would have been a nice resume builder.Now,not much.Agree that he needs to find an FBS QB and RB to keep the phony love affair going in Harrisonburg.Look forward to his/their Brickhouse visit in 2016.Amazing that he was allowed to work under Pope Urban at the O.
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I stand corrected - Lincoln RILEY is the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, not Lincoln Kennedy, who was an NFL offensive lineman. Old age and senility strike again...
Look at ECU's season and Oklahoma's season, especially the second half of the season, and you can see where his loss was a blow to ECU. Still would like to hear more about the firing, though. I classify this as a head-scratcher.
Look at ECU's season and Oklahoma's season, especially the second half of the season, and you can see where his loss was a blow to ECU. Still would like to hear more about the firing, though. I classify this as a head-scratcher.
Just saw this - an article from three days ago. I wonder if the athletic director, who appears to be stupid for firing McNeal, is really even more stupid...
Here is the URL of the article.
http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015...red-a-contract-extension-by-ecu-but-turned-it
Here is the URL of the article.
http://www.underdogdynasty.com/2015...red-a-contract-extension-by-ecu-but-turned-it
And... the athletic director is a JMU grad.
http://www.ecupirates.com/genrel/jeff_compher_846640.html
http://www.ecupirates.com/genrel/jeff_compher_846640.html
Do you think he mentions ECU by name or just told his AD that he's going to interview at that school in that place down there?
Shane Beamer, that would be priceless. That guy is about as milk toast as you can get, living off of daddy's legacy. Dear lord.
And yes, I want Withers to stay at JMU as well. He is Mickey Mathews Part 2. Rocco will outcoach him every day and Sunday.
Apparently Shane Beamer didn't get a second interview. Withers and former Michigan HC Brady Hoke are both still in the running with possibly NC State OC Matt Canada. Canada and the ECU AD know each other from their time together at Northern Illinois.
The ECU Board is meeting Sunday morning to presumably to approve a contract. Look for an announcement by the end of the weekend. I can't see ECU choosing Withers over Hoke if Hoke wants the job. I guess we'll know soon.
The ECU Board is meeting Sunday morning to presumably to approve a contract. Look for an announcement by the end of the weekend. I can't see ECU choosing Withers over Hoke if Hoke wants the job. I guess we'll know soon.
Surprised at this. I would think most App. St. fans think of ECU as an equal, and would be a lateral move (no matter if they were in the Sun Belt or FCS). Of course, that's not reality.
No way. Send him to ECU. The more instability there is in Harrisonburg the better for us.
Ruffin McNeill was just hired as Inside Linebackers Coach at UVa for new coach Bronco Mendenhall. Speaks volumes for McNeill.
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