CC: Mario Cristobal

Submitted by bama north on November 14th, 2020 at 7:55 PM

Before we get started, the only reason he’d consider possibly coming here: his current $2.6M/yr salary is about a 1/4th of what we currently pay Harbaugh.  He’d be the second lowest-paid coach in the B1G, earning just $100K more than Mike Locksley.  I don’t know why Oregon pays him so little?  Chip Kelly was only scheduled to be paid $3.4M/season in his contract extension that ran through 2017.  It seems crazy with all the state-of-the-art facilities and everything..  but maybe they (/Phil Knight) just don’t have much leftover to pay their coach?

Pro’s:

-He turned Oregon into the Dominant program of a Power-5 conference in his 2nd yr as their HC, winning a Rose Bowl and finishing as the 5th ranked program in the country.  More or less matching what Harbaugh accomplished as a college coach.

-He inherited a winless FIU program in his first stint as a HC..  one that had Never logged a winning season.  In his fourth yr there they won the SunBelt championship and a bowl game.

-He was Nick Saban’s Ast. HC and Recruiting Coordinator for 4 yrs (2013-16).  He knows how it’s done at the highest level.  He’s done it at the highest level.  Alabama had the #1 ranked recruiting class on 247 all 4 yrs he was their Recruiting Coordinator.  Individually, he was 247 (and Rivals’) top-ranked recruiter in 2015, #8 in 2016 and #6 in 2015.  Oregon currently has the #4 ranked class on 247 for 2021.  Last yr they finished #11.  The year before #7.  He’s got 3 national championship rings he can let recruits try on (like Urban used to)..  2 are from his playing days.  In addition to being a great recruiter himsef, he seems to be a great manager of recruiting operations, and a great hirer of other talented recruiters.  If there’s one thing you want your head coach to be good and passionate about in this day and age..  it’s for sure recruiting.  And Mario checks that box.  He’s from Miami, played there, coached there..  has recruiting ties there.  He’s got southeast recruiting ties from his Bama days.  He’s got west coast ties from Oregon.  He’s got northeast ties from his days as Greg Schiano’s OL coach at Rutgers.  Not much Michigan or Ohio ties..  but I’m sure he’d hire great local recruiters.

-Being a former OL and OL coach..  I personally like, and your traditional Bo people will as well.  Being a Cuban American checks a box.  He’s the fittest coach in America..  doesn’t hurt anything lol.

Con’s:

-Not many.  He’s never been a solo coordinator, but that doesn’t seem to prevent him from hiring good ones.  No Michigan or Ohio recruiting ties, but he seems to hire great assistants.  Besides Saban/Bama, Dabo/Clemson, Day/OSU, Riley/Oklahoma, Orgeron/LSU, Smart/UGA, Muschamp/FLA... is there a better program or coach out there? He’d be a pretty big time hire.

I think it probably just comes down to how much more we can offer than Oregon..  and how much that means to him?  He’s got a nice gig out there.  

 

 

swalburn

November 14th, 2020 at 8:02 PM ^

I'm not a fan.  I look at him as more of a recruiter than a coach and he plays in a lousy Pac 12.  I would rather have Campbell from Iowa State but really none of the names are exciting.  I do like Brady who was OC for LSU last year.

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bacon1431

November 14th, 2020 at 8:04 PM ^

I don’t think he’d come here, but you can’t create a dominant program in your second year. That’s not enough time to consider something dominant.  I think they will dominate the PAC 12 eventually, but he’s had one good year. 

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Sketownguy

November 14th, 2020 at 8:42 PM ^

Rather have Steve Sarkisian.

Worked with Pete Carroll, head coaching experience, NFL experience, working with Nick Saban, has a dynamic offense and plenty of coaching ties all over the country, such as the South, West Coast, etc.

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Perkis-Size Me

November 14th, 2020 at 9:11 PM ^

Why would he leave the best program in the PAC-12, when the PAC-12 is also completely downtrodden and ripe for the picking for the foreseeable future, for a program that is maybe only the 4th or 5th best option in its own conference?

Whoever comes in here has to understand that even if he gets past PSU, MSU and Wisconsin, the odds of him getting even close to OSU, much less getting on their level, is a near impossible ask. 

This is a very undesirable job right now. It’s a has-been program that comes with the expectations of Alabama, and that is lightyears behind its measuring bar for success. 

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Uncle Soaky

November 14th, 2020 at 9:17 PM ^

He should definitely be among the first or the first call you make. Like you said, if he's making only $2.6 million per year, UM could easily double that. On top of that, the B1G is a much more visible conference than the PAC 12.

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Yooper

November 14th, 2020 at 9:46 PM ^

I like him but he is the Alabama heir apparent. He’s got a good gig and he isn’t moving until the Alabama opportunity is clarified. 

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NDP1075

November 14th, 2020 at 9:54 PM ^

Anyone that feels the big ten is a more viable conference than the pac 12 is delusional.  Ohio state is all there is.  The rest of the conference is no where near that level.  Oregon is a far better place  to coach than Ann Arbor.  The tradition and expectations make it insufferable.  I hate to admit it but Michigan is a has been.  Prior to winning the nc in 97 they were mired in mediocrity.  All we really had at that time was the ability to somehow manage beat a guy in Columbus that was a by all accounts a pretty decent coach.  I’d stick it out in Eugene.  Future is brighter.  

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drjaws

November 14th, 2020 at 9:54 PM ^

M offers Cristobal $7 million a year.

Nike (I mean Oregon) then steps up and offers $6 million a year and he doesn’t have to move, can avoid snow all winter, can have a playoff run every year, and doesn’t have to play MSU, OSU, and avoids the headaches/expectations of a fickle fan base 

If I’m Cristobal, I have a badass job where everyone loves me.  Bet your ass I’m turning down $9 million a year at UM to make $6 million at Oregon. 

I’ve been a Michigan fan since I could walk and I wouldn’t trade the Oregon gig for whatever version of UM Harbaugh is going to leave ....lots of money is nice ... less money (but still millions) and having a great job in a great place is better 

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bama north

November 14th, 2020 at 10:23 PM ^

We’ll see.

Anyone criticizing him for being just a “recruiter” I think, is insane.  A recruiter and program manager (good hire’r of assistants, manager of players, etc.) is exactly what you want these days.

Anyone criticizing the level of play in the Pac12.....and then talking about Campbell, Fitzgerald, Fickell, Creighton, etc.....is insane.  Besides OSU, the Big is garbage.

When Saban hangs them up..  Dabo will probably be the first call.  Kirby might be 2nd.

Then $$$.  3.5 mil is all Nike/Oregon could ever offer up to keep Chip from leaving their then NC contending team for the NFL.  4 or 5 mil at Oregon vs 9 or 10 mil at Michigan might be a big enough difference.

Stop talking about Michigan like it’s a dead program.  It’s the 3rd richest in the country.  2nd biggest fanbase/tv pull.  Biggest alumni group.  Best academics-football combo.  Facilities on par with anyone.  Biggest stadium.  HS to NFL path is as clear here as almost anywhere.  It’s a sleeping tiger.

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