Moore targeting Tony Alford as new RB coach?
https://footballscoop.com/news/sources-michigan-targeting-ohio-states-tony-alford
not sure how reliable this is, but figured it was worth sharing...
March 13th, 2024 at 11:38 AM ^
Even so, how long is Chip Kelly going to be a Buckeye?
March 13th, 2024 at 12:24 PM ^
One year or two tops. I have to believe he's made it very clear to OSU that this is a stop-gap for him. He wanted out of UCLA just to get an OC gig in the NFL, and when he didn't get that, he decided to jump ship for being an OC at OSU. Not a bad gig by any stretch, but goes to show he wants out of college that badly.
As for Alford, maybe he doesn't want to hitch his wagon to a staff who's ultimate fate is tied to one game this season. If OSU loses again this year, at home, for the fourth year in a row, with their bought and paid for super team, against their most hated rival that just won a national title after they were all so sure the walls would come crumbling down in the midst of Sign-Gate.....if they lose again in November, Day will be fired. No ifs, ands or buts. And by extension, that likely means his entire staff will be out of a job, too.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:09 AM ^
Is this guy known to be a good recruiter? If so, that would be a plus, assuming he had good relations in Ohio and elsewhere.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:45 AM ^
Uhh yes, he’d be an upgrade from Mike Hart in that regard who for as good as he was coaching on field, Jordan Marshall was the only national blue chip recruitment that he won. Alford was at the helm while OSU brought in Mike Weber, JK Dobbins, Trevyon Henderson, and most recently James Peoples in this last cycle. Also found under scouted gems like Master Teague & Miyan Williams.
March 13th, 2024 at 12:01 PM ^
Wasn't Jordan Marshall a head-2-head win for Hart over Alford?
Regarding OSU recruiting RB's, OSU has never really had any issues bringing in top rated RB's. regardless of who the RB coach is. Somehow, they always seem to have a great RB and this is going back many decades. It may not be the hardest thing to recruit top rated players there. The work still needs to be done, they don't just fall out of the Buckeye trees, but there are many things about OSU which seem to make any RB coach successful in recruiting.
March 13th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
Respectfully, the Buckeyes recruit well at most every position. Roster talent isn’t he question.
March 13th, 2024 at 12:48 PM ^
Pretty sure Weber's position coach left OSU right after that year's signing day. Your primary thesis remains valid, however.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:09 AM ^
Maybe he'll bring Judkins, the transfer RB that committed right after the national championship game.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:14 AM ^
uh yeah he will
...right after he brings all that bag with him too
March 13th, 2024 at 11:17 AM ^
Why not? Hook him up with a couple car dealerships and steak restaurants.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:20 AM ^
Think the rumor was that the Ole Miss QB and linemen (and maybe others) told Kiffin either Judkins goes or we do. Doesn't seem like the kind of guy you'd want around your team unless you're desperate like Day.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:32 AM ^
That's true. Maybe our strong culture could deal with that better than the Kiffin clown show.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:10 AM ^
For the psychology value alone this would be great. It affected our team when we lost the lb coach and horse face later to them.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:21 AM ^
Already a run game "coordinator" title, and I'm sure they'd match any salary. So he'd have to be pissed at Ohio or something.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:21 AM ^
Let's be careful here. We all know OSU is better than Michigan at the shady stuff. (They managed to get Michigan in trouble for something that they do even more, and claimed the high ground in passing.) Accordingly, Alford should be considered a Trojan Horse until proven otherwise.
9% serious.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:28 AM ^
This has been corroborated by some more reliable sources and 11W seems scared it's happening. So I object to the source but it appears the post is valid.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:34 AM ^
im feeling a vibe emerging on this board that has been absent for at least 10 days
March 13th, 2024 at 11:52 AM ^
From 11W:
March 13th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
I love that the poster refers to our situation as "that burning tire fire." And by that he must mean national champions and winners of The Game for 3 years running.
If we're a burning tire fire I'd be very curious to hear what OSU is now.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:34 AM ^
He must be on the outs with Day after failing the Penguin Hop drill by displaying rhythm. Here he'll learn to run, not walk.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:46 AM ^
It’s reliable. Since he’s an outside hire that’s why they played it out this way and he’s waiting till Hart gets his severance before announcing. But it’s Alford he’s been the target.
trust me bro.
March 13th, 2024 at 12:02 PM ^
Bro…Bro…I trust you.
March 13th, 2024 at 11:51 AM ^
Done deal per Pete
March 13th, 2024 at 11:59 AM ^
If you can't recruit Jordan Marshall, join 'em...
March 13th, 2024 at 12:17 PM ^
If he can coach and recruit, then welcome aboard.
That said, in a year that is literally do or die for Ryan Day, I don't believe OSU lets him leave, much less leave for the team that OSU NEEDS TO BEAT, without spending whatever it needs to spend to keep him. I do not believe that this was a mutual parting. If OSU wanted him gone after last season, they would've let him go "encouraged him to explore his options" by now.
Either that, or there might be some philisophical differences between how a Chip Kelly team wants to run the ball vs. how Alford envisions it, and Alford decided to go elsewhere.
Either, let's commence the "We didn't want him anyway, he was the weak link on Day's staff, addition by subtraction, we'll upgrade anyway, Michigan can take our unwanted leftovers" chatter from 11W.
March 13th, 2024 at 12:20 PM ^
TLDR: Not thrilled.
Most of the attention seems to be over the sick burn over getting a rival's coach and not a sober eyed assessment over what he brings to the table. Alford's history with RB development is not remarkable to me given the talent. His age seems counter to the philosophy if the rest of the coaching staff being generally young up and comers. This would be offset of Alford had a particularly good recruitment reputation.
And also not sure Alford addresses replacing what Mike Hart bought to the table from which he has been disinvited.
I'm seeing a coaching staff that looks more Frankenstein in assembly than in history of results so far.
Sounds like the mirror image of when our aging LB coach went there one year before retiring without making much an impact in Columbus.
Keep on trollin'!