I do not understand why Hood would be a bad hire? Can understand the excitement around Pelini. But, if that falls through, then Hood seems like solid candidate.
Time for people to realize that YSU football is nothing special any longer. This is Dec 2014, not Dec 2000 when YSU was just a few weeks removed from another playoff season, and there were high hopes for a possible title run in 2001.
Instead, it is 2014, YSU is coming off yet another non playoff season for the 13th time in 14 years, and 7th year in a row.
If Hood were to be paid comparable to what Wolf was paid, then YSU would be a step up in pay. The MVFC is a step up in terms of FCS leagues. With Tressel as President, going this long without making playoffs is no longer going to be tolerated. Yes, Tressel is the President, but he also understands the role football plays in the Youngstown-Warren area, and the role athletics can play with drawing people to campus. Whether it be prospective student-athletes, prospective students, alumni, family/friends of athletes, or just people from the community who may otherwise not set foot at YSU.
I can see why YSU would make sense for Hood, especially if pay is better. And, at YSU, he would have an opportunity to further build his resume as an HC. Much better chance to do so at YSU than to take an HC job at a bottom tier FBS program which has not had winning seasons in a long time.
To be honest, what is it all of this for Pelini. Many will say gets him back to Ytown area. Well, he could probably be hired at several FBS schools within 60-90 minute drive of YSU as either DC, or maybe even HC. Kent, Akron, PITT are places he could possibly be hired as a DC/Assistant Head Coach. Or, he could opt to just take a year off from coaching. He is going to get paid either way.
If he does get hired at YSU, expectations are going to be very high. And, by very high, I'm not talking 3rd place in 9-2/6-2 and 2nd or 3rd in MFVC, then losing in 1st or 2nd round of playoffs. I'm talking people will be expecting YSU to win the MFVC, which is no small task. People are also going to expect YSU to supplant NDSU as the dominant team in the MVFC and FCS. This, in spite of 1 playoff appearance in 14 years for YSU. Advance to at least semi-finals of playoffs NEXT YEAR(2015), and within 2-3 years MAX win an FCS Title. Going back home has it's pluses and minuses. And, if he fails to deliver at YSU, forget another HC job at ANY level of college football.
Just remember. When Tressel was hired by YSU, he was the 2nd or 3rd choice. The first choice was Gerry Faust. I still remember Faust flying in on a helicopter for his visit. Fortunately for YSU, Faust chose Akron. And, when YSU hired Tressel, there was a collective "who is this guy"? Did not start of good either, going 2-9 in 1986, but the saving grace and sign of thing to come was the win over Akron in final game of the season. Kept Akron and Faust from an OVC Title and trip to playoffs. Gave YSU players something to build from in off season, and in 87 YSU made FCS playoffs for the first time. Tressel had no strong connections to YSU or Youngstown. Yet, now Tressel and Youngstown are seemingly forever linked in the annals of time(i pulled that last sentence out of an anal area).... HAHAHAHAHAHA
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