Does anyone see a similar path with Marrone and MacPherson?

[mgurtz79]

I have been thinking about this lately with all the talk on Ogundeko there are some parallels to both men's career.

Both guys took over programs that had declined in the prior few years and both did not exactly set the world on fire in their first few seasons, but showed potential. Both were the head coach of the football team as it broached the entry into a new conference (MacPherson took the Patriots job the year the football Big East started). Finally both were recruiting a premium prospect at defensive end from New York (Tim Green for MacPherson, Ogundeko for Marrone) that most people felt like if he got that player it would be a sign the program was really turning in the right direction.

I realize Marrone has been around a couple years longer and has gone to a bowl but if you think about they both were struggling to get their next contract. Tim Green set the tone for what would become a very good end to MacPhersons career, could Ogundeko do the same for Marrone?

 

[Cusee44]

As an adamant supporter of Marrone, I still have reservations about such a comparison.

 

[orangepassion]

I have been thinking about this lately with all the talk on Ogundeko there are some parallels to both men's career.

Both guys took over programs that had declined in the prior few years and both did not exactly set the world on fire in their first few seasons, but showed potential. Both were the head coach of the football team as it broached the entry into a new conference (MacPherson took the Patriots job the year the football Big East started). Finally both were recruiting a premium prospect at defensive end from New York (Tim Green for MacPherson, Ogundeko for Marrone) that most people felt like if he got that player it would be a sign the program was really turning in the right direction.

I realize Marrone has been around a couple years longer and has gone to a bowl but if you think about they both were struggling to get their next contract. Tim Green set the tone for what would become a very good end to MacPhersons career, could Ogundeko do the same for Marrone?

 

[orangepassion]

I have been thinking about this lately with all the talk on Ogundeko there are some parallels to both men's career.

Both guys took over programs that had declined in the prior few years and both did not exactly set the world on fire in their first few seasons, but showed potential. Both were the head coach of the football team as it broached the entry into a new conference (MacPherson took the Patriots job the year the football Big East started). Finally both were recruiting a premium prospect at defensive end from New York (Tim Green for MacPherson, Ogundeko for Marrone) that most people felt like if he got that player it would be a sign the program was really turning in the right direction.

I realize Marrone has been around a couple years longer and has gone to a bowl but if you think about they both were struggling to get their next contract. Tim Green set the tone for what would become a very good end to MacPhersons career, could Ogundeko do the same for Marrone?

The difference is that Tim Green livedin Central New York and wanted to play at SU. EO has no loyalty to SU and is willing to go wherever he feels is best for him. ND is a national school and Florida has traditionally been a powerhouse. We're not talking about a Brandon Triche , Andy Rautins, or DeJuan Coleman situation- local kids who wants to stay home and play in front of friends and family. It's more like a Greg Paulus situation- a local kid who wants to play in front of a national audience and isn't interested in staying home and playing in front of his Mom & friends.. Additionally, SU to EO isn't really a local school. It's a long bus ride from NYC.

That doesn't mean we should give up on EO if there's a serious possibillity he'll come to SU. Doug Marrone, however, isn't as good a recruiter as MAC was and the college football scene isn't the same now as it was then. And right now EO is no Tim Green- and may never be. He's the best player in a state which doesn't produce that many great players and plays in the PSAL where the teams don't have the coaching and resources in NYC that kids from football-crazy HS leagues in places like Texas and Florida do. What he does have is the football-ready body that may result in his having the potential to do great things. That's the reason that ND & Florida are going after him. The competition to be a starter or get significant playing time there will be much greater than at SU. Those schools don't need EO as much as SU does and ccan very well survive without him because they'll have other quality players at his position.

EO's situation is more similar to that of Ishaq Williams and Rob Gronowski than TG. Hopefully, one day SU will become a top 25 team like Penn State and the top kids in the NE will be knocking at our door.

 

[RoysRunts]

NOPE,Mac was/ is a Casty Stengle/Yogi Berrs/Jimmy Durante People Person who could attract Recruits and their Parents + He had good Assistent Coach Hires, and more experience in Football than Doug

 

[SoBristol]

EO in year 4 would be significant, but hard to equate to Tim Green in Mac's first full year of recruiting.

Mac had loaded the cupboard entering 1984 (his year 4). His and RF list by then had Donny McPherson, Daryl Johnston, Tommy Kane, Marcus Paul, Todd Philcox, Ted Gregory, Dan Bucey, Tim Pidgeon, Deval Glover, Pat Kelly, Pat Davis . . . It was becoming evident that Mac's charm could attract quality kids.

Mac's best o-line recruit by 1984 was Marrone. Marrone's best O-line recruit by year 4 was . . . Macky.

Mac's year 4 team beat Nebraska (#1 at the time), played close games with other strong teams, and finished 6 and 5 with his recruits playing big roles. Marrone deserves a lot of credit for the 8 and 5 record in his second year -- keeping in mind that it was carry-over kids who led that team. Maybe we see Marrone's best recruits (Broyld, Morris, MacFarlane, Thompson) set forward in his year 4.