Let's talk about the OC and what we are looking for a bit more.
What do we definitely know?
John Wildhack is currently involved in this.
He says he wants someone with a background developing QBs.
"We’ve talked about somebody who’s worked and developed quarterbacks," Wildhack said, emphasizing that it's Babers who will make all staff changes. "I think that’s important."
We also know SU isn't going to pay top dollar for this hire and it can't be a super attractive job for an OC because
1) Dino is not locked into a long term contract and if he gets canned, all his assistants locked get canned as well
2) An OC known for developing QBs and the passing game is going to check the cupboard and see how well stock Syracuse is with QBs, WRs and OL. They probably aren't going to be thrilled with what they find in the cupboard.
So Josh Gattis is not going to be coming here as a lateral move from Michigan. It is unlikely any well respected OC from an established program is going to come here.
It is also, I think, unlikely we get a young, promising offensive mind from a lower level program as the new OC. I think John wants someone who has successfully developed a number of QBs at the P5 level.
I am guessing it will be a veteran coach who has been around and has a lot of experience. He probably is going to be a coach who was on a staff where the HC was recently fired and the staff let go. I don't expect Sowder is coming. He doesn't have the track record yet that I think John is looking for, and even if we reached out to him, I don't think he would be super interested.
I don't see the new coach bringing in a new system. He is being brought in specifically to fix the passing game and develop QBs.
Robert Anae would be a nice hire. Agree Rod Smith would be an interesting choice. Mike Bobo would be a good choice. Mike Sanford would not be bad.
I believe all of the above are currently unemployed and ready to go. Most are near the end of their career and a good paying P5 job offer should be enough to get them locked in.
Shane Montgomery of UB also looks promising. He would be making a lateral move but I am sure would make a lot more money at Syracuse.
Whoever it is, I hope it happens by the end of the weekend. We have a bunch of recruits that I am sure would like to know who the OC is they would be playing under.