My thoughts about the Coach O hire... (long)

Let me start by saying that I was initially upset by the Coach O hire. I wanted a fresh start with a new coach. Coach O was very far down my list. But after stepping back and looking at the entirety of Coach O's season, I look forward to what he will do at LSU.

Ask yourself: IF LSU had won vs Florida, would you be nearly as upset about hiring Coach O?

Coach O would have finished 6-1, with the one loss coming vs Alabama, a team that basically looks unstoppable and is coached by the best coach of all time. We would likely be a top 10 team, with a spot in the Sugar Bowl. Something none of us ever expected after the 2-2 start.

Now ask yourself: Did Coach O lose us the game vs Florida?

Was he the one who gave up a 98 yard touchdown?
Was he the one who fumbled inside the five yard line?
Was he the one who botched the hold on a field goal?
Was he the one who fumbled on a kickoff inside our 30?
Was he the one who went the wrong way on the last play?

Nope.

There was ONE single call in that game that was questionable, and that was the 3rd down FB dive (which was likely called by Ensminger btw). And quite honestly, a fullback dive isn't a bad call on the 1 yard line. There are hundred's of coaches who would make the same call. As far as coaching goes, that game was damn near perfect. The major mistakes were made by the players, even they admitted that.

Moving on...

Bama averages winning games 40-11... We lost 10-0, and played them tougher than any team in America. With a bit more creativity in the offensive play calling, we likely win that game. A new offensive coordinator will bring that creativity.

For the people who keep saying, "You get what you pay for", let's take a look at some of the highest paid coaches in America:

6.) Charlie Strong - Texas ($5,200,000)
7.) Kevin Sumlin - Texas A&M ($5,000,000)
8.) Gus Malzahn - Auburn ($4,725,000)
9.) Hugh Freeze - Ole Miss ($4,700,000)
13.) Les Miles - LSU ($4,300,000)
17.) Bret Bielema - Arkansas ($4,145,000)
18.) Butch Jones - Tennessee ($4,100,000)

How about we look at some guys who aren't even in the top 20 highest paid coaches in America?

21.) Bobby Petrino - Louisville ($3,900,000)
22.) Chris Peterson - Washington ($3,600,000)
32.) Justin Fuente - VaTech ($3,200,000)
35.) Tom Herman - Houston ($3,000,000)
37.) Dana Holgerson - West Virginia ($2,980,000)
38.) Mike Leach - WSU ($2,950,000)
43.) Paul Chryst - Wisconsin ($2,700,000)
58.) Mike MacIntyre - Colorado ($2,011,000)
78.) PJ Fleck - WMU ($816,000)

While it might not be the hire you wanted, it is by no means the worst hire in the world. With Coach O we know we will get a team that plays with passion, we know we will continue to bring in top recruiting classes, and we know we will get a guy who legitimately loves this program and wants to see it flourish.

We're good.