A case for Aranda as the #1 choice for HC

frick it, I say roll the dice with him (even though I don't think there's much risk)

Sure, no experience as a head coach, but the fact that he wants to become one shows that he knows about the added responsibilities and is comfortable with taking those on. He's already been here a year, and him being the assistant HC alongside coach O has shown him what the job entails. It wouldn't be a fresh start somewhere new, it would be at a place he's already comfortable and where he's already established himself as the best in the business as a DC.

He is more valuable as a DC than Jimbo/Herman are as OC's. You can bring in an OC who can perform on par or close to a Jimbo or Herman, especially with the talent at LSU. I'm not sure that you'll bring in a DC who is close to Aranda's level.

LSU will recruit itself and Aranda will maintain a staff loaded with recruiters. Maybe Aranda turns out to be an excellent recruiter. Perhaps Jimbo could out recruit him as LSU HC, but not by much and as we've seen with Miles, talent only gets you so far.

Sure, Jimbo and Herm are safer hires because they have proven themselves, but I think Aranda has the highest ceiling because if he works out, then you will have a top 10 defense every year, and it would be hard to miss on a competent OC given the success we've seen this year with Ensminger.

The guy is a rare breed and he's sitting in our laps right now. lock his arse up