re: Where Was Kelly on Your Wish List?

Kelly is the opposite of a white whale.

He was first and I posted it in mid October

Honestly, I did not give him much thought because he did not seem realistic. Winningest coach at one of the most storied programs, he could ride out the rest of his career winning at a high rate, getting paid well, with a a lot of job security. So it just did not seem like a viable option. I love the fact that he gave up on all that to move into the SEC West, it speaks volumes about his desire and confidence to win a Championship. It is the opposite of what Riley did.

My initial top tier was - Aranda, Rhule, Fickell, Kiffin and Napier. Aranda has been my top choice. I would have included Riley in that tier. And I would include Kelly in that tier.

All things considered, I think this is a great hire and I understand and see the value of going with his experience and stability over the youth of Aranda, Fickell or Napier.

Honestly can't say...

my wish list didn't include Kelly, Riley, Saban or Dabo because I figured all of those guys were out of reach.

Remember, a month or so ago, we were debating Napier (a few good years at a Sun Belt program) vs Aranda (less time as a head coach, but having a good second year at a Big 12 program).
Campbell at Iowa State seemed like the most promising, because he is building something at a known cellar dweller in the Big 12.
Urban Meyer's shenanigans made him both potentially available, but also toxic as hell.
Fickell was intriguing with what he's doing at Cincy, but like everyone other than Meyer, it's all still just potential.

I think Kelly is a BIG hire, my only hesitation is his age. Is he a young 60, or an old one? I don't think the job will be too big for him, something most guys would have been at risk of.

He wasn't on it but that's on me. If Saban and Meyer were walk-off HRs Kelly is a 3-run shot in the top of the 9th. Well done Mr. Woodward.

He was on my unrealistic list. Now he’s my Fukin guy !!!!!!

Jordy will be sad

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If you can explain why you are disappointed then give an example of a better option that blew said example out the water I would be shocked.

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I think your question is a fair one so I'll do my best to 'splain why.

Arnsparger introduced a paradigm shift of success when he became HC in '84. Before him, success was understood as beating our rivals (mostly OM and Tulane) and getting a good bowl bid. Bill changed success to winning championships. If you could find the Arnsparger interview outside Mississippi Memorial Stadium after we beat State in '86 to win the SEC, you would see the face of success. Never saw Bill happier. It was out first SEC title in 16 years.

I lived in FL from '87-'02. UF had never won an SEC title when I moved there. And UGA owned them. When Spurrier became HC at UF in '90, the series record with UGA was 22-44 in favor of UGA. When he left it was 33-45 and UF had won six SEC titles. By the time Meyer left it was 40-47. In the 21 seasons from '90-'10, UF would go 18-3 vs UGA.

Our series record vs Bama is currently 26-55-5.

My hopes and dreams were we would hire our 'Spurrier.' And don't think Bama is some insurmountable obstacle. They were a clown show of HCs between Bryant and Saban. We were 7-1 vs them from '00-'07. Freeze was 2-3 and Gus 3-5 vs Saban and we have more resources than either did.

My hopes were that we would hire a coach who would coach for 2 decades and win multiple nattys and do what UF did to UGA.

That's why Dave was #1 on my list. I think he's doing things right and doing the right things.

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Honestly he wasn’t on mine because I didn’t think it was possible to pull him. Had I considered him an option he would have been very high.

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This