ASU Hires Pitt's Todd Graham As Head Coach: Your Reaction?
by Brad Denny on Dec 14, 2011 11:21 AM MST
in ASU Football
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PrintArizona State football finally has a new head coach, as they have hired Pitt's Todd Graham.
Graham spent just one season at Pitt, going 6-6. However, prior to coaching the Panthers, Graham spent four highly successful seasons at Tulsa, including three 10-win seasons. Overall, he has a 49-29 record as a head coach at Rice, Tulsa and Pitt.
His recruiting ties to the Texas area are a very favorable trait, and he complied the 18th ranked recruiting class in the nation at Pitt. How many, if any, of those players who change their commitment to ASU remains to be seen. No word has yet been given on what assistants he plans to bring to Tempe.
Concern must be given to his nomadic resume. ASU will mark his fourth job over the last six seasons. Graham has stated his desire to coach here, so ASU must hope that it is the case.
House of Sparky wants to know your take on the hire. Vote now.
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What a classy guy
4 head coaching jobs in 6 years. Twice leaving a school after one year.
He texted his players that he was leaving at both Pitt and Rice. What a joke.
THIS is the best ASU could do?
by Dirk Diggler on Dec 14, 2011 11:53 AM MST reply actions 3 recs
Sounds like a blowhard....
Acts like a prick.
Claims it was always his ‘dream’ to coach at ASU and that’s why he walked out of Pitt after one mediocre season. A Texan, his ties to Arizona are, apparently some family lives in the area, and he spent a very short amount of time attempting to catch on with the Arizona Cardinals. When his dreams of playing in the NFL fizzled, he went right back to Texas.
More proof (if any were needed) of the AD’s incompetence.
by ConfofChamps on Dec 14, 2011 12:44 PM MST up reply actions
Don't think AD was involved sadly
Only rumors of course, but the twitters said that LL was removed from the situation
I am
done with this administration. I am done spending money in any way on this program. I cant believe this.
by YesIAmTylerDurden on Dec 14, 2011 11:56 AM MST reply actions
Crow needs to resign.
For both this and as an alum I’m still mad about the state of the Math department and the cancellation of the Philosophy Phd.
They are getting no money until he’s gone.
"Hey, why don't you people watch the game?"-my mom after viewing a wave going around Chase Field.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 14, 2011 10:56 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Warning to my friends out West at Arizona State
Coach Todd Graham will come in and – at the very first press conference – talk things up big and make it seem like he is fully committed to the Arizona State program and how great it is. He will try to buy you all in 100%, and he will do it all with great savy – just like a used car salesman. However, don’t believe any of it. In the end, once Coach Todd Graham sees a better opportunity in the next one or two years, he will be gone.
Let me first state, as a Pitt fan, I have NO disdain for what Coach Graham did. It’s his time, and he can spend it how ever he wants. If anything, it’s our AD’s fault for hiring him.
However, if I were an ASU fan, I would be disgusted over this hire in so many ways. Just my thoughts.
by PittGuy on Dec 14, 2011 12:21 PM MST reply actions 2 recs
Thanks for the feedback ...
what the definition of insanity again?
Continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results!?
Seeing that UCLA poached Mazzone
that’s not a good start
If I cared more about my UNC side, I'd call myself "Tar Volon," and that'd be awesome.
Bolts, Canes, Preds (now in different conferences!). Canes mini-STH. Southern hockey solidarity
Rocky Top Talk
by Incipient_Senescence on Dec 14, 2011 12:27 PM MST reply actions
Damn, I was hoping he could stay
Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan
Phoenix Suns, Arizona Diamondbacks, Phoenix Coyotes, Arizona Rattlers fan
[I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].
Leading the NFL in swagtangibles
Mazzone over-rated
Mazzone’s offense was horrible in the red-zone (60th in the nation). ASU lost at least 4 games this year because we couldn’t punch it in inside the 20 (and because the D started sucking).
by isithotinhere on Dec 14, 2011 3:52 PM MST up reply actions
This is a desperate move ...
.. by the ASU administration. With no big name candidates willing to take the job, Graham comes along with a slick delivery and assures Love and Crow he can do that job. For the money we were willing to shell out, we could have easily picked up Jim Leavitt, Kirby Smart or Kevin Fedora. The problem is that ASU doesn’t want to get involved in a bidding war for any viable candidate; so we go for a guy that no one is looking at …and no one is looking for good reason: he hasn’t proved anything in Big Least football. This is a terrible hire!
Well, it happened
So we might as well deal with it now
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by Cory Williams on Dec 14, 2011 12:37 PM MST up reply actions
Very true ...
All we can do now is hope he doesn’t destroy the program, but I’ve gotta tell you .. I’m not hopeful.
by Cincysundevil on Dec 14, 2011 12:58 PM MST up reply actions
I'm not entirely enthused either
This could get a lot worse, but honestly we’re at the bottom of the rung anyway.
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by Cory Williams on Dec 14, 2011 1:39 PM MST up reply actions
nope
Leavitt was a bad fit because of his lack of discipline and ASU’s program (because of Baseball) is on probation.
Smart is a southern guy and his next job will be in the SEC
Fedora made it clear he is an east coaster and said he would not consider jobs west of the Mississippi river.
Sumlin was using ASU to get a better offer from A&M or a new deal from Houston. He had zero interest in the job.
Jones was the real desperation move and Dr. Crow had to stop that and take over the search.
We don’t need a name. Most of the great coaches currently winning didn’t start as names. Chip Kelly, Pete Carroll, Les Miles, Bob Stoops, etc all these guys were not “names” when they got hired and rose to glory. Most big names will fail and you pay extra for their name.
by isithotinhere on Dec 14, 2011 3:58 PM MST up reply actions
That was my point.
Nixing June Jones wasn’t going to get you a better coach.
After every loss, the administration should post the offending booster’s personal information on the jumbotron.
Congrats ASU nation, you have no one to blame for this clown but yourselves!
"Hey, why don't you people watch the game?"-my mom after viewing a wave going around Chase Field.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 14, 2011 6:26 PM MST up reply actions
I don't think you can make that latter claim without
seeing the tick-tock of the meetings and phone calls (if any) to Leavitt, Smart or Fedora. I think probably the more likely series of events is that they were flat turned down post-Jones however, I acknowledge I don’t have access to the tick-tock so my series of events is no more proven than yours.
"Hey, why don't you people watch the game?"-my mom after viewing a wave going around Chase Field.
by Reynolds rapper on Dec 14, 2011 11:09 PM MST up reply actions
Best of luck
6-6, lost 4 4th quarter leads….the team consistently played worse in the 2nd half of every game this year……YET…COACH GRAHAM blamed the players in each and every press conference for not getting it…actually TODD they got it more than you allowed yourself to believe….YOU were outcoached in the 2nd half….very good job recruiting and getting top notch transfers…i will give you that…lets look into the character of this man…yesterday TODD spoke at a luncheon about loyalty and commitment….no seriously, he did….(see above comments regarding his players)…..this isnt the first time he has ran like a 10 yr old girl from a program with an email not a face to face or even a phone call to a superior….character TODD character….is it true TODD that you prech family yet have 3?? is that 3?? sets of children?? character TODD character…..and to use the GOD BLESS term….in your TWEET….is flat out sickening….good riddance..you are truly a man of low being and character….you dissapointed someone who matters..and thats not 1 PITT fan
You guys at Pitt lucked out
I mean, who thought another school would poach this boob? Now y’all can go find a real football coach.
by ConfofChamps on Dec 14, 2011 12:46 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
You are right
If anything, we are lucky to get rid of Coach Todd Graham after just one year at Pitt. Buy a beer tonight on me Sun Devil bro.
Graham has to stop moving around sometime
There’s no way he can keep moving from job to job, especially if he’s already well on his way to building up such a national reputation. Maybe he ends up sticking around longer than we all think at ASU. Whether that’s good or bad remains to be seen
Disappointed
As a Ducks fan living in Phoenix I’ve been watching this whole circus without anything at stake. But, this hiring disappoints me. Crow gave lip service about hiring a candidate that can advance the program beyond it’s current level then he signs off on a guy who’s assistants were so willing to jump ship to work for the guy who used to coach their biggest rival? That speaks volumes to me. How does ASU get Graham yet Arkansas State gets Malzahn from Auburn?
Arkansas is Malzahn's home.
And he probably wanted to get away from Auburn, seeing as the program looks to be having trouble and as a limited sense of direction. Plus, he can win easily at Arkansas State and that will help boost his coaching stock to get an even better job.
GOOD LUCK NEXT YEAR
My wife is an ASU allum, so I follow but not all that close. The coaching mess that you’ve dealt with is inexcusable. I’d be calling for the AD job right now. 73% see him as a C or under..isn’t that what Nuweasal was? Good luck Devils! hope to see you in conference championship.
Get off the bandwagon
As an adult, I can remove the emotion from this. I don’t need to hear comments from Pitt fans. People threatening to pull their money from ASU athletics means nothing. Obviously Pitt couldn’t offer this guy something ASU could. He will be judged on wins. I just want this football team to win. If he doesn’t win, then he was a bad hire and obviously we cannot make that determination yet.
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