Jonathan Smith is a class act. He poured many years of his life into Oregon State University, including the terrific 11-season when he was behind center. He took a new job, and looked out for his immediate family and their future when doing so. Can’t fault a guy for that. And yes, UW would have taken Smith in a heartbeat if the stars wou…
Jonathan Smith is a class act. He poured many years of his life into Oregon State University, including the terrific 11-season when he was behind center. He took a new job, and looked out for his immediate family and their future when doing so. Can’t fault a guy for that. And yes, UW would have taken Smith in a heartbeat if the stars would have aligned. His OC work under Petersen was impressive. I hope Jonathan makes it back to Husky nation in years to come.
By what definition of "Class"? Not so much. "Looked out for his family"....Smith got the same offer from OSU he took at MSU. This was about his ego (to be in the B1G) not about financial security. I mean, how much is enough?! He was already guaranteed over $100M in lifetime earnings. Think that might be enough?
I appreciate your tone, but it simply is untrue what you say. MSU is a big mess. They have been in the middle to lower end of the B1G even before the PAC12 teams were added. It is unlikely Smith will accomplish anything there, will not get an offer at an Ohio State or Penn State, and he will be gone in a couple of years since the locals have no loyalty to him. He is just a carpet-bagger in Michigan. Sorry, you normally have good takes, but not this time.
Eh. Considering that MSU made the CFB when it only took 4 teams, I'm going to go out on a limb and say Sparty will make the CFB again before OR St. does a first time.
Eh? Oregon State made the Rose Bowl when there were only 4 major bowl games. OSU was ranked #4 in 2001 which is one spot below MSU which was #3 in 2013 and OSU was ranked #13 towards the end of 2023 in a year when MSU went 4-8. Both teams have storied histories and have had good runs, MSU under Mark Dantonio with none before or since, unless you count the outlier #8 spot in 2021, under Mel Tucker who had a good year or two, feeding off the remnants of Dantonio. There is no reason Oregon State can't make another run to the top with the right head coach, which Bray might be. Boise State has had decades of top level performance from the MWC, so conference is not a big factor. Oregon State is a large university, has good alumni support and could find someone to fund a larger NIL in the near future, something MSU also needs and does not have in this modern era (NIL is the entire game; get enough money to buy 4 and 5 stars who will jump to whoever offers the most and anyone can build a national championship team, maybe even a Wyoming). OSU has competition for players and media nearby at Oregon as does MSU from Michigan. They are comparable situations. So your projection has no significance and is just your not very well informed opinion.
In the past 50 years, OR St. has finished in the season-end top 10 once (and it's been a while since Dennis Erickson was coaching at Corvallis) and made the Rose Bowl zero times.
In the same span, MSU finished in a season-end top 10 poll 6 times under 3 different coaches (and made the Rose twice and the 4-team CFP another time).
Sparty also draws over twice as many fans to home games as the Beavers do.
You're kidding yourself if you think the resources at the 2 programs (and thus their chances of playing the CFB) are the same going forward.
I don’t hold it against a coach moving on in the name of opportunity…in general. It is how they handle their exit that is a mark of their integrity and DNA. Smith handled his departure very poorly at best. Telling his team two days before they played the CW was ill-timed and demoralizing. Other actions were not welcomed.
100% disagree that this was a postive for his immediate family. I have friends and co-workers that live in Corvallis that were his neighbors, knew their family or played youth sports or other community orgs with them. Their kids loved Corvallis and were very entrenched there. Heard their kids being pulled out of schools and activities was disruptive for them. Sure that is the reality of the coaching world but his move is far from doing what’s best for the family.
Jonathan Smith is a class act. He poured many years of his life into Oregon State University, including the terrific 11-season when he was behind center. He took a new job, and looked out for his immediate family and their future when doing so. Can’t fault a guy for that. And yes, UW would have taken Smith in a heartbeat if the stars would have aligned. His OC work under Petersen was impressive. I hope Jonathan makes it back to Husky nation in years to come.
By what definition of "Class"? Not so much. "Looked out for his family"....Smith got the same offer from OSU he took at MSU. This was about his ego (to be in the B1G) not about financial security. I mean, how much is enough?! He was already guaranteed over $100M in lifetime earnings. Think that might be enough?
Brian, he was offered a much better job.
I understand your frustration that he took it but even if the Pac 12. Had stayed together, this would have been a good opportunity.
I appreciate your tone, but it simply is untrue what you say. MSU is a big mess. They have been in the middle to lower end of the B1G even before the PAC12 teams were added. It is unlikely Smith will accomplish anything there, will not get an offer at an Ohio State or Penn State, and he will be gone in a couple of years since the locals have no loyalty to him. He is just a carpet-bagger in Michigan. Sorry, you normally have good takes, but not this time.
Eh. Considering that MSU made the CFB when it only took 4 teams, I'm going to go out on a limb and say Sparty will make the CFB again before OR St. does a first time.
Eh? Oregon State made the Rose Bowl when there were only 4 major bowl games. OSU was ranked #4 in 2001 which is one spot below MSU which was #3 in 2013 and OSU was ranked #13 towards the end of 2023 in a year when MSU went 4-8. Both teams have storied histories and have had good runs, MSU under Mark Dantonio with none before or since, unless you count the outlier #8 spot in 2021, under Mel Tucker who had a good year or two, feeding off the remnants of Dantonio. There is no reason Oregon State can't make another run to the top with the right head coach, which Bray might be. Boise State has had decades of top level performance from the MWC, so conference is not a big factor. Oregon State is a large university, has good alumni support and could find someone to fund a larger NIL in the near future, something MSU also needs and does not have in this modern era (NIL is the entire game; get enough money to buy 4 and 5 stars who will jump to whoever offers the most and anyone can build a national championship team, maybe even a Wyoming). OSU has competition for players and media nearby at Oregon as does MSU from Michigan. They are comparable situations. So your projection has no significance and is just your not very well informed opinion.
Re: "OR St. has made the Rose Bowl before".
It's not 1964 any more.
In the past 50 years, OR St. has finished in the season-end top 10 once (and it's been a while since Dennis Erickson was coaching at Corvallis) and made the Rose Bowl zero times.
In the same span, MSU finished in a season-end top 10 poll 6 times under 3 different coaches (and made the Rose twice and the 4-team CFP another time).
Sparty also draws over twice as many fans to home games as the Beavers do.
You're kidding yourself if you think the resources at the 2 programs (and thus their chances of playing the CFB) are the same going forward.
A Beaver hater. That’s okay. We are used to arrogance
I don't have a dog in this fight, actually. Just pointing out reality.
Then of course you see it as pointless. You would be wrong and why even comment? Let those of who care deal with this
Well played, Jack. In reality it is none of our (deleted) business if you stop and think about it.
Ah The smell of salt air and a memory too good..
I don’t hold it against a coach moving on in the name of opportunity…in general. It is how they handle their exit that is a mark of their integrity and DNA. Smith handled his departure very poorly at best. Telling his team two days before they played the CW was ill-timed and demoralizing. Other actions were not welcomed.
100% disagree that this was a postive for his immediate family. I have friends and co-workers that live in Corvallis that were his neighbors, knew their family or played youth sports or other community orgs with them. Their kids loved Corvallis and were very entrenched there. Heard their kids being pulled out of schools and activities was disruptive for them. Sure that is the reality of the coaching world but his move is far from doing what’s best for the family.