I was hoping this year would be different

[Vididiot]

but it looks like the "same ole, same ole". Can a few guys out make that much difference?

Here it is in all of its ugliness. After one week, IU ranks 14th in the B1G in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, passing defense, passing defense efficiency, sacks by (tied with 3 teams), opponent's 3rd down conversions, and red zone defense (tied with 7 teams). The good news is that we're only 13th in opponent's 3rd downs. Obviously, these statistics are not usually real meaningful at this point of the season, but given that other B1G teams played Stanford, VA Tech, Alabama, TCU, Utah, Marshall, etc., it's pretty scary.

IU is first in passing offense and total offense and fourth in rushing offense, but it was SIU.

 

[TheSpa]

It's mostly consulting and then recommending. The Board of Trustees and the President ultimately make the decision, but the firms give them the 3 best candidates (in the firm's opinion) for the position along with resumes, all the background checks, research, etc. The firms are through, no question, but they better be for all the money that has been spent by IU to use them. I realize that hiring a coach is a crap shoot at times, but knowing who some of these candidates were that got passed over just sickens me. We pay all this money to scoop hires, but are cheap in our salaries to coaches, assistants, etc. Makes little very little sense and it's basically just money wasted because none of these hiring's has worked out all that well.

They present some, but certainly not all, candidates in that they provide names and sometimes initiate discreet contact with representatives. They "consult" by providing opinions on how certain coaches have performed in current or previous positions and how they're perceived within the coaching community. They conduct background / reference checks. And they're compensated at a very small percentage relative to the salary package.

The AD interviews, sometimes with a representative(s) of any "search committee". Final candidates nearly always meet with the President. The AD recommends a coach to the President, who would generally approve. The BOT is usually involved only to the extent of blessing compensation packages.

So, no, they don't "pay all this money to scoop hires", whatever that means, and it's hardly money wasted. Ask Notre Dame if using a firm has value.