https://twitter.com/schadjoe

Joe Schad of ESPN throws Frank's name out there as a candidate for Wisconsin job.

That would surprise me in two ways. First, I don't see UW looking Frank's direction. Second, Frank has a few more years in him, and things left to do at Ohio.

Of course Schad and Sportscenter are both part of ESPN, so they want to use him as an authority. I'm finding more and more that the Internet helps rumors feed off themselves. Somebody sees something reported somewhere and repeats it so they don't look like they're out of the loop. I hope that's what's going on here. I'm also hoping that he's reached a point in life where he's looking for something better than a place where fan support hinges on wins versus losses.

I did not see Nebraska hiring a 61 year old coach either. Who knows what Barry Alvarez will do? Barry and Frank were coaching Nebraska high schools at the same time. Clearly Frank took the Ohio job expecting to avoid the big school pressures about winning. Well, now that he has Ohio to the point that 6-6, bowl eligible and second in his division is "UNACCEPTABLE" he might entertain a call from Barry and Wisconsin where the plant is built and all he would need do is oversee a top program.

A closer connection is from 1971-73 when Solich coached at Lincoln SE while Alverez coached at Lincoln NE. I know they have known each other for years, and I believe they are close friends. Also, remember this article from when Ohio played NTSU? It discusses how Alverez tried to hire Solich once before:
http://tinyurl.com/kva4v9t
Also, remember the recent Buffalo hire, Lance Leipold? He's another common point between the two. He worked for Alverez, then Solich. There are a lot of connections between the two.


I can't argue with anything you say here, except that I don't think that the "pressure to win" is a major concern to him, because he has a drive to win, and he knows he has the players and system to win in the years ahead. I think his problems at Nebraska was the AD, and to a lesser degree the press, and not so much the fans. Still I think your point is, he has pressure to win at Ohio, and he'd have pressure to win at Wisconsin, so what's the difference?

The one thing is that if he were to take the Wisconsin job, he'd really need to give a five year commitment, I think. No doubt the money would be much better. He could also pay his assistants much, much more, and that might, in the end, be the deciding factor, if he actually did get an offer.


Yet, all the in-the-know commentary on Nebraska's search couldn't have been more off-base. Dozens of names were mentioned as possible hires, yet never once did Riley's name come up, and according to their AD, he never considered anyone else. It is possible, but I wouldn't take it too seriously. We'll just have to wait and see.

Here's something that leans away from Alverez reaching out to his old friend. He is getting tons of applicants, so he doesn't really need to go looking.:
'Alvarez was expecting a long night on Wednesday with his "phone ringing off the hook" with candidates interested'
http://espn.go.com/blog/ncfnation/tag/_/name/barry-alvarez

If they do hire Solich, then Ohio could try to get Pelini before Youngstown State does, and it would be a circular swap. ;)

If Frank was ever going to jump back into that pressure cooker there can't be too many better places than Wisconsin to do it. A pedigreed program that isn't flashy; heavily tilted to a power running game and "reasonable" expectations in a relative kind of way. If that's what Frank wants, more power to him. He would go with my eternal gratitude and hope for a hugely successful tenure crushing the aspirations of A&M fans everywhere. It's almost like he would be channeling Ohio football with B1G resources.

I've always thought Frank was getting a little too old for him to leave. To get him to leave, it would have to be the absolute perfect situation. Wisconsin is probably about as perfect as he can get.

Small college town, program already in good status, Midwest mentality, more money, an old friend as his AD...what's not to like if you're Frank?

I don't know how accepting the fan base will be of Frank, though.

TOS to Pitt

it is hard to believe that anyone is going to hire a 70 year old coach from outside this day and age.

I find this thread fascinating, since some of the OHIO fan base has been saying Frank's time has passed and he's practically ready to be put out to pasture. Now, he may be a serious candidate at Wisconsin and the perspective seems to be changing. I'll bet one of Barry's first questions will be, "Do you know how to run a two-back set?" This will be followed quickly by, "Can your QB go under center in short yardage situations?" Also, I'm sure they will write into his contract that he's not allowed to hire Albin as an assistant coach. ;-)

The situation can change entirely when you're talking about an entirely different set of circumstances. Which is exactly what Wisconsin vs. Ohio is.

Solich, Wisconsin---I'll be the most surprised person ever. EVER.