The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)

[Hellisan]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)

[DHC]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)

I thought LSU would be a tough game to win, didn't expect them to be that good. 2 100 yard rushers and almost 300 yards in the air, would need a flawless game to even get close to winning that in the end. Could have been much closer without the interceptions, but will never know now.

Boise State struggled again, miserable set of bowl games for the Mountain West, struggled to pick up even a couple of wins it looks like.

Will be sorry to see you leave Idaho (if you do go) but can understand the change if you do. Have built a grand team but still might need a few more years to really beat the big boys, which could definitely happen. Always good to have some coaching change speculation. Have to say Michigan State looks like it would be a fun job but something to me and the big boys at Wisconsin is always appealing, get that run game going and pound on everyone. Interested to see who the 5th team is and will J.D Clark be leaving Moscow?!

[RaiderAid89]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)

Uh oh, the rumours must be true as the headings already changed from Idaho background. Completely understandable after the season that the Vandals had and can't wait to see where coach ends up.

[Hellisan]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)



Coaches go nowhere in college football without stepping on the backs of others.
Everyone that covers or follows college football knows that. It doesn't make it any
easier or less frustrating for the fans when a coach decides to pack it up and move
on to the next - usually bigger and better - destination. I understand that coaches
have a job with a high degree of difficulty and very little loyalty from above when
struggles begin to set in. But sometimes, looking at the big picture results in a less
satisfying excoration. So let's focus on the negative!

I don't know where Coach Clark is 'taking his talents,' but sources tell me he's leaving
and I trust those sources. I wouldn't waste my time writing this column if I didn't
feel it was a lock.

Under Clark, the Vandals have been taken to new heights. Ok, they've been taken
to heights. They were probably never taken off the ground previously - at least not
notably so. The bottom line is the job is not finished. And most men I know don't
leave until the job is finished. What's the job? Winning the Mountain West
conference for one thing. Did the Idaho Vandals really have a shot at winning the
national championship? I don't think you could get a paid columnist to tell you that.
But winning twists not only expectations, but realities and possibilities.

The Vandals went 1-11 the year before Clark was hired and won five games the next
year. They haven't won less than eight games in the four years since the first
season.

In Clark's five years at the helm of the Vandals, he's 2-2 in bowl games. Not exactly
a stunning record. He's 2-10 versus the Top 25, and 2-5 versus rivals. The 44-22
record overal is surely impressive, but with the best quarterback in the conference
last season as well as the best offense and defense statistically, he still couldn't pull
out a conference championship. What does that tell you? Is this a man primed for
greatness?

Urban Meyer coached in the Mountain West for two seasons. He won the Fiesta
Bowl and won the conference twice. Brian Kelly won a conference title at Central
Michigan and at Cincinnati - with an Orange Bowl win - before moving on to Notre
Dame. I could go on, but my general point is that if you're going to get promoted to
one of the big programs, it should go along with something tangible for the fans of
the old school to hold onto.

But it doesn't. The one that gains is Coach Clark, and the ones that lose are all the
fans that showed up and sold this place out for the past two plus seasons in a row
to watch what was admittedly a great ride.

In my personal dealings with the coach, I can tell you I appreciate and respect him.
He's not the most social guy around and not the easiest to get to know. He keeps
people that aren't friends and family at a distance. When it comes to interviews and
schedules he does what he says he will, when he says he'll do it. He's someone I
respect.

I can't respect this rumored move. Not yet.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NC State knows how to schedule, that's brutal! Did well to win that many games. LSU Bowl game is the sort of bowl game you want after a good season, will need to bring an A+ game to get a win I fear.

NC State won their 10th game which caps off a really impressive year, I wish I could expect them to build on that, but these teams are usually one-year wonders. I'm going to go through the list of championship contenders or the overall outlook and see if there's any major surprise teams that have entered the Top few teams or Top 25, early next year. On the topic of the bowl game, yeah we didn't bring the A+ game, and not sure it would have mattered if we did unless they had a Buckeyes style meltdown.

I thought LSU would be a tough game to win, didn't expect them to be that good. 2 100 yard rushers and almost 300 yards in the air, would need a flawless game to even get close to winning that in the end. Could have been much closer without the interceptions, but will never know now.

Boise State struggled again, miserable set of bowl games for the Mountain West, struggled to pick up even a couple of wins it looks like.

Will be sorry to see you leave Idaho (if you do go) but can understand the change if you do. Have built a grand team but still might need a few more years to really beat the big boys, which could definitely happen. Always good to have some coaching change speculation. Have to say Michigan State looks like it would be a fun job but something to me and the big boys at Wisconsin is always appealing, get that run game going and pound on everyone. Interested to see who the 5th team is and will J.D Clark be leaving Moscow?!

It was disappointing to see the Mountain West flub it, but it's satisfying that the conference advanced and actually won a title (BYU). But yeah, awful bowl season lol.

Uh oh, the rumours must be true as the headings already changed from Idaho background. Completely understandable after the season that the Vandals had and can't wait to see where coach ends up.

Good eye man!

[BookWork123]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

It was a good ride, can't wait to see where you go next


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[LopaKa]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

Awesome article Helli, I'm excited to see where you go next!

[RaiderAid89]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)

Great article as usual! Good luck at your next destination.

[Hellisan]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)






2017/2018: the 2017 Idaho Vandals won 10 or more games for the third year in a row, finishing 11-3. The Vandals started off with a bang, traveling to Columbus, OH and dealing Ohio State a devastating 38-31. The Buckeyes played carelessly and the Vandals seized on key opportunities with star of the game Russell Ivey intercepting two passes and picking up a sack and forced fumble. Wake Forest were ranked coming into the Kibbie Dome but were not after getting wiped out 59-17 by the Vandals. Next to be slayed in the dome were Colorado State on Homecoming as Richard Montgomery had a career best day with 207 yards of total offense and 3 TD in a 43-10 win. Eric Mitchell announced his presence against the Rams with 4 sacks in a season he went on to tally 17 to lead the nation. Ag Days is always a hit in Moscow and Washington State helped the Vandals celebrate with 1153 yards of total offense. Eric Lawson threw a 9-yard touchdown to Terrance Carstens to beat the Cougars in OT, 44-41. The Vandals went on the road against New Mexico and in slow, rainy conditions held the Lobos to 152 yards of offense in a 30-8 win, with Zach Cable and Eric Mitchell combining for five sacks. The offense and special teams unit were on point as Idaho dominated San Diego State 56-17, with 535 yards of total offense and a 100-yard kickoff return by Youmani Jones. After Oregon and then Michigan could not win with the #1 ranking attached to their names, Idaho earned the #1 spot in the nation for the first time in their history. With the in-state rivalry game on the road this year, Boise State forced three interceptions by Lawson and rode Aaron Baltazaar to a big 34-27 victory that knocked Idaho from the top of the rankings. Idaho shook off the painful defeat and handily defeated UNLV on the road the next week, 41-13. The Vandals were without starting QB Lawson against Nevada and played a solid team game to gut out a 35-17 victory. Lawson again was unavailable the next week back in the dome as Fresno State came to town - an iffy proposition. Freshman running back Buck Archie gained 170 yards on the ground as the Vandals held Fresno somewhat in check for the first time in Clark's career, winning 24-21. The Vandals got Lawson back against San Jose State but he struggled. Nevertheless the team dominated the trenches and defended the dome once again, 45-28. Idaho wrapped up the regular season with a convincing 31-6 win against Hawaii in the dome. The Mountain West Conference Championship Game was held in Colorado Springs with the Vandals squaring off against Boise State. For the second time in a season, the Broncos downed the Vandals at an inopportune time, 28-24 in a game that saw six field goals and Baltazaar once again dominating in the second half. Despite the loss, the Vandals were invited to play in the Sugar Bowl against the LSU Tigers. The Vandals couldn't mount much of a challenge at the end of a long season and were crushed 55-21 in New Orleans. Senior DT Eric Mitchell was named Defensive MVP, while left tackle Mike Powell was named the offensive MVP for the Vandals following their 11-3 season. The Vandals ended the season ranked in the Top 10. Before the bowl game and thereafter, rumors came to the surface that Coach Clark was considering numerous jobs around the country and that a change of scenery was in the cards for the coach who changed the Vandals fortunes for the better.

[R1zzo23]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

Can't wait to see where you decide to move to. I find that when I make a move this deep into a dynasty I can never get into my new program nearly as much as the place I just left. Hopefully that doesn't happen with you.


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[Hellisan]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

It was a good ride, can't wait to see where you go next

Glad to have you on board, and can't wait to get started

Awesome article Helli, I'm excited to see where you go next!

Thanks man, I'm about to go do the carousel....

Great article as usual! Good luck at your next destination.

Thanks raideraid

Can't wait to see where you decide to move to. I find that when I make a move this deep into a dynasty I can never get into my new program nearly as much as the place I just left. Hopefully that doesn't happen with you.

I've thought about that a lot. It was very difficult to decide to leave Idaho. In the end, I felt it necessary to stick with the original plan of using them as a jumping off point. I've thought about what you're talking about previously and that's why there were only a handful of teams I would have considered moving for. When more than one of them appeared to be ready to offer in a single offseason, is when I decided to go ahead and do it. These are teams I've never done a dynasty with on any version of the game, and have always admired from afar. I think the fact that it's not just a quick decision, and that I will have to build again will help me become interested. Plus the uniforms are SICK. On any of the teams I'm considering. Thank you sir. Very good point.
Operational Note: I just advanced to the offseason and I'm literally excited - 41 years old, playing a three year old game, and I'm absolutely pumped. That's gotta be what life is about to have passion for something even if it's fake video game teams right?

[Hellisan]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents


Coaching Carousel Coverage



Coach Status: As has been noted before, Coach Clark wants to coach a big-time college football team. He has fallen in love with the Palouse and its residents. Wide open spaces are definitely not a detriment in the mind of J.D. Clark - he was raised in Oklahoma and appreciates this type of country. He signed a new 7-year deal last year, but it includes out clauses - standard for coaches. Sources close to the coach say that he is not averse to making a move if he feels everything sets up perfectly for him with the job. It has to be the ideal job.

Let the Carousel Begin

Tennessee Volunteers: (4 star, 8-5 last year) Butch Jones (B) had his contract expire.
Coach Clark thoughts: They're keeping him, is what I've heard.
Hire: Tennessee extended the contract of Butch Jones, but they are expecting 9 wins per year.

Michigan State: (4 star, 5-7 last year) Mark Dantonio (B-) was fired
Coach Clark thoughts: One upon a time, this was the next Saban or at least Saban Jr. but he's had trouble winning the big games. Michigan State has offered me this job and I've decided to decline, simply because there are other teams I'm more interested in. Michigan State is a place anyone would be proud to coach, but it's not for me at this time.
New Hire: Rick Stockstill (A+, 11-2 last year, UCF) - Mid Tenn State (Air Raid) /4-3 defense, alma mater Syracuse
Coach Clark comment: I'd be lying if I said I knew much about this hire, all I know is, to get an A+ prestige ranking takes some doing. He must be good at what he does.

Virginia Tech: (4 star, 3-9 last year) Frank Beamer has retired from coaching at age 70
Coach Clark thoughts: I was offered the job in Blacksburg, and in other offseasons, I would likely have taken it. I am extremely tempted by the thought of replacing a legend like Beamer, and hopefully carrying on the tradition at a school like Tech that was created virtually from nothing. Yet as I indicated before, there is another team that's the perfect storm for me, that has everything I want in a program. So I had to decline.
New Hire: Pete Kwiatkowski (A, 10-3 last year, Northern Illinois) Boise State (Multiple) /4-2-5 defense, alma mater Temple
Coach Clark comment: Pete is someone I really appreciate in coaching circles. Thoughtful, highly intelligent, motivated, and successful. And he really, really knows defense. I hope he can take Va Tech to the top. At least not on my watch.

Wisconsin: (3 star, 5-7 last year) Gary Andersen (B-) was fired
The Badgers were seriously conflicted on who they wanted to hire. They made a lot of calls, and in the end did not offer the job to coach Clark. That's good, because sources indicate he wasn't going to take it.
New Hire: Paul Haynes (A-), HC UAB (11-3), - Kent State (Multiple) /4-3 defense, alma mater Kent State
Coach Clark comment: Paul has been very successful in a tough situation and deserves a chance to hit the big time.

UCF: (4 star, 11-2 last year) Rick Stockstill (A+ left to take the HC job at MSU
Coach Clark thoughts: I was offered the job. I'm not interested in living in Florida.
New Hire: Shaun Thomas (B), DC UCF, - UTEP (Multiple) /3-4 defense, alma mater Cincinnati
Coach Clark comment: I like when teams promote from within, but it has to be the right hire, and this is kind of a shot in the dark.

Arizona State: (3 star, 4-8 last year) Todd Graham (C+) was fired for being annoying
Coach Clark thoughts: Ok so what does it say about your confidence in your defensive line if you blitz far more often than any other team in college football. You got a bunch of dudes on the line or are you calling them soft? You have to speak to your team through your actions sometiimes. You take those four guys and tell them you MUST get a certain amount of pressure by yourselves sometimes, and you rely on them for that. I was never a huge fan of Graham. I was offered this job but I have no idea why they offered it to me. I made it clear I wasn't interested. Maybe after a few jobs went by the wayside they figured they should come back to my doorstep. I'm not religious, but unless you're a student athlete considering the stock of females at this college, why the hell would you want to live there? I want to live there for one month a year and that's spring training.
New Hire: Jay Johnson (A-), HC ECU, - ULL (Spread) /4-3 defense, alma mater Indiana
Coach Clark comment: I've been impressed with the direction ECU has been taking, even if I don't know Jay that well.

Northern Illinois: (3 star, 10-3 last year) Previous HC hired by MTSU as the HC
New Hire: Brian Scott (B+), HC WSU, - Old Dominion (Air Raid) /4-3 defense, alma mater Northern Illinois
Coach Clark comment: He left WSU because he wanted a better job. I assume that includes the idea that NIU is his alma mater. Which I respect. Otherwise, I'd rather be at WSU.

Kansas State: (3 star, 4-8 last year) Jim Bollman (C+) fired
New Hire: John Papuchis (B+), HC Ball State, - Nebraska (Multiple) /4-3 defense, alma mater Tennessee
Coach Clark comment: This was the last job I was offered before I was offered my dream job. I knew the other job was in the works and even though I respect Bill Snyder and Kansas State for what they've built there, along with their family values - I wasn't able to pry myself away from the idea of coaching at Iowa.

Iowa: (2 star, 3-9 last year) Bob Cole (C) fired
After winning the Orange Bowl in 2009 with an 11-2 season, Iowa has steadily gone downhill, finishing with 8, 7, 4, 4, 7, 5, 7, and last year an astoundingly disappointing three wins despite having some dynamic talent on the team. That talent is now graduating. Iowa is the right team, the right situation and the right place to live for Coach Clark.
New Hire: Coach J.D. Clark (A+), HC Idaho (11-3 last year), Idaho Custom Pro Playbook (Pro) /4-3 defense
Coach Clark comment: Iowa is my dream coaching destination. I love everything about the school. As I said multiple times I grew up in a rural environment. My wife wants to live in a city. Iowa City offers us the best of both worlds, allowing us to get some culture, shopping, a night on the town and I can be staring at corn fields within 10 minutes of anywhere in the city. The people in this part of the country live, breathe, and die Iowa Football and fill that stadium every game. Or at least they did. I'm positive they will fill it once again, soon enough.

Idaho: (5 star, 11-3 last year) J.D. Clark (A+) accepted the coaching position with the Iowa Hawkeyes
New Hire: Bobby Petrino (B), HC Western Kentucky, - Western Kentucky (Pro) /4-3 defense, alma mater Idaho
Coach Clark comment: Sometimes, things just work out. Bobby has aged well and I don't think he's chasing student-aged skirt anymore. I know for a fact he's one of the most advanced offensive football minds on any level including the level above us. He gets a chance to come back and finish his career at a school that has some talent, and I'm excited to see what happens.

Remaining Head Coach Hires

ECU hires Charlie Taaffee
UAB hires Clemson DC Brent Venables
Western Kentucky hires Boise State OC Mike Cummings
Washington State hires Utah OC Gerald Drew
Duke hires UNLV HC Robert Prince after his excellent performance with the Running Rebels last year
Colorado State hires Boise State DC Kyle Flood - Boise State is getting stripped of its coaching staff
La Tech hires New Mexico State HC Joe Rudolph
Nebada hires Miss State DC Geoff Collins
SMU hires former Wisconsin HC Gary Andersen (fired)
UConn hires former Mich State HC Mark Dantonio
UNLV hires former Nevada HC Mike Bloomgren (fired)
Ball State hires former Kansas State HC Jim Bollman (fired)

[djp73]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

Nice choice with Iowa. Interesting that they have struggled so much. Should be an interesting challenge to try to bring them back to a respectable level. Good luck!

[DHC]

Re: The Career of J.D. Clark (NCAA 14)

Iowa fits in with the story nicely. How they have fallen, should be a great challenge to bring them back to contenders in a tough conference.

Interested to see what sort of team you have been left with or any gems you managed to snag in off-season recruitment for them.

[BookWork123]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

Well, didn't expect Iowa, but good luck with the Hawkeyes!


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[R1zzo23]

Re: Introduction and Table of Contents

Definitely didn't see that coming but it makes sense. I do like the jerseys and color combinations so that should help for sure. Best of luck!


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