Originally posted by clenz
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A few things.
1. The MVFC is wide open this year for the first time in a while. Sure, NDSU reloads. Sure you can look to moving form Bohl to Kleiman at the same time as moving from one all time QB to a kid that has no experience and go "See, losing a QB and a coach at the same time doesn't impact them." and you could be right. Here's what my counter to that is:
Bohl wasn't a great coach. NDSU was real bad with Bohl in the MVFC. I mean they went 6-5, 3-8 and 7-4 in the regular season with Bohl. Never better than 4-4 in conference play. All of a sudden Kleiman shows up and their defense reaches a level they weren't even close too before. Their recruiting all of a sudden jumps to a level it wasn't close too before. Kleiman brought an all new attitude to that staff - even as a position coach at first - that they didn't have. So moving to Kleiman was Kleiman taking over the job he was already doing. Anyone that is even remotely connected at NDSU will tell you that Bohl wasn't involved in really any part of the coaching staff at NDSU. He was the ultimate CEO coach. Delegate everything except a few things. When he left there wasn't a ton that had to change in the staff - he also didn't take many staffers with him. The other factor in that situation that is different is they were going from Jensen to Wentz. Wentz may not have had much/any experience but it was clear that he was “the real dealâ€. It was known he was going to be really damn good. Maybe not the level he was, but still really damn good.
They don’t have this year. Kleiman is gone. The extreme majority of the staff is gone. Entz can talk a big game, but it’s TBD if he can actually do what everyone knew Kleiman could do (Even before he took the job). They also don’t have Wentz or Stick anymore. Stick, like Wentz, was a known product out of HS. He is one of the QB misses that could have changed UNI significantly. While he was a RFr when he started it was clear what his upside was. At this point, no one has any idea what NDSU has. The though is RFr Trey Lance will get the job, but even the connected people at NDSU aren’t sure he’s ready or what they have in him, which is why they brought in Noland. Noland had a pretty good game at ISU, but like every other QB at ISU there is one good game and then they disappear after a week or two after being anointed by ISU fans as the saviors. The senior class they lost is as good of a senior class as they’ve ever had.
UNI and SDSU have more reason, as of now on paper, to expect to win the MVFC than NDSU as long as they don’t screw it up. All three will be starting brand new QBs with no experience (potentially all 3 are freshman starters.)
2. He has a staff he trusts for the first time in a while. It’s not that he didn’t trust Bond, but I’m not sure there was a great working relationship and cohesion on ideas. Mahaffey comes in as OC – after spending 5 years playing for Farley, time coaching for Farley and time as an OC for Farley. Mahaffey knows, wants, the same type of offense Farley does. Clanton wants the same OL mentality at this point. McCann has the skill guys ready every week and recruits like crazy. That trust is there. Go through the last handful of years that we see everything going wrong and we have Bond, Davis (who is Mike Leach), a Bill Salmon who was half retired while still coaching, Verduzco who was one foot out the door while coaching here.
3. His seat is as hot as it can get without him getting burned by it. This could work in the opposite direction and result in him taking tighter control, but I choose to believe (right now) that he realizes letting go of his offensive control will help save him for another tear
Interesting. However, in #2, wouldn't Farley's trust be predicated on expecting other coaches to do what he wants? That seems more like delegating than truly "handing it over." I'm particularly interested in #3 as I haven't sensed his seat being all that hot. At this stage in his career, I would be amazed if he would change his style. I'm quite intrigued by the fact that someone like you thinks it could happen (as you tend to know so much more about this stuff). It will be interesting to look for early detection signs during Spring practice.
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