With Florida State set to embark upon a coaching search in the near future, many potential top targets have already emerged. One of the more interesting names who has long been a favorite among the fanbase is Georgia defensive coordinator Glenn Schumann, who might be just the guy the Seminoles are looking for.
It has barely been a full 24 hours since coach Mike Norvell was fired by Florida State, but already, there are plenty of lists of candidates to replace him. Both ESPN and CBS Sports have indicated that Schumann is certainly going to be one of the top candidates in the search, and his connections to Tallahassee are pretty interesting.
Schumann's grandfather, Jack Haskin, was Florida State's first assistant football coach under Ed Williamson. Haskin cemented himself in Seminoles' history with his creation of the Flying High Circus, which is still a part of Florida State to this day. Haskin is a member of Florida State's Hall of Fame, which develops an intriguing link between the school and Schumann.
Schumann is also looking to become a head coach after previously interviewing for the North Carolina job. Schumann might be willing to compromise in some areas, such as his salary, in order to get a gig as a coach during this upcoming cycle.
The cheaper option might be the better option during Florida State's coaching search
Anybody who has stuck around for a while at this point knows I am not the biggest fan of hiring a first-year head coach to replace Norvell. It is dangerous to hand over the keys to someone who has not driven the car before, but the support Schumann has had, his connections to the program, and his ability to potentially be the cheapest option are hard to ignore.
Schumann is likely going to be the most expensive option in the coordinator-to-coach sweepstakes, but even then, he would still be a cheaper option, than say, SMU coach Rhett Lashlee or Duke coach Manny Diaz, who have been linked to the opening. I personally like both of those options, but the issue is that Florida State needs to pay up for either coach, and that is not something the administration can necessarily do without sacrificing some of the roster budget.
Hiring Schumann likely means Florida State would have more money to build a staff and a competitive roster alongside the next coach. The more money spent on the actual hiring of the next head coach, the less money that Florida State will have to disperse elsewhere.
All concerns about bringing in a first-year head coach aside, Schumann is by far the most cost-effective target. Money isn't everything in today's college football landscape, but there is no denying the fact that programs with more resources have a better chance of winning and playing in big games each season.
Deion Sanders and Colorado are a perfect example, with Sanders being a relevant part of the coaching rumors. Sanders spent roughly $21 million on his roster, and programs that spent that amount have had a 5% chance at making the College Football Playoffs.
Florida State is sitting somewhere around the $30 million mark, but much of that is due to the "suck tax" that many people have tried to avoid talking about. Players and agents want more to stick with a school that is losing, and that was clear this past offseason when Florida State paid up to retain multiple players like Mandrell and Darryll Desir, who briefly entered the portal.
Florida State has spent a lot of money in the past few seasons just to keep the roster intact, which takes a big bite out of the budget. The Seminoles need to be able to bring talent into the program at market value, and that is something Norvell struggled mightily with this past offseason in particular.
Schumann might be the guy who can alleviate some of the financial issues Florida State has been running into at the sacrifice of head coaching experience.
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