Breaking Down Mike Haywood

Well, it is pretty much official at this point as both the PG’s Paul Ziese and ESPN’s Joe Schad are going on the record saying that Mike Haywood is the next head football coach for the Panthers.  While Haywood wasn’t exactly my first choice (nor do I think that he was Steve Pederson’s for that matter but that is a story for another post) I still cannot help but to find myself nodding along in cautiously optimistic agreement with the hire.  For starters the man gives a pretty decent pregame talk: but in addition to that piece of fiery bluster Haywood also comes in with a pretty impressive resume, working under some of the finest minds in college football.  After a playing career for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame, Haywood paid his dues at early stops at Army, Ohio and Ball State before getting his big break when Gerry DiNardo brought him in as his running backs coach at LSU.  Haywood’s work at LSU as a coach and a recruiter was so good that when DiNardo was ca...