A supposedly significant reason that Marcus Freeman got the job was because
the players wanted him. I get that. Only the players are a bunch of 20 year old kids
who are short-termers with the program.
Being a head coach requires a different temperament apart from who the
players "like". Based on likablility, Ara, Lou and Nick Saban too probably
wouldn't be the first choice of the guys who played under them.
Heck, if likeability to players were a driving criterion, Lombardi would not
have been hired by Green Bay.
The collective opinion of the players should be respected and listened to.
But used primarily to support the negative of why a guy shouldn't be hired.
I.e., the players know that a guy is a liar and/or a sociopath or just plain
incompetent.
Making major decisions based on heart-string appeals rather than demonstrated
evidence almost never works out. I can only hope that Marcus proves to be
an exception.