I have been saying this all along and we have discussed ad nauseum...it was a smart move and left nothing to interpretation and perception for any of the key decision makers at UF.  If they liked him, they were prepared to cut (or discuss) a deal on the spot, and if they didn't (or were on the fence), they all had a chance to share their impressions without the need for further meetings or discussions.

There are no set rules as to who should or shouldn't attend top level/huge dollar implication meetings.  Time was of the essence and they wanted to either take a run at him...or not.

Think about timing.  They knew they weren't going to contact Mullen or anyone else coaching at the time until the season ended.  Our AD clearly had Mullen as a top candidate all along, and Stricklin understands his bias.  One way to keep a bias in check is to bring the boss along, asking him to balance out your enthusiasm for a single candidate.  This way, they get a more objective evaluation of Kelly, Frost (had he chosen to be a candidate), and Mullen.  Once everyone said yes to Mullen, it was a done deal.

The best thing about the Mullen hire is we know there will be superb alignment and communication between coaches, AD office, and UF leadership.  It's as certain as possible for such a hire.  We need to remember how important this is if we want stability in the coaching staff.  We don't have a 3-month rebuilding effort, unfortunately.