Arkansas
Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach could be the frontrunner for the Arkansas job. He worked at Oklahoma with incoming Athletic Director Jeff Long. I also believe that Oakland Raider Head Coach Lane Kiffen has a strong interest in the Razorback job. His father, Monte Kiffen (Tampa Bay Buc defensive coordinator), coached there with Frank Broyles and the younger Kiffen’s dream is to be a major college Head Coach. I know it’s a long shot, especially because of his hefty buyout, but I still hear Tommy Tuberville’s name with this one.
Duke
The Blue Devils are going to shoot high and try and land a big one. I think they make a strong pitch for Steve Logan (Boston College offensive coordinator), David Cutcliffe (Tennessee offensive coordinator), Terry Bowden, Paul Johnson (Navy), Chan Gailey, etc. But I see Cutcliffe staying in Knoxville and Gailey going back to the NFL. I think Logan is the front runner with this one at this time.
Georgia Tech
The potential coaching list continues to grow and grow for the Yellow Jackets, as it appears now Will Muschamp (Auburn defensive coordinator), Rick Neuheisel, Chris Hatcher (Georgia Southern), John Tenuta (current GT defensive coordinator), Charlie Strong (Florida defensive coordinator) and Randy Edsall (UConn) are all strong possibilities. What about Jimbo Fisher? It’s not that he wouldn’t want to coach there but his hope may be to stay at FSU and become their next Head Coach, when Bobby Bowden decides to retire.
As I stated a few days ago, look for Georgia Tech to likely go young, with an up and comer. I like Muschamp’s chances and the dark horse is Hatcher. Here’s the kicker, the Yellow Jackets would love to keep Tenuta but would that be a possibility with Muschamp? Hard to say, but it certainly would make sense if they decided to go with Hatcher, an offensive minded guy and pair him with Tenuta. If that did happen, what will Giff Smith (current DL coach and Recruiting Coordinator) decide to do? He is a hot name right now and would love to stay at GT but he also may have an opportunity to become a defensive coordinator elsewhere, if not at Tech.
Houston
Houston has asked permission to speak with Major Applewhite (offensive coordinator) from Alabama. Also on the short list is Kevin Sumlin, Mike Haywood and Joe DeForest.
Nebraska
There have been various reports that Nebraska is down to two candidates in Bo Pelini (LSU defensive coordinator) and Turner Gill (Buffalo) after also speaking with Jim Grobe (Wake Forest) and Paul Johnson (Navy). If that were true and if Gill was the guy interim Athletic Director Tom Osbourne wants then why wait any longer? Make the announcement now. That’s why at this point I think it’s Pelini and I think everyone is waiting for the SEC Championship Game to come and go this weekend. Then an announcement will be made. Just a hunch.
LSU/Michigan
With Michigan asking LSU for permission to speak with Les Miles I think things move quickly next week and that’s your new Michigan coach. Not a big secret. But this is a big one and this is where we can start to see some big dominos fall. It appears that the Tigers could be interested in talking with Jack Del Rio (Jacksonville Jaguars), Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) and possibly Tommy Tuberville (Auburn). I am not saying that any one of those three leave but LSU has to be considered one of the top programs in the nation and they will go after and nab a big fish from someone. Maybe Bobby Petrino (Atlanta Falcons)???
Southern Miss
Wouldn’t it make sense if USM’s next coach was Tyrone Nix? The former Southern Miss player and coach is now the defensive coordinator at South Carolina. He has a great chance here. Apparently they want to talk with six candidates – Nix, Will Muschamp, Jimbo Fisher, and I am looking into the others.
SMU
Former SMU coach Phil Bennett was fired midway through the season. A big reason for the early dismissal by Athletic Director Steve Orsini was money. Orsini is “aiming high” and wants a big name coach with experience. Since the Bennett announcement in October it is believed Orsini has raised close to $10 million to go find his man. Word is that Navy coach Paul Johnson is the front runner and will have to make a decision after the annual Army/Navy game this weekend on whether he wants to continue to pursue SMU, talk to other schools like Duke or Arkansas, or stay with Navy. If Johnson elects not to go to SMU this one could go to Terry Bowden.
UCLA
It sure looks like Karl Dorrell will be fired sometime after the USC game. Rick Neuheisel wants the job but that’s a long shot at best. Steve Mariucci has reportedly contacted UCLA about his interest in the potential opening. If Dorrell is let go look for Bruin defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker to be named interim Head Coach. He would have a shot at this job. At the same time he could hold this outstanding UCLA recruiting class together. In the meantime that could buy UCLA some time to perhaps go out and get Norm Chow (Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator) and pair him with DeWayne Walker, as Walker would then assume his defensive coordinator role while Chow would finally get a head coaching job.
Washington State
Everyone knows by now that former WSU coach Mike Price wants to come back and that’s a real possibility. But a few other names to watch for are John L. Smith and Paul Wulff (Eastern Washington). Smith, the former Head Coach at Louisville, Michigan State and Idaho, was also an assistant at Washington State many years ago. Wulff is currently in the 1-AA playoffs with Eastern Washington and remains silent but this could be a similar move that Ohio State made with Jim Tressel. Ed Orgeron would also love to chat with the Cougars.
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