College football offseason thread

[Guest]

Alright, just checking in with a few things I have heard today...

 

Smart was all but locked up to UGA, but in the 11th hour, Bama came back with an offer that Smart could not refuse. UGA was sure they had him locked up, and Smart may have seriously damaged any shot he had at becoming the next head coach at UGA. I'm hearing that a bridge was severely burned today. This is from a high school coach very close to the Athletic Dept at UGA, so tifwiw.

 

Kyle Prater is expected to visit UT this weekend, and the belief off the record is that if he visits, he's a UT lock. Since he wants to be an EE, a decision this weekend is a necessity if he's going to land at TN. Oddly enough, UT was not in Praters Top 3 when he committed to USC, as OU and ND were there. This is a move of necessity for Prater, and UT is in the picture for 3 reasons: Kiffin and his style that is pretty similar to Carroll's, Kippy Brown, and the fact that Zach Fulton and Matt Milton (both families are close to the Praters) are Vols. This decision will have little to no impact on whether the Vols continue to pursue Sims, as they are looking at him as a slot receiver. And don't fool yourself into thinking that TN does not want Sims if they sign Prater. Kiffin and crew spent 7 hours at the Sims house the day before he decommitted. You don't spend that kind of time with a kid you don't desperately want. I've also got interesting info on Sims from a very reliable source that you're welcome to if interested. This info comes from someone who says that Sims would decommit almost 2 months ago.

 

Look for Jessie Scroggins and possibly George Uko to decommit and take a hard look at TN (there are TONS of connections between USC kids and the UT program). I doubt either lands at UT, but their names will both be mentioned there in the coming weeks.

 

You can believe all of this or none of this. Either way, won't bother me. I know it sounds like a UT fan saying "everyone wants to play for us", but this is not at all true. Some of this info is a little hard for me to believe as well, but it comes from the same folks who told me 3 days before that Ahmad Dixon would be a Vol, and that Willis was also switching back to TN several days before that was made public.

 

Per Rivals, TN ends with a Top 3 class. Might still make them 3rd in the SEC, though. Of course, those rankings don't mean anything more than a little positive PR in February, and we all know that nobody wins games on paper in February.

 

If Uko decommits, UCLA will lead for him (not saying Tenn won't have a chance).

[dew1679666265]

Am I the only one who would find it awesome to have Oku and Uko on the same team?

[Guest]

Peter King says Jack Del Rio is staying in Jacksonville.

[shnsajax]

Peter King says Jack Del Rio is staying in Jacksonville.

 

Thats awesome. Why would any real coach take that job until they know what's going to happen to USC?

[Derwood]

Peter King says Jack Del Rio is staying in Jacksonville.

 

Thats awesome. Why would any real coach take that job until they know what's going to happen to USC?

 

not to mention that Del Rio would get a $15 million buy out if Jacksonville fires him, but gets a $0 buy out if he resigns to go to USC

[Exile on Waveland]

Peter King says Jack Del Rio is staying in Jacksonville.

 

And this Colt fan celebrates.

[dew1679666265]

I'm starting to hear increasing rumors that USC is considering Lane Kiffin. Please no.

[snoodmonger]

I know in most circumstances USC is a better gig, but it seems like Kiffin is in a good spot at UT. Has a lot of players coming in at a traditionally strong program that isn't about to get hit w sanctions.

[dew1679666265]

I know in most circumstances USC is a better gig, but it seems like Kiffin is in a good spot at UT. Has a lot of players coming in at a traditionally strong program that isn't about to get hit w sanctions.

 

Yeah, USC 9.9999999 times out of 10 is a better job than Tennessee, generally by a wide margin (because of location and recruiting base primarily), but it's actually debatable right now. Tennessee does have a large amount of talented young players returning with a high potential group of recruits committed. I don't think USC can blow Tennessee away monetarily either for Lane himself or his assistants. Mike Hamilton has shown he's willing to pay to keep good coaches.

 

A lot depends on the sanctions that may hit USC. If they get a postseason ban for any period of time, I think Tennessee might actually be better right now. Looking down the road, however, USC is the better job and my thoughts are that Lane may bolt because of that. I hope not, though.

[dew1679666265]

Schefter's twitter:

 

USC and former 49ers/Lions HC Steve Mariucci have had conversations. Look for those to now continue.

[Andy]

Schefter's twitter:

 

USC and former 49ers/Lions HC Steve Mariucci have had conversations. Look for those to now continue.

After "Bob Stoops is going to be ND's coach tomorrow", I take anything Schefter ever says about college coaching with a metric ton of salt. Especially when no one else is reporting this.

[dew1679666265]

Schefter's twitter:

 

USC and former 49ers/Lions HC Steve Mariucci have had conversations. Look for those to now continue.

After "Bob Stoops is going to be ND's coach tomorrow", I take anything Schefter ever says about college coaching with a metric ton of salt. Especially when no one else is reporting this.

 

Any names in between USC and Lane Kiffin makes me happy. And Mariucci should get another shot sooner than later.

[Exile on Waveland]

I don't think USC can blow Tennessee away monetarily either for Lane himself or his assistants. Mike Hamilton has shown he's willing to pay to keep good coaches.

 

I don't know, USC is private, which influences that calculus quite a bit.

[SouthSideRyan]

Kiffin seems like a strange hire for a school trying to stay in the NCAAs good graces

[SpongeWorthy]

Mooch hasn't coached in 5 years. That's a long time to be out of the game.

[shnsajax]

Schefter's twitter:

 

USC and former 49ers/Lions HC Steve Mariucci have had conversations. Look for those to now continue.

After "Bob Stoops is going to be ND's coach tomorrow", I take anything Schefter ever says about college coaching with a metric ton of salt. Especially when no one else is reporting this.

 

And thats one of those names that you could throw out there and people will believe it because it could make sense.

 

They are going to have to over pay for a coach who will have no idea what he is walking into 3-6 months from now.

[Andy]

USC has hired Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, sources say

[Flames24Rulz]

USC has hired Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, sources say

 

Monte's going with him as well.

[Andy]

USC has hired Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, sources say

 

Monte's going with him as well.

Fine by me. Kiffin's pretty good but I find it hard to believe he can be as good as Carroll was there.

[TruffleShuffle]

USC has hired Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, sources say

 

man that is a huge kick in the balls for tennessee. they look like they were really building toward something and now they lose their coach and who knows, maybe some assistants too? ouch.

[Andy]

USC has hired Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin, sources say

 

man that is a huge kick in the balls for tennessee. they look like they were really building toward something and now they lose their coach and who knows, maybe some assistants too? ouch.

Yeah, and talk about bridge-burning. Knoxville faithful have to be furious with him.

[Butterscup1679666578]

holy [expletive]

[Magnetic Curses]

wonder how this affects prater's decision.

[snoodmonger]

wow. sorry, dew.

 

So who does UT go after? Do they talk to Patterson out of TCU? Petersen from Boise?

[E.J.]

wonder how this affects prater's decision.

 

I'm guessing he goes back to USC. This is crazy news. I'd be furious if I were a Vols fan. Kiffin is a [expletive] prick.