2013 College Football off-season

[UK1679666180]

Now that the season is basically over for most programs, it is time to look at which programs are looking and which candidates are out there.

 

I'll speak of Kentucky 1st, since Phillips finally got fired. Disappointed in talks of Fulmer, been down this road with Brooks. They're also interested in the HC at Utah St. Know little about him except he runs the spread offense and has never recruited much in the SE.

 

Like theyve done in BB, need to sell their souls again and bring in Petrino. He'll a max of two years or use UK to bid against Tenn to up his contract but UK needs that type of jolt.

[OleMissCub]

The No.1 ranked player in the country is likely to sign with Ole Miss. That makes me happy.

[UK1679666180]

I fear Gruden ending up in Knoxville. Im hoping he ends up at USC or the pros. I want UK to be where Ole Miss is in 1 to 2 years.

[OleMissCub]

I fear Gruden ending up in Knoxville. Im hoping he ends up at USC or the pros. I want UK to be where Ole Miss is in 1 to 2 years.

 

Gruden isn't going to be a college coach.

 

As far as Ole Miss goes, Hugh Freeze should win SEC Coach of the Year for what he has done with the Rebels in a single year. They are only 5-6 but should have/very easily could have wins against LSU (lost by 6 thanks to a 4th quarter punt return TD) and A&M (lost by 3).

 

What is most startling is to look at how bad Ole Miss was last year compared to this year under Freeze. Keep in mind Ole Miss still has a game to go this season.

 

Points Scored

2011: 193

2012: 330

 

PPG

2011: 16.1

2012: 30.0

 

Yards

2011: 3375

2012: 4595

 

Sack

2011: 13

2012: 30

[dew1679666265]

I fear Gruden ending up in Knoxville. Im hoping he ends up at USC or the pros. I want UK to be where Ole Miss is in 1 to 2 years.

 

I still think Gruden ends up in the NFL. Though there's an extreme amount of smoke all over the place around here (not just fans - people like Ron Higgins and Erin Andrews, for what it's worth, are saying Gruden to UT is basically a done deal).

 

I actually think there's a real chance we end up with Jimbo Fisher. He's apparently unhappy at FSU and has a good relationship with Dave Hart. Wouldn't be quite as sexy as a Stoops/Gruden hire, but I think it could be just as good.

 

Any FSU fans have thoughts on that?

[dew1679666265]

From Brent Hubbs, owner of Volquest.com and a guy pretty tied into UT athletics, especially recruiting.

 

Coach canidates: Gruden is strongly considering. Stoops has put out feelers to TN. Gruden is more in depth in reaching out, studying TN. After those there is Jimbo, Al Golden and Strong. These are the early core 5 names.

 

Also, Jimmy Hyams - a reporter who's got some connections - says there's little chance for Gruden, but insists Stoops is very much in the mix and has a good chance of coming to UT.

 

I really hate the Al Golden rumors. Would like Jimbo, ok with Strong (best of the "second tier hires), would be intrigued by a guy like Art Briles who I've heard sporadically rumored. Really torn on Gruden - great in-game coach, but has a strong (earned) reputation of having no patience with developing young players. Could be a Weiss-like hire who brings in great talent but can't develop it.

[KingCubsFan]

From Brent Hubbs, owner of Volquest.com and a guy pretty tied into UT athletics, especially recruiting.

 

Coach canidates: Gruden is strongly considering. Stoops has put out feelers to TN. Gruden is more in depth in reaching out, studying TN. After those there is Jimbo, Al Golden and Strong. These are the early core 5 names.

 

Also, Jimmy Hyams - a reporter who's got some connections - says there's little chance for Gruden, but insists Stoops is very much in the mix and has a good chance of coming to UT.

 

I really hate the Al Golden rumors. Would like Jimbo, ok with Strong (best of the "second tier hires), would be intrigued by a guy like Art Briles who I've heard sporadically rumored. Really torn on Gruden - great in-game coach, but has a strong (earned) reputation of having no patience with developing young players. Could be a Weiss-like hire who brings in great talent but can't develop it.

I can't think of a single good reason why Jimbo Fisher would leave FSU for Tenn.

[dew1679666265]

I can't think of a single good reason why Jimbo Fisher would leave FSU for Tenn.

 

What I've been hearing from different media types is that Jimbo isn't happy at FSU because of a power struggle between he and the AD (I believe) and apparently he's also not happy that he's apparently not getting the monetary backing that was promised for facilities and the like. Also heard that he's unhappy his team is 10-1 and stuck at 10th in the BCS behind half the SEC. He also apparently has a good relationship with current UT AD (and former FSU assistant AD) Dave Hart.

 

I really doubted it at first and ultimately I'm not saying he'll be the hire, but there's a lot of people who have connections who say he's interested. Despite the record, I don't think Tennessee's that far from being good again and he'd likely get a raise. Could be just him angling for a raise/more funding, but there's a lot of smoke around him.

[Derwood]

The No.1 ranked player in the country is likely to sign with Ole Miss. That makes me happy.

 

Is that the kid that was previously committed to Clemson?

[Wilson A2000]

I can't think of a single good reason why Jimbo Fisher would leave FSU for Tenn.

 

What I've been hearing from different media types is that Jimbo isn't happy at FSU because of a power struggle between he and the AD (I believe) and apparently he's also not happy that he's apparently not getting the monetary backing that was promised for facilities and the like. Also heard that he's unhappy his team is 10-1 and stuck at 10th in the BCS behind half the SEC. He also apparently has a good relationship with current UT AD (and former FSU assistant AD) Dave Hart.

 

I really doubted it at first and ultimately I'm not saying he'll be the hire, but there's a lot of people who have connections who say he's interested. Despite the record, I don't think Tennessee's that far from being good again and he'd likely get a raise. Could be just him angling for a raise/more funding, but there's a lot of smoke around him.

 

I'v also heard that he doesn't like to schmooze with the big donors at FSU and they are the ones who want him out. Also heard rumors he could end up at Auburn. Not that Jimbo wants to go there, but it is a job.

[dew1679666265]

I'v also heard that he doesn't like to schmooze with the big donors at FSU and they are the ones who want him out. Also heard rumors he could end up at Auburn. Not that Jimbo wants to go there, but it is a job.

 

I could see Auburn for Jimbo if he leaves (still doubt he does), though I think Petrino is a perfect fit there. They're desperate to win right now against Saban and probably are willing to sell their souls to do it. It's sounding like the anti-Petrino voices are winning at UT, so I wouldn't be surprised to see him wind up at Auburn.

[OleMissCub]

The No.1 ranked player in the country is likely to sign with Ole Miss. That makes me happy.

 

Is that the kid that was previously committed to Clemson?

 

Correct, Robert Nkemdiche. His brother Denzel, a RS Freshman safety/linebacker, is quickly becoming an All-SEC type defensive stud. Their mother is in the Nigerian Congress and has made it very, very obvious that she doesn't want to fly home and have to split games between her sons. Robert has been to like 7 Ole Miss games and since his decommit from Clemson is considered by most writers to be a silent verbal to the Rebels.

[Derwood]

The No.1 ranked player in the country is likely to sign with Ole Miss. That makes me happy.

 

Is that the kid that was previously committed to Clemson?

 

Correct, Robert Nkemdiche. His brother Denzel, a RS Freshman safety/linebacker, is quickly becoming an All-SEC type defensive stud. Their mother is in the Nigerian Congress and has made it very, very obvious that she doesn't want to fly home and have to split games between her sons. Robert has been to like 7 Ole Miss games and since his decommit from Clemson is considered by most writers to be a silent verbal to the Rebels.

 

So what's going to happen to his 6 high school buddies that he made Clemson offer scholarships to?

[UK1679666180]

How strong are the rumors of Petrino to Auburn?

 

Its amazing that Fischer or Stoops would leave but with a place as great as UT, I could see it.

 

Gruden in a college enviroment would be amazing till he pulls a Doug Collins and burns out.

[CubInOK]

Sigh. Stoops ain't leaving OU. He's rumored for every job opening and never goes anywhere.

[Tracer Bullet]

Def not to go to rocky top

[imb]

yeah, stoops has the cushiest gig in sports, he's not going to start over somewhere at a place that might actually call a new coach out on his [expletive].

[dew1679666265]

How strong are the rumors of Petrino to Auburn?

 

Its amazing that Fischer or Stoops would leave but with a place as great as UT, I could see it.

 

Gruden in a college enviroment would be amazing till he pulls a Doug Collins and burns out.

 

I haven't followed the Auburn situation at all since Dooley was fired and the UT hot stove heated up considerably, but prior to Dooley's firing, I heard an Auburn beat reporter (can't remember who) say that there was a pretty strong contingent of Auburn boosters and board of trustee members who really wanted Petrino. It's not up to date by any means, but the fit makes perfect sense to me.

 

The Stoops thing I put maybe a 1-2% chance of anything happening on that, but there's a couple of media figures who ensure there's something brewing there so who knows. The Fisher thing I think has a lot more legs to it, but still seems to be a bit of a longshot.

 

The Gruden circus is going completely off the hinges. There's a contingent of people saying the deal is done and has been for a week or so and there's another contingent of people (interestingly, the same ones who insist there's something to the Stoops thing) saying the talks fell through and there will be no deal.

 

Apparently the holdup, according to basically everybody around here, with Gruden is how much control he'll have. He apparently wants a Saban-esque deal where he controls everything in the football operations department and UT brass is unwilling to go that far. Honestly, I'm a little uncomfortable giving Gruden Saban level power. I'm still not convinced Gruden is a better choice than Jimbo Fisher.

[dew1679666265]

Def not to go to rocky top

 

There's basically 0 chance Stoops leaves OU, but if he did I don't see why Tennessee is that far-fetched a place for him.

[Tracer Bullet]

But that's Johnelle

 

I'm not sure there was ever a more predictable collapse than the one Arkansas has made since naming John L the interim head coach. I can't figure out how they thought that was a good move.

 

No offense. Tenn is better that a lot of CFB gigs. But I can't think of a single thing about Tenn that's better than the gig Stoops has.

[dew1679666265]

No offense. Tenn is better that a lot of CFB gigs. But I can't think of a single thing about Tenn that's better than the gig Stoops has.

 

I agree with that. I guess my thinking is, if Stoops wants to leave (change of scenery idea), then Tennessee wouldn't be a dropoff from a historical/tradition/prestige standpoint. Clearly the talent isn't comparable between the two, but that's a temporary thing.

 

Those who argue that there's something to the Stoops to Tennessee rumors explain it with the change of scenery argument. There's a belief around many in college football that about 10-12 years is the lifespan of a coach at one university these days. Spurrier vocalised that a couple years ago and he and Stoops are good friends. If Stoops shares this view and feels underappreciated at OU, he could see UT as a comparable job that allows for a fresh start without dropping off in caliber.

 

As I've said, I doubt strongly that's enough for Stoops to leave OU, but it at least puts a shred of crediblity in the rumors. And who knows, if UT can pony up in the area of $6-7 mil per year and OU doesn't want to match that, maybe Stoops makes the jump. Again, I very seriously doubt it, but I also don't 100% dismiss it either (I just 99% dismiss it).

 

This probably should've gone into the other thread, so I'll shift my post over there.

[dew1679666265]

No offense. Tenn is better that a lot of CFB gigs. But I can't think of a single thing about Tenn that's better than the gig Stoops has.

 

I agree with that. I guess my thinking is, if Stoops wants to leave (change of scenery idea), then Tennessee wouldn't be a dropoff from a historical/tradition/prestige standpoint. Clearly the talent isn't comparable between the two, but that's a temporary thing.

 

Those who argue that there's something to the Stoops to Tennessee rumors explain it with the change of scenery argument. There's a belief around many in college football that about 10-12 years is the lifespan of a coach at one university these days. Spurrier vocalised that a couple years ago and he and Stoops are good friends. If Stoops shares this view and feels underappreciated at OU, he could see UT as a comparable job that allows for a fresh start without dropping off in caliber.

 

As I've said, I doubt strongly that's enough for Stoops to leave OU, but it at least puts a shred of crediblity in the rumors. And who knows, if UT can pony up in the area of $6-7 mil per year and OU doesn't want to match that, maybe Stoops makes the jump. Again, I very seriously doubt it, but I also don't 100% dismiss it either (I just 99% dismiss it).

[snoodmonger]

No offense. Tenn is better that a lot of CFB gigs. But I can't think of a single thing about Tenn that's better than the gig Stoops has.

 

I agree with that. I guess my thinking is, if Stoops wants to leave (change of scenery idea), then Tennessee wouldn't be a dropoff from a historical/tradition/prestige standpoint. Clearly the talent isn't comparable between the two, but that's a temporary thing.

 

Those who argue that there's something to the Stoops to Tennessee rumors explain it with the change of scenery argument. There's a belief around many in college football that about 10-12 years is the lifespan of a coach at one university these days. Spurrier vocalised that a couple years ago and he and Stoops are good friends. If Stoops shares this view and feels underappreciated at OU, he could see UT as a comparable job that allows for a fresh start without dropping off in caliber.

 

As I've said, I doubt strongly that's enough for Stoops to leave OU, but it at least puts a shred of crediblity in the rumors. And who knows, if UT can pony up in the area of $6-7 mil per year and OU doesn't want to match that, maybe Stoops makes the jump. Again, I very seriously doubt it, but I also don't 100% dismiss it either (I just 99% dismiss it).

 

UT is a pretty big step down from OU, ad I find it hard to believe this is anything more than the annual fake Stoops rumor.

[dew1679666265]

UT is a pretty big step down from OU, ad I find it hard to believe this is anything more than the annual fake Stoops rumor.

 

If you look only or primarily at current talent on each team, I agree. If you're talking about prestige/history/etc, I think they're fairly even. Both are top 10 in history in wins, Tennessee has a stadium seating 100K+ (denoting a rather large fanbase), both have relatively recent BCS titles.

 

I'm not real sure what makes UT a clear step down unless you're looking only at the current talent level of the team. As I've been saying, though, I agree with the bolded.

[imb]

im not so sure what the difference between the two teams are unless youre talking about one team being way better than the other