Who will be the coach?

All signs are pointing toward Bill Doba staying at Washington State, which is both odd and not at all unexpected, since it would cost the school $2.8 mill to clean house and they are trying to get a stadium built.

But on what Sportschick said, as a Wazzu guy I would love to see Chris Peterson head north but he has bigger fish to fry. I could see him at UCLA (especially before Neuheisel). I could see him at Washington should the plug be pulled on Cyborg Ty (Though Ty's going to keep his job and if he doesn't, Jim Mora Jr. is the guy). I could see him at many, many places nationally because if his name isn't one of the hottest in all these searches, somebody hasn't been paying attention. But I just cannot see him at Wazzu. He's earned a bigger job.

BTW, Baylor, above all else, will make a clean hire. The Bliss Effect is still heavy. Their new coach will have a clean record with the NCAA.

 

Think Bower ends up at Ole Miss?

 

The phrase 'no way in hell' immediately comes to mind.

 

Any chance Nutt gives the finger to Arkansas fans by taking the Ole Miss job?

 

I can't imagine him going anywhere...he's an average coach at an average mid-major school.

 

The Hattiesburg American is reporting that Bower was fired, in contrast to resigning via Sun-Herald and ESPN.com.

FSR has reported that Lubick is negotiating a buyout at CSU.

 

AJC reporting Gailey a goner...

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/gatech/stories/2007/11/26/gailey_1126.html?cxntlid=homepage_tab_newstab

 

Average coach at an average mid-major school, eh?

Duke sounds like a good match for Bower: average coach coaching at a below-average football program at a major school.

 

Turner Gill, HC @ Buffalo, was granted permission to talk to Osborne about the NU opening. Though I am sticking to my guns here and saying that Gill is ONLY receiving a courtesy interview from NU/Osborne. His former mentor is helping position him for other openings; both now and in the future. Gill will interview and then back off of the job, which will be good for him though it is going to leave a lot of the locals puzzled. By turning down Nebraska publicly Gill will get some looks from around the country.. Remember Gill is only making $350k in base as the HC @ Buffalo.

Jim Grobe, HC @ Wake Forest, was contacted by the Atlanta search firm. He has initially denied to interview for the position. Grobe has been a favorite of Tom Osborne's since before the process began per Mike Osborne. He has done some wonderful things for Wake Forest and has a comfortable thing going for him in the ACC. There are some close to the situation that believe he may be swayed to interview still, but as of right now he has declined that opportunity.

Brian Kelly, HC @ Cincinnati, will not be a viable candidate for the NU job as it would cost NU $2mm in buyout money prior to 1/1/2008. Now that figure drops to $1mmm after 1/1/2008 but Osborne wants a guy in Lincoln ASAP to reinvigorate recruiting prior to the dead period. Kelly's contract has in affect priced him out of the NU job. He has a $750k base from Cincinnati that they are renegotiating as well as talking of a new indoor practice facility. They seem committed to building a competitive football program in the Big East.

Dr. Osborne will NOT be speaking with Paul Johnson. He had gotten some reviews from those that know Johnson and let's just say they didn't come back as ringing endorsements.

Bo Pelini, DC @ LSU, met with Osborne for dinner this evening. Yes, those planes that everyone was tracking were for Bo (Surprise! Surprise!). He is the leading candidate and the odds on favorite to get the NU job (as if I needed to tell you that). He will have a formal interview tomorrow with Osborne and this thing could wrap up rather quickly unless Pelini totally botches his one-on-one. Today was a film session early for LSU and tomorrow is an off day for the team, so the timing for an interview is now (as you can see happening).
More details to follow.

 

The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson is also reporting Bower was fired.

And Bower's better than just "average". He turned the redheaded stepchild of Mississippi's three schools into the most consistent program in the state. Not sure he'd turn Ole Miss into a juggernaut -- not sure that's even possible -- but I think he'd do all right.

 

Ouch.

I've now got a hunch Nutt stays for one more year. The LSU win might save his job.

But he'd jump to Oxford in a heartbeat.

 

If McFadden and Jones leave, and why wouldn't they, Nutt should get out of town now. There's no way the Hogs will be any good next year without those two, plus I believe Monk is a senior.