2013 College Football Coaching Carousel thread...

So Lane Kiffin says Ed O should get the USC job. I wonder if he realizes they aren't helping. I think Ed is a lock for Pac12 coach of the year - I do agree though that unless USC wins the Pac 12 and the Rose Bowl, USC should look elsewhere.

 

That's actually true, but all those guys were with Leach at Tech. Would add Tony Franklin to the list. Although not a head coach he has played a big roll in advancing the spread in college football. All in all a pretty interesting and initiative group.

 

It's just that the hatred/envy of Alabama has become so strong that we're grasping at straws, hoping that any old bunch of gerbils might pull an upset and save whatever good is left in sports.

 

Exactly. As I mentioned earlier in this thread (or maybe in the last one), Alabama is not a good match-up for Auburn.

Auburn can't stop the run and Alabama runs on everyone. With the exception of LSU in 2011, all the teams that have beaten Alabama the last 4-5 years had dynamic, downfield passing quarterbacks. Nick Marshall can run, but he's not much of a passer, miracles against Georgia aside.

The fact that Auburn is at home will make it close for a while, but I think Alabama wears Auburn down in the second half just like it did A&M and LSU.

 

I don't think Auburn will win and I see the game very much as Steak does. But it's a possibility. A freak win like Georgia can go either way. Either opponents start thinking "these guys aren't so much" or Auburn starts thinking "whatever happens, we'll win." That is exactly Alabama's mindset, and it's worth a lot.

 

You don't think Sonny Dykes wins coach of the year?

 

I admit to being fascinated by the USC/Orgeron situation.

It's the absolute "perfect storm" for Pat Haden to deal with. Everyone though that Kiffin had to go but no one expected Orgeron to raise this team to where it is.

Orgeron is doing everything right yet I don't think it's enough.

Cowherd brought up a scenario I think that may have some weight. USC hired Orgeron but keeps him on a short rope with a low buyout. They're a private school - they can do exactly this without extra attention. Instead of Sumlin at $6M, hire Orgeron at $2M, surround him with quality assistants and see what happens next year.

If next year turns out to be 5-7, they can let Orgeron go for minimal severance and make a run at a big name. Classic hedging of the bets.

 

I think you take a swing or two for the fences. Maybe Sumlin and one other guy. If you whiff on both, you go with Orgeron. I don't think USC is too worried about saving money.

 

But let's say that USC thinks that Sumlin is nothing more than a guy who rode Keenum and Manziel to this vaunted, Saban-like status.

 

You almost wonder though if the EdO groundswell might give another coach second thoughts about heading there. You come in to a program you want to be viewed at as "the guy" - not "the guy who made our friend leave."

 

USC would get killed on the recruiting trail if it did that.

 

That's possible. I was using Sumlin as an example because he's the hot coach of the moment, the way Meyer was at Utah a decade ago.