BODY COUNT, BODY COUNT: COACHING CAROUSEL, AGAIN.

The dellusional crowd in Tuscaloosa is still saying that Spurrier is going to be their coach…despite the fact that he just signed a new deal in Columbia…despite the fact that his buyout is now $3 million…despite the fact that he has repeatedly said he’s not leaving the Gamecocks.

Yeah….he’s coming to take over the Tide program….sure….he’ll be there REAL soon.

A little birdie told me that Jim Donnan is headed to NC State.

Maybe ‘Bama is waiting for Tom Coughlin to get fired. We really haven’t talked about current NFL coaches that are on the hotseat too much. I think Gruden’s name has come up once or twice, but that’s about it.

It’s probably gonna kill their recruiting though.

This opens the door for McCarney to Stanford. Hopefully they’re willing to give him the job.

I liked the NC State blog, it shows if you put anything in italics it sounds more likely to happen and very intriguing. More people should write like this.

The afternoon’s favorites are Rodriguez and Paul Johnson right now. Most of the smart ones are getting over the Spurrier dreams, & realize that when Saban says we screwed up firing Shula, he’s probably not in the running.

The stupidest thing I’ve heard was someone poo pooing Cal’s Tedford because he got beat by UT, case closed.

Here’s a non sequitur. Why is everyone hyping Wisconsin so hard as a big win for Michigan? They played exactly one team worth a piss and loss. They played one of the most pathetic schedules and even got to skip Ohio State, what a joke of a schedule, maybe the weakest one I’ve seen in a while. Even SEC teams laughed when they saw Wisconsin’s schedule.

Maybe the folks at the Capstone took a look at what happened when Bobby Lowder sent his plane to Louisville the year before Tubberville went 12-0. Maybe they thought that they would have high-octane candidates beating down their door. Maybe, maybe, maybe.

They will really have to shell out the bucks, on the front-end and the exit clause. I think it was Saban that said you plan for 2 days in your contract when you take a coaching job: the day that you are hired and the day that you are fired.

I’m hearing State is going to move quickly on Paul Johnson before Alabama gets a chance to talk to him.

I think NCSU already has a deal with Cowher but they can’t announce it until later in the NFL season, after the Steelers are eliminated from playoff contention.

OT: I was talking with my friends, and I’ve got a question for the crew?
If Chris Leak finally pulls it together and we shock the world, can anyone think of an athlete who has overcome more criticism because what we thought he could be (some sort of Charlie Ward/Danny hybrid was my guess) and what he would have become (the 2nd greatest QB in Gator history).

Cincinnati has one ‘t’…

Bama has been through an unprecedented run of bad luck when it comes to coaches. Both Fran and Price would have fielded competitive teams. Shula was a May hire made in desperation, and came as a boy to do a mans job.

The only thing Bama fans are potentially delusional about is that we should stoop to the level of some other SEC programs in terms of expectations.

Fear the Rod.

We are in “black helicopter” territory for the Alabama coaching search.

Enter at your own risk.

85is711,

I’m not sure what that means, but I think it’s funny.

JohninHuntsville,

I agree with you. That said, way to tone it down a little bit with the arrogance. Your thoughts are much more credible (and tolerable) that way. But, yes, there is no reason to settle for mediocrity. Bama will be BACK some time, whether it be next year, the year after that, or ten years down the road. No need to listen to these freaks that say Alabama will never be back to championship standards. If the right coach (not sure Rod would be right considering his obvious ignorance to the pressures at Bama) is hired, Alabama will always have the potential to be dangerous.

I think Tedford’s a bad fit for Bama just because he can’t seem to get over the USC hump and he has a tendency to fall in trap/letdown games – not the sort of thing you want when Tennessee and Auburn are insurmountable obstacles.

I don’t know if Daniel Craig is a good pick, but then, he’s logged as many hours as head coach as Shula had, so what the hell. At the very least you know he’ll pop a cap in somebody’s ass…

I have no idea what was “arrogant” about my post. Whether from the coaching staff, the players, or the administration, Alabama demands excellence. Period.

What most of the waterheads in this world do not understand is that Alabama had these expectations long before Paul Bryant came to Bama to coach. And they will always have these expectations. Is that “delusional” or “arrogant”? You must set the bar high, or you will always be satisfied with “average”.

This is still Bama, and we will rise again. Just like we always do.

Cardiac Kids,

I think RR would be perfect for exactly the reasons you think he wouldn’t. We need a hard-nosed ball coach that is ready to tell the kids, the fans, the admin, and the press to shut the fuck up and get on the bus.

John,

I said “WAY TO tone it down with the arrogance.” As in good job, that post was not as arrogant as it could have been. You’re right about RR…he has intensity that is much-needed at Alabama. It’s just that, if he ends up there, his call-in the other night may be an example of impulsive behavior that might get him into trouble. Then again, maybe you’re right…nobody has ever told those folks (kids, fans, admin.) to shut the fuck up. If he can win I guess he can tell whoever the hell he wants to shut up.

If Rich Rodriguez becomes the next head coach at Alabama, I will make one circuit of my block in Birmingham’s Southside wearing naught but running shoes, a houndstooth hat, and an Alabama flag wrapped about my nether regions.

Look, it’s not that I don’t want Bama to be good, because I do, but Bama fans have got to start realizing that every time they fire a coach the job becomes less attractive to everyone else. Whatever attraction the Alabama job holds just by virtue of being Alabama has to be mitigated to some extent by the fact that nobody can count on holding the job for more than three years.

Re: Cowher to State. As a Raleigh resident, I keep telling my Wolfpack friends that NCSU should be willing to wait for Cower if need be. As the Stillers season continues to collapse he would seem more likely to listen. The rumor mill says that Cowher promised his wife that if he leaves Pittsburgh he would take some time off from coaching and watch their daughters play college basketball at Princeton. Of course, the Cowhers did just buy a HUGE house here, so i suppose anything is possible.

Bacon – while I agree that it could hurt recruiting short-term for Bama to wait on a coach, the goal for a program has to be to get the best fit. Sometimes teams may have to sacrifice one recruting class if they want to wait out a coach whose season is still ongoing. Is Skip Holtz getting any consideration down there? I know he isn’t Saban or Spurrier or a ‘big name’ – but he is someone the Tide could count on for 10-15 years because he is only 42 years old.

Where Rodriguez is concerned, I’m not sure anybody should be planning a victory parade in Tuscaloosa just yet.

He’s under contract through 2012, with a very hefty buyout, and he’s not exactly acting like a guy who is staying up night thinking of ways to get the hell out of Morgantown.

Bama and Miami remind of the guys who say “I can date any girl in this school.” Which is true. But the girls have to want to go out with you, and they don’t. I wouldn’t presume that either job is better than the one he has now.

Cardiac, you have to understand that John was confused because all regular readers of this thing Orson passes off as a blog ASSUME that all posts are sarcastic. And that’s not without evidence to the point, since 99.9999999999999999% of them are.

Rocket,
Either Rich is taking the Bama job or leaving for FSU when Bowden leaves. If Bama and Miami think they can date any girl at school, Coach Rod is definitely willing to put out if it gets him on homecoming court.

Wonder what sources of info AUAlum has? Or do facts just get in the way of wishful speculation? Since nobody can state for certain what Rodriguez will do, condider the following:

He’s a West Virginia native, and a WVU alum. Same for Mrs. Rod, btw.

He has decent facilities, a fantaticly loyal fan base, and a straight forward path to BCS bowl games. The contract extension through 2012 was just signed this summer.

He’s working for an adminstration that has long history of not firing coaches – Don Nehlen was there for 20 years. So there’s little risk of being canned after a losing season should that come to pass.

It may well be that for him WVU is a better job than Alabama, or Miami or FSU come to that. I nver fail to be amazed that some tans think “We’re (fill in name of school here). Anybody who wouldn’t want our job must be insane”.

rocket screen,

Have you paid any attention to CRR’s comments? They’re essentially an invitation to fuck.

If offered, he’ll be headed to Tuscaloosa.

Leave RR to the great unwashed masses up in the hills. FSU fans want them some Jimbo!

Who would’ve ever thought the head coach at Rutgers would turn down the mighty “u”? That’s gotta sting a little. Maybe Swofford will go steal them a new one.

Well then Rainmaker, what are we to make of his call-in and at least three times stating that he plans on being at West Virginia, if they will have him. Most coaches who have accepted jobs elsewhere aren’t that proactive. Also not sure he needs to do much of anything, seems to me as far as college football coaching goes he is already on the homecoming court.

No one wants ‘bama. You have to deal with delusional fans who think they’ll be #1 year in year out no matter what, alumni groups around the region that expect the head coach to appear, not his assitants, and have the same life expectancy as a Taliban commando waving a crescent moon flag in the middle of Jerusalem.

Their last hiring search led them to future coaching hall of fame inductees Shula and Croom (Croom might turn out good, but who knows yet).

Petrino & RR are idiots if they leave the cushy Big East and their fast track to the BCS every year.

Mark,

Oh, you mean the call-in where the host asked him if would go to Alabama if offered and he replied, “I’m not even going to address that”? Is that the one to which you’re referring?

Can you point me to one statement where he said, “I will not take the Alabama job,” or something to that effect? Let me answer that for you: no.

The ony thing he’s said is that he “plans” on being the coach at WVU indefinitely. What in the hell would you expect him to say at this juncture?

Damn, some of you guys are absolutely clueless.

Ankf00,

You might want to do a little research on the circumstances under which the previous two coaching hires were made. Hardly comparing apples to apples there, pal.

Rocket,
I’m an Auburn fan, why would I want Rodriguez in T-town? He was willing to talk to UNC, and he’s willing to talk with Bama. There is an offer on the table.

Doug, better retract that promise unless you really just want to show off to the kids hanging outside of Bell Bottoms.

Who has seen a copy of this offer? What’s the source?

rocket,

I don’t believe he has an offer at the moment. If he does, that’s very bad news for you guys.

Here me now and believe me later,
Rich has told WVU a number of what it will take to keep him (I’m guessing 2.3, 2.4 a year). If they meet it he stays, if not he heads to Tuscaloosa.

And I meant to say “here” not “hear” you can’t audibly “hear” me type.

Them that knows, ain’t saying. Them that’s saying, don’t know.

I don’t think the Bama job is as much a trapdoor as it’s been portrayed. Since Stallings left, the record is:

Dubose – probably would have been fired sooner, between the secretary issues and the NCAA sniffing around, if not for the 1999 SEC title

Franchione – quit

Price – did something immensely stupid without having signed his contract

and then Shula, who had four years that are about par for the course.

Coaches are turning over like a pig that belongs to Ralph Friedgen, that’s a fact, but nobody’s been run off for not winning games other than Shula (and honestly, I think his lack of gravitas and weak hand on discipline probably hurt him as much as losing to Auburn. OK, probably not.)

I think what they’re looking for in Tuscaloosa is somebody who a) won’t suck and b) won’t flake out. This search will probably take a while.

Does Alabama really want Rodriguez? He runs a true spread and OMG OMG it wont work in the All-Universe SEC against the fastest ever defenses that tackle so well.

Walt Harris = Rob Lowe

Harry Potter = Tomas Rosicky, Cze. Republic & Arsenal midfielder

Redtide,

You know what assuming does to U and ME.

rocket screen,

I’m not saying that Alabama is better than WVU because of this, but do you think it really matters what Rod’s “hefty buyout” is? Wait, that’s exactly what I’m saying.

Bama and the “U” are finding out what LSU found out a couple of years ago. That is great coaches usually already have great jobs. Second, rabid fans (Miami, this doesn’t apply to you) can be a blessing and a curse. Unless you are at a place like Texas, a huge following also means intense criticism and rediculous expectations. Let’s face it, would Florida have been as attractive if Urban had to follow Spurrier rather than Zook. Zook was a great recruiter and a terrible coach. It was a perfect situation for a new coach to step into. Unfortunately, UA and Da U seem to be in a bit of a recession in national perception and recruiting, but their respective fan bases still believe that they are elite. Whoever takes over at each school will have some work ahead of them.

LSUfan,

Good post—I agree with virtually everything you wrote. I do think the standard “Bama fans are delusional” line is a bit oversold (in fairness, it’s certainly true some of the older contingency have yet to wise-up to the reality of the current state of affairs). With regard to this coaching search, I believe most Bama fans simply believe that the powers that be should aim high, regardless of how things might, will, or should turn out.

All in all, while the program has certainly fallen on hard times (getting hammered twice by the NCAA in an 5 year period will do that), there’s no reason to think Bama would not be an attractive job to any number of talented coaches (of course, that’s not to say any coach in America would be crazy not to jump at the opportunity, either). The program is committed to paying top-dollar, and the facilities, fan support, and tradition are second-to-none. It’s certainly not every coach’s dream job, but this time around the program should be in position to land a highly capable and proven head coach.

Rainmaker,

You are right… BAMA should aim high, but they shouldn’t get their feelings hurt when coaches start to pull their names out of the running. It doesn’t mean that where they are is a better job/program, it just means that it might be a better situation for them. Noone wants to get “Willinghamed”. Believe me, all of the names that have come up for you were on LSU’s list 2 years ago when Saban aparently “Willinghamed” himself. Noone saw Les Miles coming because we were all focused on the Steve Spuriers and Butch Davises of the world (holly cow, can you imagine!). Good luck with the search… college football is better when Alabama is good.

Who’s this Noone guy?

Noone, as in Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits? And what about Holly Cow? Is she one of the new sideline reporters for [Name Redacted] Sports or what?!