I don't have a "source," just common sense. The Dolphins would not have made the offer if they didn't know Saban was going to accept. He is getting everything he wants. It sucks, but, he's gone. I'm sure we'll hear the news tomorrow. If he stays, I'll be ecstactic and gladly admit I'm wrong. So, I think Tiger fans now need to start contemplating who will be the hire? With what I hear about Davis (health problems, anxiety attacks) I don't think he'd be a good fit. My best guess is that they will hire from the following list: Rodriguez, Riley, Bellotti, Hawkins, Tommy Bowden. I don't think it will be Erickson, Tuberville, Tedford, Neuheisel, Robiskie, or Petrino. An interesting name I heard mentioned was the Ravens' DC, Mike Nolan, he could be a darkhouse candidate. Would like to hear more about him. If I had to guess right now, I'd say Riley or Rodriguez. If the Titans' Jeff Fisher is available at the end of the NFL season, he'd be worth a look. Maybe there's some blockbuster candidate out there I'm not aware of (?) Jimmy Johnson, Lou Holtz, Ara Parseghian? I sure hope they don't pursue some good ol boy retread hack like Slocum or Donnan, or guys from schools like Memphis, North Texas St, OK State or Southern Miss. :cry:
Blockbuster and Lou Holtz do not belong in the same sentence. One of 3 coaches who tried to screw LSU out of a NC by voting USC is now getting mentioned as a HC replacement here? Not to mention his mediocre record and on the field brawl that banned his team from a bowl game and sent him riding into the sunset.
Uh, I was kidding I think Lou has coached his last game. Just a poor attempt at humor at a sad time for Tiger fans, sorry. Still, I'd like to hear some educated speculation on some candidates that perhaps we're all overlooking. Mike Shanahan? Jon Gruden? I still think it will likely be a current college head coach, and with Petrino and Tedford and Tuberville signing extensions recently, I think that makes guys like Rodriguez and Riley as very likely at the top of the available list.:geaux:
I would love to see Spurrier bought out at USC. He has a minimal buyout and is 'only' making 1.3 mil/yr. That would take much of the sting out of losing Saban. Other candidates I like include Davis, Petrino (still only making 1 mil/yr) and Jack Del Rio. Contract extensions or not if we want a guy we will pay to get him. Saban just had his contract extension 10 months ago... By the way, I took your Holtz thing seriously b/c I have seen him mentioned by other posters. Were you also kidding about Jimmy Johnson?
Well, I'll say that I don't think Sexton would have met with Huizenga and then the Phins make a public offer unless Sexton had indicated that it was going to work.
Half-kidding about Jimmy Johnson. I think he's happy w/ his gig on TV and living in South Florida, I think he owns his own island or something. But if he was interested and still had the fire in his belly, wouldn't that be a blockbuster? But that would be the longest of shots. Sorry, but I don't see guys who just signed extensions this week bailing out for LSU. I think even Spurrier has enough loyalty to his new employer to not jump from So. Carolina to LSU within a month of his hire. Let's be more realistic. How do the names of likely available candidates -- Riley, Rodriguez, perhaps the guy at Boise State (Hawkins) grab you? I don't think Shanahan or Gruden (or Del Rio) are very realistic, I don't see them moving from the NFL to college. An NFL coordinator like Nolan or Crennel would. ldskule:
So if this trend holds up, you were half kidding about the first candidate, totally kidding about the second....so what about this Ara guy? Are you not kidding whatsoever about him? Just trying to understand your post. What has Rodriguez done? Is he not the HC at WV? The same WV that was supposed to run the table in the "Big" East and instead let a 8-3 Pitt team pass him by. Thanks but no thanks. If this is not the same guy then pardon my ignorance. Your other two are 'nice' candidates, but LSU is looking for better than nice. At least I hope they are. To me it has to be a big time coach, not just a nice one. The last 'can't miss' miss guy to come out of Boise was Dirk Koetter and he has been average at ASU. I guess that just leaves Butch Davis since no other coach under contract would break it to come here.
I guess my humor is a little subtle. Ara Parseghian was the Notre Dame coach in the 1970s, there were rumors that he would be hired to replace Charley McClendon. People back then had the same sort of "sources" they supposedly have now, which is to say, none! I'm all for hiring a "blockbuster" name coach ... who do you have in mind? None of the guys I mentioned knock my socks off, either, but I'm trying to be realistic. :wink:
first,welcome to the board tigerjeffrey. second, don't mind the other members because i think everyone is stressed about the situation. I, like most people, cannot wait until tomorrow for the press conference. I hope he is staying, but I firmly believe he is leaving. If I had my pick I would take Grueden (sp?) as well.
I think Spurrier would be ideal, although a long-shot. But, if he's not happy at SC (which has been rumored), they shouldn't mind him leaving. Plus, they get paid for his buy-out. My opinion of him had gone up since he faultered in the pros. He seems to have learned a hard lesson, and I disagree with those who think he would struggle in the "new" SEC. ETA: I agree about Gruden, too. Very similar to Saban's character.
