Carousel spins toward January

[dolfan]

1. The WVU job is still open, and I can't help wondering who kidnapped Ed Pastilong and sent Mal Moore to Morgantown to impersonate him?? A BCS bowl, a hair away from THE BCS game, and they can't manage to get a new coach in there. Either Pastilong will look like a genius when this is over by lucking into the right guy in a "perfect storm" circumstance (just ask Mal), or he'll look like a complete buffoon and get practically run out of the state.


2. Will June Jones get a new contract at Hawaii (his expires in July 2008) or will he go to SMU??? He makes less than $1M a year; SMU reportedly has $10M to spend on a head coach and assistants over up to 5 years. He's not getting any younger. Hawaii needs to step up to the plate if they want to keep him, I guess. Of course, if I'm him and it's Hawaii or Southern Methodist ...... I'm not going to Dallas without some serious cheddar on the table. I hear the Falcons are looking for a coach .... but he's already been there, done that. I hope he stays at UH. I just love a good match and they've absolutely been good for one another.

3. UCLA. How far they have fallen!!! They can't bribe anybody to take that job. Two men are interested: Rick Neuheisel and Dewayne Walker. For the money, I'd go with the man already in the house. Neuheisel is not going anywhere anytime soon that, if offered a shot to coach at UCLA later, he wouldn't jump ship. I also recommend UCLA look at someone they're not looking at ---- Dennis Franchione. I mean that sincerely. I think his option system would work in the PAC-10 well enough, and he runs a tight team overall. Despite his troubles at TA&M, and overlooking my personal opinions of the man's betrayal of Bama players, I still think there's some good coaching in that guy. Another guy who might take a real hard look if approached would be, IMO, Ron Zook. Bigger stage, bigger budget, and I think he's maybe the best coach in the country for the least money.

4. Finally .... if Mike Shula was so great, if his 10-3 season in 2005 was such a reason to keep him at Alabama, why has NO ONE (except for a brief mention around the Duke job in rumors) approached him to coach for them in college ball?? With all of these 3rd and 4th tier openings, seems like he's at least get a little love ... but I can imagine that somewhere, crickets are mockingly chirping his name.

[Rob]

1. The WVU job is still open, and I can't help wondering who kidnapped Ed Pastilong and sent Mal Moore to Morgantown to impersonate him?? A BCS bowl, a hair away from THE BCS game, and they can't manage to get a new coach in there. Either Pastilong will look like a genius when this is over by lucking into the right guy in a "perfect storm" circumstance (just ask Mal), or he'll look like a complete buffoon and get practically run out of the state.

Ed needs to go. I think he was part of the problem with RR leaving. From all I'm hearing and reading it's really down to two guys. Butch Jones of C. Mich. and Doc Holliday from Florida. I'd go with the Doc., he's been at WVU before he is a WV guy, and I know RR was but Doc is older. Plus Doc is a whale of a recruiter and comes from a system similiar to WVU. So my vote is for Doc., but then again I don't get to vote.

2. Will June Jones get a new contract at Hawaii (his expires in July 2008) or will he go to SMU??? He makes less than $1M a year; SMU reportedly has $10M to spend on a head coach and assistants over up to 5 years. He's not getting any younger. Hawaii needs to step up to the plate if they want to keep him, I guess. Of course, if I'm him and it's Hawaii or Southern Methodist ...... I'm not going to Dallas without some serious cheddar on the table. I hear the Falcons are looking for a coach .... but he's already been there, done that. I hope he stays at UH. I just love a good match and they've absolutely been good for one another.

Stay at Hawaii. The weather is twice as good in Hawaii as it is in Dallas.

3. UCLA. How far they have fallen!!! They can't bribe anybody to take that job. Two men are interested: Rick Neuheisel and Dewayne Walker. For the money, I'd go with the man already in the house. Neuheisel is not going anywhere anytime soon that, if offered a shot to coach at UCLA later, he wouldn't jump ship. I also recommend UCLA look at someone they're not looking at ---- Dennis Franchione. I mean that sincerely. I think his option system would work in the PAC-10 well enough, and he runs a tight team overall. Despite his troubles at TA&M, and overlooking my personal opinions of the man's betrayal of Bama players, I still think there's some good coaching in that guy. Another guy who might take a real hard look if approached would be, IMO, Ron Zook. Bigger stage, bigger budget, and I think he's maybe the best coach in the country for the least money.

I can't believe they have not hired Neuheisel yet. He wants the job, was a pretty good college coach. As for Franchione I can't believe he has not been offered a job yet either. Zook, what a recruiter he is I'd love to have him come to WVU but that's not going to happen plus he is doing a great job at Ill.

4. Finally .... if Mike Shula was so great, if his 10-3 season in 2005 was such a reason to keep him at Alabama, why has NO ONE (except for a brief mention around the Duke job in rumors) approached him to coach for them in college ball?? With all of these 3rd and 4th tier openings, seems like he's at least get a little love ... but I can imagine that somewhere, crickets are mockingly chirping his name.

That is the same thing I'm asking about Terry Bowden. A lot of folks at WVU want him, but he has been out of the game so long. No way do I want him. But that is my $.02 worth.

[MrDanger]

3. UCLA. How far they have fallen!!! They can't bribe anybody to take that job. Two men are interested: Rick Neuheisel and Dewayne Walker.

According to the TN TItans (I will explain in a moment) Neuheisel already has the job, they are not in a rush because it's a done deal, just ironing out a few details.

The reason the Titans were involved in the process is because our Offensive Coordinator, Norm Chow (sp?) had interviewed for the job. There was a big controversy over him interviewing since he is a USC guy. He withdrew his name at the end of last week when he was told by the UCLA people that they were going with Neuheisel but were not ready to announce it yet.

[Paully_44]

I can't believe they have not hired Neuheisel yet. He wants the job, was a pretty good college coach.

And great at skirting the rules/regulations. When he left here at the UW, our program was in the crapper. He left Colorado amidst violations to come the to UW Huskies. He wasnt here even a week, when he was in trouble with the Pac-10 for recruiting violations because of the way he interpretted the rules.

I think UCLA interviewed him to appease the boosters.

[dolfan]

According to one story, at least, the NCAA cleared him as okie-dokie last week after UCLA inquired of any potential problems. How reliable is that? I don't know. For all of his coaching ability, his credibility has been pretty well shot; I'm not sure I agree with the bad rep he's gotten. Anyway, perception is reality in college football. Hopefully, he'll overcome that for his alma mater. I don't think it matters because Pete Carroll will beat him up and take his lunch money once a year.

[Rob]

Now the WV Board of Governors has sued RR for the $4 Million he owes. I knew this would get ugly before it was all said and done. I think he should have to pay every red cent of it. Maybe then these coaches will understand they need to live up to the contract they sign.

[dolfan]

Do you think they jumped too early since the 'due date' on that buyout dough is not for a week or two? I found it curious, certain there's a strategy involved that looks to call RR's and Michigan's hand with a sort of "all in" move. We'll see, but I'm with you.

[Pastor Gary]

2. Will June Jones get a new contract at Hawaii (his expires in July 2008) or will he go to SMU??? He makes less than $1M a year; SMU reportedly has $10M to spend on a head coach and assistants over up to 5 years. He's not getting any younger. Hawaii needs to step up to the plate if they want to keep him, I guess. Of course, if I'm him and it's Hawaii or Southern Methodist ...... I'm not going to Dallas without some serious cheddar on the table. I hear the Falcons are looking for a coach .... but he's already been there, done that. I hope he stays at UH. I just love a good match and they've absolutely been good for one another.

Local scuttle-butt is that Jones has already been informally assured his package will be more than a million a year to stick around. Remains to be seen how that will play out, and I am sure he wants to keep the focus OFF of his future plans until January 2.

[Sonsetannie]

Now the WV Board of Governors has sued RR for the $4 Million he owes. I knew this would get ugly before it was all said and done. I think he should have to pay every red cent of it. Maybe then these coaches will understand they need to live up to the contract they sign.

Im sure that Michigan has included in their package deal to pay the $4 Million to get RR out of his contract! MHO

[Rob]

Do you think they jumped too early since the 'due date' on that buyout dough is not for a week or two? I found it curious, certain there's a strategy involved that looks to call RR's and Michigan's hand with a sort of "all in" move. We'll see, but I'm with you.

No I really don't, I think they had to do something to help the fan base in WV with all of this. The athletic department was starting to get a bad rap because they have #1 not hired a coach yet, and #2 not really made any statements with regards to RR's leaving.

Of course his first 1/3 payment is due 30 days after resignation. So they had a few more days, but I think they did the right thing. That's MHO

[Rob]

Now the WV Board of Governors has sued RR for the $4 Million he owes. I knew this would get ugly before it was all said and done. I think he should have to pay every red cent of it. Maybe then these coaches will understand they need to live up to the contract they sign.

Im sure that Michigan has included in their package deal to pay the $4 Million to get RR out of his contract! MHO

They didn't with Belien(sp) when they got him back in April.

[MrDanger]

3. UCLA. How far they have fallen!!! They can't bribe anybody to take that job. Two men are interested: Rick Neuheisel and Dewayne Walker.

According to the TN TItans (I will explain in a moment) Neuheisel already has the job,

Man, I'm good.

[dolfan]

I think they made the right decision. How much that begins to level the floor with USC remains to be seen, but I think they'll be better off now.

[Rob]

I think they made the right decision. How much that begins to level the floor with USC remains to be seen, but I think they'll be better off now.

I agree totally dolfan. I only hope WVU can make as good a hire as UCLA did.