Fearless Coaching Predictions (with hedging)

[globadoc]

Ark.
1. Gary Patterson (I know, he denied it...sorta.)
2. Jon Gruden (Damn, I really hope not.)

UK
Who knows?
1. Mike MacIntyre (San Jose State)
2. Gus Malzahn (Arky St. - I think this would be their BEST choice, all things considered.)
(Dark Horses: 3. Butch Jones, 4. Willie Taggert)

Tennessee
1. Jon Gruden (Hopefully this gets worked out, but it seems difficult to believe that we will be able to pull the trigger financially.)
2. Al Golden (Miami - more likely, all things considered)
(Dark Horses: 3. Kirby Smart, 4. Jimbo Fisher)

Auburn
Chizik's firing is a mere formality
1. Petrino (Frankly, I doubt it, but stranger things have happened)
2. Fisher??? Gundy??? Too soon to pick

Vanderbilt
(If Franklin has any sense, he'll go out on a high note! He has to realize that this just might be the best it will get for him. Sooner or later he has to figure out how to beat a team with a winning record. Look for him to surface as a leading candidate at another school whose coach is hired elsewhere.)
1. Gus Malzahn (turned them down before, but the roster has improved.)
2. ??? (Much, much too soon.)

Your predictions?

 

[oregonvol]

MacIntyre is San Jose State's coach. Mark Hudspeth is UL-Lafayette's coach.

Couldn't really see a hot mid major coach like Malzahn or Jones going to Kentucky. It's so hard to win there and they should be candidates for much bigger jobs. I could maybe see MacIntyre there, but I think ultimately Kentucky either gets a big coordinator or an old retread guy looking to get back in the game.

I think Arkansas & Patterson makes alot of sense. Too bad we probably waited too long to get in on Patterson.

I would love for us to get Gruden, but I can't see it happening. If we get Golden, it will be total meltdown time.

I have no idea what Auburn will do. Maybe a Butch Jones or a Gus Malzahn makes more sense there.

 

[BigOrangeTailgate]

I'm afraid you might be right with your UT prediction. Don't want Golden but I'm hearing his name more and more.

 

[tnmarktx]

Why is your 2-4 for TN so $hitty?

 

[globadoc]

Why is your 2-4 for TN so $hitty?

Who else would you expect and prefer?

 

[Volador]

"I would love for us to get Gruden, but I can't see it happening. If we get Golden, it will be total meltdown time."

This message needs to get to Hart,as it's pretty safe to say that over 50% of our beloved Vol Nation feels the same way. We all tried our hardest to accept the surprise selection of CDD, but he was clearly not even on the radar of any Vol fan.

The disappointment in selecting anyone other than Gruden grows exponentially every day. If Hart tries to sugar coat another inexpensive short term solution, Bill Battle will reportedly show up at his home with a moving truck.

 

[globadoc]

I'm afraid you might be right with your UT prediction. Don't want Golden but I'm hearing his name more and more.

This is NOT my preference. I would put at least 4 other coaches ahead of Al Golden, including Strong, Patterson, Fisher, and of course Gruden. Hell, I might even prefer Kirby Smart or Art Briles. But he wants out, will be respected among the coaching elite, and is more affordable.

 

[Remy]

Way back when I wanted Charlie Strong to backfill when Fulmer got the boot. We see how that has played out since, I like the guy, he can recruit which we need, and he'll bring in great quality assistants ... which is why it probably won't happen.

Again, watching Akron take us apart earlier this year with far less talent on the field, successful head coach in the SEC, can recruit, can coach, can bring in great assistants, has a relationship with our AD, ... Tommy Bowden it's a long shot yes, but it would be a good fit ... besides this guy will win ...

 

[globadoc]

Somehow I doubt Tommy Bowden will be on the short list at UT.

 

[voltnh]

I think the 49ers OC (Roman?) would be considered before Golden. My UT short list (People we have a shot at or have expressed interest):

1) Gruden
2) Gruden
3) Gruden
4) Stoops
5) Patterson
6) Roman

 

[WallyBalls]

Way back when I wanted Charlie Strong to backfill when Fulmer got the boot. We see how that has played out since, I like the guy, he can recruit which we need, and he'll bring in great quality assistants ... which is why it probably won't happen.

Again, watching Akron take us apart earlier this year with far less talent on the field, successful head coach in the SEC, can recruit, can coach, can bring in great assistants, has a relationship with our AD, ... Tommy Bowden it's a long shot yes, but it would be a good fit ... besides this guy will win ...

You could at least use the correct Bowden for your little idea.

 

[globadoc]

Updated predictions for 11/26 -

Ark.
** 11/26 Edit: Same order for me, so far. Look for Gundy to slip into the mix as well.
1. Gary Patterson (I know, he denied it...sorta.)
2. Jon Gruden (Damn, I really, really hope not.)

UK
Who knows?
1. Mike MacIntyre
2. Butch Jones
** 11/26 Edit: Some changes -
Removed Malzahn, moved Butch Jones up. Frankly, BJ makes a lot of sense for them, so I'm tempted to move him to #1, especially since MacIntyre may be more attractive for one the available west coast jobs. Add Mike Stoops to the Dark Horses.

Tennessee
1. Gruden
2. Golden
** 11/26 Edit:
I stand by the original order, except for the dark horses - 3. Butch Jones, 4. Fisher, 5. Smart. I still think it will be either Gruden (Yippee!) or Golden (eh.), but we'll see. The ongoing NCAA investigations at Miami (some involving Golden's staff) might be enough to scare UT away.

Auburn
** 11/26 Edit:
1. Fisher
2. Gundy
I'd also look for Patterson if Ark doesn't grab him.

Vanderbilt
** 11/26 Edit:Looks like Franklin may just hang around for awhile. Good. Pride goeth before the fall, perhaps?

 

[Minibull]

Arkansas - I think Patterson is a great coach and would be a winner at Arkansas. I think he should be the top choice. If they don't get him, I say they get Art Briles of Baylor.

UK - I still think that Kentucky is going to be the only SEC school that would offer Petrino. He wants to get back into coaching and this would be a quick fix for UK.

Tennessee - I've finally come over to the Gruden side of things. I think he would be the ideal coach to step in and take UT back to the top. Smart isn't coming here unless we get turned down by 5-7 other coaches. If we don't get Gruden, I'd prefer Patterson but I have also been hearing Golden's name a lot. I'm not sold on Fisher being a top HC as of yet.

Auburn - They are going to shoot for the moon as they are replacing a coach 2 years removed from a national championship. Petrino is too dirty for Auburn (is that possible? ) and I haven't heard Fisher's name connected to the Tigers. I think they will probably end up with Briles or Malzahn.

Vanderbuilt - Franklin's gone. I predict that NC State will overpay for him. Their current AD wanted to keep in at Maryland but was overruled. If this does happen, I see them getting Kirby Smart.

 

[globadoc]

Good suggestion on Smart to NCState. I think that would be a pretty good fit for him (among perhaps other places that will open up after the first round of coaching positions are filled).

I pulled Petrino off my list because he just might be too dirty for anyone in the SEC, but I'm not so sure I'd be surprised if he ends up anywhere, especially as schools reach 'desperation time' in their searches.