College Football Coaching Changes -- Post Your Rumors and Speculation

[fishwax]

It's that time of year where the coaching carousel starts moving. Already there are some fairly prominent positions that are open:

Auburn fired Gene Chizik today, following a season where they went 3-9, didn't win a game in the SEC, and lost 49-0 to Alabama. Has there ever been a coach fired so soon after a national championship?

Arkansas declined to renew John L. Smith's contract. Arkansas started the season in the top 10, but went 4-8. Their only two conference wins were against Auburn and Kentucky, neither of whom won a conference game.

Tennessee fired Derek Dooley after last week's blowout loss to Vanderbilt. Maybe this time they'll hire someone based on their accomplishments rather than their last name.

California fired Jeff Tedford yesterday after 11 seasons.

North Carolina State fired Tom O'Brien, who led them to their third straight bowl game this year. It was, apparently, a disappointing season. (I checked the preseason polls, and NC State received all of three votes in the AP poll, so I'm not sure what the expectations were.)

Kentucky fired Joker Phillips back in early November, but I'm not sure anyone noticed.

There are also openings at Idaho (former WSU QB Jason Gesser has been the interim HC since they fired Robb Akey in October) and UTEP (Gesser's WSU coach Mike Price is retiring).

I'm sure there will be more (like Boston College, perhaps)--but those are the openings I'm aware of now. I think it's likely that Florida State defensive coordinator Mark Stoops will be getting a head coaching job (he apparently interviewed for the Kentucky opening). So who else do you think is in line to move up in the ranks? What other jobs might open up?

[JonLP24]

1. Vince Lombardi

will rise from the grave and lead Army to a national championship next season.

I actually have no idea, I think Arizona Cardinals D coordinator Ray Horton will probably be receiving some interest from the NFL as well as college teams.

[fishwax]

12. That would be cool to see

I don't know much about Ray Horton--I'll have to look into him.

[Yavin4]

2. Lane Kiffin USC

Should be fired.

[RagAss]

3. Absolutely...he turned chicken salad into chicken doo doo this year.

[fishwax]

13. I agree (but I bet he gets another year)

[TZ]

4. I wish

That Maryland would fire Randy Edsall. Yeah he doubled his win total from last year from 2 to 4, whoopee!!

[madinmaryland]

6. Starting in 2014, Maryland will be lucking to have two wins.

Is it time to bring back Ralph Friesen??

[KamaAina]

5. Tedford got hosed -- by a hurricane

The year Cal got rooked out of the Rose Bowl by the $^%$@! BCS, they were scheduled to play at Southern Miss in September. But the game was postponed by a hurricane, and rescheduled for December.

Cal won the game, but by an unimpressive 19-10. If they win 19-10 in September, no big deal. But in December? Texas ( ) was waiting to pounce. No Rose Bowl for Cal. Tedford could have coasted all the way to retirement on that. Instead, he's likely on his way to the Mountain West or worse.

[Carnage251]

7. Isn't 7-5 and bowl eligibility good for a team like NC State?

What more can they expect?

[taterguy]

9. Not giving up a brazillion points to Miami

Not losing to UNC.

Not falling behind in the state recruiting wars.

Cutliffe might have something going at Duke and I suspect panicking alums didn't want State to start losing to Duke.

[Carnage251]

10. I think their athletic director has unrealistic standards

She referred to a coach who will bring "Alabama type talent".
I definitely am not an expert on NC State but from the outside looking in it looks like O'brien wasn't a terrible coach, he led them to 3 straight bowls and won 2, they should've at least let him coach the team in their upcoming bowl game. I can see your points as valid, but they should've given him more time because there is a low ceiling to what NC State can accomplish.

[El Supremo]

8. Jon Embree (who?) is out as head coach of Colorado Buffaloes

DENVER (AP) - Jon Embree tells The Associated Press he has been fired as coach of the University of Colorado football team.

Embree said he was heading into a meeting with his players Sunday night and didn't want to comment on his firing other than to confirm he'd been let go by athletic director Mike Bohn earlier in the day.

The Buffaloes just competed the worst season in the 123-year history of the program. They finished 1-11 with their only win a 35-34 win at Washington State on Sept 23.

Embree was 4-21 in two years at Colorado, where he replaced Dan Hawkins.

http://www.9news.com/news/article/301395/188/Embree-out-as-head-coach-of-Colorado-Buffaloes

[Capt. America]

11. Danny Hope (Purdue) got canned. Perhaps one of these fools will give Ron Zook a

third chance.