Coaching Carousel Update

Well, that was fast. Louisiana Tech has chosen Sonny Dykes, and ECU has chosen Ruffin McNeill.

Sigh.

Onto the list:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan: Hire- Dan Enos (no)
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
East Carolina: Hire- Ruffin McNeill (yes!!)
Florida: Return- Urban Meyer (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Kentucky: Hire/Appointment- Joker Phillips (yes!!)
Louisiana Monroe: Hire- Todd Berry (no)
Louisiana Tech: Hire- Sonny Dykes (no)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
San Jose State: Hire- Mike MacIntyre (no)
South Florida: Hire- Skip Holtz (no)
Tennessee: Hire- Derek Dooley (no)
Texas Tech- Hire- Tommy Tuberville (no)
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
USC: Hire- Lane Kiffin (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

Meet the new boss

Same as the old boss.

Tennessee named Derek Dooley as their new head coach this past week. Rumor has it that he was the only person willing to come onboard and work with the UT assistants who didn't go to LA. Seems these folks have a total of $3 million in salaries, and a) weren't leaving without it while b) the University didn't want to pay the buyouts.

But we're not here to talk about assistants. Let's talk about Dooley, who comes from Louisiana Tech. While there, this happened:

Remind me again what Kansas' Mangino, TTU's Leach, and USF's Leavitt got fired for? Or, for that matter, Woody Hayes?

Ah well- Here's the updated list:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan: Hire- Dan Enos (no)
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
East Carolina
Florida: Return- Urban Meyer (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Kentucky: Hire/Appointment- Joker Phillips (yes!!)
Louisiana Monroe: Hire- Todd Berry (no)
Louisiana Tech
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
San Jose State: Hire- Mike MacIntyre (no)
South Florida: Hire- Skip Holtz (no)
Tennessee: Hire- Derek Dooley (no)
Texas Tech- Hire- Tommy Tuberville (no)
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
USC: Hire- Lane Kiffin (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

An answer to prayers.

After today's news, here's our coaching update:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan: Hire- Dan Enos (no)
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
East Carolina
Florida: Return- Urban Meyer (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Kentucky: Hire/Appointment- Joker Phillips (yes!!)
Louisiana Monroe: Hire- Todd Berry (no)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
San Jose State: Hire- Mike MacIntyre (no)
South Florida: Hire- Skip Holtz (no)
Tennessee
Texas Tech- Hire- Tommy Tuberville (no)
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
USC: Hire- Lane Kiffin (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

We'll take a brief break from our "really? More African Americans aren't getting interviewed for coaching positions?" dose of righteous indignation to point out the obvious.

The perfect coach for these guys:


is this guy:


Please, God... let this happen.

Does it get any better than this??

Wow. I have no words. Actually, I do; but I've already used them.

and now, goodbye...

So, in terms of our coaching tracker, this makes things really interesting. Especially since the names I'm hearing at UT are:

• Fullmer (again; although he'd be crazy to go back given the way they treated him upon his exit)
• Muschamp (DC and coach in waiting at Texas- what if he went to Tennessee and then left in a year or two to go back to Austin? Awesome.)
• Cutcliff (Former UT offensive coordinator, current Duke coach)
• Rodriguez (Please, God, no... he's great at Mich1gAAn. Although it would further screw the program for a couple of years)
  

No mention of my favorite- wouldn't Mike Leach be great in the SEC? I'd love it just for the Tennessee/South Carolina press conferences with Spurrier. Rumors are, though, that the Pirate will be headed to USF. Where they play in a stadium with a real pirate ship. Amazing.

Here's where we are, with a couple of other updates:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan: Hire- Dan Enos (no)
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
Florida: Return- Urban Meyer (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Kentucky: Hire/Appointment- Joker Phillips (yes!!)
Louisiana Monroe: Hire- Todd Berry (no)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
San Jose State: Hire- Mike MacIntyre (no)
South Florida
Tennessee
Texas Tech- Hire- Tommy Tuberville (no)
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
USC: Hire- Lane Kiffin (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

Good times...

Oh, and there's this:

Justice coming

Sure sounds like it:

After almost four years of investigation, the NCAA’s probe into the University of Southern California athletic program has reached a conclusion. Sources familiar with the investigation have told Yahoo! Sports that the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions will meet Feb. 19-21 to address what investigators uncovered at USC. According to typical NCAA procedures, if sanctions are necessary, they will be determined and then made public via a news conference within six to eight weeks of the February hearing.

The NCAA probe has stretched beyond individual athletes, widening its focus to USC’s control of its sports programs, as well as various aspects of compliance and oversight, according to sources. It is expected to make conclusions on USC’s institutional control and whether the school had the proper checks and balances in place to oversee its athletes.

Gives Pete's cowardly exit some context...

Coaching Carroll

Whoops- I meant "Carousel". Not Carroll. So sorry.

Sorry that I've been such a slacker around here. It's like the faithful golden retriever who gets usurped by a new puppy. We'll go out and have a catch soon... and I promise I won't have you put down.

Anywho- a couple of pieces of news in the coaching world. Pete Carroll is headed to greener pastures in Seattle, just ahead of the coming storm that's gonna finally (I hope) hit U$C. The perfect hire? Mike Leach- it would be hard for me not to enjoy the Trojans if the Pirate Cap'n was in charge.

Speaking of hitting things, Jim Leavitt is out at USF; the third coach this season to be dismissed for "abuse" of a student athlete.

Texas Tech missed an opportunity and has hired Tommy Tuberville (as one person called him "the anti-Leach"; good ol' boy who won't ruffle feathers). But, Kentucky has confirmed Joker Phillips, so that's a good thing.

Here's where we are:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
Florida: Return- Urban Meyer (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Kentucky: Hire/Appointment- Joker Phillips (yes!!)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
South Florida
Texas Tech- Hire- Tommy Tuberville (no)
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
USC
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

Later this week (I promise) wrap up of the bowl challenge and our overall winner.

Coaching- Wow...

So- How you been? Anything exciting happen? Yeah, nothing big here...

Our discussion of Urban Meyer's departure was premature. He had a big breakfast at waffle house, and is now headed back to the Gators, most likely by August.

Rich Brooks celebrated Kentucky's loss against Clemson by saying he was "80% sure he wasn't coming back next season". And now, he's gone. Which is perfect, because they've got a great "head coach in waiting" ready to take over. However, if they don't want to follow through, have I got a solution to their problem-

Our good friend Capn' Mike Leach is out of a job, due to player mistreatment and arrogance (if you believe TTU) or salary issues and helicopter parenting/spoiled children (if you believe Leech). Again, if Kentucky's Phillips moves on, Leach would be a perfect fit- runs a similar offense, so no huge transition with personnel; and Kentucky doesn't seem to care about the character of their coaches as long as they win.

However, judging what we saw in the Outback Bowl, Texas Tech has a great coach already on the payroll. And, if he is chosen and Phillips is confirmed at UK, we'll have added two more coaches of African heritage to the roll; both at BCS institutions.

Here's where we are:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
Florida: Return- Urban Meyer (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Kentucky: Hire/Appointment- Joker Phillips (yes!!)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
Texas Tech
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

This means that now there are African American coaches in the SEC, the Big East, two in the ACC, and if McNeill is hired at TTU, there will be two in the Big 12. Both coaches in the premier programs in Kentucky are African Americans.

So- Pac 10 and Big T1e1n... What are you waiting on?

Coaching Carousel

With a couple more moves this week, it's time to update the list:

UPDATE- OK, I'm an idiot. I didn't even know that UNLV was looking.

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo: Hire- Jeff Quinn (no)
Central Michigan
Cincinnati: Hire- Butch Jones (no)
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall: Hire- Jon "Doc" Holliday (no)
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
UNLV: Hire- Bobby Hauck (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

Just as a reminder for any BearCat fans swinging by- you can't complain about your coach leaving before a bowl game when the last two guys you hired did exactly the same thing.

So far... AMAZING

With today's news that Turner Gill has assumed leadership at the University of Kansas, four of the eight hires this offseason have have been candidates of African American heritage.

Statistically, it's still only 10 out of 120 (Gill was already at Buffalo), but it's exciting that we went from one BCS program with an African American head coach (Miami) to three (Miami, Kansas, Virginia). There was the possibility of another adding to this list, but Houston's Kevin Sumlin declined the opportunity to interview for the open Cincinnati position (Big East Conference).

Here's where we are:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Buffalo
Cincinnati
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas: Hire- Turner Gill (yes!!)
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

Round Two/Three/Four/Five

Last night, as a part of "Football Night In America", Tony Dungy had the following to say:

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

That someone has a better chance to coach in the NFL, where there are less than 40 opportunities, than Division 1 football with 120 opportunities, is a travesty.

Dungy implies that the University Presidents would be the ultimate voice for making this change; that they alone have the ability to make the boosters, alumni, and athletic departments change.

However, Presidents know where their bread is buttered, and ain't doing anything. My opinion: this should be examined by the federal government. Equal Opportunity Hiring practices are enforced in every aspect of University employment- faculty/adjuncts/staff. They should also be used for coaches and other athletic personnel. Otherwise, the educational institution becomes a business, and businesses are not tax exempt.

However, things are looking good for minority football coaches this season with two more hires, and at least two more high profile opportunities on the horizon. Both Kansas and Louisville are rumored to be actively recruiting African American candidates, although for Kansas it would only be a change of venue and not an additional "number" for our count. UPDATE: Louisville has made their decision.UPDATE: As have Akron and Notre Dame

Here's where we are:

Akron: Hire- Rob Ianello (no)
Cincinnati
Florida State: Hire/Appointment- Jimbo Fisher (no)
Kansas
Louisville: Hire- Charlie Strong (yes!!)
Marshall
Memphis: Hire- Larry Porter (yes!!)
Notre Dame: Hire- Brian Kelly (no)
Virginia: Hire- Mike London (yes!!)
Western Kentucky: Hire- Willie Taggart (no)

You're kidding me...

This is unsportsmanlike?

Well, crap- there goes my all time favorite football play.

As well as the end to my "favorite" movie (sorry, no sarcasm font).

You don't say...

From today's Chronicle of Higher Education:

Top Posts in College Football Largely Held by White Men, Study Finds

Leadership positions at the top competitive level of college football are largely held by white men, even though a majority of the athletes they supervise are not white, according to a study released this morning by the Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport at the University of Central Florida. The study found that, in the 2009 season, there were nine minority head coaches at colleges in the Football Bowl Subdivision, commonly known as Division I-A. Seven of those men are African-American, one is Hispanic, and one is Asian-American. By contrast, the study found that 50.4 percent of Division I-A athletes are African-American, 2.1 percent are Hispanic, and 2.3 percent are Asian-American.

No kidding.

You don't say...

Big "news" today... seems that our friends in the NC2A respond more harshly to violations from teams outside of the BC$.

Huh. I never would have guessed that the NCAA might be impacted by money and television.

Nope, never saw that coming at all.

For the sake of argument

Every year, there's a debate about college football.


In fact, I think the arguing about college football is one of the main reasons it exists. From Alabama jokes to fights across state borders, college football is rife with controversy.

One of the main "discussions" I've had recently is about Conference Superiority. Is the SEC really the best in the country, or do they benefit from a bowl season that gives them all home games? (For some reason, I have to use small words when I talk about this...) Is the Big T1e1n really one step above the Big lEast? Does the Pac 10 even have a defensive coordinator that earns his pay?

But, our friends at the Buckeye Battle Cry are not content to scream at the darkness. Nay, they've lit a candle, in the form of the BBC Challenge League. Using Alumni who are NFL players, this fantasy league hopes to prove once and for all which conference is superior. Actually, this will probably just give us fans more to argue about, much to the chagrin of my wife.

Give it a look and get in the game... We'll be following up with this as the weeks progress.

Oh, and by way of announcement- my online "presence" has expanded like my waistline over the last four years. I've joined the BBC team for commentary on all things sweatervesty and will be adapting my weekly wrap up for consumption by Ohio State partisans.

And, no, it doesn't pay anything. Rats.

Double The Fun

Yeah, this one gets a soundtrack

So, you know how I follow NCAA ineptitude, particularly their inability and unwillingness to bring the Hammer of Thor against major programs?

And you know how I feel about a certain team south of Canada? The one that's 0-1 against 1AA teams in the past few years?

Well, it must be my freaking birthday, because there are allegations of NCAA violations against the good folks at the University of MACh1gaan.

From the Detroit Free Press:

The University of Michigan football team consistently has violated NCAA rules governing off-season workouts, in-season demands on players and mandatory summer activities under coach Rich Rodriguez, numerous players told the Free Press.

Players on the 2008 and 2009 teams described training and practice sessions that far exceeded limits set by the NCAA, which governs college athletics. The restrictions are designed to protect players’ well-being, ensure adequate study time and prevent schools from gaining an unfair competitive advantage.

Did you catch that last part? An "unfair competitive advantage" can be had if these guidelines are not followed. Just think, TTUN could have finished 0-12, but they achieved an unfair advantage to go 3-9.

So, what will happen?

If the NCAA investigates and concludes that U-M willfully and repeatedly broke the rules, the NCAA could find major violations. That could trigger probation, loss of scholarships and loss of practice time.

Michigan, which has won more games than any program in college football history, has never been found guilty of major violations in football.

For perspective, Southeast Missouri State received three years probation and other sanctions for violations which included monitoring off season practices. San Diego State got two year's probation for similar types of things.

Oh, and U$C received no penalties for "The thing with Reggie Bush that didn't happen". So there's that.

My take? The NCAA will respond as is consistent with their protocol: They'll give Alma the death penalty.

And now-The Comfy Chair!!!

Basketball today... stick with me on this.

Today, word came out that the Memphis Tiger will be force to vacate all of their victories in the record setting 2007-2008 season; which saw them lose in the NCAA finals to Kansas in overtime.

This sanction was a result of shady doings around their one-and-done guard Derrick Rose (now with the Chicago Bulls). It was revealed that his participation with Memphis was tainted by corrupt SAT scores, and that his brother in law received $1700 in travel benefits.

In addition to having their records stricken from every pillar and obelisk, they also are place on a three year probation that's described as:

"... the university is on heightened review," Dee said of the probation. "Probably the most important thing about probation is once a school goes on probation, if they commit another major violation within five years they are subject to a special review and substantially harsher penalties."

In other words, something serious.

My initial response after reading the article was, if I remember correctly, "Whoop de freaking do".

ESPN's Dana O'Neil concurs, stating that the punishment had " the bite of a 15-year-old golden retriever."

Essentially, a "my bad" for a team that has shown a history of recruiting violations. And for a coach who, for the second time in his tenure, has had a team vacate a Final Four appearance, the only response is a new job.

UK fans shouldn't be surprised that a coach could have a program put on probation and then leave for another job without sanction. What should infuriate them, though, is that Memphis wasn't given the three year treatment that the 'Kate received. (disclosure- I am a Kentucky alum)

Meanwhile, the NCAA is listening to coaches turn in players from other teams, and monitoring the condiments provided to student athletes.

But of course they are.

Interestingly enough, the investigation took all of about eight months. Or, in other words less than half the time that they've been investigating the Reggie Bush situation at U$C.

They must be using the same crack detective skills that OJ is wielding in his quest for "the real killers".

Here's the difference between Memphis and U$C's situations: Memphis is just a small program in a small conference; and there's no NCAA television revenue from Memphis basketball (the tourney's revenue comes in no matter who's playing).

U$C is the only major football power west of Texas, in the highest revenue sport in the land, a sport that the NCAA has been unable to show any ability to effectively manage (see postseason, or lack there of).

If Memphis got a slap on the wrist, ain't nothing happening to U$C.

Like I've said before, someone owes Abilene Christian an explanation.

But of course...

The NCAA has dropped the hammer... on Southeast Missouri State Basketball.

Sanctions?

• Public reprimand and censure.
• Three years of probation to be added to the institution's current two-year probationary period,
  
• Reduction by one of the number of scholarships in men's basketball for the 2009-10 academic year from the NCAA maximum limit of 13 to 12. (Self-imposed by the university)
• Reducing the number of off-campus contact and evaluation recruiting opportunities in men's basketball during the 2009-10 academic year by 15. (Self-imposed by the university)
• Reducing the number of occasions in which men's basketball student-athletes may be supervised by strength and conditioning staff to no more than two per week. This is a reduction of 28 opportunities that generally are conducted May-August. (Self-imposed by the university.)
• Vacation of wins in which involved men's basketball student-athletes competed during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons; and the vacation of the individual records of the student-athletes and record of the former men's basketball coach.

Violations:

• impermissible presence of men's basketball coaching staff members during summer strength and conditioning activities
• impermissible observation of out-of-season pick-up games
• impermissible extra benefits: one in the amount of $239, and the other when the former assistant coach drove a student-athlete 171 miles from campus (allegedly to see his newborn baby)

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles... nothing. Well, not completely nothing: LA Times: Pete Carroll is pushing it

"One of our mottos is, a relentless pursuit of competitive advantage in everything we do," Carroll said Thursday.

Um, Pete, that attitude is exactly what has landed USC in trouble.

"We're not in trouble," Carroll said.

Yes, you are. By college sports definition, any time NCAA investigators are hanging around, you are in trouble.

They showed up for the Reggie Bush stuff, and apparently they are going to stay for the Pete Rodriguez stuff, this special teams consultant who admitted he attended USC practices, which is a direct violation of those stupid rules.

And yet, we've only heard crickets from the NCAA. Anyone surprised?

"Michigan Men"

Quick follow up to Jeff's post over on the BBC: Those Who Stay Will Still Be Losers:

In the comments, I also talked about the following-

What’s especially interesting is that, after Feagin’s transfer/arrest/trainwreck, Slick Rod said he didn’t know about previous issues when the student athlete was in HS.

And now, as a response, the AD will “look into the recruiting process”.

I agree wholeheartedly- you should look into the recruiting process that brought you the coach that actively recruited Chris Henry, Adam Jones, Noel Devine, and friends while at WVa.

Oh wait… that was someone named Bill Martin.

To make things even richer, MACh1gAAn has recently obtained the services of Massillon Ohio's Justin Turner, who was struggling to get past the NCAA clearinghouse.

His issues, in summary- he wasn't able to pass all of the sections of the OGT (Test you have to pass in Ohio to get a diploma- "Thank you", No Child Left Behind).

My issue is not that this student athlete isn't capable of doing college level work, and shouldn't be at UM. It's well known that some people don't test well with certain types of testing- It's not indicative of aptitude at any level. He was, from all I can figure out, a 3.4 student in high school and had a solid SAT/ACT score. We wish him the best as he pursues his education and life's calling.

What I want to point out, though, is that the "Harvard of the West" is willing to allow a student athlete on campus when all they need to do is get past the NCAA's standards. You know, the same ones that SEC schools often use...

Meanwhile, just a bit South, Ohio State "lost" a student athlete because he didn't meet the enrollment requirements of the University.

Doesn't seem like the University of Michigan really cares all that much about academics for their athletes.

Par For The Course

Still nothing on the U$C investigations, but the NCAA addressed that urgent University of New Hampshire Hockey recruiting scandal.

*sigh* Business as usual...

UPDATE: The ink wasn't even dry, and this happened: More NCAA Trouble for U$C.

I guess SI's Andy Staples was right... The NCAA Won't Slaughter It's Cash Cows

Getting Fixed

There's been some buzz about the BC$ lately- Congress has been in "hearings", but the one conference who feels jilted has signed on for another 4 years of the same thing.

So, since it's the offseason, folks have been trying to "fix" the system. Two ideas floating out there recently hold to the need for overhaul and re-alignment:

Option A- Cutting some dead weight and moving to 8 team leagues and a 16 team playoff
Option B- Realigning everything and moving to super conferences (Oohhh!! Maps!)

Again, good to see the creative juices flowing during the "dead period", but the solution to this problem has already been created.

Can't blame them for trying, though...