Friday, November 29, 2019

I tell ya' Herbie

I tell ya' Herbie returns on the final week before the championship weekend and instead of notes from last weekend, since I have to do this early with so many Friday games, I am going to concentrate on teams that could be looking for new coaches by the end of the weekend.

I tell ya' Herbie:
                           The Rutgers job has already been open for half the season, but the word on the dropped ball (like the Scarlet Knights don't do that enough on the field already.) on the missed hiring of Greg Schiano isn't looking for the well, scarlet-haired stepchild of the Big Ten,
The refusal of Rutgers to give Schiano what he "demanded", which seems to be what almost all of the Big Ten teams have for facilities and recruiting, has cost them the one guy that was able to win there (although it was the Big East) and wanted the job.
If this is the best that Rutgers is going to do, the Big Ten has been royally grifted and Rutgers will roll in the cash as a conference member and give nothing in return,

I tell ya, Herbie:
                          Another Northeastern school that might be cutting their coach loose could be Boston College and Steve Addazio.
Addazio's Eagles are 5-6 and finishing their season at Pittsburgh on Saturday, the Eagles need a win to be bowl eligible.
Addazio has been only 42-42 in his time at Boston College and even though the Eagles expectations aren't high, they expect a little more than .500.
In the ridiculous category, Addazio is now being mentioned as a contender at Rutgers, which means a coach that could have a record of under .500 in the ACC at a mid-level football school is now being considered for the worst job in a better conference.
That alone should tell you all you need to know about what's going on at Rutgers.

I tell ya' Herbie:
                           While things can change once the chairs start moving, the Rutgers job could be the only Big Ten opening, unless Michigan State and Mark Dantonio part ways, and should Boston College open up, they will join Florida State as ACC possibilities.
The Big 12 would remain intact unless a team somewhere writes a giant check to either or both of Baylor's Matt Ruhle or Iowa State's Matt Campbell and the SEC should retain their coaching lineup other than the opening at Arkansas as Vanderbilt has apparently decided to retain Derek Mason.
If you want a vacancy that might open up as a mild surprise- watch for Missouri and Barry Odom.
The Tigers are fighting with the NCAA and are 5-6, should Arkansas stun Missouri for what would be their first SEC win of the season, the door could open for Odom to leave Columbia.

I tell ya' Herbie:
                          The Pac 12 has the position that is most heralded with USC, but the West Coast gang could be in the middle of those moving tectonic plates with Washington State's Mike Leach rumored to be looking around and Arizona's Kevin Sumlin's job security dwindling away by the day.
Leach could be a candidate at several spots and Sumlin's two-year stint in Tucson could end if Arizona State can put a beating on the Wildcats in the finale' for both teams.
Arizona has lost six in a row since a 4-1 start, none of the losses by fewer than ten points, and will be an underdog to the Sun Devils in Tempe.
Neither Washington State or Arizona should be perennial powers in the league, but Washington State would struggle to replace Leach and Arizona might have to bargain shop should they move out Sumlin as he will come with a large buyout.

I tell ya' Herbie:
                          Wrapping up the "Hot Seat" edition with here are a few names to watch in 2020 in the power five that might need to see improvement or be in a tenuous situation around this time next year.
Some of these teams had an offseason and can't afford to make it two, others look to be on a slide downward, others improved this season, but will need to continue that improvement and still others are being paid well financially for acceptable results at some schools but unacceptable records at their current location.
Contracts are not a factor in this list and I listed the above hot seat coaches as well in case they receive a reprieve.
In an upcoming "Herbie", I'll look at the group of five with coaches that could be moving up and jobs that could be open for various reasons.

ACC
Steve Addazio Boston College, Dave Doeren N.C. State, Dino Babers Syracuse, Manny Diaz Miami

Big 10
Mark Dantonio Michigan State,

Big 12
Tom Herman Texas

Pac 12
Clay Helton USC, David Shaw Stanford, Kevin Sumlin Arizona,

SEC
Derek Mason Vanderbilt, Will Muschamp South Carolina, Barry Odom Missouri, Jeremy Pruitt Tennessee



                       

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