The Name Game: Leach Could Land at Tennessee

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach falls into the category of a successful coach at a program with fewer resources. In the most competitive conference outside of the SEC, he has made headway against the likes of Oklahoma and Texas. And his team plays in a stadium with about half the seating capacity of Neyland Stadium. A source told me that Leach is “very, very interested” in the UT job. Of course, Leach isn’t going to say that. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s currently preoccupied with trying to win a national championship. He’s also on the verge of having his contract renegotiated. So he’s probably happy where he is and committed to building a championship program at Texas Tech. But don’t cross him off your list – Knoxville News Sentinel

A source with knowledge of the search told ESPN.com that among the candidates on Tennessee’s preliminary list are Minnesota coach Tim Brewster, Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. Contact has already been made or will soon be made with representatives of all four coaches. Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton confirmed Thursday that the Vols’ initial list had already been forwarded to Chuck Neinas, who’s been hired to lead the search and will make the initial contact with coaches through their representatives. Hamilton said he would neither confirm nor deny any specific candidates. Neinas, who runs Neinas Sports Service, has been involved in several high-profile searches over the years, including Urban Meyer to Florida, Mack Brown to Texas and Butch Davis to North Carolina. Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp is another name that has been connected with the Tennessee job. Hamilton said someone with head coaching experience makes it easier to document that person’s success and record, but that it wasn’t a requirement… Some of the other names that could end up on the Vols’ list include Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, TCU coach Gary Patterson, Air Force coach Troy Calhoun and Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley. Others will emerge as well as the coaching dominoes start to fall around the country. – ESPN.com

Mike Locksley, the Illini’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, is considered a possible candidate to replace Fulmer at Tennessee and is also a possible replacement for Syracuse coach Greg Robinson, whose firing has been long rumored. Locksley has been a part of Zook’s staff at Illinois and Florida since 2003. Zook said that Locksley’s departure for a head-coaching job of his own is only a matter of time. “I don’t think there’s any question, Locks is going to get a job. I think that’s something we all expect, and we all look forward to celebrating with him,” Zook said. “Do I want to lose him? No, I don’t want to lose him. But it makes you feel good knowing you had a guy the caliber of Locks, and he deserves that opportunity.” – Daily Illini

A little birdie says Tennessee could end up using the same football coach search firm that Minnesota did in finding Tim Brewster. – Pioneer Press

North Carolina football coach Butch Davis says he’s happy in Chapel Hill and committed to building a championship program there. His agent, Jimmy Sexton, also downplayed the Davis-to-UT rumor. So you immediately crossed Davis off your University of Tennessee coaching candidates list, right? Of course, you didn’t. Davis was hardly as emphatic in dismissing speculation connecting him to the UT vacancy. In fact, he might be the most reasonable rumor of all the high-profile candidates. A source told me weeks ago that “UT representatives had expressed an interest in Davis.” – Knoxville News Sentinel

Beyond that, it’s up to Hamilton to identify and hire Fulmer’s successor. He can’t afford to get this wrong or he’ll be the next person out the door. Personally, I’d gravitate toward Tim Brewster at Minnesota because of his live-wire personality and relentless recruiting style. If you can sign blue-chip recruits at Minnesota, you should be able to one-up that at UT. Meanwhile, UT figures to make richer men out of some of the names on its wish list. Because he now is perceived to be in play, Davis will cash in at North Carolina without having to switch conferences to the tougher SEC. Likewise, Mike Leach should parlay his success and the interest of other schools into a lucrative new deal at Texas Tech. – Tennessean

Tennessee athletics director Mike Hamilton has a long list of qualities he’s looking for in the next Tennessee coach but no timeline on which to hire him. “I’m more concerned about hiring the right candidate than I am about how quickly we get it done. I do think that we need to be expedient and go about our business as quickly as is possible,” Hamilton said in his last public comments before hiring someone to replace Phillip Fulmer. The right candidate, Hamilton said, is one who has a lot of integrity, is a proven leader, is good at recruiting and building a staff and can work as a salesman to promote Tennessee. – The State

What does what happened with Phil Fulmer at Tennessee say about the college football world right now? A: Well you know it’s sad for the profession, when a guy gets a new contract like that and then gets let go. Really it questions the leadership there when a guy is handling the money of the university and then five or six months later, not only do you have to pay him off, but the assistant coaches. You’ve got an $8 million payout. But at the same time, I can see the AD’s part, too. They’ve had a hard time winning against the teams they’ve got to beat and they’ve got to look to the future. But why give him that new contract? – Athens Banner-Herald

On Tuesday as voters flocked to the polls, coaches David Cutcliffe of Duke and Butch Davis of North Carolina took to the podiums. Their message? Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton shouldn’t waste a phone call gauging their interest in the Vols’ head coaching vacancy that’s effective at the end of the season. “So to put an end to any speculation, I’m staying at Duke,” said Cutcliffe, the former Vols offensive coordinator who was lame-duck coach Phillip Fulmer’s right-hand man for most of Fulmer’s career. “(Tennessee) is not even a thought process.” And Davis? “The long and short of it is that the administration and I are completely, firmly committed to building a championship football program at North Carolina,” he said. “And my family and I are very happy in Chapel Hill.” – Commercial-Appeal

The Name Game: Tennessee Has Many Options

“The Name Game” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on active coaching searches around the country. The latest edition centers on the Tennessee Volunteers…

One of the first names I heard early this season was North Carolina’s Butch Davis. Davis would be a perfect fit because he is a great recruiter, which Tennessee must have, and a very good coach, which Tennessee also must have. Fulmer took Tennessee’s program to another level starting in 1993 because he was a relentless recruiter. Davis rebuilt the Miami football program and left enough players behind to win one national championship and come within one an eyelash of another. But Davis is not going to leave the relative comfort of Chapel Hill, N.C., to come to Tennessee. Why? – Atlanta Journal-Constitution

USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said he had not been contacted by Tennessee regarding its head coaching job, but would assess the possibility if he were. Phillip Fulmer announced Monday that he would step down after the season. – Los Angeles Times

Texas Tech is going to rue the decision not to give coach Mike Leach the contract extension he wanted before the season. Now, riding the crest of a 9-0 start and coming off the biggest victory in school history, Leach may be the nation’s hottest commodity. Expect Leach to become a top target at Tennessee now that the Phillip Fulmer era is over. Tennessee will have competition for Leach, who also will be in the crosshairs at Clemson and Washington. Leach has come close to leaving Lubbock in the past, being involved heavily at Stanford and BYU when those posts came open in recent years. But neither could pay enough. In addition to Leach, expect Tennessee A.D. Mike Hamilton to talk to Boise State coach Chris Petersen, former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and Minnesota coach Tim Brewster. It’s also believed Hamilton will consider an assistant – Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. But some feel the Longhorns will do all they can to retain Muschamp and groom him to be the successor to Mack Brown. – Rivals.com

Just imagine, 106,000 orange-clad Vols fans cheering for their beloved Tennessee. And trotting out to the sidelines under a neon visor, Tennessee coach Steve Spurrier. It could have happened. South Carolina’s head coach said so Monday night after practice, had the Vols job come open four years back when Spurrier had flopped in the NFL and looked to return to the college game. Now, with Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer set to end his tenure, Spurrier says he’ll only go back to Neyland Stadium as the opposing coach. “This is going to be my last gig right here,” the 63-year-old Spurrier said Monday night. Speculation about Spurrier, who grew up in Johnson City, Tenn., pulling for U-T, taking over Tennessee had started on Internet message boards long before the Gamecocks placed the final straw on Fulmer’s broken back, 27-6, this past Saturday night. “He’s probably, 16, 17 years there, probably long enough,” Spurrier said. “Wasn’t working very well. I think everybody understands, when it starts going bad, they got to make changes. We all know that. “Congratulate him on hitting that lottery ticket, that’s a big ticket he got, a big one,” Spurrier said, smiling. Call it a barb at Fulmer’s expense. No one was better theater during the 1990s than Florida coach Spurrier. Fulmer was perhaps Spurrier’s biggest foil, enraging Vols fans everywhere. Spurrier famously quipped, “You can’t spell Citrus without UT,” when it was the Gators on top of the SEC and the Vols settling for seconds. – Associated Press

The Firing Line: Fulmer Gets Last Cigarette

“The Firing Line” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on Tennessee Coach Phillip Fulmer…

No formal decision has been made regarding Tennessee football coach Phillip Fulmer’s future, an anonymous source who would be involved in such a decision told the News Sentinel on Monday, two days after the Vols lost to No. 2 Alabama in Neyland Stadium and fell to 3-5 overall. However, the source said that big losses to SEC rivals and an upset loss in overtime at UCLA in the season-opener could prove too much for Fulmer, regardless of what happens in UT’s four remaining games. A second source close to the program said a win over Alabama last week would have strongly bolstered Fulmer’s chances to be retained next season, especially if UT went on to win its four remaining games. That source said a 6-6 record would result in a coaching change, adding that Fulmer would not be guaranteed to save his job if the Vols go 7-5 this season. – Knoxville News-Sentinel

The brimstone seems to have faded. The debate, once hotly contested, now appears decided. The end looks inevitable. The old saying is, “It’s all over but the shouting.” Well, when it comes to the job status of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, the shouting also might be done in Knoxville. – The State

Rapid Fire: Focus on Fulmer, Snyder & Stewart

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on no less than four jobs…

Tennessee
Lighten up? During Tennessee week? Why was this man smiling? That’s easy. He gets to face Phillip Fulmer again. That would put a grin on the Grinch. Saban has made a living beating a lot of coaches - and helped cost a few their livelihoods; see Tommy Bowden - but he’s been especially hard on Fulmer. It’s not just that Saban is 3-1 against Fulmer. Or that Saban’s teams have scored 38, 18, 31 and 41 points against Fulmer’s teams. The worst thing Saban ever did to Fulmer was coach LSU, behind a backup quarterback, past Tennessee in the 2001 SEC Championship Game. The Vols were No. 2 in the nation entering that game and up by a point starting the fourth quarter… Could Saban, who started Fulmer’s slow decline, help finish him off Saturday night in Neyland Stadium?… Fulmer, who’s built a nice career obsessing over and taking down Alabama, has bigger issues than Saban. Last week, the Knoxville News-Sentinel wrote, Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton “confirmed that some boosters have discussed Fulmer’s possible replacement, but said those conversations have been limited.” Hamilton also told the paper that Tennessee has a $7 million reserve to cover unexpected expenses, like buying out the football staff, if necessary. – Birmingham News

Marshall
The truth of the matter is Snyder’s buyout is downright economical. According to his contract, if Marshall were to dismiss Snyder he would be paid his base salary of $149,968 multiplied by the number of years remaining on his pact which extends through 2013. Do the math. If Snyder were relieved of his duties after this season with four years remaining on his contract, his buyout would be $599,872. The only aspect that could alter the sum is if it were pro-rated to the end of the fiscal year. However, just because I’m revealing this fact doesn’t mean I’m advocating Snyder’s dismissal. I’m not. It’s much too early to even consider that. I am unequivocally opposed to such mid-season moves. My stance all along has been Marshall needs to win six games and reach post-season. If the Herd falls short and suffers a fourth consecutive losing season, then I believe the direction of the program should be re-evaluated. – Herald-Dispatch

West Virginia
Speaking of buyouts, dissident WVU fans had better get used to first-year head coach Bill Stewart. If the Mountaineers wanted to dismiss Stewart after this season, WVU would have to ante up a $4.4 million buyout. He’s not going anywhere. – Herald-Dispatch

Rapid Fire: Focus on Fulmer, Tub, Fridge, Willingham & Shannon

“Rapid Fire” at Football Rumor Mill focuses on multiple coaches around the country who are in serious jeopardy. The latest edition centers on no less than five jobs which could soon be open…

Fulmer and Tuberville

Beating a mid-level Division 1 team, 13-9, while recording just 10 first downs, or losing 14-13 to the No. 19 team in the country while rushing for just four yards in the second half. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville appear to be the same canoe, both with a quarterback to help them paddle before they fall over the edge of a waterfall… Tennessee and Fulmer are rapidly becoming college football’s punchline. Such as the rumor that Fulmer will leave his job to join FEMA, because he’s so good at evacuating 100,000 people in 10 minutes. Tuberville is drawing heat also, because the offensive coordinator (Tony Franklin) and scheme (the spread option) that Auburn switched to doesn’t fit the personnel. The most alarming thing about the Tigers in their 14-13 l oss to Vanderbilt was their 11 penalties. That’s just sloppy, undisciplined football. – Commercial-Appeal

Ralph Friedgen

Ralph Friedgen, frankly, seemed out of answers. He said he is not reaching the players. He said they lacked focus. You know how it is, they have been through this before, like last month in Murfreesboro. But this loss was even more damaging for the Terps… Maryland can win or lose any game left on its schedule. – Washington Post

Tyrone Willingham

But just moments later, Washington athletic director Scott Woodward said that his football coach will not be leaving the program anytime soon, despite the Huskies’ 48-14 loss to Arizona. “I told you last weekend that I was less satisfied than I was the week before, and I’m even less happy today,” Woodward said. “But we have seven games to play, and we’re going to play those seven games. And, no, there’s not going to be a change this week. Like I said, (I will) look at the whole body of work of this season and assess it at the end of the season.” The loss dropped Washington to 0-5, leaving the Huskies and North Texas as the only winless teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision. It also was UW’s seventh straight loss, now the longest losing streak in the FBS. Willingham said that his team can play better, but added that he believes his players are still giving full effort. Woodward said he believes that, too. “Coach Willingham’s coaching as hard as he can, and the kids are playing hard,” he said. “I didn’t see quit in these guys. They didn’t play well, but I didn’t see quit. I didn’t see bad dissention. But it’s not good. I don’t want to sugar coat it, but it’s not good.” Woodward said an in-season firing would be bad for the university’s image and also bad for the players, who he believes have enough going on as students and athletes without having to deal with losing one coach and adapting to a new one. – Bellingham Herald

Another night. Another embarrassing loss. Another reason to end the misery now. In the latest installment of dismay, the Washington football team lost 48-14 to Arizona with the resistance of an unlocked door and insisted afterward that redemption could be had. At 0-5 now, the Huskies still look at their seven remaining games as an opportunity instead of a slow countdown to destruction. As new owners of the nation’s longest losing streak (seven games), they still dream of accomplishing more than a coaching search. “We can play better,” Willingham claimed… Because of his own mismanagement, he’s a suffering Dawg, and every game he limps onto the field, overmatched and overwhelmed, dying slowly and cruelly. Lord, please take him. End the pitiful play. End the trampled looks on the players’ faces. End the fan outrage. Fire Willingham for his own good. For his health. For his sanity. For his family, which cannot be fully shielded from the public rancor. This is an ugly situation that, barring a miracle, will only get worse. The season isn’t half over, but we’ve seen enough. We know Willingham won’t be back next season. – Seattle Times

Washington athletic director Scott Woodward pulled the trigger — but it wasn’t on football coach Tyrone Willingham. Not even three weeks into his tenure, Woodward has dismissed Marie Tuite from her positions as senior associate athletic director for sports programs and senior women’s administrator. – Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Randy Shannon

“We’re that close,” Shannon said. Close, of course, isn’t good enough for the Hurricanes, who are reeling once again. Saturday’s 41-39 loss to Florida State was Miami’s 12th defeat in its last 15 Atlantic Coast Conference games, its fifth straight league loss at home, and left the Hurricanes at the bottom of the standings. A different play here against North Carolina, a different play there against the Seminoles, and Miami could be in first place, probably back in the national rankings for the first time in two years as well. Instead, the Hurricanes (2-3, 0-2) now stand on the brink of a second straight disappointing season… All of it, he insists, is correctable. And with seven games left, starting Saturday at home against Central Florida, he believes there’s still time to save this season. “You’ve got to keep banging away on pride, the pride factor that you have inside of you,” Shannon said. – Sporting News

Scoop: Spurrier to Tennessee?

There’s a lot of talk that if Phillip Fulmer is fired as the Vols’ coach, Tennessee could go after native son and current South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier. There’s increasing speculation that CSS thinks he may not be able to right the ship in Columbia. If those rumors are true, UT could be his way out…

Other Tennessee Names: Tampa Bay Bucs Coach Jon Gruden, Duke Coach David Cutcliffe, ECU Coach Skip Holtz, Auburn Coach Tommy Tuberville…

Other South Carolina Names: Michigan State Coach Mark D’Antonio, Former Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin, ECU Coach Skip Holtz, Georgia Southern Coach Chris Hatcher, Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach, Current DC Ellis Johnson (who we think would be the prefect pick)…

“Scoop” posted on FRM is gathered from around the country from numerous sources within the coaching community…

Hanging by a Thread: Eight Coaches Who May Not Return in 2009

By our count, there were at least eight coaches Saturday who exponentially increased their chances of joining the unemployment line. Let’s cover them one by one:

 

Al Groh – Virginia:  Groh led his Virginia team to a 9-4 mark last year, winning several games by single digits.  This season, it seems thing are back to business as usual in Charlottesville.  The Cavaliers are 1-3 following a 31-3 trouncing by… (drum roll, please)… DUKE!  The Blue Devils ended their 25 game ACC losing streak.  We think it’s only a matter of time for Groh.  He has not endeared himself with prominent boosters.  Most power brokers around the football program do not like him.  It will take a near-miracle for Groh to return in 2009.

 

Phillip Fulmer – Tennessee:  The Vols couldn’t beat Auburn, who in eight possessions in the second half managed six punts, one turnover and one kneel down.  Tennessee is 1-3 with Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Kentucky and Vanderbilt remaining on the schedule.  7-5 looks like a best case scenario, as we can’t see how the Vols can stay on the same field with the Tide and Bulldogs.  Throw in another loss and Fat Lady can begin warming up her vocals.

 

Joe Glenn – Wyoming:  After the 5-7 finish last season, Glenn’s Cowboys are off to a 2-3 start after being blown out Saturday 45-16 by Bowling Green. The heat is rising and we think there’ll be a new sheriff in Laramie very soon.

 

Kirk Ferentz – Iowa:  The Hawkeyes are 3-2 after losing to Northwestern Saturday.  Ferentz was widely respected when he took over the Iowa program coming from the NFL.  He had an immediate impact, but the luster is long gone as the Hawks have fallen to the middle of the pack (6-6 last season).  Ferentz should have taken another job long ago.  Now, with the program engulfed in turmoil with several arrests over the past year, we think a change in leadership is very likely.

 

Greg Robinson – Syracuse:  The Orange lost to Pitt Saturday in a competitive game.  However, it really doesn’t matter at this point.  Robinson can’t save his job.  Every coach in American knows this one is only a formality.

 

Tommy Bowden – Clemson:  Clemson is a difficult spot and Bowden has done an admirable job – even though he has yet to win an ACC title.  However, the Tigers are 3-2 after a loss at home to Maryland.  Bowden just signed a long-term extension – and we think he deserves to return.  Nevertheless, the natives are restless.

 

Stan Brock – Army:  The Knights were 3-9 last season and are currently 0-4 following a valiant effort against Texas A&M.  It’s clear Brock is not getting the job done.  A change is likely.

 

Tyrone Willingham – Washington:  At the time of publication, the Huskies were trailing to Stanford 21-14 in the second quarter.  However, we included him in our list because Tyrone Willingham is in the same situation as Greg Robinson at Syracuse:  he can’t save his job.  It’s not if, but when.  Washington will have new coach in 2009.