Let the coaching carousel begin

Nutt is one cooked pig.

This is not the year to go shopping for a new college football coach as the competition is going to be fierce. This off season could be the biggest year for coaching turmoil since the 2000 season saw 25 coaches lose their job. I'm expecting a land grab of sorts to pursue the hottest up and comers, and these are your top likely contestants in the "Battle for Overpaying for the Flavor of the Month":

ACC:

Duke - Ted Roof

Georgia Tech - Chan Gailey remains one step ahead of the executioner. However, can he survive another loss to Georgia and a sixth likely five or more loss season?

Clemson - Tommy Bowden and Chan Gailey should start a support group for Men Cheating Death.

Big East:

Pittsburgh - With last week's loss to Navy, the Wannstache is likely out.

Syracuse - Greg Robinson has won 3 games in three years against BCS teams, and he has an overall record of 6-24. Aside from the Louisville game, his teams have looked incompetent on their best days.

Big 10:

Michigan - Michigan is rolling after the worst start imaginable, but it still looks like Lloyd Carr is headed towards retirement. Even if he's not fired, it's hard to imagine him wanting to come back next year.

Big 12:

Nebraska - The Huskers have already fired the athletic director. Opposing QBs have openly mocked the team's defense, and the alumni are way past "grumbling." Barring a miracle run to close the season, Callahan is fired.

Texas A&M - NewsletterGate may have done as much to finish off Coach Fran's career in College Station as the blowout loss to Miami. At 4-2 with games remaining @Nebraska, vs. Texas and @Oklahoma, he is living on borrowed time.

Pac 10:

Arizona - Mike Stoops is 14-27, and he's off to another 2-5 start.

UCLA - The Bruins are 4-2, but they have games remaining against Cal, ASU, Oregon and USC. It's awfully hard to recover from losing 6-44 to Utah *and* giving Notre Dame their first win.

Washington State - Bill Doba is 27-27 since replacing Mike Price, and he's off to a 2-5 start this year. How much longer can he stick around?

Washington - Willingham will probably get another year because they've been competitive with an exciting young QB, and the schedule is universal thought to be ridiculously difficult. Some in the Washington media think he stays if he gets to five wins this year.

SEC:

Arkansas - The Fire Nutt banners are flying. Arkansas is 3-3 with games remaining against #6 SC, at #20 UT and at #5 LSU. Since 1998, no one has done less when it comes to quarterback development than Nutt. Having run off the home state stud QB who was 8-0 as a true freshman starter only makes this situation worse. Nutt also holds the record for longest active tenure at a BCS school without a BCS Bowl Bid.

Mississippi - The Wild Boys are 2-5 this year, and the only BCS schools that Orgeron has beaten in three years are MSU, UK and Vandy.

Other programs who may soon be in search of new skippers:

Memphis
Marshall
Colorado State
SMU
Baylor

Coaches who have saved their careers via huge performances:
-- Al Groh - Who would've thunk it?
-- Mark Mangino - The Walking Heart Attack
-- Sly Croom - If he can beat The Orgeron, he'll finish with five wins and almost definitely save his job. If he beats Orgeron and the imploding Hogs, he'll go bowling. Again, Shock and Awe.

Additionally, someone above has to replace all of those coaches. That means schools like TCU, Auburn, LSU, Cal, Boise, USF, Rutgers, Kansas State, WVU and Fresno State will have to listen to overtures for their head coaches. Or simply replace them outright.

So who ends up where?

See Also:
-- Coaches on the Hot Seat Blog

-- Dead Men Coaching - Austin Statesman
-- Coaching Rumor Mill - Rivals.com
-- How fired are you - EDSBS

PWD

PWD

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