Eric the Red
Team HuskerBoard
Five college coaches on the hot seat
With the college football season approaching, the inevitable countdown to next off-season's coaching carousel has already begun.
That said, here's a look at the top five coaches on the college football hotseat for 2006, and a rundown of five who may be included on lists like this one, but don't deserve to be.
(NOTE: These seat-sitters are strictly my choices. I'm not a biased fan of any of these schools, nor am I their athletic directors, privy to contract information about how expensive it would be to buy them out, etc.)
Top 5 Coaches on the Hot Seat
5. Mike Riley, Oregon State
Mike Riley is still trying to get Oregon State into the upper echelon of the Pac 10. (Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images)
It bums me out to put Riley on the hot seat, especially since he laid the seeds for the program's prolonged successes while Dennis Erickson was calling the shots in Corvallis, and the first couple years after returning. However, let's look at his overall record. During his first stint at OSU in '97 and '98, Riley finished with an 8-14 record, which apparently was good enough to score him the San Diego Chargers' head gig. Erickson replaced him, led the Beavs to a Fiesta Bowl (with Riley's recruits), and cashed that magic in towards his own NFL return with the 49ers.
Riley came back in 2003, and in his first two seasons, he rocked out a 15-10 record and two bowl wins. However, last year, OSU was a disappointing 5-6, even with Riley coaching FIVE first-team all-Pac 10 players. This year, Riley can put up or he won't shut me up, because he returns 15 starters, and that should be good enough for improvement. Riley's accomplishments in bringing pride back to the program in his hometown of Corvallis is greatly appreciated by the Beavers faithful (and me), but you've got to win more than five games to stay popular.
4. Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M
At New Mexico and TCU, Franchione was a high-mid major turn-around guru that would've once probably made Urban Meyer envious. But after his stints at Alabama and Texas A&M, a hot coaching name has quickly felt the heat. This time, that heat's not on his name value, but smack dab on the backseat of his Dockers.
Sure, Franchione inherited an A&M football program that wasn't necessarily your older brother's Aggies. Still, Coach Fran had an unexpectedly good season in 2004, recovering from his 4-8 debut to take the team to 7-5. However, last year, even with dazzling senior QB Reggie McNeal, A&M finished a disappointing 5-6. Any heat on Franchione for the finish was quickly and wisely deflected by canning defensive coordinator Carl Torbush.
The hiring of Gary Darnell in that same position is already a mixed bag for some Aggie fans, especially considering he once held the same position with the hated Longhorns. Franchione does have some exciting young offensive players, namely sophomores QB Stephen McGee and hefty TB Jorvorskie Lane, a Jerome Bettis clone. But if the Aggies don't start winning, Coach Fran might not be around by the time those two are seniors.
3. Bill Doba, Washington State
The 65-year old Doba won more games in his rookie campaign in 2003 (10) than he has in the two seasons since (9). Last season was particularly disappointing, especially boasting a 1,900-yard rusher (Jerome Harrison) and an offense that averaged almost 500 yards a game. How'd they finish 4-7? Well, the defense gave up an average of almost as much, and finished 106th in the nation in total defense.
That's not good for a program run by its longtime defensive coordinator, and you know it bums Doba out just as much as the next guy. If this ship doesn't straighten up soon, Doba might find his caboose tossed straight out onto the Palouse. Forced rhyming aside, maybe Doba should start with picking a helmet scheme, since the Cougs wear two different ones during the season, but that's just picking nits.
2. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
With the recruiting classes that Phil perennially pulls in, he should never finish with a losing record, which is exactly what happened in 2005. Offensive coordinator David "Assistant Coaching Hire of the Year" Cutcliffe was brought back to Knoxville to stop the bleeding in orange and white checkerboard country, and that should help.
Problem is, Tennessee returns only 9 or 10 starters. However, the talent's there to make 2005 look like a mere hiccup in the Fulmer Era. If the 2005 season carries over into this year, Tennessee will probably find themselves hiring something a little more expensive than a new offensive coordinator.
1. Lloyd Carr, Michigan
Carr's hot-seat status is up for intense debate in Ann Arbor, and just about anywhere else that cares. After all, this is Michigan, and if you can't exactly be Bo, then you'd better beat Ohio State and not lose 3-5 games in a season. With every loss to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even the Buckeyes, Jeremy Piven on HBO's Entourage isn't the only one around that can be frantically screaming "LLOYD!!!".
Talented offensive skill players, and impressive upperclassmen on defense should put Michigan near the top of the Big Ten in 2006. If not, the future doesn't look bright for the last coach that led the Wolverines to their last National Championship.
Top 5 That shouldn't be feeling heat
In no particular order...
Rich Brooks, Kentucky
Is Rich Brooks lucky he coaches at a basketball school? (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
At age 64, I'm assuming Coach Brooks isn't going to be given the same 18 years to build a program like he was back at Oregon. However, even after going 9-25 his first three seasons, there's no reason that he should be shown the door. First off, the programs surrounding the hailstorm of NCAA violations in the Hal Mumme era wasn't going to help anyone.
Guy Morriss was smart enough to leave for Baylor while the gettin' was good, or at least still had a full batch of scholarships to work with. Second, the SEC East is loaded with top programs (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina), it's gonna be difficult for anybody to take the program that Brooks inherited and turn it into a juggernaut after three or four seasons. I hate to be one of those writers that tells a fan base or administration to "accept its fate." That's not fair. However, the Kentucky football head coaching job is a tough gig right now, and an experienced ol' pro like Brooks is the right kind of medicine it needs to rebuild.
John Bunting, North Carolina
It's a nice gig to be a football coach at an out-and-out basketball school. Ask Ted Roof at Duke. Also ask John Bunting at North Carolina. The Tar Heels haven't won a bowl game since Julius Peppers led North Carolina to a Peach Bowl in 2001. That's not very good for a program that appeared to be speeding towards an eventual National Championship under Mack Brown 10 years ago.
However, Bunting's had a ton of bad luck since arriving at Chapel Hill. He's had more than a few highly rated recruits that haven't panned out and left the team (DL Isaiah Thomas and Terry Hunter, WRs Mike Mason, WR Adarius Bowman, and accepted a ton of high-profile transfers over the years, such as quarterback C.J. Stephens (Florida), running backs Chad Scott (Kentucky), Barrington Edwards (LSU), Rikki Cook (Rutgers), and tight end Bobby Blizzard (Kentucky) that all didn't set the world afire after arriving on campus.
Thankfully, the complete revival of the basketball program under Roy Williams should buy Bunting more time. Remember, during Bunting's tenure before Williams got there, speculation ran rampant that Steve Spurrier might have wound up one Carolina north of where he is right now ...
Chuck Amato, N.C. State
This is a name I've seen so-called national experts put on the proverbial hot seat. Many point to the fact that he hasn't done anything since Philip Rivers left campus. Others point to the fact that he had three NFL first-round draft picks this spring, but only finished 7-5 in 2005. Well in Amato's defense, two of those three picks were virtual unknowns coming out of high school. DE Manny Lawson was a stringbean 185-pound receiver prospect, and DT John McCargo was an unheralded fullback. If anything, that should prove that Amato runs a program very adept at developing its talent. Plus, the turnovers and penalties that plagued the program during the Wolfpack's 2-4 start last year seemed to improve during the team's 5-1 stretch to close the season, something that generally coincides with good coaching rather than bad.
Bill Callahan, Nebraska
Not to suggest that Callahan's seat is getting too heated, but I don't remember any national championships during his first two years, and he's trying to please the same rowdy crowd that got rid of a reasonably successful Frank Solich. But, thanks to an improving West Coast offense that features a few handfuls of talented young freshmen and sophomores, the future looks bright in Lincoln. However, if Callahan doesn't win the Big 12 North this season or go 13-1, it's not even close to time to start getting sweaty over his tenure.
Houston Nutt, Arkansas
It's been a rough past couple years for Nutt at his alma mater. After all, Nutt could have bolted to Nebraska for the 2004 season, but didn't, and karma rudely thanked him with records 5-6 and 4-7. But this could be the year that the Razorbacks break out. After all, they return boatloads of young talent, a new offensive scheme, and debut Mitch Mustain, the nation's top high-school quarterback from 2005. And, even if the team stays around the four-to-five win total this year, there's so much young talent in place that it should hopefully buy Nutt some time in the eyes of the fans and good ol' Frank Broyles.
For Nutt, Bunting, and Amato, they're seats aren't as hot as many in the national media or outside observers assume. After all, they're coaching at their respective alma maters. It's always hard to get rid of one of your own. However, best of luck to all of these coaches in 2006, let's hope their seats are cooled off by the season's end.
With the college football season approaching, the inevitable countdown to next off-season's coaching carousel has already begun.
That said, here's a look at the top five coaches on the college football hotseat for 2006, and a rundown of five who may be included on lists like this one, but don't deserve to be.
(NOTE: These seat-sitters are strictly my choices. I'm not a biased fan of any of these schools, nor am I their athletic directors, privy to contract information about how expensive it would be to buy them out, etc.)
Top 5 Coaches on the Hot Seat
5. Mike Riley, Oregon State
Mike Riley is still trying to get Oregon State into the upper echelon of the Pac 10. (Otto Greule Jr. / Getty Images)
It bums me out to put Riley on the hot seat, especially since he laid the seeds for the program's prolonged successes while Dennis Erickson was calling the shots in Corvallis, and the first couple years after returning. However, let's look at his overall record. During his first stint at OSU in '97 and '98, Riley finished with an 8-14 record, which apparently was good enough to score him the San Diego Chargers' head gig. Erickson replaced him, led the Beavs to a Fiesta Bowl (with Riley's recruits), and cashed that magic in towards his own NFL return with the 49ers.
Riley came back in 2003, and in his first two seasons, he rocked out a 15-10 record and two bowl wins. However, last year, OSU was a disappointing 5-6, even with Riley coaching FIVE first-team all-Pac 10 players. This year, Riley can put up or he won't shut me up, because he returns 15 starters, and that should be good enough for improvement. Riley's accomplishments in bringing pride back to the program in his hometown of Corvallis is greatly appreciated by the Beavers faithful (and me), but you've got to win more than five games to stay popular.
4. Dennis Franchione, Texas A&M
At New Mexico and TCU, Franchione was a high-mid major turn-around guru that would've once probably made Urban Meyer envious. But after his stints at Alabama and Texas A&M, a hot coaching name has quickly felt the heat. This time, that heat's not on his name value, but smack dab on the backseat of his Dockers.
Sure, Franchione inherited an A&M football program that wasn't necessarily your older brother's Aggies. Still, Coach Fran had an unexpectedly good season in 2004, recovering from his 4-8 debut to take the team to 7-5. However, last year, even with dazzling senior QB Reggie McNeal, A&M finished a disappointing 5-6. Any heat on Franchione for the finish was quickly and wisely deflected by canning defensive coordinator Carl Torbush.
The hiring of Gary Darnell in that same position is already a mixed bag for some Aggie fans, especially considering he once held the same position with the hated Longhorns. Franchione does have some exciting young offensive players, namely sophomores QB Stephen McGee and hefty TB Jorvorskie Lane, a Jerome Bettis clone. But if the Aggies don't start winning, Coach Fran might not be around by the time those two are seniors.
3. Bill Doba, Washington State
The 65-year old Doba won more games in his rookie campaign in 2003 (10) than he has in the two seasons since (9). Last season was particularly disappointing, especially boasting a 1,900-yard rusher (Jerome Harrison) and an offense that averaged almost 500 yards a game. How'd they finish 4-7? Well, the defense gave up an average of almost as much, and finished 106th in the nation in total defense.
That's not good for a program run by its longtime defensive coordinator, and you know it bums Doba out just as much as the next guy. If this ship doesn't straighten up soon, Doba might find his caboose tossed straight out onto the Palouse. Forced rhyming aside, maybe Doba should start with picking a helmet scheme, since the Cougs wear two different ones during the season, but that's just picking nits.
2. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
With the recruiting classes that Phil perennially pulls in, he should never finish with a losing record, which is exactly what happened in 2005. Offensive coordinator David "Assistant Coaching Hire of the Year" Cutcliffe was brought back to Knoxville to stop the bleeding in orange and white checkerboard country, and that should help.
Problem is, Tennessee returns only 9 or 10 starters. However, the talent's there to make 2005 look like a mere hiccup in the Fulmer Era. If the 2005 season carries over into this year, Tennessee will probably find themselves hiring something a little more expensive than a new offensive coordinator.
1. Lloyd Carr, Michigan
Carr's hot-seat status is up for intense debate in Ann Arbor, and just about anywhere else that cares. After all, this is Michigan, and if you can't exactly be Bo, then you'd better beat Ohio State and not lose 3-5 games in a season. With every loss to Wisconsin, Minnesota, and even the Buckeyes, Jeremy Piven on HBO's Entourage isn't the only one around that can be frantically screaming "LLOYD!!!".
Talented offensive skill players, and impressive upperclassmen on defense should put Michigan near the top of the Big Ten in 2006. If not, the future doesn't look bright for the last coach that led the Wolverines to their last National Championship.
Top 5 That shouldn't be feeling heat
In no particular order...
Rich Brooks, Kentucky
Is Rich Brooks lucky he coaches at a basketball school? (Andy Lyons / Getty Images)
At age 64, I'm assuming Coach Brooks isn't going to be given the same 18 years to build a program like he was back at Oregon. However, even after going 9-25 his first three seasons, there's no reason that he should be shown the door. First off, the programs surrounding the hailstorm of NCAA violations in the Hal Mumme era wasn't going to help anyone.
Guy Morriss was smart enough to leave for Baylor while the gettin' was good, or at least still had a full batch of scholarships to work with. Second, the SEC East is loaded with top programs (Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina), it's gonna be difficult for anybody to take the program that Brooks inherited and turn it into a juggernaut after three or four seasons. I hate to be one of those writers that tells a fan base or administration to "accept its fate." That's not fair. However, the Kentucky football head coaching job is a tough gig right now, and an experienced ol' pro like Brooks is the right kind of medicine it needs to rebuild.
John Bunting, North Carolina
It's a nice gig to be a football coach at an out-and-out basketball school. Ask Ted Roof at Duke. Also ask John Bunting at North Carolina. The Tar Heels haven't won a bowl game since Julius Peppers led North Carolina to a Peach Bowl in 2001. That's not very good for a program that appeared to be speeding towards an eventual National Championship under Mack Brown 10 years ago.
However, Bunting's had a ton of bad luck since arriving at Chapel Hill. He's had more than a few highly rated recruits that haven't panned out and left the team (DL Isaiah Thomas and Terry Hunter, WRs Mike Mason, WR Adarius Bowman, and accepted a ton of high-profile transfers over the years, such as quarterback C.J. Stephens (Florida), running backs Chad Scott (Kentucky), Barrington Edwards (LSU), Rikki Cook (Rutgers), and tight end Bobby Blizzard (Kentucky) that all didn't set the world afire after arriving on campus.
Thankfully, the complete revival of the basketball program under Roy Williams should buy Bunting more time. Remember, during Bunting's tenure before Williams got there, speculation ran rampant that Steve Spurrier might have wound up one Carolina north of where he is right now ...
Chuck Amato, N.C. State
This is a name I've seen so-called national experts put on the proverbial hot seat. Many point to the fact that he hasn't done anything since Philip Rivers left campus. Others point to the fact that he had three NFL first-round draft picks this spring, but only finished 7-5 in 2005. Well in Amato's defense, two of those three picks were virtual unknowns coming out of high school. DE Manny Lawson was a stringbean 185-pound receiver prospect, and DT John McCargo was an unheralded fullback. If anything, that should prove that Amato runs a program very adept at developing its talent. Plus, the turnovers and penalties that plagued the program during the Wolfpack's 2-4 start last year seemed to improve during the team's 5-1 stretch to close the season, something that generally coincides with good coaching rather than bad.
Bill Callahan, Nebraska
Not to suggest that Callahan's seat is getting too heated, but I don't remember any national championships during his first two years, and he's trying to please the same rowdy crowd that got rid of a reasonably successful Frank Solich. But, thanks to an improving West Coast offense that features a few handfuls of talented young freshmen and sophomores, the future looks bright in Lincoln. However, if Callahan doesn't win the Big 12 North this season or go 13-1, it's not even close to time to start getting sweaty over his tenure.
Houston Nutt, Arkansas
It's been a rough past couple years for Nutt at his alma mater. After all, Nutt could have bolted to Nebraska for the 2004 season, but didn't, and karma rudely thanked him with records 5-6 and 4-7. But this could be the year that the Razorbacks break out. After all, they return boatloads of young talent, a new offensive scheme, and debut Mitch Mustain, the nation's top high-school quarterback from 2005. And, even if the team stays around the four-to-five win total this year, there's so much young talent in place that it should hopefully buy Nutt some time in the eyes of the fans and good ol' Frank Broyles.
For Nutt, Bunting, and Amato, they're seats aren't as hot as many in the national media or outside observers assume. After all, they're coaching at their respective alma maters. It's always hard to get rid of one of your own. However, best of luck to all of these coaches in 2006, let's hope their seats are cooled off by the season's end.