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Just wanted to share some thoughts with you about some coaching situations in the SEC.  I'll start with the job that's already open (and we believe filled):


Tennessee's "Early" Move On Fulmer

Tennessee forced the resignation of their long-time coach with three weeks to play in the season.  That has been a major source of griping among some fans, a few media members and many, many former Fulmer players.

But if Tennessee has wrapped up Lane Kiffin as their choice and will announce him next week, as we believe they will, then how can anyone say Mike Hamilton made a mistake with regards to timing?

Kiffin was obviously high on UT's list.  Clemson had already fired Tommy Bowden and had actually gotten ahead of Tennessee in terms of contacting Kiffin.

Whether Tennessee had Kiffin number one or number three, it's clear they wanted to have him as an option.  And as of four weeks ago, when this all began, the Dabo-Swinney-to-get-the-Clemson-job stuff hadn't taken shape.

In addition, if Tennessee had waited to do a national search (which is now beginning its fourth week) until before or after the Kentucky game, Kiffin and his new staff would not have been able to take advantage of December's early recruiting period.

So in hindsight, from where I sit, it's pretty clear why Hamilton acted when he did.  Whether someone believes Kiffin is the right choice or not, his selection would have necessitate an early move on Fulmer on the two fronts I just mentioned.


Fulmer's Coaching Opportunities

It's no secret that Fulmer would like to coach again.  He's said so.  But he also wants to find the right opportunity.  Clemson has been mentioned by those close to Fulmer.

Unfortunately, the right opportunity probably won't come along this off-season.  More than likely, Fulmer would not find a job with a BCS bottom-feeder too appealing.  Why start from scratch at 58 years-old?

At the same time, it would be very difficult for a top program to sell its fanbase on the idea of hiring a fired coach who hasn't won a league title in 10 years and has had two losing seasons in his last four years.  Do you think Clemson fans would view Fulmer as an upgrade over Bowden?

That means, barring a situation where an established program needs a very quick fix (NCAA clean-up job, their own coach leaves on short notice after January 1st), Fulmer probably won't be coaching in 2008.

Which should quiet some of those people who believe Tennessee has made a horrible blunder.  (They may well hire someone who fails, but if no one good wants your old coach, it's hard to say that he's still among the nation's elite.)


Tuberville To Return?

It sounds more and more like Tommy Tuberville will be able to return to Auburn next year.  The man's record is excellent.  This is truly one bad year, not a steady decline in the program.

Also, Auburn has a $90+ million basketball arena to pay for, a fired baseball coach who's still being paid, and a basketball coach on the hot seat.  Can they really afford to hand Tuberville $6 million over the course of 366 days?

That said, what if Tuberville wants to go?  Isn't it possible that the bad blood between the coach and some key boosters has simply gotten old for Tubs?

I wouldn't be surprised if Jimmy Sexton (Tuberville's agent) has asked Clemson's search committee about their goals, but it looks as though they're going to go a cheaper route after paying Bowden a king's ransom of his own.

If Clemson's not a possibility for Tuberville, would he really want to strike out in another direction?  My guess is no, even if he hates some of the folks on The Plains and they hate him.

That's probably why he's already talking about finding a new offensive coordinator from the hundreds of resumes he's been sent.  But here's the question?  How good of a coordinator can Tuberville find when the new coach will be walking into a possible one-year, when-or-else type situation?

Personally, I think Tuberville will be back in Auburn next year.  But I wouldn't bet 10 cents on him being there in 2010.

(One thing that could change all of this: will Jay Jacobs force Tuberville to jettison his long-time offensive assistants?  That could be the spark that re-ignites this whole thing next week.)


Miles In Trouble?

Les Miles can't actually be in trouble less than 11 months after winning a national title can he?

Uh, yes.  I'm not talking immediate, fired at the end of the season trouble, but I am talking about an unhappy fanbase.

Sure that says something about our society, but when you make nearly $4 million per year you can expect some high expectations.  Every year.

Miles is a gambler to the point of seeming half mad at times (at least by me).  He won a national championship last year, but he did it with Nick Saban's players and he did it with two losses... getting the biggest assist at the polls since Momo Giancana delivered Chicago and West Virginia to JFK.

The big issue here is perception and Saban.  Miles is perceived to be a bit of a doofus.  Fair or not, that MAKES him a doofus.  And now the man who built LSU up is back in the neighborhood.

I don't think it's coming this year, next year, or maybe even the next, but I firmly believe Miles' loss to Saban this year was the beginning of the end for him.  He'll need to beat Alabama year after year to keep the wolves at bay, and judging from how Bama's recruiting, that won't be easy to do.


Quick Hitters:

* Sylvester Croom deserves another year at Mississippi State IF he's willing to make changes to his offensive staff.  His offenses have been horrible since he arrived... even last year when the Bulldogs won eight games.

* I've said this before, but I think it's going to be very difficult for Bobby Johnson to ever get out of Vanderbilt without recording at least seven, eight or possibly even nine wins in a season.  On top of that, I've heard from sources that Johnson is quite happy in Nashville and wouldn't mind staying there for a long, long time.

* If Charlie Weis is fired at Notre Dame, how long will it take for the Fighting Irish to call Urban Meyer?  Notre Dame is the one school in the country that does not have to worry about money.  (At least until the new SEC tv contracts kick in... then there will be 13 such schools.)  Would Meyer be interested in leaving if he wins another national championship this year?  I'll guess no.  Notre Dame's academic requirements are extremely rigid, they have to recruit nationally, and their fans expect national titles every year.  That's a bad mix.