Written by The Sports Mole
| Sunday, 22 November 2009 10:40
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College Football News
Memphis - LSU running backs coach Larry Porter is one of the top candidates, if not at the top of the list, for the vacancy. Porter is a former running back for Memphis. FedEx CEO Fred Smith is running the show and is very fond of Porter who has a recruiting resume as one of the top guys in that area in college football.
Kansas - It appears that Mark Mangino, whose team is now 5-6, will be fired soon. Mangino's contract states that if there is just cause for termination, the coach can be fired without a buyout. Believe me, it isn't a good thing that the KU athletic director and his crew are listening to and accepting all of the stories from past players on Mangino's conduct. It is unfortunate that the guy who turned Kansas into a respected Big 12 program at a basketball school will be ousted for what happened in the past because of comments from previous players who were unhappy.
Colorado - Dan Hawkins will likely be bought out in Boulder. It makes you wonder what will happen to his son, Cody, when the elder Hawkins does not return. Former UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell is on the short list already. Dorrell was an offensive coordinator at Colorado in the past. Former Colorado player Eric Bieniemy will be interviewed. He is currently Adrian Peterson's position coach with the Vikings. Another former player, Jon Embree, has pro experience and will be on the list.
Maryland - Ralph Friedgen may be done in College Park after a poor season in 2009. Offensive coordinator James Franklin is the "head coach in waiting," but many do not see him taking over. Both have buyouts, and the key will be if money can be put together to pay for the removal of "The Fridge".
Notre Dame - The Charlie Weis era is over. Weis' program has been sub-.500 over the last 3 seasons and is a combined 1-6 in that span versus the Big East and Navy. NBC's favorite college team will have a new coach next season after the Irish have found ways to lose their last 3 and drop to an unacceptable 6-5. Urban Meyer, Cincinnati's Brian Kelly, TCU's Gary Patterson, and Stanford's Jim Harbaugh are the 4 guys that the Notre Dame will be looking into primarily. Don't expect Jon Gruden to leave the booth at ESPN for South Bend.
Michigan - Rich Rodriguez will be back in Ann Arbor, despite winning just 8 games in his first 2 seasons and being the first coach in over 4 decades to lead the program to two consecutive non-winning seasons. Wow. If he cannot get the Wolverines to win 6 or more in 2010, expect Michigan to look at Les Miles and Jim Harbaugh, two Michigan men. I do not believe that LSU fans will stop Miles from boarding a plane to head to Ann Arbor this go round.
UNLV - The big name that the administration wants is coaching gypsy Dennis Franchione. Having experience out west at New Mexico and even Texas A&M is a major attraction for UNLV officials. Coach Fran wants the job.
Virginia - Al Groh will be fired at the end of the season. Former Virginia assistants Al Golden (Temple) and Mike London (Richmond) are the top 2 coaches the powers-that-be are considering. Golden has led Temple to a 9-win season including a 7-0 record in the MAC. London led Richmond to an FCS national championship last season. Another name tied to the Virginia job is Louisiana Tech head coach Derek Dooley. Dooley is an alum of UVa, but his team's record this season and a huge buyout at Tech may be issues.
Louisville - Steve Kragthorpe is out at year's end despite being close friends with the athletic director Tom Jurich. The Cardinals have fallen from the top of the Big East to the cellar in recent seasons. Jon Gruden and Mike Leach's names have been thrown out there but look for someone else to land the position.
Western Kentucky - Arkansas offensive coordinator Paul Petrino is the leader, far-and-away, for the Hilltopper job. Stanford assistant Willie Taggard, a WKU alum, is a viable candidate as well. This is Petrino's job to turn down or lose.
Nicholls State - Jay Thomas was relieved of his duties after his team defeated SLU in resounding fashion on Thursday night, 45-30. The Colonels closed with two wins to wrap up their 2009 campaign at 3-8. During his tenure in Thibodaux, Thomas had to overcome hurricanes, facility issues, and finances. Heck, he did not get a staff hired until this summer because of a statewide hiring freeze. The Colonels won a Southland title in his time in charge, but this year's 1-8 start was too much to overcome. Some names that have come up: current UL-Lafayette and former Nicholls assistant Tim Rebowe, South Alabama and former Nicholls assistant and player Mitch Rodrigue, Sam Houston State defensive corodinator Scott Stoker, Crowley High head coach Tommy Tate and Central Arkansas assistant head coach Hud Jackson.
