DiderotsGhost
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Scanning around the NCAA, there really aren't that many realistic options for Florida. All the names I'm seeing thrown around are long shots. Jim Harbaugh, Mike Shanahan, Bob Stoops, Steve Spurrier, and RichRod keep getting mentioned. The first two are completely unrealistic. Stoops has already rejected Florida three times and can't see why he'd suddenly change his mind now. Spurrier will be 70 years old and seems unlikely that he would take over Florida again this close to retirement.
RichRod might theoretically make sense, except it's tough to imagine him wanting to do Michigan Part 2. If RichRod wins two PAC-12 titles in the next decade at Arizona, they'll build statues to him. If he fails to win the SEC in his first four seasons or fails to win 8 games per year at Florida, he'll get fired. The Florida job is much more like the Michigan job, as well, and RichRod never did well with the PR side of things.
Who does that leave as realistic candidates?
1.) Jim McElwain - huge buyout, but possible
2.) Justin Fuente - one of the better possibilities, but only one good season under his belt at Memphis
3.) Doc Holliday - probably too old to met Foley's standards
4.) Mark Hudspeth - like Fuentas, a decent hire, but not going to excite the fanbase
5.) Chad Morris - the Clemson OC; Florida probably wants a proven coach this time, but Morris is a hot commodity
If Florida isn't happy with any of those guys, it's likely going to have to get creative. I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a run at someone not being thought about.
Mark Helfrich is a perhaps a long-shot possibility. He's from Oregon, but OU isn't his alma mater. Moreover, his $2 million salary seems rather low compared to other coaches of his caliber. Still, seems more likely that Oregon gives him a raise than Florida nabbing him.
Obviously, I'm rooting for Florida to make the wrong hire, but we'll see. Personally, I would say that even though he's only had one good season, Fuente's turn-around at Memphis is one of the most impressive things I've seen in the past decade of college football. I'm sort of hoping they pass on him.
RichRod might theoretically make sense, except it's tough to imagine him wanting to do Michigan Part 2. If RichRod wins two PAC-12 titles in the next decade at Arizona, they'll build statues to him. If he fails to win the SEC in his first four seasons or fails to win 8 games per year at Florida, he'll get fired. The Florida job is much more like the Michigan job, as well, and RichRod never did well with the PR side of things.
Who does that leave as realistic candidates?
1.) Jim McElwain - huge buyout, but possible
2.) Justin Fuente - one of the better possibilities, but only one good season under his belt at Memphis
3.) Doc Holliday - probably too old to met Foley's standards
4.) Mark Hudspeth - like Fuentas, a decent hire, but not going to excite the fanbase
5.) Chad Morris - the Clemson OC; Florida probably wants a proven coach this time, but Morris is a hot commodity
If Florida isn't happy with any of those guys, it's likely going to have to get creative. I wouldn't be surprised to see them make a run at someone not being thought about.
Mark Helfrich is a perhaps a long-shot possibility. He's from Oregon, but OU isn't his alma mater. Moreover, his $2 million salary seems rather low compared to other coaches of his caliber. Still, seems more likely that Oregon gives him a raise than Florida nabbing him.
Obviously, I'm rooting for Florida to make the wrong hire, but we'll see. Personally, I would say that even though he's only had one good season, Fuente's turn-around at Memphis is one of the most impressive things I've seen in the past decade of college football. I'm sort of hoping they pass on him.
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