Aggies, Hogs and Huskers

AGGIES
Ill start with the Aggies. Fran has been spending more time with his lawyers lately than he has looking at film. What's the hold-up you ask? Cha Ching $$. Not that the aggies are lacking for $ but when you have an $8mil buyout and then a $1-2mil+ buyout for a new coach (unless it is Tubberville who has a $6mil buyout) on top of trying to build a new indoor practice facility and track, etc. i dont have a calculator on me but it gets pretty expensive. So word on the street is they are dangling a breach of contract over him to lower the settlement.

Back to what you care about, the new coach. Who is the right man for the job? That is the $50million question. Judging by Bill Byrne's recent hiring history and the cost of the thing, I would not be surprised if he goes the coordinator route, but this is Aggie Football, a coordinator would not go over well and if it didn't work quick Byrne would find himself on the hotseat. If they do, Bo Pelini and Kevin Fisher are the 2 highest profile but Byrne passed over Pelini once before.

So while the Ags flirt with Tommy T. Neb is out hunting a coach that is going to say yes the first time and be a good fit. If aggies have to have a name i go balls to the wall for Rich Rodriguez. If they want a good fit for their program... get ready for this Skip Holtz. Would the Holtz name ease the pain of hiring the coach from East Carolina??????? Are the Aggies willing to run the option, Paul Johnson? One more question, is Bill Parcells too old?

HOGS
This is one of the more interesting searches. Jeff Long is the wildcard here, is he in the mix or not in the mix? I say in the mix. Is Broyles in the mix? I say not.

First there has to be an opening. Is Houston Nutt about to go on one of his traditional winning streaks, does it matter? If Nutt gets to 8 wins how can they fire him? I don't think they can, but word in coaching circles is that Nutt is tired of getting bood everytime he orders a burger or picks up his dry-cleaning, so he and mega-agent Jimmy Sexton are on the prowl. People seem to discount the Jimmy Sexton angle, Sexton could sell Al Gore an SUV.

Places Nutt would go:
Nebraska - He wouldn't say no again, but my guess is they wouldn't ask again either.
LSU - same as above
Georgia Tech - if you saw my post yesterday you know i hear this one is a possibility. Throw in the fact the GTECH AD Dan Radakovich was on the LSU staff that talked to Nutt about their opening, and that he and Sexton have a good relationship we may have a connection.
TX A&M - Not gonna happen
SMU - If Nutt is Fired he will take it. Word around the campfire is that there has been some discussion.
Baylor - Wouldn't be his first choice but it is the Big 12. Nutt would have to get off his keyster and actually recruit himself at Baylor. Nutt is a baptist.

From what i hear there is a 90% chance there will be a new coach in Fayetteville. With the massive growth, new airport, commitment to the SEC, and Arkansas high schools playing spring ball, this program is a sleeping giant. Butch Davis, whose dad lives about 15 minutes from the stadium, would be in a much better position to win a national championship in Hogland than in Chapel Hill. I still think this is where Bo Pelini lands. If Bo went to Fayetteville and took Gary Crowton with him, look out. Will Muschamp's name keeps popping up but i'm not sure he is ready just yet. Gary Patterson supposedly covets this job.

Neb
Paul Johnson is the right man for this job, but with Osborne making the hire he probably keeps it in the family, although the Paul Johnson's option should be considered a big part of this family. Turner Gill would jump at the chance but would the fans acccept him with minimal experience. Bo Pelini would jump at the chance to turn it down, so i am told. Chris Peterson would be a good fit if he doesnt go to UCLA which seems very likeley. Butch Davis' phone will definitely ring for this job, if he took it and Arkansas has a job opening, we would have to get Ark vs Neb on the schedule soon. OSborne is doing a good job of keeping his "true" thoughts quiet.

On a side note, i got a call last night that the latest name to be interested in the SMU job is Dirk Koetter. He would be a good fit in Dallas and for the conference.

If you guys here any good rumors let me know and i will chase them down.

Thanks

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