@gthomas Yeah I dont think PSU (or a lot of these jobs) are as attractive as they make it out to be. No way Elko leaves A&M for PSU, A&M is a top tier job now that they can pay players
Too many people are still living in the old days. Some schools have money, some schools dont. I would argue TTU is a top 5 job now, with the amount of resources they have. They arent signing all those 5*s because of their coach's track record. LSU is one of the few brands that can still claim the local recruit advantage (local players will take a paycut to play for LSU)
PSU has good resources and money, but it also comes with unreasonable fans and administration. They expect to be a top 5 team every year, when reality is they are a top 15 program (historically) and resource wise. Same thing with Florida, who I think is closer to top 20 than top 15. I wouldnt even touch Florida if I was a prospective coach with how bad their administration is
@hoosierific Which jobs would you definitively rank ahead of LSU?
Ohio State
Alabama
Georgia
Notre Dame
........
@hoosierific Notre Dame is not a better job than LSU, the proof was Kelly leaving for LSU.
Notre Dame is a highly overrated job. They arent as strict on academics for HS prospects anymore but they are still a drag on bringing in transfer students. ND is a bubble top 10 job IMO
@hoosierific Saban won at LSU first and the guy after him won and the guy after that guy won…LSU is the better job than both UGA and Bama. It’s Ohio State, Texas and LSU in some order.
@thehoosierhuddle OSU is the #1 job and its not close IMO. Alabama has more titles, but OSU is the most consistent top 10 team in the country, they never have down years. Modern era, they have as much NIL money as anyone in the country to go with historical pedigree. Their boosters and school admin also seem to let Day run the program as he sees fit instead of trying to force players/coordinators on him
I kinda think Lane may stay at Ole Miss. He’s job hopped a lot and he’s found a good fit which he might appreciate more now.
He’s also a portal guy, and LSU and UF will expect serious HS recruiting. Does he take on the risk/reward at those schools? I’m not so sure he does.
Just a hunch but I think that Kiffin ends up at UF. I guess he met his (current) wife in Florida and there is possibly some desire to return to the state? I look at his career and this may be the longest he’s stayed at any one job? Probably depends what they do in the post season.
@big-red-cb-v-2-0 It could happen. He is a fit at Florida. He wears the visor because Spurrier did. But I still think he stays at Ole Miss.
Also, LSU just fired their AD. Ironically, they now owe him a $6.4M buyout.
I think Auburn sticks with Freeze. If they were going to fire him, they would've already done it. They know he could make a run, and the Iron Bowl is always a toss up. There are a lot of openings, and Auburn would be tier 2 at best. And that's how they got Harsin. Don't forget that the SEC has 1.) apologized for officiating mistakes and 2.)fired an official responsible for their games. Auburn could easily have 2 more wins.
I don't think Kiffin leaves. He was supposed to leave previously but his daughter nixed that idea. Maybe one state over isn't such a bad move.
New fear unlocked...
Marcus Freeman leaving Notre Dame for either LSU or Florida. He turned down PSU evidently, but I've not seen anything where he's turned down either of the SEC marquee jobs???
If he leaves... would ND pursue Cignetti?? Too old? Too brash? Would that be a program that might touch a nerve with Coach Cig? Its not as good an overall job as LSU, maybe not even Florida. But in terms of iconic brands, stroking a coaching ego... not sure there's anything higher than ND.
Not worth worrying about that imo. Freeman isn’t going either of those places to begin with. Even if he did ND may not pursue Cig and Cig has made it as clear as he can he’s staying and at some point one just has to believe him.
@tammany All long shots. Not a debilitating fear. Just an annoying one built from years and years of IU football WTF's.
@iunorth what appeal could ND offer Cig at this point, honestly? I can't see him jumping to another in-state school for a few extra dollars and a ton more pressure/expectations.
@surjay Maybe nothing. But during Cig's formative years, Notre Dame was THE top program. And its not far off now. I dislike them, very much so actually...having to live up here near South Bend and deal with their insufferable fans up here. But, there's no denying that ND is still ND. One walk through their practice facility and Stadium would remind anyone that they're in a different stratosphere than IU, in many ways. Their independent, partial ACC ties, will make it very, very easy for them to make the CFP most years.
Long shot that Freeman leaves... long shot they'd seriously go after someone as old as Cig if Freeman did leave... long shot Cig would leave IU... So its really not a founded concern, at this point. But it could become one if the Freeman to LSU whispers have any validity.
So which school will take Bob Chesney at JMU?
He has a good record (not quite as good as cigs), turned losers into winners (other than JMU who was already winning obviously), and is only 48 years old.
Jmu's AD obviously knows how to pick coaches.