August has finally returned!
Before we get into This upcoming 2008 season, lets discuss some coaching changes made after the 2007 college football season.
1. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech:
Johnson is a very good football coach who has simply won everywhere (Navy, SMU). He's been waiting years for this type of opportunity. He approaches the game with a contagious attitude. Johnson is a X's and O's type of guy, one of the best. Look for Johnson to assemble a strong staff. With an opportunity to recruit superior athletes, look for Johnson, THE OPTION KING to install the triple option offense (similar to his Navy days).
Ranking The Coach Hires:
1. Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech:
Johnson is a very good football coach who has simply won everywhere (Navy, SMU). He's been waiting years for this type of opportunity. He approaches the game with a contagious attitude. Johnson is a X's and O's type of guy, one of the best. Look for Johnson to assemble a strong staff. With an opportunity to recruit superior athletes, look for Johnson, THE OPTION KING to install the triple option offense (similar to his Navy days).
2. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan:Rodriguez appears to be more than a consolation
prize here. In four of the last five seasons, he has lead West Virginia to 4 conference championships, going 60-26 overall. His key to building West Virginia into a Big East Power was recruiting players that wanted to play for West Virginia. Can Coach Rod work his magic in Michigan?
3. Rich Neuheisel, UCLA:
Neuheisel has returned to his familiar stomping grounds, where he quarterbacked the 1984 Bruins to a Rose Bowl win. He comes to the Bruins with lots to prove. With some great years at Colorado and Washington under his belt , despite both gigs ending on a sour note. Colorado went on probation because of Neuheisel and he was axed in Washington for participating in a NCCA Tournament Pool. Most recently, a brief stint with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens as QB coach and offensive coordinator. Finally, the Bruins have found their "Guy", who wants to compete, and who wants it in the worst way.
4. Houston Nutt, Ole Miss:
Nutt comes to the SEC after putting in 10 years at Arkansas. He's quite familiar with the SEC, he knows what it takes to win. Can Nutt who accomplished a lot with a little, take advantage with prized recruits? How soon will the Rebels become SEC contenders again?
5.Bobby Petrino, Arkansas:
I wasn't feeling the way things went down with the Atlanta Falcons, despite three games remaining in the NFL regular season, Petrino bolted with no remorse. You cant be entirely mad at the situation, he did sign up to Coach the NFL's most exciting offensive weapon in Michael Vick. When it was clear Vick was no longer in the teams plans, he made his move. The fact remains, Petrno is an offensive genius, and there are few with the ability to create a better offense. Petrino has always been an SEC type of guy, and he has the chance to regain any lost respect he suffered from his brief NFL experiment. Critics want to know, can the best player caller in the game bring championships: conference and national, to Fayetteville?
6: Art Brilles, Baylor:
After turning Houston into one of the more elite of the non-BCS schools, I believed BCS job offers would've been pounding on Brilles door. In the end, a move a few hours north, and a takeover of a struggling Baylor program , proved enough to secure one of the games brightest offensive minds, in Brilles. What makes the Baylor job challenging, is the fact that its in the same neighborhood as schools like Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma. How does that make for recruiting? With all that being said, Briles is a Texas guy. Having someone who is familiar with Texas recruiting could be an asset.
7. Bo Pelini, Nebraska:
Despite no head coaching experience, there is something about Pelini that Dr. Tom Osborne loves. We'll have to trust him on this one. Pelini has served as an assistant in the NFL and he ran the husker defense in 2003 and served as interim head coach for Nebraska's bowl win over Michigan State that year.
8. Kevin Sumlin, Houston:
Great offensive mind who has held coaching positions for all skilled positions. He's a excellent communicator and recruiter, it wont be long that he proves his most recent work at Oklahoma was no fluke. Houston has arrived.
9. June Jones, SMU:
Jones has went 76-41 in his nine seasons at Hawaii, ending with a BCS bowl loss to Georgia in the 2007 Allstate Sugar Bowl. This offensive specialist, and former NFL head coach could not pass up a five year deal that makes him the highest paid coach in Conference USA.
10. Steve Fairchild, Colorado State:
For Fairchild, there really is no place like home. He will return to his alma mater, where he once quarterbacked and served as an assistant coach. He walked away from a great start to what seemed to be a promising NFL career. I guessing being a NFL offensive coordinator (Bills) was not as appealing as rebuilding his ala mater.
11. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M:
Look for Sherman to bring a pro-style offense, along with experienced coaching staff. Joe Kines will join Sheman's staff as Assistant Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator. It's only a matter of time before Aggies push Texas and Oklahoma.
12. Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois:
Heading to a decent program after earning his stripes in a lower division.
13: David Cutcliffe, Duke:
Duke has been at the bottom of ACC football for quite sometime. Look for Offensive genius Cutcliffe, to turn things around in one of the nations toughest jobs. Although Cutcliffe is not known for rebuilding, but the Dukies will contend for a bowl game in the near future??
Notable mentions:
Ken Niumatalolo, Navy
Greg McMackin, Hawaii
Bill Stewart, West Virginia
Larry Fedora, Southern Miss
Paul Wulff, Washington state
Next UP...
Coaches on FIRE!!!
S. Ballah
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