The Official AOG VU FB Head Coach Rumormill

Navy’s OC.

George Plaster threw this out there even before the Wake game had started. Pretty sure it’s bogus. We discussed it in either the Caldwell resignation post or the Wake gamethread.

Still sticking by my guns that they are only considering FBS Head Coaches at this point, with no coordinators/assistants other than Malzahn.

We need a countdown clock for the 30 days. It will be totally arbitrary, but it will make it feel more exciting.

I am disappointed with Randy Shannon being fired from Miami. (Partly because, having grown up an hour from Tallahassee, FSU was my first college football team and Randy Shannon’s teams were fun to play against… you know, because they sucked).

But moreso, I am disappointed as a Vandy fan because I think that they are the kind of school best suited to getting the kind of guy we might otherwise get.

The primary balance at Miami is the “Stanford of the South” image they want and the fact that they only time anyone cares about the school is when their football is good, and they tend to trive with the thuggy image.

(BTW, have they ever heard of Vandy, Duke, UNC? I mean seriously, Miami is maybe the Cornell of the South.)

Miami’s President Shalala wanted to keep Shannon because he was supposed to win without the thuglife. But they couldn’t after the USF loss and the beatdown FSU gave them and kind of sucky recruiting.

So will Shalala just let them get the biggest football name they can get? Or will they play up this 1A-1B approach to academics and football and try to get another school first guy, who is also a big football name.

So if they go for someone who values academics highly, that might be exactly the kind of guy who would be drawn to Vandy.

Plus, their football history probably trumps Vandy’s SEC-ness as a football draw.

Miami has some of our same problems. In the past, they have not necessarily had the cash to go after big name coaches. I’m afraid that these problems do put us into competition with them.

If that’s true, you have to think that their history and ability to recruit gives them an advantage over us.

But their fans (who couldn’t care less about their academics) are shooting for guys like Gruden.

Though that probably won’t happen, I hope that it shows that they want the biggest football name possible, whereas we want someone who has a system and fits our style.

In a related story, we do not want Randy Shannon, thanks.

The next time I hear a UF fan who wants Malzahn say “Vandy can have Adazzio.”

Seriously just say “Vandy doesn’t give a shit, and no one cares about them anyway, so they can have our moron who no one wants. They’ll love it!”

I almost hope we get Gus more to piss off everyone else than because I’m convinced it’s the best option (because I have no clue).

Numerous reports that Vandy has/had made multiple inquiries with Malzahn, who has politely declined. Not that I can blame him.

Temple’s Head Coach. The Nashville ABC affiliate WKRN last night mentioned he had expressed interest or something along those lines.

Unfortunately, not on the list despite taking Texas Tech to the BCS and having an IMPECCABLE historical APR and no shady recruiting issues.

Seriously, this guy is an unbelievable coach that Vandy, under normal circumstances, would never EVER have a chance to get. He would strike fear into the hearts of the other SEC coaches and their defensive coordinators.

Yet our BOT is scared off by his off the field baggage. Apparently they do not understand the concept of buy low, sell high.

What about a conditional hire based on him settling his pending lawsuits immediately?

Also, what if he wins both of his lawsuits. How does that change public perception of him? To his detractors, considering most of what you believe about him has come from ESPN’s coverage, how would him winning a defamation lawsuit (a longshot under normal situations, though Leach is a former lawyer).

Plus, his wikipedia page is AWESOME. Hey, he would certainly fit in the $2 mil / year category that Clay Travis tweeted VU was targeting for the position.

Depending on how things shake out at Miami, is starting to gain steam again, though it may be more related to how often his name popped up when CBJ first retired.

with Plaster (who is playing the, “I can’t tell you where I heard it but I didn’t just make it up card”), that Malzahn and Jasper are the two he’s really hearing so far. He wasn’t equivocal either, so it wasn’t one or the other, it was more just this is what I’ve heard so far.

I still think Plaster is full of it (I don’t listen to the radio here much so I don’t know what his bona fides are). Maybe Jasper is a legit possibility, maybe even the leader, but did he not say like, I don’t know 48 hours ago, that it would be Jasper within 48 hours. I think it’s still talking out of your ass if you hear a name as the leader and declare him hired.

But anyway, Low says that from what he’s heard Malzahn hasn’t said officially no yet, that he got the idea it was more not right now. That said, he still doesn’t think Malzahn ends up here.

He really didn’t have any new insight except that there is at least something to the Jasper rumor and Malzahn hopes are only mostly dead. He had no other names. But really it would shock/annoy me if we don’t seriously consider at least one person who has maybe, I don’t know, been a head coach somewhere before.

On Mark Stoops. It’ll never happen, he’s sitting pretty at FSU and will get a big job when he leaves. Plus he’s one year from going to the top of everyone’s hot coordinator lists.

Everyone who follows FSU (as I do as well) has pretty much accepted that Stoops is gone probably by the end of next year, I figure, if he’s going to bolt, he should bolt to Vandy.

But that will never happen, and I count myself in the get an offensive coach camp anyway. The way I see it, if we still suck but have a good offense, it’s way more fun than having an awful offense but a good defense.

Has been mentioned several times by The Tennessean. Seems like some of the most BCS HC experience we have on the list. I’d bet we definitely consider him.

He did a solid job at Clemson, but honestly it just tempers my expectations when we’re talking about a guy who generally won 4 to 6 games a year, in the ACC, with better recruiting than Vandy.

That said, his teams sure did seem tough on FSU all those years.

I’m still not sure he’s what we want.

I mean, he would be a legit coach, and I’d feel better with him than I do lately. I could believe he could get us to a bowl once in a while, but I’m not sure that he is really a culture changer.

But I guess you could say, our culture is a culture of being illegitimate in the SEC, and if he’s legit that’s change enough. Still, even though it’s better than we are now, I don’t think anyone here would be happy with us just becoming like Kentucky is now.

I guess this goes to the main question: do we go with more experience but not much upside, or do we go with a head coach with less D-I experience, riskier, but someone you could believe has a higher ceiling than just looking legit?

So, if we do get a defensive minded guy as head coach, like Golden or Bud Foster, who might we consider for OC?

I don’t think we’d be really interested in Golden’s OC from Temple coming along (with his 77th ranked scoring offense), and obviously Foster wouldn’t have anyone to bring with him.

If we don’t get a guru for the HC, we almost certainly won’t get anyone established as OC either. So what are our options?

Make Hand OC, which seems like a solid option.

Maybe we could convince someone like Whipple to come. He was OC at Miami and got fired, so I mean he’s not exactly a hot commodity with lots of other offers. But I’d bet he’s only interested here if we offer HC.
But I’d bet if he doesn’t get a HC job or a big OC job he’ll just go coach a position in the NFL or something.

Otherwise, I think this might be the position that we try to innovate at. We grab an OC from a smaller school, or a good position coach from a big school. Maybe even a really hot high school head coach.

I realize this seems like looking too far ahead, but I think the administration when they consider a defensive minded guys have to have this in their heads, and that would have to be the biggest question for any of these guys in an interview.

Athletic Chancellor David Williams is supposed to be on 3 Hour Lunch at 1:30 on 104.5 The [Vol] Zone.

I’ll post anything interesting he says.

Says he’s paying to a “performance guage,” kind of sounds like he’s paying based on how much he expects.

Says Vandy uses performance incentives in their contracts, so we won’t be giving out a “$4 million” guaranteed contract, but that (while he does say no one is going to be making $4 mill with incentives either) that “you won’t go broke coaching Vanderbilt.”

We’d better get to work… sign the petition: http://firechrisault.blogspot.com/

39 dissatisfied customers are already ready to pass Chris Ault along to us. They’re ready for bigger and better things. Well actually 38 people are ready, and one guy signed the petition to say he liked Chris Ault and wanted him to stay at Nevada. (That guy was named “Jim Cooper.” Thanks a lot Congressman!).

So sign away, and try not to mention that we will hire him as soon as they fire him.

Coincidentally, no signatures on the petition in a few days…Odd how that happens. I still think there is something better out there for Nevada, don’t stand for second best!

(P.S. someone other than Jim Cooper needs to tell Nevada fans to grow up and enjoy it because it’s not getting any better.)

Says this site.

My choices based in no way on reality: Leach, Malzahn, Roman, (Whipple, Golden, Lee) Foster and Bowden.

Those are basically in my current order of preference, except that Whipple, Golden and Lee are in no particular order and I have no idea where to put Bowden. Probably ahead of those three though.

I’m liking Roman a lot lately. Of course, if Harbaugh is going to bolt to Michigan, he will have a good shot to stay at Stanford as HC.

I’d probably put Sumlin right after Roman but I haven’t heard his name anywhere on our end, and it sounds like he’s only interested in established programs.

I also am fine with Whipple after looking at Miami’s stats this season. His rushing offense was pretty good, even while his QB fell apart mentally and physically. And they still were in the middle in passing offense. Harris was overrated, but he also played terrible, so it does give me a little pause about QB development. Generally, I wouldn’t really want him to bring anyone from Miami with him either.

Before we made ICRC CRC, there seemed to be almost a consensus that everyone loved Ken Niumatalolo, I guess that has cooled this time around (maybe because of this).

I haven’t really heard his name anywhere. Wonder if his name might pop up at some point though.

DO NOT WANT!

I said that immediately when he was fired (last line).

But Lockridge in the Tennessean cites a source that says Shannon is on our “desirable candidates” list.

PUKE!

So we really want a guy that was just at a supposedly similar academic program, only one that can recruit like nobody’s business and did for his first several years, and despite having top recruiting classes for the last few years, epically busted (even while some people suggested, ridiculously though it was, that they were a Top 10 team).

If Randy Shannon can’t get Miami about 7-5 in the ACC, what’s he going to do at Vandy in the SEC? No freakin’ thanks.

This might be for me the least desirable candidate I’ve heard yet.

Lockridge had a nice big data dump in his latest.

In addition to his info on Roman’s interview (see the Roman thread), he was dropping previously unheard names like nobody’s business.

Wis­con­sin defen­sive coor­di­na­tor Dave Doe­ren
Tulsa head coach Todd Graham
Wis­con­sin offen­sive coor­di­na­tor Paul Chryst (2010 Broy­les fina­list)
Michi­gan State offen­sive coor­di­na­tor Don Tread­well

Nothing substantial about any of those guys, he just listed them (and a lot of previously heard names) as linked to the opening “by either speculation or fact.” Not the most exacting standard, but we’ll see if any of them show up again.

Hearing Maryland assistant James Franklin is in consideration for the Vandy job.

and

Hearing that Nebraska assistant Shawn Watson is slated to interview for the Vandy job on Sunday.

Some more names to add to your list

Former Clemson and Tulane Coach Tommy Bowden is said to want the Vanderbilt job. He is currently living in Panama City, Fla., thanks in large part to a sweet parting gift from Clemson.

Whats weird, is where I found this. It was in an article by the Tennessean about Drew Brees being sportsman of the year.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20101205/COLUMNIST0201/12050322/2072/SPORTS

nebraska’s current OC, how do u guys feel about him? i wouldnt say he is a “fan favorite” among the cornhusker fans, just a fair warning

has become available

Hey, all. I’m the lead blogger over Testudo Times, SBN’s MD blog (just so you understand my perspective). Just figured I’d give a quick note about Franklin, just as an FYI:

Most fans at Maryland (and, to be honest, Ralph Friedgen himself) don’t like Franklin. It’s safe to say that the majority of fans would be happy if Frank left. He’s had waaaaay too many “WTF?” playcalls and has overseen too many awful offenses for anyone involved with the program to have a positive opinion of him. Maryland hasn’t had an innovative, successful offense in years. Part of that is Friedgen, but Franklin’s inability to use any measure of innovation in playcalling is a big reason they’ve been so bad the past few years.

That said, he has some qualities that should make him a decent HC, which is probably the only reason we haven’t torn up his HCIW deal, paid him the million dollar buyout, and told him to GTFO. He’s a good motivator and communicator, from what I’ve read. He’s also a really good recruiter that managed to steal some gems last year despite MD going 2-10. And, like many new young coaches, he can sell the program. He’s also apparently rather personable and a very good interviewee, which means it might get interesting if he gets a callback. (He’s also ambitious, so he’ll more than likely leave Vandy if he has success and a bigger name comes calling).

Still can’t call plays worth a damn. If he wants some measure of control offensively, you’re probably in trouble. If not, he really does have potential, as much as I hate to admit it. Basically, he’s going to be at his best as a program CEO with really good coordinators. Anything else, and…meh. Not sure if that gets you excited and it’s definitely a gamble, but I wouldn’t really be shocked if had success as a HC after basically failing as an OC.

BTW, how can the media think we’re at a disadvantage because we have no athletic director. WE’VE GOT AN ATHLETIC CHANCELLOR! Chancellor ranks above Director. Look at Germany? If they only had a director instead of Chancellor Angela Merkel would they be the leading economy in the EU? I think NOT!

ANYWAY,

Locky confirms in his latest that we have contacted basically all the names we’ve heard here.

Tulsa Coach Todd Graham, Nebraska offensive coordinator Shawn Watson, Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin, Michigan State offensive coordinator Don Treadwell and Wisconsin defensive coordinator Dave Doeren.

Stanford assistant head coach/offense coordinator Greg Roman interviewed in person Friday. Vanderbilt also has met with Graham and Treadwell.

He says we are heading towards a final list of 3-4.

Of the names that have popped up in the last few days, the only one he didn’t confirm was Chryst, the Wisconsin OC.

I assume Vanderbilt has “met with” means we have interviewed Graham and Treadwell. Both names that sound solid. I like the Graham/Hand combo.

Treadwell has been a quasi-HC this year with their HC sick. But in his 4 years as OC his scoring offense has been 29, 62, 36, 39 and his total offense has been 42, 74, 38, 39, so it’s not like he’s set the world on fire with his bold ideas.

FootballScoop.com also says we have interviewed Doeren, the Wisconsin DC.

Lockridge says that we really aren’t getting much play with Malzahn or (as we’ve heard before) Golden.

He also says we like the AF head coach Calhoun, and that we’ll interview him if he is interested. But word on Twitter today was that Calhoun actually turned down a shot at the Broncos (a slightly more prestigious and lucrative position) to stay at Air Force.

Possibly interesting, no mention of Foster, Bowden or Shannon as people who have or will interview. I don’t think this is a complete list by any means, but the longer it goes without hearing that they’ve interviewed, the less likely they seem.

Also, we haven’t heard anything on Whipple or Lee at any point, so it seems they aren’t likely in the mix. And no mention of Jasper since the early days, so that’s probably history.

I quite enjoyed the AC DW quotes in this one. He basically says, that they are asking a lot of questions about who an offensive minded HC would have leading the defense and who a defensive minded HC would have leading the offense.

DW:

I think the question (we’ve) asked is: ’Who’s going to run the offense and who’s going to run the defense?’

If it’s an offensive person, we’re a little more interested in what’s going to be happening with the defense. If it’s a defensive person, we’re a little more interested in what’s going to be happening with the offense. The fact more offensive persons have been identified as targets is just how it’s gone.

I know that DW likes to stay out of telling an HC who to hire for his staff, but I really like that he’s at least considering the kind of staff they’d put together in his decisions. This is especially important to me when you’re talking to assistants who have no experience building staffs.

They aren’t our Vandy blogger rivals are they?

Great list of candidates tiered by how possible they are.

And info capsules on some of the coordinators we’ve heard in the last couple days.

VSL passed on a report from Washington Post.

The Post’s Maryland beat reporter says that Franklin, the Terps’ OC and HCIW is one of two finalists here and that he believes Greg Roman is the other.

The timing for finalists seems like it could be right, so it’s possible.

If this is the case, I vote Roman.

I’d be concerned about Franklin, I just can’t see making a big difference in terms of excitement with, “Look at all I accomplished at Maryland.”
But if his coordinators looked OK, I’d be open-minded I think (though I can’t promise my immediate reaction wouldn’t be somewhat more visceral and maybe more negative).

Jeff Lockridge gives an update on the coach search this morning and states Navy HC Ken Niumatalolo is in the mix for the job. That’s the first I’ve heard his name, but apparently Vandy is very interested:

“Vanderbilt is interested in Navy Coach Ken Niumatalolo and ideally wants to speak with him about the school’s football vacancy before its second round of interviews, a source says.

However, Niumatalolo will not entertain any talks until after Saturday’s Army-Navy game, the source said. Niumatalolo is 26-13 at Navy in his third full season since taking over when Paul Johnson left for Georgia Tech."

So, it could be Roman’s pro-style offense, Franklin’s west coast offense or Niumatalolo’s option (if he’s interested) or even someone else….talk about going in any number of directions.