The Whittled List: "Finalists" in the Search
by KingJamesIV on Dec 9, 2010 4:29 PM EST
in Vanderbilt Commodores Football
Email
PrintAfter analyzing the reporting of various media outlets, including the Tennessean, the Washington Post, ESPN, and even Nashville radio station 104.5 The Zone, it's becoming more and more clear that Vanderbilt has whittled its list of potential head coaches to about four or five names (barring any surprises). These are those names, alphabetized.
James Franklin, Offensive Coordinator of the Maryland Terrapins. Considered to be the Maryland "head coach in waiting", though apparently there may be questions beginning to surface about whether that may still be the case going forward.
Gus Malzahn, Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach of the Auburn Tigers - Darkhorse candidate. Jeff Lockridge of the Tennessean told 104.5 the Zone that discussions have been under the radar.
Greg Roman, Assistant Head Coach / Assistant Head Coach of the Offense / Tight Ends Coach / Offensive Tackles Coach of the Stanford Cardinal - is said to have had an excellent interview.
Don Treadwell, Offensive Coordinator of the Michigan State Spartans. Filled in succesfully for Mark Dantonio as he dealt with his much publicized heart attack earlier this year.
Shawn Watson, Offensive Coordinator of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. There is some confusion over whether or not Watson is still in the running. Considering he appears to be on the hot seat at Nebraska, I would consider him the long shot of the group at this point.
If I've learned anything during this whole process, it would be that a) CBS/CSTV owns the market on the official websites for college athletics programs (Vanderbilt being no exception); b) Vanderbilt is conducting this search with extreme delicacy, as some of the candidates they may have or may be considering would certainly be wary of having their name connected to the search; and c) if you have the means, I highly recommend subscribing to VandySports.com or VandyMania.com, or both, to supplement your AOG-fix. Subscribers have better access to the "sensitive" information that I am often aware of but unwilling to share, in the interest of making sure the process works as smoothly as possible for Vanderbilt (seeing as I have some sort of interest in them being as successful as possible).
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I’d rather Malzahn probably, but I voted Roman because I’d still be surprised if we got Gus, unless those under the radar talks are really much farther along than we thought.
I agree with Clay Travis that if Mullen gets plucked at Miss St., that’s where Gus ends up. If they lose Mullen, Miss St. will be desperate not to lose momentum, so unless he’s just dying to team up with Herb again (who he could just as easily hire at Miss St), we’ll have a hard time matching them.
I also think that we’re looking to move sooner than later, and with all that stands to happen thanks to Urban leaving, I don’t think Gus will move until the chips start to fall. I don’t see us waiting around on Gus, hurting our shots with whoever we’d pick otherwise.
Question: any information counting out Chryst, the Wisconsin OC? I feel like I heard their DC, Doeren was out, but not much about Chryst. I haven’t really heard much positive about him either, but the bits I heard sounded like he was still in it.
Just my opinion, without the benefit of any insider knowledge (or even subscriber only knowledge): I’d bet the Washington Post was mostly right when they said the two finalists were Franklin or Roman. My guess is it’s one of those two, or a big quasi-surprise like Malzahn or someone we haven’t heard yet or recently.
Malzahn
Something Vandy has in their favor is contract length. Mississippi law dictates that no state employee may have a contract longer than 4 years. If Vandy can over 7 years or even 10, that’s some serious money.
Decision Today?
I don’t totally buy it, and this was before the Ken N. rumors came out and then were quashed, but FootballScoop.com (who the guy at Moral Victory says is well-sourced) said this morning that we’d have a decision today.
We’ll see.
I'm taking everything I hear from footballscoop.com with a grain of salt
They’ve been hit-or-miss with some of their early reports, and generally have been casting a very wide net.
by Christian D'Andrea on Dec 9, 2010 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Even if they are well sourced, but they’ve seemed this whole time like they put out every report they got.
But, I would appreciate a decision soon. It would take away one of my top studying distractions. If we get it this weekend I might actually be prepared for Crim Pro and Con Law next week.
Serious Shawn Watson poll love happening.
Did some Watson haters from Nebraska find their way over? You do know the poll doesn’t actually determine who they choose, right?
Malzahn
Does everyone that voted for him realize he had not coached any higher than high school 5 seasons ago!? I think you are grabbing onto a rocket right as it has hit its apex.
Head Coaching Experience
You would think with the latest failed experiment (Caldwell with no HC experience), at least one or two guys with big time head coaching experience (Tuberville, Bowden, Leach) would make the interview and final cut. Sadly I think the school is taking the cheap way out hoping to get lucky.
Apology for replying to my own comment...
Or as an alternative, none of these caliber coaches are interested in the job.
Seriously Nebraska people
You are still voting for Watson?
Big boost now for Franklin too. Do we have Maryland fans voting for him to leave now too? Last night he was at 6%.
If Pelini leaves...
We should set up a poll to decide the next Husker football coach. Idiots.
As for Franklin, I’m guessing his bump is from folks who believe that he is now our second choice behind Malzahn. If Franklin’s percentage is higher, maybe it will make them feel better if he ultimately gets hired? Personally, not a fan, but I want to avoid any coach who has been associated with a 2-10 season in the past two years.
Dude took a 2-10 team to 8-4. Only a season after he took an 8-4 team to 2-10.
Yeah, I’d bet that it’s Maryland people, I haven’t really heard anyone that excited with the Franklin. If it were Malzahn with a Roman backup, I’d be pumped. But with Franklin as the other choice I think I’ll be even more disappointed if we don’t get Gus.
I know there are positives about Franklin, but the fact that he’s an offensive guy, and his offenses don’t seem particularly good, just makes me afraid of continually crappy offense.
Alternate theory
Arkansas, Miss St. and Auburn fans are also voting for Franklin in a weird attempt to try to keep Malzahn for themselves.
I think Vandy fans are the only people not voting for Franklin at this point, but I have yet to hear one Vandy fan really pumped about Franklin, and certainly not over Malzahn.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanShots on Anchor Of Gold
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
National Commodore Club
