Coaches who will start '09 on the hot seat
December 4, 2008

Matt Hayes

The carnage is complete -- for the most part, anyway. Now it's time to look at 2009, and coaches who already are in win now or else mode.

It's a brutal cycle, but that's what makes the million dollar salaries so enticing. Those feeling heat next fall at the BCS level, in alphabetical order:

Bobby Bowden, Florida State: Last week, for the first time, Bowden admitted the turnaround at FSU may not happen with him in charge. I've got news for everyone else: It's not going to happen with Jimbo Fisher involved, either. Bowden is CEO right now; this is Fisher's team. Anyone who thinks it's not is kidding themself. And these two seasons under Fisher haven't exactly been impressive, even with the ACC at its most vulnerable.

Gene Chizik, Iowa State: This may be the toughest BCS job. We should all recognize just how impressive Dan McCarney's run was. Chizik's teams have won five games in two years -- with bad losses to Kent State, Northern Iowa, Toledo and UNLV.

Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: A strong second half this fall saved the university from making a tough decision. But the reality remains: do you pay a coach $3 million a year to finish third or fourth -- or worse -- in the Big Ten?

Al Groh, Virginia: Groh's teams have had the same problems over and over: win games they should lose, lose games they should win. A sure sign of instability. It also doesn't help that Groh is 1-6 vs. rival Virginia Tech.

Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville: A train wreck. There's no other way to explain Kragthorpe's two seasons. Blame players (Kragthorpe has), blame discipline problems inherited (Kragthorpe has), blame assistant coaches (Kragthorpe has); the reality is this program is nowhere near where it was under Bobby Petrino.

Mike Sherman, Texas A&M: This job is too good, with too much support and too many advantages, to muddle through the Big 12 in humiliating fashion. Can you fire a coach after two seasons? Probably not, but this team better show serious improvement next fall. There are many deep-pocketed boosters who won't sit and watch it get worse.

Bill Stewart, West Virginia: Four losses with a championship-ready team is shocking; another loss this weekend in the home finale against struggling South Florida will be disastrous to Stew's security.

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame: Weis would be the first to say there has to be significant improvement next year. Nine wins should be enough, but 10 would alleviate the postseason finale drama.

Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst on NFL Network's College Football Now. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.

The thing real perplexing to me is how high Gomer’s buyout is. What was WVU thinking? He had to have wanted WVU more than WVU wanted him.

But, as long as WVU’s defense keeps playing as it has, I don’t see their drop continuing.

Krag, however? As much as he had his guys fired up a few weeks ago when Cincy came in, they’re sure as heck not too fired up anymore.

I think the Mountaineers offensive problems were more transitory in nature, brought on by the change in offensive philosophy. It's helped Pat White as far as passing has gone, but it put a dent in the offensive prowess that WVU was known for. I think next year's team will be better, and more cohesive, with an additional year under the new coaches...

We'll find out for sure next year.

Kragthorpe is riding on thin ice though. Two straight bad seasons, with a season finale like we saw last night, is not what you want your potential recruits to see when they are considering your school...

Quote:Bill Stewart, West Virginia: Four losses with a championship-ready team is shocking; another loss this weekend in the home finale against struggling South Florida will be disastrous to Stew's security.

-- Wow, I've been to or watched every WVU game this year and this is not a championship ready team. The WVU offense has White and Devine and that's it. The previous administrtion didn't recurit any fullbacks or tightends (hence trouble in short yardage), WRs who can't beat anyone one on one (hence outher teams loading up the box), a host of 5-8 running backs and the same O-Line that got beat often last year

I'm not saying Stew hasn't made some mistakes, but WVU struggles this year no matter who the head coach is. There just isn't a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Plus, Stew is probably putting together the best recruiting class on paper in WVU history. Its too early for him to be on this list.

Jackson

It's the best recruiting class in history so far. But we've had one 5 star QB decommit, and our latest QB recruit is now listed as a soft verbal. If WVU loses to USF, will the recruiting class remain so highly ranked?

For example, Auburn has lost several high profile recruits since Tuberville resigned, and Tajh Boyd is back in play again as well, after Fulmer's resignation @ Tennessee. I guess his meeting with Lane Kiffin the other day wasn't very impressive.

But these are just kids, and none of 'em have a clue yet...

The recruiting class is impressive, but my excitement is tempered by the coaching staff. After all, Weis at ND, Bowden at Clemson, etc. had great recruiting classes and still produced lackluster results. I expect the same from Stewart. There's a reason guys like Bill Stewart aren't head coaches of big time programs, and we're seeing that all too clearly in 2008.

BJUnklFkr Wrote:The thing real perplexing to me is how high Gomer’s buyout is. What was WVU thinking? He had to have wanted WVU more than WVU wanted him.

Nobody seems to know the answer to this. What program in the country would even interview this guy?

MichaelSavage Wrote:The recruiting class is impressive, but my excitement is tempered by the coaching staff. After all, Weis at ND, Bowden at Clemson, etc. had great recruiting classes and still produced lackluster results. I expect the same from Stewart. There's a reason guys like Bill Stewart aren't head coaches of big time programs, and we're seeing that all too clearly in 2008.

-- Look at it this way...if Jock Sanders and Darrell Jollah catch open TD passes against UC and Pitt then we are playing our way into the Orange Bowl on Saturday....If Bradley Starks actually makes an accurate throw on to a wide open Sanders we win the Colorado game too. Again, I'm not a huge Stewart guy, but at some point it needs to be acknowledged that A) players need to execute B)this team probably has the least amount of offensive talent of any team since 2001, and we were probably still only three plays (that all should have been made) from a really high ranking...Also, the defensive coaches have done a hell of job with a really young defense. I don't think anyone can debat that


Jackson

"-- Look at it this way...if Jock Sanders and Darrell Jollah catch open TD passes against UC and Pitt then we are playing our way into the Orange Bowl on Saturday....If Bradley Starks actually makes an accurate throw on to a wide open Sanders we win the Colorado game too."


I sort of like these what if scenarios...

What if Pitt had a competent QB who could step up in the pocket and deliver a well thrown ball on target. Would the game have been even close at halftime? Fumbles, dropped balls, piss poor passes, incompetent refs etc. happen every game. Those who whine about it whine the loser chant. I've been there and done that.

It goes both ways in every game ever played except for maybe the Rutgers beat down. ooo that was just ugly.

If Pitt had a competent QB who could step up in the pocket and deliver a well thrown ball on target, his name would be Dan Marino...

pitt83 Wrote:"-- Look at it this way...if Jock Sanders and Darrell Jollah catch open TD passes against UC and Pitt then we are playing our way into the Orange Bowl on Saturday....If Bradley Starks actually makes an accurate throw on to a wide open Sanders we win the Colorado game too."


I sort of like these what if scenarios...

What if Pitt had a competent QB who could step up in the pocket and deliver a well thrown ball on target. Would the game have been even close at halftime? Fumbles, dropped balls, piss poor passes, incompetent refs etc. happen every game. Those who whine about it whine the loser chant. I've been there and done that.

It goes both ways in every game ever played except for maybe the Rutgers beat down. ooo that was just ugly.

-- No doubt....that is the difference between Orange Bowl teams and Tire Bowl teams...but the point I'm trying to make is that there is a huge difference in the way WVU has lost games and UL has lost games

Jackson