TSN '09 HOTSEATS;Kragmire, Stewart
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.
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