(11-17-2014 09:41 AM)stever20 Wrote: list from ESPN of 8 possible candidates
1 Bob Stoops
2 Rich Rodriguez
3 Hugh Freeze
4 Dan Mullen
5 Mike Gundy
6 Charlie Strong
7 Jim McElwain
8 Steve Spurrier
thought some interesting names on there. Stoops makes a lot of sense. timing may be right as well.
I'd be shocked if Gundy left Oklahoma State. He's from Oklahoma, went to Oklahoma State and has had success there. He has his dream job and I think it would be a mistake to chase the money and prestige.
Stoops could be ready for a change, but he's already in a plum job. His brother is rumored to be a candidate as well, but leaving Kentucky after the recruiting classes that he has had would be tough. I think the kind of classes he would be able to attract at Florida would make up for it though.
Freeze being on this list is a bit strange to me. I get why he would be an attractive candidate but going to Florida doesn't seem like a good match.
Mullen and Rodriguez seem to make the most sense from this list, but Mullen is said to have "issues" with the Florida AD and Rodriguez' Michigan experience may give them pause. Strong would have made a lot of sense about five years ago, but not as much now with him at Texas.
Getting Spurrier back for a farewell tour is probably a bad idea, but it could happen. It would fire up their fans and he could set up his guy as his replacement when he retires for good.
That leaves McElwain from this list. I believe Florida would rather poach a bigger name but I'm not sure one is going to be available. Todd Graham has been at one place for a couple of years so he could be ready for a change.But my guess is going to be.....
Gary Patterson of TCU. Built them into a national title contender and it will never be better for the Frogs than it is now. He could leave for Florida having delivered a team with a conference title at least and a national title at most.