RE: Marshalls Holiday
Doc won't have the choice. Anytime a coach is plucked from the G5 to the P5 it is always before the bowl to get a handle on retaining thr committed recruits amd adding to them. No P5 is going to wait until the 2nd week of January for their new coach.
Doc will be 58 very soon, is from here, bought his family farm, amd from the looks of the fountain ceremony this past Friday he is very emotionally invested.
See Doc will not chase money. Doc was offerred sevwral HC positions prior to Marshall amd he turned them all down because he did not feel that thr exoectations were high enough and the dedication by the atheltic department was condusive to winning. He will not take a job unless it's better thsm Marshall. Situation a loner there are only one or two that fit thst bill.
I look at it like this. At least this is how I am calming my nerves about him getting poached. Doc is 58 years old. Let's say after we go 14-0 and some big schools come after him. Whatever school it is they is a reason they are in the market for a new coach. It won't be a lateral move so he won't be replacing a coach that just moved up and on. Whatever P5 school comes calling with seven figure, multi-year contract will most certainly be needing someone to ressurect and rebuild their program.
It takes 3 seasons to see a new coach's mark on a football team and year 4 or 5 before it is actually a full go. Look at us. Year three we started to see it, last season the results started, and this season we are at full go.
That means Doc will be 63 years old by time he has it humming. That is pretty close to retirement. And who's to say that the job he takes can be turned around. Keep in mind the next move has to be a desination job because it will be Doc's last move because of age. He has to make the leap or it really isn't worth it.
Here are some of the jobs that may be open at the end of the season in the P5.
SEC
Vanderbilt could eb a possibility. They are 3-7 and look a far cry from where they were just a year ago. Does Doc really want to coach at Vandy?
Florida - This is one job I could see Doc going to and I have read his name come up as a candidate that has been brought to the table. I am just hoping he is far enough down their list he never gets contacted
Arkansas - This is a real possibility of becoming vacant. Since taking over Brett Bielema is 7-14 overall and 1-13 in SEC play. His wins have come against ULL, Samford, and S.Miss in 2013 and Nichols State, Texas Tech, NIU, UAB, and LSU so far this season. So far he has but two wins over a P5 school and with Ole Miss, and Missouri left on his schedule. If I were Doc there is absolutely no way I take this job. Not with what he has here. It is hard to win at Arkansas and you are in the SEC West Division. Houston Nutt would tell Doc to HANG UP THE PHONE AND RUN!
ACC
Virginia Tech - Could the Beamer Ball era really be dead. Some think so. AT 5-5 and last in the coastal division he could be out. Although I do not see Frank getting fired. He will most likely dictate his exit. While I think Doc would be tempted to take this job reason dictates that long time DC Bud Foster would probably get first crack.
UVA - 5th Year coach Mike London is 22-37 overall and currently 4-6. He could be shown the door but I do not think this is a job that Doc would leave us for.
Pitt - Paul Chryst is 17-18 as the three year head coach for the Panthers. So far this year the Panthers are 4-6
With Syracuse, and Miami left to get to 6 wins it is possible he makes a bowl and any potential for the unemployment line avoided.
Wake Forest - Dave Clawson is 2-8 in just his first season. Rumor before the CUSA Champinoship game was they were considering Doc but that rumored died with our claim to the conference title. Even if by chance this job came open it isn't a good job to leave Marshall for.
Syracuse - Scott Shafer is in just his second year as the Orangmen (I DON"T CARE ABOUT BEING PC) head coach and so far is 10-13. Last season he was 7-6 and this season they are currently sitting at 3-7. Bowl hopes are gone but I don't think his hopes of being back next year are. Once again even if the job were open I don't see it being an issue for us.
Big 10
Michigan - I still do not know why Brady Hoke still has a job. The AD just stepped down a week or two ago so you know that Hoke's clock is ticking. The new AD will want his guy. Especially when the current one is not good. Hoke is 78-68 at the winningest or what was the winningest progam in NCAA history. His final records have been 11-2, 8-5, 7-6, and 5-5 so far this season. Michigan has 6-3 Maryland and conference leading Ohio State left on the schedule. If you watched last weeks game there is a real possibility he drops both and finished 5-7. It is Michigan but as Rich Rod might tell Doc, if you aren't a Michigan Man then keep your resume updated.
Indiana - Fouth year coach Kevin Wilson is 13-33 while at the helm for the Hoosiers. They currently have a record of 3-7 with Ohio State, and Purdue left on the schedule. Not enough wins left to get to bowl eligibility because they are not beating tOSU. His days are most certainly done. Not a job you leave Marshall for. Not this Marshall team. Indiana isn't really a desination job so why make the move?
Northwestern - Pat Fitzgerald has been the head man since 2006. He is 59-52 overall with is best seasons coming in 2008 where he finshed 9-3, 2009 where he finished 8-5, 2010 where he finihsed 7-6, and 2012 where he finshed 10-3 and won the Gator Bowl. All the other seasons have been losing efforts with prime chances of knocking off the big boys but always finding a way to fall short. He could be out but is Northwestern a desination job?
Illinois - Tim Beckman is in his third season as the Illini HC and is 10-23. Sitting at 4-6 with PSU, and Purdue left while possible they get to 6-6 it isn't likely. Illinois is not a good job. Do not see Doc taking it.
Purdue - Darrell Hazell is finishing up his second year as the Boilermaker HC. He is 4-18 to this point. Sitting at 3-7 with Northwestern and Illinois left even if he wins out he is guaranteed another losing season. Not a good job to leave Marshall for.
Big XII
Kansas - As we know this job is open. I don't have to go into any specifics here for you to know this is not a job that Doc would take.
Iowa State - After 6 seasons are the Cyclones done with Paul Rhodes at the helm? He is 29-43 as a HC for the Cyclones with only one winning season and a 1-2 bowl record. Hasn't been much talk about him possibly getting fired but even if he did this is not a job for Doc to take.
WVU - This has always been a possibility. Whether Dana Horsewoman left for a bigger job or gets fired as it looked like last season. With the financial commitment they have with Coach Dude and getting back a 7-6 record there isn't anyway possible he is let go after this season. From what I had heard he was guaranteed up to next season regardless of this season's outcome.
Pac-12
Colorado - The buffalos are sitting at 2-8 and 2nd year HC Mike McIntyre is 6-16 overall and 1-15 in Pac-12 play. It's a possibilyt he gets fired but I don't see doc leaving Marshall to go all the way to Colorado for this job.
Washington St - Mike Leach is 12-23 since taking over 3 years ago. Not sure if they would fire him just yet even though they are sitting at 3-7. Not a good job anyways.
So as you can see by looking at these jobs I don't see any being that attractive outside of Florida, Virginia Tech, and Michigan. I can guarantee that Doc is not on the Wolverine's short list and not sure that Muschamp is out now and even so how far down the list is Doc of their potential candidates. They will be looking for the homerun hire first and foremost. Rumor a few weeks ago was they would try to entice Steve Spurrier back home.
I don't see Doc going out west unless Oklahoma comes calling as Stoops is rumored to have worn out his welcome with his first consecutive home losses and the last one being an absolute curb stomping at the hand of team that had never won in Norman.
Unless Doc is all about the money I do not see him leaving us this season. The only people that we truly need to be worried about leaving are Coach Legg and coach Heater. Legg has been interviewing since 2012 and after the job Heater has done here and is pedigree his name will be on a lot of short lists.
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