From Saturday Down South

We've all heard the rumors that Gus Malzahn might be considering a move to Arkansas which is somewhat strange on some level considering his success at Auburn. It also makes sense on some level considering the expectations at Auburn. Perhaps it's time for the two to part and Malzahn to restart his clock.

What's interesting about this article is not so much the speculation about Auburn looking at Bobby Petrino, but the wide swath of shakeups that could be compounding upon one another.

1. Auburn pushes out Jay Jacobs. The vacuum in the Auburn AD has to do more to make Gus Malzahn feel like his time is running short. Auburn wasn't really happy with him and a new AD's prime objective will be stabilizing the football program.

2. Arkansas fires Jeff Long. Bret Bielema just hasn't gotten the job done and Long's firing was probably the first fruits of discontent. Bielema is likely out soon although I imagine a new AD will be hired first. The new AD's prime objective, of course, will be to stabilize the football program. Malzahn makes sense here because he's from the area, expectations will be a little lower, and a more option-oriented offense will be more welcome. Given Arkansas' limited local recruiting base, a guy who knows how to use Xs and Os to his advantage(Malzahn) is probably a better option than a guy who relied too much on the type of power football that required top talent(Bielema).

3. Louisville fires Tom Jurich. Bobby Petrino has had a sordid history in certain respects. He's been pretty good at Louisville(and every stop for that matter), but here's another shakeup in the AD. The new AD's top priority will be cleaning up Louisville's image. Jurich was a guy who forgave Petrino and overlooked his flaws. It makes sense that Petrino might be looking for an out given the fact that the next AD might apply a new vision. That's not to say Petrino is a scandal waiting to happen, but it might be best for him to restart his clock as well. Honestly, I'm not sure I buy that Auburn would go this direction given Petrino's past although I suppose it's possible. Point is, Petrino could be looking to move and his agent might very well want it out there that Petrino is available. I think Petrino at Ole Miss would be an interesting proposition although the Rebels might be looking for someone with less baggage as well. I think Auburn would probably be better off going another direction.

Anyway, all the shakeups here are interesting because they all seem to affect each other on some level.

Petrino to Auburn, if he can beat Alabama, it becomes experience and lessons, not baggage.

I expect the next football coach to be signed before the next AD is at Arkansas.

BMD’s have spent a fortune over last decade in facilities, they got BOT to move on from AD Jeff Longand will finance his and the football staff’s buyouts. They’ll select next ball coach with the Chancellor’s blessings.

I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney won't leave Clemson, even for Alabama or the NFL.

He has exactly what he wants there (fan boy media, universal admiration from fans, resources, administration, easy path to 10+ wins and the ACCCG) and he knows it. He won't leave unless something changes.

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

5. Fischer was at LSU with Saban, I’m sure he knows south east Texas enough to get started.

6. Pure salt rocks, but Arkansas boards have said Mullen’s turned down Arkansas interest. Surprisingly, it might be Gus’ to first refuse. Then Norvell and finally wildcard Leach. Grains of salt of course.

(11-22-2017 02:47 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

5. Fischer was at LSU with Saban, I’m sure he knows south east Texas enough to get started.

6. Pure salt rocks, but Arkansas boards have said Mullen’s turned down Arkansas interest. Surprisingly, it might be Gus’ to first refuse. Then Norvell and finally wildcard Leach. Grains of salt of course.

Leach might do well at Arkansas. The whole state would be behind him and he knows Texas recruiting.

(11-22-2017 06:22 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 02:47 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

5. Fischer was at LSU with Saban, I’m sure he knows south east Texas enough to get started.

6. Pure salt rocks, but Arkansas boards have said Mullen’s turned down Arkansas interest. Surprisingly, it might be Gus’ to first refuse. Then Norvell and finally wildcard Leach. Grains of salt of course.

Leach might do well at Arkansas. The whole state would be behind him and he knows Texas recruiting.

I have Leach and Norvell about even in odds of succeeding in terms of recruiting and developing Arkansas/Texas talent. I’m more concerned about them signing great defensive staff to build up that side of the team.

(11-22-2017 10:20 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 06:22 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 02:47 PM)murrdcu Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

5. Fischer was at LSU with Saban, I’m sure he knows south east Texas enough to get started.

6. Pure salt rocks, but Arkansas boards have said Mullen’s turned down Arkansas interest. Surprisingly, it might be Gus’ to first refuse. Then Norvell and finally wildcard Leach. Grains of salt of course.

Leach might do well at Arkansas. The whole state would be behind him and he knows Texas recruiting.

I have Leach and Norvell about even in odds of succeeding in terms of recruiting and developing Arkansas/Texas talent. I’m more concerned about them signing great defensive staff to build up that side of the team.

Rest easy on that one. Every A.D. in the SEC knows the importance of D. They're even beginning to catch on at Missouri & A&M.

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

Clemson’s new football complex is immaculate. I can’t see facilities or other amenities being a reason to leave. The program has his fingerprints all over it and is made in his image. Job security is a lot better in Clemson, as well as an easier path to the CFP. Plus, he’d never be accepted at Auburn just because he went to Alabama.

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

(11-23-2017 10:35 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

Clemson isn’t strapped for money, period, end of story. Facilities are among the best and 4 and 5 star recruits are the norm. Clemson has played for the title twice and won once, just like Auburn. The difference is that Clemson has won ten games for 7 years straight and running. They’ve posted non-conference wins over OSU twice, Oklahoma twice, LSU, And oh by the way, a 4 game streak over Auburn. More importantly, the trustees and athletic department are on the same page. I don’t get the feeling that auburn has that kind of stability right now.. Any objective observer would say Clemson’s program is doing better than Auburn in the past 7 years. Granted, we’re Nouveau Riche, but Riche nonetheless. Hence, lateral move at best.

(11-23-2017 11:50 AM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 10:35 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

Clemson isn’t strapped for money, period, end of story. Facilities are among the best and 4 and 5 star recruits are the norm. Clemson has played for the title twice and won once, just like Auburn. The difference is that Clemson has won ten games for 7 years straight and running. They’ve beaten OSU twice, Oklahoma twice, LSU, And oh by the way, a 4 game streak over Auburn. More importantly, the trustees and athletic department are on the same page. I don’t get the feeling that auburn has that kind of stability right now.. Any objective observer would say Clemson’s program is doing better than Auburn in the past 7 years. Hence, lateral move at best.

That's fan talk. You would have to win for the next 20 years to catch and pass us in our series with you. The best streak in the series is about 4 years. You have plenty of money for Clemson and the ACC. You don't earn enough to maintain national prominence. However with the direction of the sport as a whole that may be moot. But the point here is that Dabo is on the radar screen, other programs can and will pay more, and there is a shortage of good coaches. This year, even if Auburn keeps Malzahn, Florida and Florida State are looking. Both come with more advantages than Clemson. Clemson is a great school and I like their fans, but there is a reason you have not been a historical power. When Tennessee is back up to speed, and South Carolina picks up steam again none of those schools, including yours will be in the title hunt. There simply isn't enough talent in the region to split with each other and consistently win big. Everyone can win, just not big. I traveled that region for 20 years, followed up on recruiting violations in it, and know the potential.

I agree that Clemson is at it's zenith, but the recipe for that is changing. The ACC middle is getting a bit stronger. It's still a conference of essentially two challengers and 5 schools of which 3 might have solid, but not championship seasons on any given year. Overall the talent pool is shrinking and in the state of Florida the greatest number of recruits is from central Florida South, with fewer in the Panhandle and Northeast region. Part of that outside of Jacksonville is population density related. That's not to say they don't have plenty of good recruits in those areas, but is to say there are more farther South in the state.

If Richt starts recruiting his region well the U will be back. When Florida and F.S.U. have their new hires in place recruiting North Florida is going to get tough. Add a healthy S. Carolina and Tennessee to the mix and Clemson is back to 8-4 & 9-3 years, far from the dearth of your past, but nearly as close to the top as you are now. You are not a destination program. There are better places to be as a coach. While Auburn is not at the top of the list we are in the top 10, Clemson isn't.

Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, U.S.C., Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, L.S.U., Auburn, Florida, Georgia and about 8 to 10 more are ahead of Clemson.

So you may not like what I'm saying, and maybe Dabo is very happy and secure, but the ability of the listed programs to pull a coach is established and the reason they rank well ahead of Clemson as a destination is the depth of the pockets married to the history. Clemson lacks the history, and trails Texas and Alabama by over 100 million in resources. Then there are the ratings and the national interest levels where again the ACC and Clemson along with it, lag. Clemson is a top draw in the ACC along with F.S.U., but the ACC is tied for 4th/5th in a 5 horse race for ratings and that's while having the largest market footprint of any conference. And them's the facts of life!

But Ren, it's Thanksgiving, so enjoy your family, I'm leaving to go pick some of mine up. Besides, football is a pass time and hardly worth an argument today. God bless you and yours!

JR

(11-23-2017 12:14 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 11:50 AM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 10:35 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

Clemson isn’t strapped for money, period, end of story. Facilities are among the best and 4 and 5 star recruits are the norm. Clemson has played for the title twice and won once, just like Auburn. The difference is that Clemson has won ten games for 7 years straight and running. They’ve beaten OSU twice, Oklahoma twice, LSU, And oh by the way, a 4 game streak over Auburn. More importantly, the trustees and athletic department are on the same page. I don’t get the feeling that auburn has that kind of stability right now.. Any objective observer would say Clemson’s program is doing better than Auburn in the past 7 years. Hence, lateral move at best.

That's fan talk. You would have to win for the next 20 years to catch and pass us in our series with you. The best streak in the series is about 4 years. You have plenty of money for Clemson and the ACC. You don't earn enough to maintain national prominence. However with the direction of the sport as a whole that may be moot. But the point here is that Dabo is on the radar screen, other programs can and will pay more, and there is a shortage of good coaches. This year, even if Auburn keeps Malzahn, Florida and Florida State are looking. Both come with more advantages than Clemson. Clemson is a great school and I like their fans, but there is a reason you have not been a historical power. When Tennessee is back up to speed, and South Carolina picks up steam again none of those schools, including yours will be in the title hunt. There simply isn't enough talent in the region to split with each other and consistently win big. Everyone can win, just not big. I traveled that region for 20 years, followed up on recruiting violations in it, and know the potential.

I agree that Clemson is at it's zenith, but the recipe for that is changing. The ACC middle is getting a bit stronger. It's still a conference of essentially two challengers and 5 schools of which 3 might have solid, but not championship seasons on any given year. Overall the talent pool is shrinking and in the state of Florida the greatest number of recruits is from central Florida South, with fewer in the Panhandle and Northeast region. Part of that outside of Jacksonville is population density related. That's not to say they don't have plenty of good recruits in those areas, but is to say there are more farther South in the state.

If Richt starts recruiting his region well the U will be back. When Florida and F.S.U. have their new hires in place recruiting North Florida is going to get tough. Add a healthy S. Carolina and Tennessee to the mix and Clemson is back to 8-4 & 9-3 years, far from the dearth of your past, but nearly as close to the top as you are now. You are not a destination program. There are better places to be as a coach. While Auburn is not at the top of the list we are in the top 10, Clemson isn't.

Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, U.S.C., Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, L.S.U., Auburn, Florida, Georgia and about 8 to 10 more are ahead of Clemson.

So you may not like what I'm saying, and maybe Dabo is very happy and secure, but the ability of the listed programs to pull a coach is established and the reason they rank well ahead of Clemson as a destination is the depth of the pockets married to the history. Clemson lacks the history, and trails Texas and Alabama by over 100 million in resources. Then there are the ratings and the national interest levels where again the ACC and Clemson along with it, lag. Clemson is a top draw in the ACC along with F.S.U., but the ACC is tied for 4th/5th in a 5 horse race for ratings and that's while having the largest market footprint of any conference. And them's the facts of life!

Auburn has a stronger history, but 4 straight isn’t fan talk. Them are the bottom line facts of life. Your assessment of Clemson going forward is based on lack of information or willful ignorance. Dabo has been very purposeful in building the program for sustainable success. And Clemson is 15-10 vs USC since they joined the SEC. Clemson just lost 78% of their offensive production,including a once a generation player in Watson. They’re still in the thick of the playoff hunt. That is a sign of strength, stability, and staying power.

I’m quite content with winning for now rather than fretting over mere speculation about what the future may or may not hold. Forgive me for not kissing the ring of those ranked higher on some mythical destination top 10. That kind of rhetorical BS is a coping mechanism, nothing more. There have been plenty of high profile jobs over the past few years but Swinney’s name never comes up. Why do you think that is? It’s because he isn’t interested because he knows he doesn’t have to go anywhere else to continue winning at the highest level. Facts are stubborn things.

(11-23-2017 12:22 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:14 PM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 11:50 AM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 10:35 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

Clemson isn’t strapped for money, period, end of story. Facilities are among the best and 4 and 5 star recruits are the norm. Clemson has played for the title twice and won once, just like Auburn. The difference is that Clemson has won ten games for 7 years straight and running. They’ve beaten OSU twice, Oklahoma twice, LSU, And oh by the way, a 4 game streak over Auburn. More importantly, the trustees and athletic department are on the same page. I don’t get the feeling that auburn has that kind of stability right now.. Any objective observer would say Clemson’s program is doing better than Auburn in the past 7 years. Hence, lateral move at best.

That's fan talk. You would have to win for the next 20 years to catch and pass us in our series with you. The best streak in the series is about 4 years. You have plenty of money for Clemson and the ACC. You don't earn enough to maintain national prominence. However with the direction of the sport as a whole that may be moot. But the point here is that Dabo is on the radar screen, other programs can and will pay more, and there is a shortage of good coaches. This year, even if Auburn keeps Malzahn, Florida and Florida State are looking. Both come with more advantages than Clemson. Clemson is a great school and I like their fans, but there is a reason you have not been a historical power. When Tennessee is back up to speed, and South Carolina picks up steam again none of those schools, including yours will be in the title hunt. There simply isn't enough talent in the region to split with each other and consistently win big. Everyone can win, just not big. I traveled that region for 20 years, followed up on recruiting violations in it, and know the potential.

I agree that Clemson is at it's zenith, but the recipe for that is changing. The ACC middle is getting a bit stronger. It's still a conference of essentially two challengers and 5 schools of which 3 might have solid, but not championship seasons on any given year. Overall the talent pool is shrinking and in the state of Florida the greatest number of recruits is from central Florida South, with fewer in the Panhandle and Northeast region. Part of that outside of Jacksonville is population density related. That's not to say they don't have plenty of good recruits in those areas, but is to say there are more farther South in the state.

If Richt starts recruiting his region well the U will be back. When Florida and F.S.U. have their new hires in place recruiting North Florida is going to get tough. Add a healthy S. Carolina and Tennessee to the mix and Clemson is back to 8-4 & 9-3 years, far from the dearth of your past, but nearly as close to the top as you are now. You are not a destination program. There are better places to be as a coach. While Auburn is not at the top of the list we are in the top 10, Clemson isn't.

Texas, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, U.S.C., Notre Dame, Michigan, Tennessee, L.S.U., Auburn, Florida, Georgia and about 8 to 10 more are ahead of Clemson.

So you may not like what I'm saying, and maybe Dabo is very happy and secure, but the ability of the listed programs to pull a coach is established and the reason they rank well ahead of Clemson as a destination is the depth of the pockets married to the history. Clemson lacks the history, and trails Texas and Alabama by over 100 million in resources. Then there are the ratings and the national interest levels where again the ACC and Clemson along with it, lag. Clemson is a top draw in the ACC along with F.S.U., but the ACC is tied for 4th/5th in a 5 horse race for ratings and that's while having the largest market footprint of any conference. And them's the facts of life!

Auburn has a stronger history, but 4 straight isn’t fan talk. Them are the bottom line facts of life. Your assessment of Clemson going forward is based on lack of information or willful ignorance. Dabo has been very purposeful in building the program for sustainable success. And Clemson is 15-10 vs USC since they joined the SEC. Clemson just lost 78% of their offensive production,including a once a generation player in Watson. They’re still in the thick of the playoff hunt. That is a sign of strength, stability, and staying power.

I’m quite content with winning for now rather than fretting over mere speculation about what the future may or may not hold. Forgive me for not kissing the ring of those ranked higher on some mythical destination top 10. That kind of rhetorical BS is a coping mechanism, nothing more. There have been plenty of high profile jobs over the past few years but Swinney’s name never comes up. Why do you think that is? It’s because he isn’t interested because he knows he doesn’t have to go anywhere else to continue winning at the highest level. Most schools would fire their coach tomorrow if they thought Swinney would be interested. His name never comes up. Crickets. The destination job concept is very flawed. Before Saban, nobody wanted the Bama job. Franchioone was the 5th choice. Rich Rodriguez turned them down. It all depends on the coach and administrators making it a highly desirable job and that’s where I’d say Swinney and company have elevated the Clemson job to one of the better ones in the country.

(11-23-2017 10:35 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 12:50 PM)JRsec Wrote:  I'm not on the Gus bus. I suspect the recent Auburn success has more to do with Kevin Steele than it does with Gus. So the ball will be in Malzahn's hands at the end of this one. If he wants to head to Arkansas I doubt there would be much grief on the Plains. If he wants to stay a win over Alabama buys him that fresh clock.

As for wild speculation on coaches here's what I think.

1. Petrino is persona non grata at the SEC home office. I don't think you will see Motor Cycle Mama heading up any staff in the SEC again.

2. Fuente to Tennessee makes the most sense if they can get him.

3. If Florida wants Kelley the SEC won't stand in their way.

4. If Malzahn leaves the only two Aubun might be interested in would be Fisher and Swinney. And we have deep enough pockets to make it worthwhile for either of them.

5. I have no idea if Fisher is serious about A&M, but they have the cash to make it happen too. That said I still think Mullen would be the best hire. He develops quarterbacks which is a helluva lot better than just singing them. He also recruits and knows all areas that A&M needs to cover. Fisher would have to learn them, but would help them in Florida.

6. If Malzahn doesn't head to Arkansas then the Hogs should take a close look at Mullen.

Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

Hey, Clemson just won a title and might be in the CFP 3 straight years. I was giving Auburn a compliment.

Anyway, I wouldn't call Michigan State to LSU a lateral move. Outside 2 or maybe 3 programs, the B1G has nothing but average coaching jobs. LSU was an upgrade in virtually every way and Saban might well still be there had he not decided to try his hand at the NFL. I mean heck, the once mighty Michigan is about to give Jim Harbaugh a lifetime contract. If that doesn't scream mediocrity then I don't know what does.

Which brings me to my other point, history only takes you so far. At that, Auburn's history is certainly above average, but it's really not that far ahead of Clemson. Historically, they're both top 15-20 among current P5 schools in winning percentage.

The SEC membership does give Auburn an advantage in money, but it's really not that big of an advantage given so many other programs in the league are raking in big cash. Clemson's advantage is stability. Gene Chizik won a title at Auburn and was gone within 3 years. No chance that's happening to Dabo at Clemson if for no other reason than he's built their current program identity. He's been there since 2008 after all. He can probably coach there as long as he wants and will be paid about as well as anyone to do it. It will be easier for him to win league titles and compete for playoff spots. Unless another serious bump in the gap between SEC and ACC money comes in the next few years, then I don't think Clemson will have trouble funding their football program. South Carolina and Alabama aren't that different when it comes to their passion for football.

In fact, the one and only reason I think he might come back to Alabama is because it's his alma mater and he still loves it as much as he ever did. If the opportunity presented itself then he might do it.

But anyway...

Happy Thanksgiving to you all as well. Stay safe and don't eat too much.

(11-23-2017 05:48 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 10:35 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 04:20 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(11-23-2017 12:26 AM)JRsec Wrote:  

(11-22-2017 11:40 PM)ren.hoek Wrote:  Swinney may leave for Alabama one day, but not Auburn. Speaking of deep pockets, he’s already the second highest paid coach in the nation. He’s not a follow the money guy anyway and he’s a living legend at Clemson. He won’t be leaving for any school not named Alabama.

That's what they said about Pat Dye. Dye was who Bear thought should follow him. And don't be so sure when it comes to the other amenities. Size of staff, facilities, and a budget 50 million more than Clemson's all count.

The difference there is Pat Dye got a huge promotion to come to Auburn. He would have been crazy not to take it. Dabo would be making a lateral move.

There's a chance more money could be on the table, but Clemson did just win a title. They are the quintessential football school so they'll spend whatever they need to make it work. Unless the financial situation really starts hindering him then I don't see him leaving unless he gets offered the sweetheart deal at Bama. I'm not 100% certain he would leave even for Bama although I suspect he would.

Fisher, by contrast, is a person I think would be interested in moving and doing it soon. He has a lot of connections to the area as well....played and coached at Samford, coached at Auburn. Outside of a very short stint at Cincinnati, he's done nothing but coach at Samford, SEC schools, and Florida State. He may be from West Virginia, but he's never strayed too far from this part of the country.

Only an Alabama fan would call it a lateral move. One is a top 15 program historically, top 10 in revenue, and in the SEC. The other is not.

You have to earn more to spend more. Most years Auburn earns between 50-60 million more than Clemson. We had a title in 2011 and played for another in 2013. So there's not much difference there. Well, there's one difference. Tennessee is looking for a good new coach and South Carolina is improving along with Virginia Tech and possibly N.C. State. What that means ATU is that the conditions that permitted this brief interim of Clemson success may be turning again. By contrast Auburn, even while in the SEC West, has been stable in its ability to recruit. With Florida State down that might bode well for Clemson, but the talent rich part of the state of Florida is showing life again, Miami. So the cushy spot Clemson finds itself in right now might not be so comfortable in a year or two. And remember in college football the coaches that cash in on success tend to endure longer than those who stay too long. The days of Neyland, Bryant, Jordan & Dooley are long gone. Nick has nowhere else to go and he's looking at retirement. But he moved while he was hot from Michigan State to L.S.U. to Alabama. And by your way of thinking L.S.U. at that time would have been a lateral move from Michigan State, except for, .....oh yeah,.....the money.

Hey, Clemson just won a title and might be in the CFP 3 straight years. I was giving Auburn a compliment.

Anyway, I wouldn't call Michigan State to LSU a lateral move. Outside 2 or maybe 3 programs, the B1G has nothing but average coaching jobs. LSU was an upgrade in virtually every way and Saban might well still be there had he not decided to try his hand at the NFL. I mean heck, the once mighty Michigan is about to give Jim Harbaugh a lifetime contract. If that doesn't scream mediocrity then I don't know what does.

Which brings me to my other point, history only takes you so far. At that, Auburn's history is certainly above average, but it's really not that far ahead of Clemson. Historically, they're both top 15-20 among current P5 schools in winning percentage.

The SEC membership does give Auburn an advantage in money, but it's really not that big of an advantage given so many other programs in the league are raking in big cash. Clemson's advantage is stability. Gene Chizik won a title at Auburn and was gone within 3 years. No chance that's happening to Dabo at Clemson if for no other reason than he's built their current program identity. He's been there since 2008 after all. He can probably coach there as long as he wants and will be paid about as well as anyone to do it. It will be easier for him to win league titles and compete for playoff spots. Unless another serious bump in the gap between SEC and ACC money comes in the next few years, then I don't think Clemson will have trouble funding their football program. South Carolina and Alabama aren't that different when it comes to their passion for football.

In fact, the one and only reason I think he might come back to Alabama is because it's his alma mater and he still loves it as much as he ever did. If the opportunity presented itself then he might do it.

But anyway...

Happy Thanksgiving to you all as well. Stay safe and don't eat too much.

Agree 100%. I could see Swinney leaving for Bama, but that’s the only one. Swinney has a lot of “sweat equity” in his current job. The most significant retainer clause with the Clemson job is that his oldest son is a freshman WR on the team. It was his lifelong dream to play for Clemson. He was raised in Clemson since 2003 and also has 2 younger brothers. It will be hard for Swinney to leave as long as his sons are on the team. He may still leave for Bama, but he’s elevated the job to where we wouldn’t have problems filling the opening with one of the best. My gut feeling is that it would take 5 minutes to hire Venables in that case.