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Coaches on the hot seat
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Author:  Coast2Coast [ Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Coaches on the hot seat
Good stuff from the Gold Sheet....

Following are some college coaches who we feel are in the most trouble as
midseason approaches. Pay special attention to a handful of situations
that might be determined before the season concludes; indeed, in many
recent years, college coaches have been more apt than their NFL counterparts
to get the boot within the regular season, a phenomenon once almost solely
reserved for the pro game.

Bobby Bowden, Florida State...The situation appears ready to reach the
breaking point in Tallahassee, where the Seminoles are in the midst of what is
likely to be their worst season since Bowden’s first year on campus in 1976.
Various forces within the FSU Nation are now clamoring for Bowden, who is
scheduled to step down after the 2010 campaign, to either relinquish the reins
to designated successor Jimbo Fisher right now, or by the end of the season.
The thought of another awkward year with Bowden operating as something
of a ceremonial leader has become increasingly unpalatable to a variety of
Nole supporters who have watched the team careen into non-relevance in
the ACC. Moreover, rumors of internal strife both on the team and staff
(assistants Chuck Amato and the aforementioned Fisher were reportedly
involved in a scrap after the recent BC loss) further underline the worsening
dilemma in Tallahassee.

Dan Hawkins, Colorado...The Buffs have actually posted three unlikely
pointspread covers in a row, but with a 1-4 straight-up record and a fourth
straight non-winning season apparently in the cards, some TGS Big XII
sources suspect that Hawkins is fast-approaching must-win time. Particularly
irksome to Buff backers was how poorly prepared CU appeared to be for its first
two games, disappointing defeats vs. underdog Colorado State & Toledo
sides. The fact that the Buffs have yet to seriously contend in the Big XII North
on Hawkins’ watch is adding more fuel to the fire in Boulder.

Tommy West, Memphis...The Tigers might have tossed their coach a
lifeline with last week’s surprise win over UTEP, but sources in the Bluff City
insist that West’s rollercoaster tenure with Memphis is likely to be permanently
derailed at the conclusion of the regular season. CUSA insiders indicate that
the school, which has hired former Big East commish Mike Tranghese to help
it secure membership somewhere (anywhere!) in a BCS conference, with
some high-profile sorts such as ex-Tennessee HC Phil Fulmer and ex-Auburn
HC Tommy Tuberville rumored to be on the Memphis radar.

Mike Sanford, UNLV...Perhaps the top candidate to be relieved of duties
before the current season is complete, Sanford entered 2009 already on shaky
ground after notching just 11 wins in 4 years. But the manner of recent defeats
vs. rival Nevada (when the Wolf Pack scored 63 and gained 773 yards) and
BYU (when the Cougs scored 59 and gained 611 yards) indicates that the
many leaks in the Rebel dike have finally burst. Add to that the fact that UNLV
has a recently-hired school president and will be making a permanent
appointment of a new athletic director in the near future more clearly
illuminates Sanford’s plight.

Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville...Cardinal backers who became spoiled by
success on Bobby Petrino’s watch, have been soured by the performance of the
Kragthorpe regime, which appears headed for its third straight non-bowl
season. Kragthorpe’s few defenders cite how the former Tulsa coach cleared
out a lot of undesirables that he inherited from Petrino. But the on-field product
has been decidedly mediocre ever since Kragthorpe arrived, and most Big East
onlookers don’t believe last week’s exciting win over Southern Miss indicates an
imminent upswing. The grumbling has reached a crescendo in the ‘Ville, and
sources say another bowl-less season likely seals Kragthorpe’s fate.

Ron Zook, Illinois...A relatively new arrival on the list, Zook is suddenly
finding himself in some trouble as the Illini continues a disturbing fall into the
abyss. Lopsided losses vs. Missouri, Ohio State, and Penn State when the
offense scored a mere 26 total points illuminated Illinois’ deficiencies, and last
week’s benching of sr. QB Juice Williams (who seems to have regressed since
his encouraging sophomore season) did little to help matters in another
unsightly loss, this one to Michigan State. With just one strong season (2007)
in five years on the job, and the program backsliding alarmingly since, Zook can
no longer cite purported recruiting inroads to keep the wolves at bay. As many
of his detractors predicted, Zook’s strength as a recruiter would eventually be
compromised by his shortcomings as a game coach. Now sitting on perhaps
the Big Ten’s hottest seat.

Mike Locksley, New Mexico...Locksley’s plight has already been welldocumented
on the pages of TGS EXTRA!!! and TGS website. With the Lobo
season at 0-6 and careening further out of control after last week’s 37-13 loss
at Wyoming (which, ironically, appears to be progressing nicely under its firstyear
HC, Dave Christensen), and Locksley under further investigation from the
school president after a reported fight with an assistant coach in late
September, on top of the sexual harassment and wrongful termination suit
slapped on Locksley by an athletic department employee shortly after his hiring
in spring, the first-year coach’s plight becomes more clear. And with the Lobo
Nation in a full-blown revolt, some MWC observers believe Locksley might not
even last his maiden campaign, especially if the school can extract itself from
contractual obligations based upon Locksley’s behavior.

Others to watch: J.D. Brookhart, Akron; Pat Hill, Fresno State; Doug
Martin, Kent State; Mark Snyder, Marshall; Ralph Friedgen, Maryland; Bob
Toledo, Tulane; Mike Price, UTEP; Al Groh, Virginia.
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