College Football
Week Preseason 1 – Coming On Strong
From Tennessee to
Dicky Maegle to a shocker in the SEC, the offseason was
The offseason had its ups and the offseason had its downs, but there was never a dull moment. And who was Dicky Maegle you ask? Well, like Tennessee and the shocker, he had a connection to the SEC as well. Though it was an indirect connection, it was an interesting connection – very interesting. Stay tuned!
Just five hours after I posted the last CFW newsletter of the 2020 season, the roller coaster ride began. Tennessee announced that football coach Jeremy Pruitt had been fired. Not only had Pruitt been fired, but athletic director Phillip Fulmer was forced to resign. Out of respect for Fulmer, Tennessee said he was stepping down.
In addition to Pruitt, nine of his staff were fired. Kevin Steele, who had just been hired under suspicious circumstances to be a so-called “defensive assistant,” was named the interim head coach. Tennessee became the second school in three weeks to make Steele its interim coach. When Auburn fired Gus Malzahn, Steele was named the Tigers interim head coach. Many thought Steele would become Auburn’s new coach, replacing Malzahn. But instead, Auburn hired Bryan Harsin and Harsin did not keep Steele on his staff.
Now, many thought Steele would become Tennessee’s new coach, replacing Pruitt. Ironically, Steele was a strong candidate for the Tennessee job in 2018 when Pruitt was hired. At that time, many thought Steele would get the job instead of Pruitt.
Meanwhile, it was the second time that Phillip Fulmer had been forced to resign at Tennessee. The other time came at the end of the 2008 season when Fulmer was forced out as head coach. Since then, Tennessee has had Lane Kiffin (one season – 2009), Derek Dooley (three seasons – 2010-2012), Butch Jones (five seasons – 2013-2017) and Jeremy Pruitt (three seasons – 2018-2020). With the yet unnamed new coach, that will make six coaches in 13 years.
Remember the song “Honeycomb?” It went to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the fall of 1957. Singer Jimmie Rodgers died on January 18. “Kisses Sweeter Than Wine” went to No. 3 on the chart. In all, Rodgers put 13 songs on Billboard’s Top 40, including “Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again,” “Secretly,” “Are You Really Mine” and “Bimbombey.” Jimmie Rodgers was 87.
The fourth time was a charm for Steve Sarkisian. After three turn downs, the new Texas coach finally secured a defensive coordinator for the Longhorns – Pete Kwiatkowski. Kwiatkowski comes to Texas from Washington, where he was the Huskies defensive coordinator.
On January 19, baseball pitcher Don Sutton died. Born in the wiregrass country of southeast Alabama, Sutton’s family moved to a small town outside of Pensacola, Florida, when he was still a boy. Sutton played major league baseball for 23 seasons – 16 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, joining the Dodgers in 1966. He was part of the Dodgers famous pitching team of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Claude Osteen. After baseball, Sutton began his broadcasting career in 1989, primarily for the Atlanta Braves – 1989-2006 on TV. He did the Braves radio broadcasting from 2009-2018. Don Sutton was 75.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart announced he hired Will Muschamp to his staff. Smart didn’t specify what Muschamp would be doing. That’s fitting as it is not exactly known what Muschamp was doing for the past 13 years at South Carolina, Auburn, Florida and Texas.
The Pac-12 announced that commissioner Larry Scott would be stepping down from his position on June 30, 2021. Scott has been commissioner of the Pac-12 for 11 years. The conference said it would announce a successor to Scott in the next couple of months.
UCF athletic director Danny White was named the new AD at Tennessee, replacing Phillip Fulmer. White is the brother of Florida basketball coach Mike White. His father, Kevin, is the athletic director at Duke, and another brother, Brian, is the athletic director at Florida Atlantic. His sister, Mariah, is the assistant athletic director at SMU. White had been the AD at UCF for five years.
On January 22, Hank Aaron died. ‘Hammerin’ Hank’ played major league baseball for 23 seasons – 1954-1976. Twenty-one of those seasons were with the Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves, as an outfielder. On April 8, 1974, Aaron hit his 715th home run, breaking Babe Ruth’s record of 714 home runs. Hank Aaron was 86.
The next day former television and radio host Larry King died. King was 87.
Just weeks after Michigan quarterback Dylan McCaffrey announced he was entering the transfer portal, his younger brother, Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey, announced he was entering the transfer portal. Five days later, Dylan announced he was transferring to Northern Colorado, where his father, Ed McCaffrey, is the coach.
UCF coach Josh Heupel was named the new coach at Tennessee, just six days after UCF athletic director Danny White had been named the new AD at Tennessee. So much for Tennessee’s interim coach (and former Auburn interim coach) Kevin Steele, who was jilted for the second time in a month.
From January 27 to January 29, we lost actresses Cloris Leachman and Cicely Tyson and former Temple basketball coach John Chaney. Leachman, who was the original mother, before June Lockhart, on television’s “Lassie,” was 94. Tyson was 96 and Chaney was 89.
A few days later, in early February, actor Hal Holbrook died. Holbrook was 95.
The next day, former Ole Miss quarterback Jim Weatherly died. In 1962, Weatherly led Ole Miss to an undefeated season and a SEC championship – and the SEC championship again in 1963. After graduating from Ole Miss, Weatherly moved to Nashville and pursued a career in music over the NFL. Along the way, he wrote “Midnight Train To Georgia,” recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips. He also wrote “Neither One Of Us Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye” and “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me,” also recorded by Gladys Knight and the Pips. Other Weatherly songs were recorded by Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney, Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, Kenny Rogers, Charlie Pride and Ray Price among others. Interestingly, “Midnight Train To Georgia” was originally titled and written as “Midnight Plane To Houston.” But the lyrics were changed for Gladys Knight and the Pips. Jim Weatherly was 77.
On February 8, former football coach Marty Schottenheimer and singer Mary Wilson died. Schottenheimer coached the Cleveland Browns, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Redskins and the San Diego Chargers, between 1980 and 2006. Wilson was a founding member of the Supremes. Schottenheimer was 77 and Wilson was 76.
The same day, UCF named Terry Mohajir as its new athletic director, replacing Danny White, who left for Tennessee. Mohajir comes to UCF from Arkansas State, where he was the AD. A week later, Mohajir named former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn as the new football coach at UCF.
The Nebraska-Illinois football game, scheduled to take place in Dublin, Ireland, on August 28, 2021, was relocated to Champaign, Illinois. I don’t blame the Irish. If you can’t send us real football teams, don’t send anybody at all.
In late February, Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Irv Cross died. Ferlinghetti was the spiritual godfather of the beat movement. He was associated with the City Lights bookstore in San Francisco, a literary meeting place. Ferlinghetti promoted and championed Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso and Jack Kerouac. I read and loved all of Kerouac’s books. Cross was a former football player and sportscaster. Working with CBS, he was the first African-American sports analyst on national television. Lawrence Ferlinghetti was 101 and Irv Cross was 81.
Back in January, Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey announced he was entering the transfer portal. McCaffrey announced he was transferring to Louisville. But, stay tuned.
In early March, Kansas football coach Les Miles was placed on administrative leave. Kansas announced it was conducting a full review to determine Miles’ future as the Kansas coach. This was all based on a report from LSU that attributed Miles with inappropriate conduct and behavior toward female students when he was the coach at LSU.
Three days later (March 8), Kansas fired Les Miles. Two days after Miles was fired, Kansas fired its athletic director Jeff Long. Long hired Miles without interviewing anyone else for the job or checking into Miles’ background. Interestingly, before Long became athletic director at Kansas, he was the AD at Arkansas, where he was fired.
On March 14, Swamp Mama and I had dinner with an old high school friend of mine – Mike Queen. Mike and his wife Bobbie, a former cheerleader at our high school, were on a drive through Florida visiting old friends. They had recently been vaccinated and said they just needed to get away, after being locked up in the house for so long. Mike and Bobbie live in Wilmington, North Carolina. Mike and I were two of the four students from our class who attended Mountaineer Boys State, during the summer following our junior year. We last saw each other at our 50th high school class reunion in 2014.
As March came to an end, we lost former basketball player Elgin Baylor, actor George Segal and former football coach Howard Schnellenberger. Baylor played for the Minneapolis/Los Angeles Lakers from 1958 to 1971. He coached the New Orleans Jazz of the NBA in the late 1970s. Schnellenberger coached four college football teams – Miami, Louisville, Oklahoma and Florida Atlantic. He also coached the Baltimore Colts of the NFL. Baylor was 86 and Segal and Schnellenberger were 87.
April began and we had one of the most exciting basketball games of all time. In the semifinals of the Final Four, Gonzaga beat UCLA, 93-90, in overtime. It was one of those games of the century. Gonzaga won on a half-court shot as time expired. It reminded me of when NC State beat Maryland, 103-100, in overtime in the ACC championship game in 1974. Those two games (Gonzaga-UCLA and NC State-Maryland) are the two of the best and most exciting basketball games I have ever seen.
Two days later, Baylor beat Gonzaga, 86-70, for the NCAA championship. After that UCLA game, I don’t think Gonzaga had any gas left in its tank.
Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez announced he would be retiring on June 30, 2021. Alvarez was the football coach at Wisconsin from 1990 to 2005. He has been the athletic director since 2004 – 17 years.
The College Football Playoff committee announced they had examined the possibility of expanding the playoff to six, eight, 12 or 16 teams. They went on to say there would be no expansion this year, but beyond this year: “Who knows?”
ESPN announced the four finalists for the coaching job at Kansas were Buffalo coach Lance Leipold, Army coach Jeff Monken, Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz and Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko. The Jayhawks have been without a coach since Les Miles was fired. Some days later, Buffalo coach Lance Leipold was named the new coach at Kansas.
As April came to a close, Johnny Crawford died. Crawford was on the 1950s-1960s television show “The Rifleman” with Chuck Connors. “The Rifleman” aired for six seasons from September 1958 to April 1963. Crawford became a singer and placed four songs – “Cindy’s Birthday,” “Your Nose Is Gonna Grow,” “Rumors” and “Proud” – on Billboard’s Top 40 in the early 1960s. “Cindy’s Birthday” was his biggest hit, reaching No. 8 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1962. Johnny Crawford was 75.
“Walk (with personality), Talk (with personality), Smile (with personality)…..” No sooner had April ended and May began and we lost the singer Lloyd ‘Mr. Personality’ Price. In all, 10 of Price’s songs made Billboard’s Top 40 in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The three best of the 10 were “Stagger Lee” (reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart), “I’m Gonna Get Married” (reached No. 3) and the best of the three “Personality.” “Personality” reached No. 2 on the charts in the summer of 1959. Lloyd Price was 88.
The Big Ten announced that Nebraska will now open its 2022 season in Dublin, Ireland, against Northwestern. The game will be played August 27, 2022. Nebraska was scheduled to open this season in Dublin, playing Illinois. That game was canceled in Dublin and moved back to Illinois. Apparently, the Irish would rather see Northwestern instead of Illinois. I don’t blame them.
Near the end of May, the raindrops stopped falling on our heads. Singer B.J. Thomas died. No less than 14 of Thomas’ songs made Billboard’s Top 40 between 1966 and 1977. Two reached the top of the charts – “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” and “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song.” It all began in 1966 with a cover of the Hank Williams song “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” (No. 8) and continued with others like “Hooked On A Feeling” (No. 5) and “I Just Can’t Help Believing” (No. 9). B.J. Thomas was 78.
On June 10, we got word that a College Football Playoff working committee formally recommended a 12-team college football playoff – the six highest-ranking conference champions and six at large teams. The four highest-ranking conference champions would draw a bye. The other eight teams would play the first round games on the campus of the highest-ranked team. There would be no limit to the number of teams from any one conference and no automatic bid for any conference. This recommendation will be reviewed by the CFP Management Committee on June 17-18. The Management Committee is composed of the commissioners of the 10 FBS conferences, plus the athletic director of Notre Dame. If approved, it would be passed on to the CFP Board of Managers at their June 22 meeting. They are the presidents of schools from each of the 10 FBS conferences, plus the Notre Dame president. If approved, the Board of Managers would meet again in late September to confirm the expansion. And if approved, the expanded playoff would begin no sooner than after the 2022 season. Maybe later.
Well, after four months at Louisville, former Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey has decided to transfer yet again. McCaffrey originally entered the transfer portal in January and announced Louisville as his destination in February. Stay tuned!
On June 11, Jim ‘Mudcat’ Grant died. Grant helped take the Minnesota Twins to the 1965 World Series when he became the American League’s first Black pitcher to post a 20-win season. Following the 1965 World Series, he founded Mudcat and the Kittens, a song and dance group that performed at nightclubs during the offseason. Jim Grant was born and grew up in Lacoochee, Florida. He was 85.
A week later and after meeting for two days, the CFP Management Committee agreed to present the 12-team playoff concept to the 11 university presidents and chancellors (CFP’s Board of Managers). The Board of Managers have the ultimate authority to approve or reject the 12-team playoff. They will meet on June 22. If the proposal is approved, the Management Committee will have the green light to work out the details of the 12-team playoff and present the details to the Board of Managers in September. That’s when the Board of Managers will make a final “yea” or “nay” on the playoff expansion. The four-team playoff is in its eighth year of a 12-year contract that runs through 2025. The 12-team playoff could start before 2025 but most likely not before the 2023 season.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous decision that colleges not only can provide but also are not limited to the number of education-related gifts and benefits they can provide to student athletes. The compensation includes laptops, study abroad, graduate school scholarships, musical instruments, etc.
On June 22, the CFP Board of Managers (presidents and chancellors) approved a plan to move ahead with a feasibility study of the 12-team playoff. The CFP Management Committee will now put together the details of the 12-team playoff. The details will be presented to the Board in September.
On the Fourth of July, the deaths of two individuals related to college football occurred. First, former UCLA player and coach Terry Donahue died. Donahue was UCLA’s winningest football coach. He coached the Bruins from 1976 to 1995. Donahue was an assistant coach at UCLA from 1971 to 1976. He was the first person to appear in a Rose Bowl game as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. Under Donahue, the Bruins won the Rose Bowl in 1983, 1984 and 1986. He was the first coach to earn bowl-game victories in seven consecutive seasons from 1983 to 1989. Donahue was a defensive lineman for UCLA when the Bruins won their first Rose Bowl game in 1966, beating previously undefeated and top-ranked Michigan State. He had a 151-74-8 record coaching UCLA, including 98-51-5 against Pac-12 teams – the most Pac-12 wins of any coach in history. The Bruins won the conference five times under Donahue. After retiring from coaching, Donahue worked for CBS, FOX and the NFL Network, as a commentator and broadcaster. He was the director of player personnel for the San Francisco 49ers (1999-2000) and later became the 49ers general manager (2001-2005). In 1998, he turned down an offer to coach the Dallas Cowboys. Terry Donahue was 77.
Second, on July 4, Dicky Maegle died. You might be wondering who was Dicky Maegle? Well, Maegle was the Rice running back who was tackled in the 1954 Cotton Bowl by an Alabama player who came off the bench in one of the most legendary plays in college football history. In Rice’s 28-6 win over Alabama on New Year’s Day in 1954, Maegle took a handoff from his quarterback on the Rice five-yard line and went around the right end. After getting past Alabama defensive back Bart Starr, also the Crimson Tide’s quarterback, and the rest of the Alabama defenders, Maegle was all by himself around mid-field. There were no Alabama players near him and he was heading for the Crimson Tide goal line. That’s when Alabama player Tommy Lewis came off the Alabama bench and hit Maegle with a blindsided tackle. Lewis then ran back to the bench. The officials awarded Maegle a touchdown – a 95-yard touchdown run. Maegle also had two other touchdown runs that day of 79 and 34 yards. Lewis, a fullback and co-captain of the Alabama team died in 2014. Dicky Maegle was 86.
In early July, North Carolina coach Mack Brown revealed that most of the Tar Heels players do not favor a 12-team playoff. A few days later, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said most of his players don’t favor a 12-team playoff.
On July 14, Ohio coach Frank Solich, the winningest coach in Mid-American Conference history and the fourth-winningest active coach, announced he is stepping down due to health reasons. Ohio offensive coordinator Tim Albin was named Solich’s replacement. Solich, 76, led Ohio to 11 bowl games and four MAC East Division titles in 16 seasons with the Bobcats. Before coming to Ohio, Solich was a fixture of Nebraska football, first as a players, then as an assistant coach and finally as the head coach. He spent six seasons coaching the Huskers, winning the Big 12 championship in 1999. He was let go from the Huskers in 2003. Solich’s career record is 173-101. His 115 wins at Ohio are the most ever by a MAC coach.
On the same day, Nebraska hired Trev Alberts to be the school’s new athletic director, replacing Bill Moos, who had recently retired. Alberts was a linebacker for Nebraska in the 1990s, where he won the Butkus Award as the nation’s most outstanding linebacker. He has served in the same position at UN-Omaha for the past 12 years. Prior to the AD job at Omaha, Alberts was a college football broadcaster/commentator for ESPN for three years.
And speaking of Nebraska, former Husker quarterback Luke McCaffrey announced he is now transferring to Rice. In just five and a half months, McCaffrey has used the transfer portal to transfer from Nebraska to Louisville to Rice.
Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables became the highest-paid assistant football coach in the country. Venables signed a contract for $2.5 million a year – a contract that was also extended through the 2026 season.
Alabama coach Nick Saban revealed that Crimson Tide quarterback Bryce Young has earned almost $1 million in NIL deals and he hasn’t started a game for yet for Alabama.
Bobby Bowden’s family announced that the former West Virginia and Florida State coach had been diagnosed with a terminal medical condition. It was later revealed that the medical condition was pancreatic cancer.
On July 21, college football received a jolt – a big jolt. It sent shock waves throughout the country. The ground shook. The Houston Chronicle reported that Texas and Oklahoma had requested membership in the SEC. At first, some thought this was nothing more than an unsubstantiated rumor – a conspiracy theory. But as more data, news and information about the potential conference move seeped through the cracks and floated to the surface, it soon became apparent that the Houston Chronicle report was valid. It wasn’t a rumor. It was a fact. A hard, cold and shocking fact.
The conference move would take time to evolve. Just how much time is not clearly known. Like the other members of the Big 12, both Oklahoma and Texas are signees of the Big 12 grant-of-rights agreement which grants their first and second tier television and media rights for football and men’s basketball to the Big 12 Conference through June 30, 2025. That’s when the grant-of-rights contract expires. That means the Big 12 owns Oklahoma’s and Texas’ media rights for those sports even if the two schools are no longer members of the conference. That means Oklahoma and Texas, who would also have to pay departure fees, won’t be pulling out of the Big 12 anytime soon unless they can negotiate a mutual agreement of departure.
Five days after the Houston Chronicle broke the news, Oklahoma and Texas officially informed the Big 12 that they are leaving the conference.
Three days later, on June 29, the presidents of the SEC schools voted 14-0 to invite Oklahoma and Texas to join the conference. Membership would not begin before July 1, 2022, at the earliest and possibly not until July 1, 2023 – maybe not until July 1, 2024, or July 1, 2025, at the latest. It all depends on negotiating a buyout that is acceptable to all parties.
The next day, the Board of Regents of the Universities of Oklahoma and Texas voted unanimously to accept their invitations to join the SEC.
Meanwhile, Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby accused ESPN, the SEC and the AAC of collusion. According to Bowlsby, ESPN and the SEC conspired to lure Oklahoma and Texas away from the Big 12. ESPN then conspired with the AAC to poach three to five of the remaining Big 12 teams. ESPN took actions designed and intended to harm the Big 12, according to Bowlsby.
Whatever, it’s definitely going to be an ugly divorce. It won’t be pretty.
Early in August, ULM announced that head coach Terry Bowden had taken a leave of absence to be with his father, who has end-stage pancreatic cancer. ULM named offensive coordinator Rich Rodriguez as the interim head coach during Terry’s absence.
Dadgummit! Just two days after Terry Bowden took his leave of absence, his father died. Legendary football coach Bobby Bowden passed away on August 8. Bowden coached West Virginia from 1970 to 1975 and Florida State from 1976 to 2009. At Florida State, his Seminoles won the national championship twice – in 1993 and 1999. After FSU joined the ACC in 1991, Bowden won 12 ACC championships in 19 years. When he came to Florida State, the Seminoles had only won a total of four games the previous three seasons, while losing 29. His second year in Tallahassee, FSU was 10-2. While coaching Florida State, the Seminoles finished in the AP Top 5 for 14 consecutive seasons. When he was fired after the 2009 season, Bowden had a record of 377-129-4. His final coaching appearance was in the Gator Bowl on January 1, 2010. The Seminoles won, with a 33-21 victory over his former program, West Virginia. The crowd of 84,129 that day is the largest ever to attend a Gator Bowl game. Bobby Bowden was 91.
Like I said, the offseason was a wild and crazy roller coaster ride. It had its ups and it had its downs. Now, I can only imagine what the season is going to be like.
Meanwhile, Luke McCaffrey is still at Rice.
Touchdown Tom
Quotes of the Offseason
“Tennessee’s football program has been a mess for 13 years,” AL.com’s John Talty.
“Tennessee is the SEC’s version of Nebraska, a former college football power that continues to circulate through coaching failures,” Saturday Down South’s Matt Hayes.
“Heupel is a good coach, but he is not going to inspire many people. I think what it shows more than anything else is Tennessee is not a very good job. You can’t go out and hire the best coaches at Tennessee because not only has the program been in free fall, but it is facing punishing NCAA sanctions and I think for that reason, most people wanted to stay away,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, on Tennessee’s hiring of Josh Heupel.
“Shaky. That’s a pretty big thing to say when you think about what he’s accomplished. He had a brutal year in spite of everything. The ending was bad. Even if you dismiss his comments at Texas A&M, the Missouri game, even if you throw all that out and just start the clock beginning at the LSU game and then the week of the bowl game was a disaster. His comments before the game, his comments after the game. The report by Adam Schefter that he was looking around the NFL,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, on Dan Mullen’s future in Gainesville.
“Even though the allegations against Les Miles occurred at LSU, we take these matters very seriously at KU,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long, on placing football coach Les Miles on administrative leave. (Note: Not long after the comment, both Miles and Long were fired.)
“I think Georgia should be in position to do it this year if they can let go of that mindset that they can’t be complete until they beat Alabama. Is it going to be less fulfilling for Georgia if they beat Texas A&M or if they beat somebody else in the SEC championship game and they don’t get a chance to beat Alabama and exorcise that metaphorical demon or whatever?” ESPN’s Rece Davis.
“When you’re winning, you’re in charge. That means you got to win more than nine. When you’re winning eight and nine, other people get in charge. And your job at Texas is to make sure you stay in charge. When we were winning, 10, 11, 12 and 13, I had pretty good control of what was going on. When we go back to eight or nine, I had less control,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown, on coaching at Texas.
“To hell with Georgia, right?,” Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer, upon drafting Georgia Tech wide receiver Jalen Camp at the NFL draft.
“We’re going to beat his ass when he’s down here,” Texas A&M coach Jimbo Fisher commenting on Alabama and Nick Saban’s visit to College Station this fall.
“In golf,” Nick Saban replied.
“I think this is inevitable and I think it’s for the best,” ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, on the recommended CFP expansion to 12 teams.
“Let me tell you who won’t stop them. This network. College football is a goldmine. And ESPN will line up to hand people money. This is a goldmine and they’re going to do it,” ESPN personality Tony Kornheiser, on the potential CFP expansion to 12 teams.
“After fifty-five years in coaching, including 16 at Ohio, it is time for me to step away to focus on a cardiovascular health issue,” Ohio coach Frank Solich, announcing his retirement from football in July.
“I didn’t get into this profession to be somebody. I got into this profession to do something,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell, when asked why he didn’t accept one of the NFL head coaching positions offered to him.
To which ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit responded: “How great is this guy?!?!?!”
“Our quarterback has already approached ungodly numbers, and he hasn’t even played yet. If I told you what it is….it’s almost seven figures,” Alabama coach Nick Saban on the NIL financial deals quarterback Bryce Young has signed.
“They’re going to be favored in every game. Up until game six against Alabama, and I think they’ll still be favored then because it’s at home. I think Jimbo does a great job of understanding what wins in the SEC, and that’s great defense, a strong offensive line and running game, and a balanced attack offensively,” SEC Network college football analyst Roman Harper.
“Nebraska is struggling to find its foothold from a leadership standpoint, a style standpoint, a recruiting standpoint,” former Nebraska football player Damon Benning.
“If Scott Frost can’t win at least six games this fall, this could prove to be the end of his time with the Huskers,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg.
A lot of people liked those cardboard things in there. I couldn’t help but think of the twilight zone,” Mississippi State coach Mike Leach on the cardboard cutouts at the games last year.
“I wanted to go up to him and ask him for an ice cream,” ESPN’s Paul Finebaum, on new Vanderbilt coach Clark Lea, who was dressed in a white suit at the SEC Media Days.
“We want to be the only SEC program in the state of Texas. There’s a reason Texas A&M left the Big 12: to stand alone, to have our own identity,” Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork, on hearing that Texas and Oklahoma could be joining the SEC.
“Once you go to the transfer portal at the University of Arkansas, you sure aren’t transferring back in. It’s a shame how many kids have entered the portal and haven’t found a new school and no longer have a scholarship. Unfortunately, the kids aren’t doing their homework,” Arkansas coach Sam Pittman.
“Of the 1,600 scholarship recipients who have entered the portal this year, 1,000 are still listed as active in the portal, having not found a new school,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.
“I asked commissioner Sankey if there was going to be a 15-yard penalty for horns down in the SEC,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, at the SEC Media Days.
“What’s my perception? Holy cow, imagine the schedule every weekend – the games in this conference every single week,” ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit, on Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC.
“Many of my colleagues around the country believe that the University of Texas created this situation because they think so highly of themselves. My humble opinion: I completely disagree. I think it’s because they felt too little of themselves,” Baylor athletic director Mack Rhodes.
“If you’re going to struggle in the Big 12, you might as well struggle in the SEC,” Steve Spurrier, on Texas joining the SEC.
“They’re looking forward to it. I think maybe winning Big 12 championships at Oklahoma has gotten a little old. They’re looking for a new challenge and I think it’s going to be interesting. I think they’re going to compete for championships in the SEC,” Steve Spurrier, on Oklahoma joining the SEC.
“We’re not asking him to play football. We’re asking him to punt it,” Alabama coach Nick Saban, on his new Australian punter James Burnip.
The Quarterbacks –
2021
As the 2021 college football season begins, two quarterbacks stand out from all the rest. Those two are Oklahoma sophomore Spencer Rattler (6-1, 205) and North Carolina junior Sam Howell (6-2, 225). Both put up some pretty impressive numbers in 2020.
Rattler led Oklahoma to a 9-2 season, including a 55-20 Cotton Bowl win over Florida. The Sooners finished the season on an eight-game winning streak. Along the way, Rattler passed for 3,031 yards, averaging 275.5 yards a game. He threw 28 touchdown passes and completed 67.5% of his aerials.
Howell led North Carolina to an 8-4 season, including a spot in the Orange Bowl. The Tar Heels ended their regular season with an impressive 62-26 road win over Miami (Florida). Along the way, Howell passed for 3,586 yards, throwing 30 touchdown passes. He averaged 298.8 yards a game, completing 68.1% of his throws.
Yes, Rattler and Howell lead the way at preseason, but several other quarterbacks are capable of replacing them on the marquee.
Starting in the ACC, seven other quarterbacks will be vying with Sam Howell for the spotlight. Leading those seven are Miami senior D’Eriq King (5-11, 195) and Clemson sophomore D.J. Uiagalelei (6-4. 250). Last season, King passed for 2,686 yards, averaging 244.2 yards a game. He threw 23 touchdown passes, while completing 64.1% of his tosses.
Playing behind Trevor Lawrence, Uiagalelei didn’t see a lot of action last year. However, he passed for 342 yards against Boston College and 439 yards on the road against Notre Dame when Lawrence was sitting out due to COVID-19. The 439 yards are the most ever by an opposing quarterback against Notre Dame.
Behind King and Uiagalelei, keep an eye on Louisville junior Malik Cunningham (6-1, 200), Boston College junior Phil Jurkovec (6-5, 226) and Pitt senior Kenny Pickett (6-3, 220). Last season, Cunningham threw for 2,617 yards and 20 touchdowns. He averaged 227.3 yards a game, completing 64.1% of his passes.
BC’s Jurkovec passed for 2,558 yards, averaging 255.8 yards a game. He threw 17 touchdown passes, completing 61% of his throws. Pitt’s Pickett averaged 267.6 yards a game, completing 61.1% of his tosses.
And finally in the ACC, keep an eye on Wake Forest sophomore Sam Hartman (6-1, 215) and Syracuse junior Tommy DeVito (6-2, 208). Last year, Hartman passed for 2,224 yards, averaging 247.1 yards a game. He tore up North Carolina with 429 yards and four touchdowns.
In addition to Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, the Big 12 has five other solid quarterbacks, led by Iowa State senior Brock Purdy (6-1, 212). Last season, Purdy passed for 2,750 yards. He threw 19 touchdown passes and completed 66.6% of his passes. Purdy has amassed 9,921 yards of total offense in three seasons at Iowa State.
And by the way, Rattler isn’t the only Spencer quarterbacking in the Big 12 this season. Oklahoma State has its own Spencer – junior Spencer Sanders (6-1, 199). Last year Sanders passed for 2,007 yards and 14 touchdowns, completing 62.8% of his throws. TCU has a strong quarterback in junior Max Dugan (6-2, 201). Dugan completed 60.8% of his passes in 2020.
West Virginia has a solid quarterback in senior Jarret Doege (6-2, 210). Last year Doege passed for 2,587 yards, throwing 14 touchdowns passes. He averaged 258.7 yards a game, while completing 63.9% of his throws. And finally, keep an eye out for Kansas State senior Skylar Thompson (6-2, 212). Thompson completed 62.5% of his lobs last year.
The Big Ten has eight noteworthy quarterbacks entering the 2021 season. The three best of the eight may Indiana junior Michael Penix (6-3, 218), Wisconsin sophomore Graham Mertz (6-3, 225) and Minnesota senior Tanner Morgan (6-2, 215). Last year, Penix averaged 274.2 yards a game through the air and threw 14 touchdown passes. He is 10-2 as a starter for Indiana. The Badgers’ Mertz completed 61.1% of his passes.
Another four experienced quarterbacks in the Big Ten are Nebraska junior Adrian Martinez (6-2, 220), Penn State junior Sean Clifford (6-2, 214), Maryland junior Taulia Tagovailoa (5-11, 205) and Purdue junior Jack Plummer (6-5, 220).
Last year, the Huskers’ Martinez completed 71.5% of his passes. He also ran for 521 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. The Nittany Lions’ Clifford completed 60.6% of his tosses, while throwing 16 touchdown passes. The Terps. Tagovailoa averaged 252.8 yards a game through the air, while the Boilers’ Plummer threw for 312.7 yards a game, completing 71% of his passes.
But the best of the quarterbacks in the Big Ten could be a redshirt freshman who has yet to throw a pass in a college game. That would be Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud (6-3, 215). Keep an eye on Stroud.
The Pac-12 has four praiseworthy quarterbacks at preseason. Undoubtedly, the best of the four would appear to be USC junior Kedon Slovis (6-3, 215). In 2020, Slovis threw for 320.2 yards a game and 17 touchdowns. He completed 67.1% of his passes.
Next to Slovis, the three top quarterbacks in the Pac-12 are Arizona State sophomore Jayden Daniels (6-3, 185), UCLA junior Dorian Thompson-Robinson (6-1, 200) and California senior Chase Garbers (6-2, 225). Last season, Thompson-Robinson completed 65.2% of his throws, while Garbers completed 62.5% of his passes. Garbers is 14-5 as a starter at California.
The SEC enters the 2020 season with seven top-notch quarterbacks. The two best of the seven are Ole Miss junior Matt Corral (6-1, 205) and Georgia junior J.T. Daniels (6-3, 210). Last season Corral threw for 3,337 yards and 29 touchdowns. He averaged 333.7 yards a game, completing 70.9% of his passes. Daniels, who completed 67.2% of his passes, led the Dawgs to a 24-21 Peach Bowl win over Cincinnati. Georgia finished the season on a four-game winning streak.
Auburn junior Bo Nix (6-3, 214) leads the next group of SEC quarterbacks. In 2020, Nix passed for 2,415 yards, averaging 219.5 yards a game. Along with Nix, Missouri sophomore Connor Bazelak (6-3, 220) and Mississippi State sophomore Will Rogers (6-2, 205) return solid experience to their respective teams. Last year, Bazelak passed for 2,366 yards, averaging 236.6 yards a game. He completed 67.3% of his passes. Miss State’s Rogers passed for 1,976 yards, completing 69.1% of his tosses. He averaged 219.6 yards a game.
Florida has high hopes for junior Emory Jones (6-2, 210) in 2021. As a backup to Kyle Trask, Jones saw a fair amount of action in 2020. But if Jones should falter, then freshman Anthony Richardson (6-4, 232) just may step up to the plate in Gainesville. And finally, Alabama will have a new quarterback this season – sophomore Bryce Young (6-0, 194) – a new quarterback but a big-time quarterback. Definitely, keep an eye on Young in 2021.
The AAC has two of the hottest quarterbacks in the country – Cincinnati senior Desmond Ridder (6-4, 215) and UCF sophomore Dillon Gabriel (6-0, 186). Last year, Ridder led the Bearcats to a 9-1 season and a berth in the Peach Bowl. He passed for 2,296 yards, averaging 229.6 yards a game. Ridder threw 19 touchdown passes and completed 66.2% of his lobs. He also ran for 592 yards, averaging 6.0 yards a vary. Ridder is a three-year starter with 8,730 yards of total offense – 6,905 passing and 1,825 rushing.
UCF’s Gabriel was no slouch either. He passed for 3,570 yards, averaging 357 yards a game. Gabriel threw 32 touchdown passes, completing 60% of his tosses.
The only other quarterback in the AAC worth mentioning at preseason is East Carolina junior Holton Ahlers (6-3, 228). Ahlers averaged 240.1 yards game through the air and threw 18 touchdown passes. He completed 61.3% of his tosses.
The MWC has three outstanding quarterbacks led by Nevada junior Carson Strong (6-4, 215), the MWC’s Player of the Year in 2020. Carson was a strong passer last season, throwing for 2,858 yards and 27 touchdowns. He averaged 317.6 yards a game and completed 70.1% of his passes.
Right up there with Strong are Fresno State senior Jake Haener (6-1, 195) and San Jose State senior Nick Starkel (6-3, 214). Passing, Haener averaged 336.8 yards a game last year, completing 64.7% of his throws. Starkel averaged 271.8 yards a game, throwing 17 touchdown passes. He completed 64.2% of his lobs.
The Sun Belt has six exciting quarterbacks entering the 2021 season. The best of the six just may be Coastal Carolina sophomore Grayson McCall (6-3, 200). McCall led the Chanticleers to an 11-1 record last year. In doing so, he passed for 2,488 yards, averaging 226.2 yards a game. McCall threw 26 touchdown passes, completing 68.8% of his passes.
Georgia State sophomore Cornelious Brown (6-5, 200) passed for 2,276 yards and 17 touchdowns last year. He averaged 227.8 yards a game through the air. Louisiana senior Levi Lewis (5-10, 184) is a solid signal caller. Last season, Lewis passed for 2,274 yards, throwing 19 touchdown passes.
The other three top quarterbacks in the Sun Belt are Troy senior Gunnar Watson (6-3, 211), Arkansas State junior Layne Hatcher (6-0, 196) and Texas State sophomore Brady McBride (6-0, 204). In 2020, Troy’s Watson threw for 2,141 yards and 16 touchdowns. He averaged 237.9 yards a game, completing 70.1% of his passes.
The Red Wolves’ Hatcher passed for 2,058 yards and 19 touchdowns, while Texas State’s McBride completed 60.7% of his passes.
C-USA has five noteworthy quarterbacks and perhaps the best of the five is a freshman – a freshman with experience. That would be Marshall freshman Grant Wells (6-2, 210). Last year Wells threw 18 touchdown passes and completed 61.1% of his aerials. He passed for 2,091 yards.
Next to Wells is Louisiana Tech senior Luke Anthony (6-1, 210). Anthony threw 16 touchdown passes and completed 62.4% of his throws. The other three good quarterbacks in C-USA are Charlotte senior Chris Reynolds (5-11, 192), UTSA senior Frank Harris (6-0, 200) and North Texas sophomore Austin Aune (6-2, 216). The Roadrunners’ Harris completed 63.7% of his passing attempts.
The MAC has six notable quarterbacks and three of the six are particularly good. They are Kent State senior Dustin Crum (6-3, 207), Western Michigan sophomore Kaleb Eleby (6-1, 215) and Ball State senior Drew Pitt (6-2, 217).
Kent’s Crum completed 73.5% of his passes in 2020 and averaged 295.3 yards a game. WMU’s Eleby averaged 285.8 yards a game, while throwing 18 touchdown passes. He completed 64.7% of his tosses. Ball State’s Pitt threw for 2,164 yards, averaging 270.5 yards a game. He threw 17 touchdown passes and completed 65.6% of his throws.
The other three noteworthy quarterbacks in the MAC are Ohio sophomore Kurtis Rourke (6-3, 211), Buffalo senior Kyle Vantrease (6-3, 220) and Miami (Ohio) sophomore Brett Gabbert (6-0, 205).
Ohio’s Rourke completed 68.2% of his passes and Buffalo’s Vantrease completed 62.3% of his throws. Vantrease is 6-1 as a starter for the Bulls. Miami’s Gabbert was the MAC Freshman of the Year in 2019.
Among the Independents, Liberty senior Mark Willis (6-1, 215) is the headliner. Last year, Willis threw for 2,260 yards, averaging 226.6 yards a game. He threw 20 touchdown passes and completed 64.2% of his lobs. Willis also rushed for 944 yards.
TT’s Top 10 Favorite Quarterbacks at Preseason
- Sam Howell – North
Carolina
- Spencer
Rattler
– Oklahoma
- Desmond
Ridder
– Cincinnati
- D.J.
Uiagalelei
– Clemson
- Dillon
Gabriel
– UCF
- Matt Corral – Ole Miss
- Carson Strong – Nevada
- Grayson
McCall
– Coastal Carolina
- Nick Starkel – San Jose
State
- Brock Purdy – Iowa State
But keep an eye on:
Kedon Slovis – USC; D’Eriq King – Miami (Florida); Tanner Morgan – Minnesota; J.T. Daniels – Georgia; Graham Mertz – Wisconsin; Bo Nix – Auburn; Michael Penix – Indiana; Phil Jurkovec – Boston College; Emory Jones – Florida; Sean Clifford – Penn State; Holton Ahlers – East Carolina; Jake Haener – Fresno State; Grant Wells – Marshall; Adrian Martinez – Nebraska; Dustin Crum – Kent State; Kenny Pickett – Pitt; Kaleb Eleby – Western Michigan, and Austin Aune – North Texas.
The New Coaches – 2021
Eighteen teams entering the 2021 season will take the field with new head coaches. Following last season, 13 coaches were fired, five left for higher-profile schools and one coach, Ohio’s Frank Solich, retired. Three of the new head coaches are blasts from the past.
Among the Power Five conferences, the SEC will have the most new head coaches this season with four. Each replacing the four who were all fired by South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Auburn and Tennessee, respectively. After a lengthy search, South Carolina hired Shane Beamer as its new coach. Beamer, the son of former Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer, comes to the Gamecocks from Oklahoma where he had been the assistant and tight ends coach for the past three seasons. Beamer has lots of experience in the SEC. Prior to Oklahoma, he was on the staffs at Tennessee, Mississippi State, Georgia and previously South Carolina from 2007 to 2010.
Vanderbilt reached out to a former player in hiring its new coach. Clark Lea, the Commodores new head man, was a fullback for Vanderbilt from 2008 to 2010. He is also a native of Nashville. Prior to Vandy, Lea had been the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Notre Dame from 2017 to 2020.
Auburn pulled the rabbit out of the hat when the Tigers hired Bryan Harsin. Most thought the hiring was going in a different direction when Harsin was named the new head coach at Auburn. A native of Boise, Idaho, Harsin played quarterback for Boise State from 1995 to 1999. He was the head coach of Arkansas State in 2013. For the past seven seasons, Harsin was the coach of his alma mater, Boise State.
Tennessee finalized the hiring activity in the SEC when the Vols named Josh Heupel their new coach. Heupel comes to Tennessee from UCF where he coached the Knights to a 28-8 record the past three seasons. In college, Heupel played quarterback for Oklahoma where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2000. He is a native of Aberdeen, South Dakota.
Two Big 12 schools fired their coaches after the 2020 season. Those schools were Texas and Kansas. Texas reached out to Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama and hired Steve Sarkisian to be the Longhorns’ new coach. Sarkisian had been Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the past two seasons. Prior to Alabama, he was the head coach at Washington from 2009 to 2013 and USC from 2014 to 2015. A native of Torrance, California, Sarkisian played quarterback for BYU from 1995 to 1996.
Following the dismissal of Les Miles, Kansas landed University of Buffalo coach Lance Leipold to be the Jayhawks new coach. Leipold was the head coach at Buffalo for six seasons. Prior to Buffalo, he coached Wisconsin-Whitewater for eight seasons where he won six NCAA Division III national championships.
One school each in the Pac-12 and Big Ten fired their coach last season – Arizona in the Pac-12 and Illinois on the Big Ten. Arizona went to the NFL for its new coach. The Wildcats hired Jedd Fisch. Fisch was the quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots last season. Prior to that, he was the co-offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams from 2018 to 2019. Fisch has an unusual background for a football coach. A native of Livingston, New Jersey, he didn’t play football in high school. Instead, he was an all-state tennis player. A 1998 graduate of the University of Florida, with a degree in criminology, Fisch went to Florida for the sole purpose of learning to coach football from Steve Spurrier. Since graduating from Florida he has been on the staffs of seven NFL teams and four college teams.
In the Big Ten, Illinois stumbled upon a blast from the past to be its new head coach – none other than Bret Bielema. Welcome back to the Big Ten, Bret. And welcome back to college football. For the past three seasons, Bielema has been floating around the NFL on the staffs of the New England Patriots and the New York Giants. Previously, he was best known as the head coach at Wisconsin from 2006-2012 and Arkansas from 2013 to 2017. In college, Bielema was a nose guard for Iowa. And welcome back to Illinois, Bret. Bielema is a native of Prophetstown, Illinois.
There are no new head coaches in the ACC this season.
Among the Group of Five conferences, 10 schools will have new head coaches in 2021. The Sun Belt Conference leads the pack with three – South Alabama, ULM and Arkansas State. South Alabama’s new coach is Kane Wommack. He was the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator at Indiana for the past three seasons. A native of Springfield, Missouri, Wommack is just 34 years-old.
Meanwhile, ULM hired a blast from the past too – Terry Bowden. Last season, Bowden was a graduate assistant for Dabo Swinney, while he was working on a master’s degree at Clemson. Bowden is loaded with degrees. He graduated magna cum laude with a degree in accounting from West Virginia, did post-graduate work at Oxford University and has a law degree from Florida State. Prior to last season, Bowden had been the coach at Akron from 2012 to 2018. Earlier in his career, he was the head coach at Salem College, Samford and Auburn from 1983 to 1998. After he was let go from Auburn, Bowden sat out of coaching for 10 years. During that time he was a college football analyst for ABC TV and Westwood One radio networks, hosted a sports talk radio show in Orlando and was a columnist for Yahoo Sports. Bowden got back into coaching in 2009, where he was the head coach of North Alabama for three seasons, prior to becoming the coach at Akron.
Arkansas State also brought in a blast from the past – Butch Jones. The past three seasons, Jones has been an analyst and assistant on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama. Prior to that, he was the head coach at Central Michigan, Cincinnati and Tennessee from 2007 to 2017. Jones is a native of Saugatuck, Michigan.
The Mountain West Conference has two schools with new head coaches – Utah State and Boise State. Blake Anderson is the new head man at Utah State. Anderson comes to Utah State from Arkansas State where he had been the head coach for seven seasons. Before that, he had offensive coordinator experience at Middle Tennessee, Louisiana, Southern Miss and North Carolina. Anderson is a native of Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Boise State hired one of its own – Andy Avalos – to be the Broncos new coach. Avalos played linebacker for Boise State from 2001 to 2004. Then he was the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for the Broncos from 2012 to 2018. Last season, Avalos was the defensive coordinator at Oregon State. He is a native of Corona, California.
Two Conference USA schools will sport new head coaches in 2021. They are Southern Miss and Marshall. Southern Miss was the first school to fire its coach last season. After only one game, the Eagles terminated Jay Hopson. Southern Miss replaced Hopson with Will Hall, Tulane’s offensive coordinator. Hall had been offensive coordinator at Tulane for two seasons. Prior to that, he was the head coach at West Alabama and West Georgia and the offensive coordinator at Louisiana.
Like a number of other schools, Marshall went to Nick Saban’s staff for its new coach. The Herd hired Alabama’s assistant head coach and running backs coach Charles Huff. Huff held that position at Alabama for two seasons. Prior to that, he was the running backs coach for Western Michigan, Penn State and Mississippi State. Huff is a native of Denton, Maryland.
Two Mid-American Conference schools will have new head coaches this season – Buffalo and Ohio. Buffalo hired Maurice Linguist, the Dallas Cowboys defensive backs coach. Prior to the Cowboys, Linguist had been the defensive backs coach for Valdosta State, Buffalo, Iowa State and Minnesota. A native of Dallas, Texas, Linguist played safety for Baylor from 2003 to 2006.
Ohio’s coach, Frank Solich, announced his retirement during the summer. The Bobcats upgraded their offensive coordinator – Tim Albin – to the head coach position. Before Ohio, Albin was the running backs coach at Nebraska and North Dakota State. He became the running backs coach and offensive coordinator at Ohio in 2005, where he held that position until this season. Albin is a native of Woodward, Oklahoma.
One American Athletic Conference school has a new head coach – UCF. UCF’s new coach is perhaps the most famous of all the new head coaches this season. He is Gus Malzahn. Malzahn comes to UCF from Auburn, where he had been the head coach for eight seasons. Prior to Auburn, he was the coach of Arkansas State in 2012. Before Arkansas State, Malzahn was the offensive coordinator at Arkansas, Tulsa and Auburn. He is a native of Irving, Texas.
There are no new head coaches among the Independents this season.
Yes, the three blasts from the past are Bret Bielema, Terry Bowden and Butch Jones. Good luck guys!
Coaches on the Hot
Seat – 2021
Thirteen “hot seat” coaches were fired last season. I have 27 coaches on my hot seat list for this season. Not all of those coaches will be fired. Some will survive. But I’m thinking there will be more than 13 when this season is over.
Among the Power Five conferences, the ACC, by far, has the most coaches on the hot seat, with five. They are Dino Babers (Syracuse), Justin Fuente (Virginia Tech), David Cutcliffe (Duke), Dave Doeren (NC State) and Scott Satterfield (Louisville).
In five seasons at Syracuse, Babers is 24-36 – 1-10 last season. Babers has only had one winning season out of five. That was a 10-3 record in 2018. 2021 doesn’t look promising for Babers and the Cuse.
In five years at Virginia Tech, Fuente is 38-26 – 5-6 last season. He has had three winning seasons out of five. His first two seasons, Fuente won 19 games. His last three seasons, Fuente won 19 games. 2021 is 50-50 for Fuente and the Hokies.
In 13 seasons at Duke, Cutcliffe is 74-88 – 2-9 last season. Cutcliffe has had two winning seasons in his last five. His last winning season was in 2018 (8-5). Coaches at Duke are always given the benefit of the doubt. Cutcliffe may have had his last benefit of the doubt. 2021 doesn’t look good for Cutcliffe and the Dookies.
In eight years at NC State, Doeren is 55-46 – 8-4 last season. Doeren is the Gus Malzahn of the ACC. He generally has a winning record, but he never sets the world on fire. In other words, he never quite gets over the hump. He never cuts the mustard. In the last five years, Doeren hasn’t won more than nine games in a season. And he only won four games in 2019. Malzahn’s luck ran out last season. Doeren’s could run out this season. However, 2021 does look promising for Doeren and the Pack.
In two seasons at Louisville, Satterfield is 12-12 – 4-7 last season. Many schools don’t fire a coach after only three seasons. That could save Satterfield. But Louisville’s patience is running thin. 2021 is a toss-up for Satterfield and the Cards.
The Big 12 has two coaches on the hot seat. They are Matt Wells (Texas Tech) and Gary Patterson (TCU).
In two years at Texas Tech, Wells is 8-14 – 4-6 last season. After only three seasons, Wells may be given a reprieve. But then again, he may not. 2021 doesn’t look good for Wells and the Raiders.
In 20+ years at TCU, Patterson is 178-74 – 6-4 last season. Yes, Patterson is a legend at TCU. And legends don’t get fired. But they do become tarnished and are let go, e.g. Bobby Bowden. Two of the last five seasons have been losing ones for Patterson. Patterson has won seven games or less in four of the last five seasons. 2021 is supposed to be a good one for Patterson and the Frogs.
The Big Ten has two coaches on the hot seat. They are Jim Harbaugh (Michigan) and Scott Frost (Nebraska).
In six seasons at Michigan, Harbaugh is 49-22 – 2-4 last season. But in six seasons, Harbaugh has never defeated Ohio State. He has never won more than 10 games in a season. It sounds like farewell Harbaugh to me. 2021 is only supposed to be a barely better than average season for Harbaugh and the Maize.
In three years at Nebraska, Frost is 12-20 – 3-5 last season. His best season was 5-7. That was in 2019. The red curtain could be coming down for the last time at the end of this season. 2021 is no better than 50-50 for Frost and the Huskers.
The Pac-12 has two coaches on the hot seat. They are the two Los Angeles boys – Clay Helton (USC) and Chip Kelly (UCLA).
In five+ seasons at USC, Helton is 45-23 – 5-1 last season. Last season’s abbreviated schedule was a bright spot for Helton. The previous two seasons he was just 13-12. USC expects better. 2021 is supposed to be a pretty good season for Helton and the Trojans. But only pretty good. Pretty good may not be enough to save Helton.
In three years at UCLA, Kelly is 10-21 – 3-4 last season. It has been pretty dismal in Westwood. 2021 is looking so-so at best for Kelly and the Bruins.
The SEC has only one coach on the hot seat. He is Ed Orgeron (LSU).
In four+ seasons at LSU, Orgeron is 45-14 – 5-5 last season. After going 15-0 and winning the national championship in 2019, Orgeron was no better than .500 last season. LSU fans seem to have a love/hate relationship with Orgeron. If the hate grows stronger than the love, he could be in trouble. 2021 is looking like a good year for Orgeron and the Tigers. But will it be good enough?
Among the Group of Five conferences, Conference USA has the most coaches on the hot seat – five. They are Seth Littrell (North Texas), Dana Dimel (UTEP), Rick Stockstill (Middle Tennessee), Willie Taggart (Florida Atlantic) and Butch Davis (FIU).
In five years at North Texas, Littrell is 31-31 – 4-6 last season. The last two season, Littrell has been 8-14. Littrell has failed to deliver at North Texas. 2021 is looking bad for Littrell and the Green.
In three seasons at UTEP, Dimel is 5-27 – 3-5 last season. Last season was Dimel’s best at UTEP. The previous two seasons, he was 2-22. You can sort of figure that this will be Dimel’s last season in El Paso. 2021 does not look good at all for Dimel and the Miners.
In 15 years at Middle Tennessee, Stockstill is 94-92. If Dave Doeren is the Gus Malzahn of the ACC, Stockstill is the Gus Malzahn of C-USA. Stockstill often wins, but he can’t deliver Middle Tennessee to the promised land. His luck may be about to run out in Murfreesboro. The past two seasons have been losing ones. Stockstill hasn’t won more than eight games in any of the past five seasons. 2021 isn’t looking good for Stockstill and the Raiders.
In one season at Florida Atlantic, Taggart is 5-4. I know, no one fires a coach after just two years. Oh wait, Taggart got fired from Florida State after just two seasons with the Seminoles. Has a coach ever been fired twice in four years? 2021 could be a tough season for Taggart and the Owls.
In four years at FIU, Davis is 23-21 – 0-5 last season. That 0-5 last year could be a telling sign for Davis. He had a winning record both of his first two seasons. But Davis has had a losing record each of the last two seasons. 2021 looks like a disaster for Davis and the Panthers.
The American Athletic Conference has two coaches on the hot seat. They are Dana Holgerson (Houston) and Mike Houston (East Carolina).
In two seasons at Houston, Holgerson is 7-13 – 3-5 last season. Holgerson is yet to have a winning season at Houston. He was hired to make Houston the top team in the AAC. He hasn’t delivered so far. He needs to deliver this year. 2021 is supposed to be a pretty good year for Holgerson and the Cougars. But will it be good enough?
In two years at East Carolina, Houston is 7-14 – 3-6 last season. East Carolina has been through a herd of coaches in recent years. Houston may be the next one to come and go. 2021 doesn’t look like a prosperous season for Houston and the Pirates.
The Sun Belt Conference has two coaches on the hot seat. They are Chip Lindsey (Troy) and Jake Spavital (Texas State).
In two seasons at Troy, Lindsey is 10-13 – 5-6 last season. He’s come close, but Lindsey has yet to have a winner at Troy. And Troy is used to having winning football seasons. If Lindsey has another losing season, that’s probably all she wrote. It’s looking iffy. 2021 is projected to be a so-so year for Lindsey and the Trojans.
In two years at Texas State, Spavital is 5-19 – 2-10 last season. You can do the math. That’s two abysmal seasons for Spavital. This could be curtains. 2021 is looking like another abysmal season for Spavital and the Bobcats.
The Mid-American Conference has two coaches on the hot seat. They are Tom Arth (Akron) and Scott Loeffler (Bowling Green).
In two seasons at Akron, Arth is 1-17 – 1-5 last season. That’s pathetic. But last season was an improvement. Sadly, 2021 is looking grim for Arth and the Zips.
In two years at Bowling Green, Loeffler is 3-14 – 0-5 last season. Loeffler is going in the wrong direction. He’ll probably be going out after this season. 2021 is looking bad for Loeffler and the Falcons.
The Mountain West Conference has no coaches on the hot seat.
The Independents have three coaches on the hot seat. They are Randy Edsall (Connecticut), Doug Martin (New Mexico State) and Walt Bell (Massachusetts).
In three seasons (this stint) at Connecticut, Edsall is 6-30. Things are so low at Connecticut, the Huskies didn’t even field a team last year. UConn was 2-10 in 2019. During his first stint coaching UConn, Edsall was a hero. Not this stint. He’s been the villain. 2021 is looking downright bad for Edsall and the Huskies.
In eight years at New Mexico State, Martin is 22-64. Like UConn, the Aggies didn’t bother to field a team last year. New Mexico State was 2-10 in 2019. 2021 appears to be nothing but a disaster for Martin and the Aggies.
In two seasons at Massachusetts, Bell is 1-15 – 0-4 last season. Who knows? UMass may have mercy on Bell and give him a fourth season. But 2021 sure doesn’t look good for Bell and the Minutemen.
I’m thinking 17 of those 27 coaches will lose their jobs this season.
Touchdown Tom
P.S.
Not exactly college football related, but as summer was winding down and college football fans were anticipating the start of another season, the number one song in the country…
…80 years ago this week in 1941 was “Daddy” by Sammy Kaye
…75 years ago this week in 1946 was “To Each His Own” by Eddy Howard and His Orchestra
…70 years ago this week in 1951 was “Come On-a My House” by Rosemary Clooney
…65 years ago this week in 1956 was “My Prayer” by The Platters, and “I Almost Lost My Mind” by Pat Boone
…60 years ago this week in 1961 was “Tossin’ And Turnin’” by Bobby Lewis
…55 years ago this week in 1966 was “Wild Thing” by The Troggs, and “Summer In The City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful
…50 years ago this week in 1971 was “How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” by The Bee Gees
…45 years ago this week in 1976 was “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee
…40 years ago this week in 1981 was “Jessie’s Girl” by Rick Springfield
…35 years ago this week in 1986 was “Glory Of Love” by Peter Cetera, and “Papa Don’t Preach” by Madonna
…30 years ago this week in 1991 was “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams
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