It's Getting HOT! HOT! HOT!

Every year brings a new group of coaches closer to the guillotine. Fan bases and boosters grow increasingly more vocal as another lackluster season is finished. Often times, this lead to an early exit for the head coach.

I can't say I blame these fans as I might have been one of the more vocal ones calling for the Zooker's job a few years back.

This year the coaches on the hot seat are a mixture of old veterans, not-so familiar names, and big-name coaches that just aren't getting it done.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a few of these coaches get axed before season's end.





Greg Robinson, Syracuse- Frankly, I'm a little surprised that Robinson is even around to coach this year. The AD has already stated that if there isn't a marked improvement with the Orange, Robinson is out the door. Greg is easily the leading candidate to be fired during the season. Each passing year makes Paul Pasqualoni look more and more like coaching genius.









Chuck Long, San Diego St.- I really cannot see how someone cannot be successful at San Diego State. It should be easy to recruit there (Who wouldn't want to live in San Diego.) There is a decent tradition of talented positional players, i.e. Marshall Faulk, Az-Zahir Hakim, Lon Sheriff, Kevin O'Connell, etc. All that being said, Long has not been very successful at the head of the Aztec program. I think it would be a nice trade-off to lose Long and bring in Jerry Glanville, who is running a pretty successful program at Portland State.







Mike Sanford, UNLV-Sanford is in danger of losing his job for all the same reasons that Long is at SDSU. UNLV is in a good locale, there is a tradition of talented players, and the program has had a significant drop-off under his helm. UNLV's basketball team just brought in former NBA coach Lon Kruger a few years back. How about the football team doing the same? Ray Rhoades? Steve Mariucci? Mike Shula? None of those guys would probably be too successful, but it would get UNLV back into the news.









Brent Guy, Utah St.- Over the past few years no team has been as consistent at being awful as Utah St. has.Guy shouldn't get all the blame because it is near impossible to get top talent to Utah St. with programs like Utah and BYU vying for the same prospects. I think the Aggies need to bring in some new, young blood to give the program a shot of excitement. I don't think Brent Guy will be able to make it through another 1 or 2 win season.








Kirk Ferentz, Iowa-Other than Nick Saban, no coach in the nation makes more money per win than Ferentz. Pretty soon I have to think the people in Iowa City will tire of this and call for a new coach. The Big Ten is getting faster and quicker as the spread is taking over. Ferentz' coaching style is becoming somewhat obsolete. Also, there hasn't been too much to speak of in terms of recruiting at Iowa in recent years. I think Dan McCarney might be welcomed back into the state, or perhaps Florida OC Dan Mullen( Although I really hope that doesn't happen!)







Mike Stoops, Arizona- Mike Stoops has greatly increased the talent level at Arizona in recent years. Now it's time for his team to produce on the field. I believe the Cats are going to have to do better than 6-6 to save Stoops' job, even if 6-6 gets them into a bowl. With their talent, there's no reason why 8-4 shouldn't happen. Although both are long shots, June Jones and Chris Petersen would be good candidates to replace Stoops.


Jeff Genyk, Eastern Michigan- There's never really high expectations for the Eastern Michigan football team. That's probably why there still aren't too many people clamoring for Genyk to be fired. However, in a league where it seems like everyone takes a turn at the top, EMU has consistently been a bottom feeder. Central and Western Michigan are both on the up-swing, there's no reason why Eastern Michigan can't join them. Central Michigan was successful by bringing in Brian Kelly from Grand Valley St., Eastern Michigan could do the same and bring in Chuck Martin from the wildly successful Laker program.




Tyrone Willingham, Washington- I really like Ty Willingham. He is one of my favorite coaches in college football. However, he has not produced as expected at Washington. What's sad is that Washington is on the verge of being a great team, and if Willingham is let go after this season, the new coach will step in and reap the rewards (i.e. Charlie Weis.) Unfortunately Ty is on the hot seat, and I feel a bowl game will be the only thing that saves him.



Tom Amstutz, Toledo-Amstutz has had some stints of success while at the helm of the Toledo program. However, the Rockets have fallen on hard times on and off the field recently. Perhaps it is time for a coaching change. This happens all the time in pro sports, a team grows weary of a certain coaching style and that coach has to be let go. This seems to be the position that Toledo is now in.














Hal Mumme, New Mexico St.-Hal Mumme has successfully brought in some excitement to New Mexico St. football. His wide open offenses have produced some of the most entertaining games in recent years. The problem is the Aggies aren't winning those entertaining games. Mumme might actually step down before he is fired. Chase Holbrook is done after this season, and the offense will probably take a hit. I'm not sure Hal wants to stick around for that.






Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern- Pat Fitzgerald is a high energy, extremely personable coach. Unfortunately, his teams aren't that great. Northwestern has had a drop-off in production every year since Fitzgerald took the helm. While he might be safe with another 5-7 or 6-6 year, anything less than that should cost him his job.














Bobby Bowden, Florida St.- There will be increasing pressure on Bobby Bowden to step down in Tallahassee if there is another mediocre season. Jimbo Fisher waiting in the wings doesn't help. I actually like Bowden. I think he's good for college football. If he steps down I think he should immediately be given a microphone and placed in front of a camera. His knowledge and stories are priceless.