Coaching Carousel

With most of the 20 open head coaching positions filled in college football, I decided now would be a good time to review some of the changes. Of course, there's still some schools out there that could be added to this list. I'll try to update this list as more new coaches are hired.

1. Army

• Out - Stan Brock
• In - ?

Army has begun a national search for their next head coach. I think Brock did about as good as possible at West Point. I'm not so sure the next coach here will have any more success.

2. Auburn

• Out- Tommy Tuberville
• In - Gene Chizik

I have no idea what Auburn is doing here. They whiffed one one former defensive coordinator, so they panicked and went after the crappier one.


3. Ball St.

• Out - Brady Hoke
• In - ?

The Cardinals lose Hoke to San Diego St. As Hoke enjoys the much nicer weather, Ball St. will begin the search for a new coach who will face impossible expectations in Muncie. I look for BSU to tap the 1-aa ranks for this position.


4. Bowling Green

• Out - Gregg Brandon
• In - Dave Clawson

I really think Bowling Green jumped the gun when they let Brandon go. Fortunately for mes, Brandon is a top choice to replace Dan Mullen as Florida's offensive coordinator. Clawson backs his way into this job after helping to get Phil Fulmer fired at Tennessee.


5. Clemson

• Out - Tommy Bowden
• In - Dabo Swinney

The Tigers have already improved tremendously under Swinney. Their second half performance this season earned Swinney the job. We'll see how well he recruits and coaches for an entire season.


6. Eastern Michigan

• Out - Jeff Genyk
• In - ?

Wouldn't this be a good spot for Ty Willingham? I know he went winless last season, but if Chizik can get a job in the SEC, Willingham should be able to get a job anywhere.


7. Iowa st.

• Out - Gene Chizik
• In - ?

Auburn really did Iowa St. a favor. Not only do they get rid of an under producing coach, but they don't have to pay him any money. Look for a coordinator from another Big XII team to take this job. Kevin Wilson, maybe?


8. Kansas St.

• Out - Ron Prince
• In - Bill Snyder

I believe Prince should have been given at least one more year at K-State. However, Snyder did build this program into a national power way back when. He might be too old to do the same again. I guess we'll find out.


9. Miami(OH)

• Out - Shane Montgomery
• In - ?

I don't really know who the Redhawks will target for this job. Perhaps a 1-aa coach or even a Big Eleven assistant. Whoever they tabbed, he's got his work cut out for him.


10. Mississippi St.

• Out - Sylvester Croom
• In - Dan Mullen

I wish Dan Mullen nothing but the best in Starkville. However, I must say he really screwed us with the timing of this announcement. Damn him and Mississippi St.!


11. New Mexico

• Out - Rocky Long
• In - Mike Locksley

Locksley might be one of the better game planners in the nation right now. New Mexico does have a lot of talent on the offensive side of the ball. So this seems like a good fit.


12. New Mexico St.

• Out - Hal Mumme
• In - ?

The Aggies are going to be awful next season. Both Chris Jackson and Chase Holbrook will be gone. I feel sorry for whoever gets this job. It may be the worst job available this season.


13. Purdue

• Out - Joe Tiller
• In - Danny Hope

Hope is replacing a legend at Purdue. Fortunately this decision was made at the beginning of the offseason. That should relieve a little bit of the pressure. Just a little.


14. San Diego St.

• Out - Chuck Long
• In - Brady Hoke

The Aztecs were quite possibly the worst team in division 1 football this season. Kudos to them for going out and getting one of the hottest coaching prospects this off season in Brady Hoke. Hoke should find the weather and scenery much more to his liking in San Diego.


15. Syracuse

• Out - Greg Robinson
• In - Doug Marrone

This is a switch that should have been made last season in my opinion. I think the Orange whiffed on Robinson's replacement though. Turner Gill or Skip Holtz would have been better options than Marrone.


16. Tennessee

• Out - Phil Fulmer
• In - Lane Kiffin

Is it just me, or did the SEC coaching ranks get a lot worse this offseason?


17. Toledo

• Out - Tom Amstutz
• In - Tim Beckman

Beckman put up some pretty impressive numbers for Oklahoma St. over the past few seasons. At least he's taking over a team that managed to beat Michigan in the Big House last season.


18. Utah St.

• Out - Brent Guy
• In - Gary Andersen

Andersen remains in the same state as he leaves the Utes to take over a horrible Utah St. football program. Andersen may very well be the guy that can finally turn things around for the Aggies.


19.Washington

• Out - Tyrone Willingham
• In - Steve Sarkisian

I think the Trojans' defensive coordinator would be a better coaching candidate than Sarkisian. However, this is a good move for Sarkisian. He's taking over a Washington football team with little expectations, that I believe will be a lot better next season.


20. Wyoming

• Out - Joe Glenn
• In - Dave Christensen

Christensen is another top flight Big XII coordinator leaving to take on a head coaching challenge. The Cowboys were competitive towards the end of the season, including beating Tennessee in Knoxville. However, word was getting around that Glenn wasn't even recruiting anymore. That's a big no-no in college football.

The top 25 players: MAC

The MAC has always had some quality talent within their ranks. Ben Roethlisberger, Chester Taylor, Byron Leftwich, Chad Pennington, Randy Moss, Dwight Smith and Charlie Frye are just a few of the recent MAC players to get drafted into the NFL.

Here is my list of the top 25 players in the MAC this season. Don't be surprised if some of these players end up playing on Sundays.

1. Dan LeFevour - Central Michigan QB - LeFevour is the best dual threat QB in America outside of Tim Tebow. Some people are even calling LeFevour a dark horse candidate for the Heisman trophy this season.

2. Eugene Jarvis - Kent St. RB - Jarvis is the leading returning rusher in the nation. The Golden Flashes run the ball more than anyone else in the nation. That just means Jarvis will have ample opportunities to add onto his total this season.

3. Nate Davis - Ball St. QB - LeFevour might get all of the attention at CMU, but Nate Davis is probably the next great MAC QB to make it in the NFL. This guy is big and he has a big time arm.

4. Bryan Anderson - Central Michigan WR - When LeFevour doesn't run the ball, he often throws it to this guy. Anderson really had a breakout season last year. Anderson is helped out greatly by a tremendous Chippewa running game.

5. Dante Love - Ball St. WR - Love might actually end up with a better statistical season than Anderson at Central Michigan. That's because the Cardinals throw the ball early and often under Brady Hoke.

6. Larry English - Northern Illinois DL - The Huskies have fallen on tough time as of late. New HC Jerry Kill is hoping to infuse this team with some energy. One player he doesn't have to worry about is Larry English. English has a constant motor and is always making plays in the opponent's backfield.

7. Clayton Mullins - Miami(OH) LB - Mullins is an All-MAC LB at Miami. He leads a very stout Red Hawk defense that will need to carry the offense this season.

8. Darius Hill - Ball ST. TE - When QB Nate Davis isn't looking for Dante Love, his next option is usually Darius Hill. Hill is a big time target that has an NFL future.

9. Jamarko Simmons - Western Michigan WR - I remember watching Simmons shred the Florida St. defense 2 year ago. The Seminoles will be relieved to know that he does that to everybody.

10. Justin Anderson - Northern Illinois RB - Anderson is the latest in a long line of talented Husky RB's. Jerry Kill will look to use him more often than last season.

The rest:

11. Daniel Holtzclaw Eastern Michigan LB

12. Londen Fryar Western Michigan DB

13. Dave DiFranco Miami(OH) OL

14. Jeff Niedermier Buffalo OL

15. Barry Church Toledo DB

16. Robert Brewster Ball St. OL

17. John Haneline Bowling Green LB

18. Alex Derenthal Temple OL

19. Andre Neblett Temple DL

20. Davonte Shannon Buffalo DB

21. Almondo Sewell Akron DL

22. Andre Jones Akron WR

23. Ontario Sneed Central Michigan RB

24. Chris Miller Ball St. P

25. Jacob Richardson Miami(OH) P