Thursday Recap

A lot happened in the college football world last night. The only thing that seemed to be missing was actual good football. Every game was marred by turnovers and miscues. I guess you can't really ask for too much more on the first night of the season.

Here are my thoughts on what transpired.


Everyone is talking about the LaGarrette Blount punch today. People are forgetting that an actual game transpired before than incident. I can't really blame them. The game was boring. Either Chip Kelly is in for a long season at Oregon, or Boise St.'s defense is pretty damn good. For someone who is supposedly an offensive genius, it seemed Kelly couldn't pull his head out of his ass long enough to call a decent play. Is this really the team that everyone was expecting to challenge USC for the PAC-10 crown? I'm ashamed the Ducks cracked my top 25 poll.

As for the Blount incident, my take is simple. The Boise St. douche deserved to be punched square in the jaw. You don't run up on someone who you just beat and pound on his shoulder pads. Even if you were to be dumb enough to do that, you don't compound your mistake by yapping at the guy. I don't blame Blount at all for hitting him in the mouth. I would've done the same. Where Blount went wrong is how he acted after he went all Kermit Washington. Blount tried to fight his own teammates and run into the stands a la Ron Artest. Both of those are no nos. I don't think the guy should be kicked off the team but he definitely deserves a strong suspension. Maybe even suspend him for the season. Oregon can't do any worse without him than they did last night.

Speaking of shit fests, what the hell was that pile of crap that ESPN aired before the Blount Brawl? NC State and South Carolina put on a snooze fest that would make Sylvester Croom jealous. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised with the Wolfpack's performance. They seem to forget to play football until around November. One thing I did learn from this game: Eric Norwood is even better than I thought. I think he might have moved up my positional rankings with that performance.

Not too much else happened Thursday. Utah didn't look overly impressive against in-state "rival" Utah St.

Ball St. looks like it misses Nate Davis and Brady Hoke a lot more than they miss Muncie. Stan Parrish still can't coach.

Iowa St. and Indiana are slightly better than I thought they would be. But not by much.

ESPN continues to exploit Lou Holtz's willingness to do whatever corny ass segment they ask him too. Mark May is still horrible...

I took a hurting in my weekly picks last night. I mean, I was awful......

Highlight of the night:

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.

Who's the next one out?

The coaching carousel has already begun thanks to the firing of Tommy Bowden from Clemson. The latest rumor has Lane and Monte Kiffin being brought in to right that crazy ship.

While I feel Bowden deserved to get the axe, there are still several other coaches out there that should soon find their way out the door. In fact, I'm gonna do a blog about that right now.

I know Pat Forde has already done something like this, but my shit is way cooler than his. Also, I know what I'm talking about. Most of the time.

Here are a few ass bags that I feel should be thrown from the coaching carousel in the near future.

1. Greg Robinson - Syracuse

Record at 'Cuse - 8-33

4th year

I will officially boycott life if Greg Robinson is the head coach at Syracuse next season. Frankly, I'm surprised he has made it this far. If there were to be any more mid-season firings, Robinson is the most likely candidate. Syracuse not only sucks on the field, but they are getting out recruited out of their own backyard by Penn St., Rutgers, Pittsburgh and even Bucknell. This travesty has gone too far. It's time for the Syracuse administration to fix their errors.

Possible replacement - Steve Addazio, Florida Tight Ends Coach

2. Brent Guy - Utah St.

Record with the Aggies - 7-34

4th year

I know that no one really cares about Utah St. Even in their own state they are hardly mentioned. A little bit of winning could change that. Unfortunately for Utah St., there will be no winning as long as Brent Guy is the head coach. I'm not exactly blaming Guy entirely. Really, it will take an amazing, ungodly coach to turn things around here. The Aggies might just hold on to Guy because they'll have some trouble finding someone willing to replace him.

Possible replacement - Bobby Hauck - Montana Head Coach

3. Tyrone Willingham - Washington

Record at U-Dub - 11-30

4th year

Unfortunately for coach Ty, it's pretty much inevitable that he's gone after this year. I wonder if things would have been different for him if that sorry ass excuse for a ref would not have made that ridiculous unsportsmanlike call on Jake Locker against BYU. Who knows. Knowing the Huskies' luck, BYU probably would have just won in overtime anyway.

Possible replacement - Gary Pinkel - Missouri Head Coach

4. Phillip Fulmer - Tennessee

Record with the Vols - 149-49
17th year

Don't let that record fool you. Fulmer is leading the Vols straight down the tubes. The call for Fulmer's job has never been louder in Knoxville. The man is strictly getting by on his past right now. The Vols actually find themselves in a similar situation to Clemson, they will be firing a coach that just received a contract extension before the season started. The growing off the field trouble doesn't help Phil either.

Possible replacement - David Cutcliffe - Duke Head Coach

5. Chuck Long - San Diego St.

Record at SDSU - 8-22

3rd year

The loss to Cal Poly put the final nail in Chuck Long's coaching career coffin. San Diego St. was once a very respectable non-BCS team. Now they are a laughing stock almost on par with Idaho. (Which is pretty bad.) I really don't see why a coach can't be successful at a school like San Diego St. There's great weather, women and a decent football tradition.

Possible replacement - David Bailiff - Rice Head Coach

6. Joe Glenn - Wyoming

Record at Wyoming - 28-38

6th year

I have no idea what's going on at Wyoming. All I know is that the Cowboys are severely falling behind the vastly improved Mountain West pack. Glenn is a coaching legend who just seems to have finally worn on his players, who are no longer responding to him. To make matters worse, it's been reported that Glenn is refusing to send his assistant coaches out on recruiting visits during bye weeks. Ouch.

Possible Replacement - Tyrone Willingham - Possible Former Washington Head Coach

7. Kirk Ferentz - Iowa

Record at Iowa - 65-50

10th year

The most overpaid coach in America might finally be shown the door after this season. I would almost expect Ferentz to be ousted if the Hawkeyes were to miss a bowl game once again. Man I'm actually glad Florida chose the Zooker over Ferentz. I cant believe this guy was even in the running for some NFL head coaching vacancies. As long as Ferentz is at Iowa, the Hawkeyes will never compete for another Big Eleven title.

Possible Replacement - Brian Kelly - Cincinnati Head Coach.

8. Dave Wannstedt - Pittsburgh

Record at Pitt - 20-20

4th year

We all know Wannstedt is one hell of a recruiter. Unfortunately for Pitt, he may be the worst game day coach in all of division 1 football. The upset win over South Florida quited some of Wannstedt's critics for the moment. I'm sure a loss to Navy this week will get them all riled up once again.

Possible replacement - Skip Holtz - East Carolina Head Coach

9. Bob Toledo - Tulane

Record in Nawlins - 6-12

2nd year

I usually like to give a coach 3 years before I consider him to be on the hot seat. I'm gonna have to waive that provision for Mr. Toledo. I thought this was a bad hire for the Pelicans and I complained about it from the very beginning. I think Tulane needs to go back to the days of a wide open offense and absolutely no defense. It seemed to work better than what they have now. I know Hurricane Katrina set this program back a bit, but with the right coach, they can get right back on track.

Possible replacement - Gary Crowton - LSU Quarterbacks Coach

10. Shane Montgomery - Miami(OH)

Record at the OTHER Miami - 16-26
4th year

Back in the day, the RedHawks used to be the team to beat in the MAC. You couldn't envision a MAC championship game or a Motor City Bowl without Miami(OH) there. Now, MAC opponents circle their date with Miami as a guaranteed victory. Some schools are even scheduling Miami for their homecoming game. I like Montgomery. He seems like a nice guy. But perhaps it's time for the program to look for a new direction. Miami used to be the 5th best team in the Big Eleven. Now they're probably only the 8th best team in that conference.

Possible replacement - Chuck Martin - Grand Valley St. Head Coach

Other possible future Burger King employees:

• Ralph Friedgen - Maryland
• Al Groh - Virginia
• Gene Chizik - Iowa St.
• Steve Kragthorpe - Louisville
• Tommy West - Memphis
• Mike Price - UTEP
• Rocky Long - New Mexico
• Ricky Bustle - UL-Lafayette
• Pat Hill - Fresno St.