QUESTION OF THE WEEK

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JANUARY 24, 2010

 

QUESTION – Pick a few items that are currently in your garage and tell me what/who they signify in the world of CFB (past or present). For example, my weed whip reminds me of Tommy Bowden.  It is skinny, never works consistently well, and I think about replacing it every year. 

 

 

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JANUARY 17, 2010

 

QUESTION – Let’s play ‘what were they thinking?’ in regards to the USC/Tennessee coaching situations by giving a brief explanation of what each of the following parties was thinking during a wild series of coaching changes:

 

a) Pete Carroll, former USC coach

b) Mike Garret, USC AD

c) Lane Kiffin, newly named USC coach

d) Mike Hamilton, UT AD

e) Derek Dooley, newly named UT coach

f) USC fans

g) UT fans

h) Phil Fulmer, former UT coach

 

 

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carroll - i sense that the decision to leave had more to do with usc than with either carroll or seattle. troy is headed for a downturn and carroll wanted out.

 

garrett - i'm not sure garrett thinks much at all, but in this case he probably that he could get any coach he called. it was nice to see that that wasn't the case.

 

kiffin - kiffin is a salesman, not a coach. his salesmanship will only take him so far, but it'll take him farther in la than in knoxville and he knew it.

 

hamilton - i bet hamilton had mixed feelings. kiffin's mouth (and ncaa violations) had to be a nightmare for hamilton. but, a stagnant ut fan base was clearly energized by kiffin's hiring. in the end i bet hamilton was devastated by how kiffin left, but not that he left.

 

dooley - this is one of the jobs dooley's dreamed of, a head coaching position at a tradition-rich sec school. he may not have deserved it (but then, neither did kiffin) but he had not intention of turing it down.

 

usc fans - kiffin will recruit well and he'll hire a good staff, but he's not pete carroll. the drop-off could be small or big. but there will be a drop off - and usc fans know it.

 

ut fans - vols' fans are pissed and rightfully so. some because kiffin left, but more because they fell for the salespitch and they're embarrassed.

 

fulmer - fulmer was probably pleased that kiffin turned out not to be the hero vols' fans thought, but also thankful that kiffin helped preserve his legacy, especially his loyalty.

 

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1.  pc:  most think he left because of the looming sanctions.  i bet not.  i bet pc was bored and saw the rest of the league catching up to him.  he protected his legacy at usc...which purely from a w/l perspective is sterling.
 
2.  mike garretti bet he did not break a sweat.  garrett is arrogant and not really that intelligent.  he wanted two things;  a usc guy and a big name.  he went down the list until he got a yes.

 
3.  kiffinthis decision took him as long as it would take to order a whopper.  tennessee or uscit was a no-brainer and kiffin rightfully took advantage of a once in a lifetime chance.
 
4.  mike hamilton:  how can i put lipstick on this pig?  damage control and staying positive were his two thoughts.  neither was easy to sell.

 
5.  derek dooley:  scared shitless, but could not pass it up.  dooley is a deer in headlights, but really had no choice.
 
6.  usc fans:  nervous excitement.  kiffin and ogre could bring in better talent than pete carrollthey just need to do it ethically.

 
7.  ut fans:  self-medication and reading up on the rules of basketball.  ut fans are the biggest losers and they cannot hide from it.  two weeks ago they had a chance at the sec east.  now they are staring down the barrel of an uncertain and potentially slippery future.

 
8.  phil fulmer:  this is a good question.  does lloyd carr quietly enjoy rr's failures?  can john cooper fully embrace jim tressell's success.  i'd guess successful coaches who were nudged out have some pride and ensuing resentment.  i'd bet fulmer enjoys this more than it upsets him.  i know he loves tennessee, but this makes tennessee love him more.