I keep reading more and more that Jones has offers to take over Marshall or to reup with CMU, but is waiting on UC... Does Thomas go back to the same well and if so have they already had discussions?

At first I was opposed to even thinking about Kerry Combs as being the head coach. After I thought about it though like someone else said he would never leave just like Mick, and he is a great local recruiter with all his inside. There is also the big part of me that says no way he may not be ready to be a D1 BCS coach with the little experience he has with us. It's kind of interesting to think about though. I believe we can get a great top-notch possibly up-and-coming guy, I don't think that guy is Combs but we'll see. We'll be fine.

Looks like we can take Strong off any list.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4725530

Louisville is on the verge of hiring Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong as its next coach.

The school has called a meeting of the personnel committee of the Louisville Athletic Association Board of Directors for Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. ET, where it is expected that the board will be asked to approve the hiring of Strong, a source close to the search said Tuesday.

Strong interviewed with Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich on Sunday in Gainesville. He is expected to be introduced in Louisville on Wednesday.

Kerry Coombs isn't going to be the head coach in the long term. If I am the incoming coach I do every thing I can to keep him and tim hinton in the fold to help with continuity between staffs. I said before that Jones and Sumlin are plug and play coaches, I stand by that and I think those are the two best options.

(12-08-2009 06:35 PM)Mopper Wrote:  Kerry Coombs isn't going to be the head coach in the long term. If I am the incoming coach I do every thing I can to keep him and tim hinton in the fold to help with continuity between staffs. I said before that Jones and Sumlin are plug and play coaches, I stand by that and I think those are the two best options.

Kelly is probably going to want to take Coombs with him. I bet Coombs would want to stay here though. I don't know it will be interesting.

I am willing to bet that Mike Thomas has a contingency plan or list of about three to five names in the event that Kelly leaves. I think Butch Jones and Bud Foster should be on the list.

We are gonna be in the spotlight on Jan 1....what better place to showcase our new head coach? MT needs to get this done yesterday!

BK isn't gone yet.....so hopefully all this is moot....but IF it happens I'd like to see Butch Jones....

(12-08-2009 08:03 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  BK isn't gone yet.....so hopefully all this is moot....but IF it happens I'd like to see Butch Jones....

+1

(12-08-2009 07:49 PM)Billy_Bearcat Wrote:  We are gonna be in the spotlight on Jan 1....what better place to showcase our new head coach? MT needs to get this done yesterday!

If you think a coach who doesn't even know the names of his players or the system they've played under can prep them successfully for a game against Florida in 16 practices, you're dreaming. This isn't "Rocky", it's reality. We would likely get blown out. Best to let the current assistant handle all bowl prep and game coaching and allow the new HC to recruit behind the scenes.

(12-08-2009 07:38 PM)Sense and Sensibility Wrote:  I am willing to bet that Mike Thomas has a contingency plan or list of about three to five names in the event that Kelly leaves. I think Butch Jones and Bud Foster should be on the list.

The guy who follows BK will be up against it. A fan base that doesn't have deep roots, many of whom have jumped on the wagon in the past two years, and who think BCS games and undefeated seasons are the "norm". Jones intrigues me because in addition to his won-loss track record at CMU, his WVU background, and his solid recruiting performance at CMU............he's someone who has walked into the "how to follow BK" caldron and handled it beyond well. If you read the CMU message boards, many (if not most) comments on him seem to imply they like him "better" than BK (of course he hasn't left them yet).

In addition to running an extremely similiar to scheme (if you watched CM QB Dan LeFevere play this year....you could almost imagine Collaros having the same success), Jones is the only coach that could walk in, look the media, the fan base, and most importantly the players in the eyes, and say that he's not intimidated by the challenge of following BK. He can confidently say he's followed BK and improved a program after BK left.

(12-08-2009 08:26 PM)mbl95 Wrote:  

(12-08-2009 07:38 PM)Sense and Sensibility Wrote:  I am willing to bet that Mike Thomas has a contingency plan or list of about three to five names in the event that Kelly leaves. I think Butch Jones and Bud Foster should be on the list.

The guy who follows BK will be up against it. A fan base that doesn't have deep roots, many of whom have jumped on the wagon in the past two years, and who think BCS games and undefeated seasons are the "norm". Jones intrigues me because in addition to his won-loss track record at CMU, his WVU background, and his solid recruiting performance at CMU............he's someone who has walked into the "how to follow BK" caldron and handled it beyond well. If you read the CMU message boards, many (if not most) comments on him seem to imply they like him "better" than BK (of course he hasn't left them yet).

In addition to running an extremely similiar to scheme (if you watched CM QB Dan LeFevere play this year....you could almost imagine Collaros having the same success), Jones is the only coach that could walk in, look the media, the fan base, and most importantly the players in the eyes, and say that he's not intimidated by the challenge of following BK. He can confidently say he's followed BK and improved a program after BK left.

:ncaabbs:

I would be stunned if Combs left, Our families are friends and his wife works with my aunt. He has two years left until he gets his ohio retirement and I just see no way he leaves. I would be less shocked if Hinton left but still dont see any way he leaves either. I have heard rumblings there are other coaches who want to stay but I dont have names and that could just be rumors.

I am interested in the following guys if BK does leave...

Butch Jones
Kevin Sumlin
Kerry Combs (IMO he as all the tools, just needs the opportunity)
Jeff Quinn (most say he would leave too but what if offered the HC job?)
Kevin Wilson (Oklahoma OC, coached at Northwestern and Miami Oh from 90-98)

I would also put out feelers to Pat Hill, Bud Foster, and Tommy Tubberville.

(12-08-2009 08:26 PM)mbl95 Wrote:  

(12-08-2009 07:38 PM)Sense and Sensibility Wrote:  I am willing to bet that Mike Thomas has a contingency plan or list of about three to five names in the event that Kelly leaves. I think Butch Jones and Bud Foster should be on the list.

The guy who follows BK will be up against it. A fan base that doesn't have deep roots, many of whom have jumped on the wagon in the past two years, and who think BCS games and undefeated seasons are the "norm". Jones intrigues me because in addition to his won-loss track record at CMU, his WVU background, and his solid recruiting performance at CMU............he's someone who has walked into the "how to follow BK" caldron and handled it beyond well. If you read the CMU message boards, many (if not most) comments on him seem to imply they like him "better" than BK (of course he hasn't left them yet).

In addition to running an extremely similiar to scheme (if you watched CM QB Dan LeFevere play this year....you could almost imagine Collaros having the same success), Jones is the only coach that could walk in, look the media, the fan base, and most importantly the players in the eyes, and say that he's not intimidated by the challenge of following BK. He can confidently say he's followed BK and improved a program after BK left.

solid analysis.

Isn't molnars kid at st x. He may not want to leave.

I think Sumlin would be my #1 choice. Butch Jones also is interesting with the "following BK" analysis from earlier. I don't like Holtz cuz he would def be looking to "move up."

I would also think that if he doesn't go with BK, Coombs should be looked at as a DC with the new coach.

(12-08-2009 08:30 PM)bengaldave985 Wrote:  I would be stunned if Combs left, Our families are friends and his wife works with my aunt. He has two years left until he gets his ohio retirement and I just see no way he leaves. I would be less shocked if Hinton left but still dont see any way he leaves either. I have heard rumblings there are other coaches who want to stay but I dont have names and that could just be rumors.

I am interested in the following guys if BK does leave...

Butch Jones
Kevin Sumlin
Kerry Combs (IMO he as all the tools, just needs the opportunity)
Jeff Quinn (most say he would leave too but what if offered the HC job?)
Kevin Wilson (Oklahoma OC, coached at Northwestern and Miami Oh from 90-98)

I would also put out feelers to Pat Hill, Bud Foster, and Tommy Tubberville.

Marty Brennaman was on with Eddie and Tracy earlier and noted that he has a long friendship with Kerry Coombs and there is no way he's going to leave Cincinnati. Take that for what it's worth. On Tim Hinton, he was the lone holdover from the Dantonio regime and has a long history in Ohio, so while I think he's more likely than Kerry, I also wouldn't be surprised to see him remain with the Bearcats.

No thanks on Sumlin. Letting dreadful UTEP hang 60 on your team when you are ranked in the top 15? Lost 3 games to squads with less talent this season. Pass.

(12-08-2009 08:56 PM)NVExel Wrote:  

(12-08-2009 08:26 PM)mbl95 Wrote:  

(12-08-2009 07:38 PM)Sense and Sensibility Wrote:  I am willing to bet that Mike Thomas has a contingency plan or list of about three to five names in the event that Kelly leaves. I think Butch Jones and Bud Foster should be on the list.

The guy who follows BK will be up against it. A fan base that doesn't have deep roots, many of whom have jumped on the wagon in the past two years, and who think BCS games and undefeated seasons are the "norm". Jones intrigues me because in addition to his won-loss track record at CMU, his WVU background, and his solid recruiting performance at CMU............he's someone who has walked into the "how to follow BK" caldron and handled it beyond well. If you read the CMU message boards, many (if not most) comments on him seem to imply they like him "better" than BK (of course he hasn't left them yet).

In addition to running an extremely similiar to scheme (if you watched CM QB Dan LeFevere play this year....you could almost imagine Collaros having the same success), Jones is the only coach that could walk in, look the media, the fan base, and most importantly the players in the eyes, and say that he's not intimidated by the challenge of following BK. He can confidently say he's followed BK and improved a program after BK left.

solid analysis.

Agreed...I think Butch Jones is a great choice....may he use it as a stepping stone..who knows, but who knows about any of these guys...keep filling up Nippert, winning Big East titles and going to BCS games and Hell, he may stay for a while.

(12-08-2009 10:36 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  No thanks on Sumlin. Letting dreadful UTEP hang 60 on your team when you are ranked in the top 15? Lost 3 games to squads with less talent this season. Pass.

If you are going to eliminate coaches for a bad loss or two there will be no candidates left. Hell in 2007 Butch Jones and CMU got housed 44-14 against North Dakota State at home when the Bison were still in division II, last year they lost to Eastern Michigan 56-52, one of only two games the eagles won against DIA teams. inexplicable results are the nature of the beast in college football