Here are some quick hitters...
-Report in the Monroe, LA paper discusses Grambling HC Rod Broadway's interview with Duke from his players' perspective.
-Frank Dascenzo's column in the Herald-Sun gives some nice personal perspective on how bad Duke's football hires have been in the past 30+ years.
-An absolutely ridiculous guest column in the Herald-Sun saying that Duke should model its football program after USC, and that we should make a big offer and try to lure Pete Carroll.
Sure thing, we can do that AFTER we win our own 11 National Titles and 7 Heismans. I can't even believe that a self-respecting newspaper would run this, mainly due to the ridiculous assertion that we should (or even could) go after Carroll.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Grobe Going to the Hogs
Huge hire out of the ACC today, as Wake Forest HC Jim Grobe is headed to Arkansas. The Razorbacks had targeted Grobe and Clemson HC Tommy Bowden as their top two choices, with the first offer going to Bowden. He turned down the Hogs (extracting a raise from Clemson in the process), leaving Arkansas with Grobe as Plan B.
Of course, as his track record at Wake suggests, Grobe would be about any other school's Plan A. The entire college football world knows about his incredible job last season taking Wake to an ACC title and winning numerous coaching awards in the process, but Grobe has long been respected as an excellent coach that knows how to win.
Of course, this hire means that there is yet another ACC opening available that is more attractive than Duke's. I don't know if Wake would promote someone from within (Duke fans are certainly hoping so), but it's very conceivable that there would be overlap between the type of candidates that both Duke and Wake are looking for. This move certainly will make the coaching rumor mill churn in the coming days and weeks...
Of course, as his track record at Wake suggests, Grobe would be about any other school's Plan A. The entire college football world knows about his incredible job last season taking Wake to an ACC title and winning numerous coaching awards in the process, but Grobe has long been respected as an excellent coach that knows how to win.
Of course, this hire means that there is yet another ACC opening available that is more attractive than Duke's. I don't know if Wake would promote someone from within (Duke fans are certainly hoping so), but it's very conceivable that there would be overlap between the type of candidates that both Duke and Wake are looking for. This move certainly will make the coaching rumor mill churn in the coming days and weeks...
Early Rumblings - Johnson to Tech
Although theres been nothing as of this time that I've seen official or reported, a sports radio station in Atlanta is apparently reporting that Navy HC Paul Johnson has accepted Georgia Tech's offer and will soon become their next head coach.
If this is true, it can't come as a shock to Duke fans. The Georgia Tech job is lightyears ahead of Duke in terms of pre-existing resources and talent. The job would give Johnson a much easier, quicker chance to win and challenge for a league title than Duke would. If the money is anywhere close to what Duke is offering, then there's little doubt why Johnson would choose GT over Duke.
UPDATE (10:35 p.m.) - Nothing official yet as of this hour...lets hope that Joe Alleva is driving up to Annapolis right now in a Brinks truck.
If this is true, it can't come as a shock to Duke fans. The Georgia Tech job is lightyears ahead of Duke in terms of pre-existing resources and talent. The job would give Johnson a much easier, quicker chance to win and challenge for a league title than Duke would. If the money is anywhere close to what Duke is offering, then there's little doubt why Johnson would choose GT over Duke.
UPDATE (10:35 p.m.) - Nothing official yet as of this hour...lets hope that Joe Alleva is driving up to Annapolis right now in a Brinks truck.
Johnson to Interview with Georgia Tech Today
Respected college football writer Tony Barnhart of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting on his blog that Navy HC Paul Johnson is meeting with Georgia Tech AD Dan Radakovich in Atlanta.
Barnhart does add though, that he's unsure if Johnson would take the job if offered, citing the "red carpet" treatment that SMU has given him. There is no mention of Duke's involvement with Johnson in this article, making me think that it's imperative for Duke to step up their pursuit of the Navy coach to ensure they remain on his radar screen.
UPDATE (1:55) - Bill Wagner in Annapolis thinks that the possibility of Johnson signing with the Yellow Jackets by the end of the day is real, judging that second interviews usually result in job offers and his gut feeling is that Johnson would accept such an offer. We'll keep watching the wires and post as soon as we hear anything.
Barnhart does add though, that he's unsure if Johnson would take the job if offered, citing the "red carpet" treatment that SMU has given him. There is no mention of Duke's involvement with Johnson in this article, making me think that it's imperative for Duke to step up their pursuit of the Navy coach to ensure they remain on his radar screen.
UPDATE (1:55) - Bill Wagner in Annapolis thinks that the possibility of Johnson signing with the Yellow Jackets by the end of the day is real, judging that second interviews usually result in job offers and his gut feeling is that Johnson would accept such an offer. We'll keep watching the wires and post as soon as we hear anything.
New News in The Chronicle
Two articles in this morning's Chronicle have some new stuff that's really of interest...
1) Joe Alleva wasn't the only person to go talk with Navy HC Paul Johnson on Monday. President Richard Brodhead and another top school executive also hopped on a chartered private jet to the Washington area to meet with the Navy coach. If Duke is sending bigwigs to visit Johnson at home (compared to just bringing in Broadway to Duke), I think we can see where their priorities are at this point and who is at the top of their list.
2) We've confirmed that Duke has hired renowned football headhunter Chuck Neinas to help them in their search. Neinas is a former Big Eight commissioner that has schools identify and hire coaches like Mack Brown, Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer, so the guy has an excellent track record. He also doesn't come cheap—his standard fee is $35-40,000.
1) Joe Alleva wasn't the only person to go talk with Navy HC Paul Johnson on Monday. President Richard Brodhead and another top school executive also hopped on a chartered private jet to the Washington area to meet with the Navy coach. If Duke is sending bigwigs to visit Johnson at home (compared to just bringing in Broadway to Duke), I think we can see where their priorities are at this point and who is at the top of their list.
2) We've confirmed that Duke has hired renowned football headhunter Chuck Neinas to help them in their search. Neinas is a former Big Eight commissioner that has schools identify and hire coaches like Mack Brown, Bob Stoops and Urban Meyer, so the guy has an excellent track record. He also doesn't come cheap—his standard fee is $35-40,000.
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