Neuheisel a Possibility?

One name that came up in Georgia Tech's search was that of former Washington and Colorado HC Rick Neuheisel, and our friends over at The Blue Zone are suggesting that he might be a good fit for Duke, and that the University has contacted him on an informal basis already.

I don't know quite what to think about Neuheisel...he's a proven winner at the college level and a current NFL OC with the Baltimore Ravens (although under Brian Billick, I'm not sure he gets the opportunity to make too many decisions). Still, he's got plenty of red flags in terms of past NCAA rules violations, including his decision to participate in an NCAA Tournament betting pool that in part led to his 2003 dismissal from UW. Whether that particular infraction merited his firing is debatable, but the history could scare away Duke.

But in sum, the guy is a proven name who has a Pac-10 title to his name and an overall 61-35 record (which improves to 66-30 if you count the 5 wins his 1997 CU team won before being forced to forfeit all of their games due to an ineligible player). He has to merit significant consideration, and he might be the best available candidate if he is truly interested.

Willingham gets reprive, stays at UW

News out of Seattle is that Washington HC Tyrone Willingham will return as head coach for the Huskies, despite a 3-9 record this season and a 11-25 mark through three seasons at the helm.

This effectively eliminates Willingham, a Kinston native, as a candidate for Duke's opening. It's a shame too, because he would have been a groundbreaking hire for Duke in many respects. There have been concerns mentioned about his ability to recruit and that it was Willingham's fault that the cupboard was bare at ND when he left (leading to this year's debacle season). Still, I dissagree—Willingham's high-profile stint under Touchdown Jesus gave him some name cache that still should be able to impress recruits, and his experience at Stanford indicates that he can find good players under academic recruiting constraints.

All that said, he's probably a free agent after next year if UW doesn't make a bowl.

Tyrone Willingham a Possibility

With a 4-9 record this season, Washington HC Tyrone Willingham is under fire and may lose his job at UW. Willingham has a $3mil buyout, meaning that it would be virtually impossible for Duke to sign him away from the Huskies if he remains under contract. But if he is fired, Duke should be knocking at his door to try persuade him to take over the reigns of the football program.

I've long maintained that Willingham would be a great fit for Duke. He's had success at academic institutions like Stanford and Notre Dame, is from the area (he grew up in Kinston) and would also be Duke's first African-American head coach in any sport.

I'm sure that Joe Alleva is monitoring the goings-on in Seattle, and although I'm not sure that an available Willingham would trump a Paul Johnson hire, it would be wise to keep an eye on Willingham's situation over the next few days.