According to Tennessee AD Mike Hamilton, Vols OC David Cutcliffe has not been contacted by any schools in regards to a head coaching vacancy. Cutcliffe, who coached Eli Manning and Deuce McAllister during his six full seasons at Ole Miss (44-29 record), had been mentioned by some as candidate for the job.
There are some concerns, however about Cutcliffe's health—he left an assistant job at Notre Dame in 2005 and spent a year out of coaching after undergoing a triple bypass in 2005. Ironically, his leave of absence at Notre Dame provided a job opportunity for Duke OC Peter Vaas, who filled Cutcliffe's former position as the Fighting Irish's QBs Coach.
UPDATE (12/4): Cutcliffe told the N&O that he wants to get back into head coaching and that he'd be receptive to such an offer.
Monday, December 3, 2007
10 Reasons why Johnson Could be Tempted by Duke
David Ausiello at Navy fansite GoMids.com has an excellent article up that details at length 10 Reasons Why Paul Johnson Might be Tempted by Duke and its opening. It's an interesting evaluation from an outside fan perspective about the Duke opening and what makes it attractive, and it's absolutely worth a read.
Hatcher now a GTech Target
Georgia Southern HC Chris Hatcher has interviewed in Atlanta for the opening at Georgia Tech, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Hatcher, who runs Division 1-AA's most prolific (326 ypg) rushing offense, is the type of offensive-minded coach that Joe Alleva is looking for, but his lack of D-1 experience might be a negative.
I personally spoke with Hatcher last week for The Chronicle, and he told me that no one from Duke had contacted him about the opening. With interest heating up, it might be a good idea for Alleva to at least inquire about Hatcher's services.
Hatcher, who runs Division 1-AA's most prolific (326 ypg) rushing offense, is the type of offensive-minded coach that Joe Alleva is looking for, but his lack of D-1 experience might be a negative.
I personally spoke with Hatcher last week for The Chronicle, and he told me that no one from Duke had contacted him about the opening. With interest heating up, it might be a good idea for Alleva to at least inquire about Hatcher's services.
David Glenn Update on Johnson, Broadway
David Glenn shared some new news on his blog, confirming that Georgia Tech is now in the hunt for Navy HC Paul Johnson, along with Duke and SMU. The entry says that meetings between Johnson and officials from each of the schools are forthcoming.
Also, Glenn added that former NCCU HC and current Grambling HC Rod Broadway will speak with Duke officials this week about the vacancy.
Last week, however, a source close to the Grambling football program told us that Broadway had no intentions of leaving his current job, so it remains to be seen if Broadway will develop into an actual candidate or not. At this point, he probably is on the school's secondary list, with guys like Paul Johnson, Steve Logan and Skip Holtz the primary targets.
Also, Glenn added that former NCCU HC and current Grambling HC Rod Broadway will speak with Duke officials this week about the vacancy.
Last week, however, a source close to the Grambling football program told us that Broadway had no intentions of leaving his current job, so it remains to be seen if Broadway will develop into an actual candidate or not. At this point, he probably is on the school's secondary list, with guys like Paul Johnson, Steve Logan and Skip Holtz the primary targets.
Karl Dorrell out at UCLA
Sources tell the San Francisco Chronicle that Karl Dorrell will be fired from the HC job at UCLA. Although their list of candidates (Texas Tech HC Mike Leach, Steve Mariucci) doesn't seem to have much overlap with Duke's, there could be some impact on Duke's search if their list expands.
No One's Spoken Yet to Johnson
According to this report in the Dallas Morning News, no school has yet contacted Navy to seek permission to speak with current Middies HC Paul Johnson.
Johnson's Atlanta-based agent, Jack Reale, declined comment on the situation, but the report also indicates that the coach met with Reale Sunday in Atlanta to discuss his options.
If this is the case, it's an interesting development, considering that some reports have indicated that SMU has had a 1.2-1.5 mil contract offer on the table for weeks.
Johnson's Atlanta-based agent, Jack Reale, declined comment on the situation, but the report also indicates that the coach met with Reale Sunday in Atlanta to discuss his options.
If this is the case, it's an interesting development, considering that some reports have indicated that SMU has had a 1.2-1.5 mil contract offer on the table for weeks.
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.
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.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Speaking with Spike Yoh
Our friends over at the Duke Blue Zone spent some time on the phone recently with notable Duke football booster Spike Yoh, the namesake of the University's Yoh Football Center. Although he didn't provide any specifics about who he wanted to hire, he did have some interesting things to say about the state of the program and the decision to fire Ted Roof.
With Army out of the way, Johnson to make the Rounds
Another excellent report in the Annapolis Capital reveals that Navy HC Paul Johnson is headed to Atlanta to consult with agent Tony Reale about potential job openings. Johnson didn't reveal much about his intentions in his post-game press conference after the Middies' win over Army, but he didn't close the door either about the possibility of changing addresses:
"I can only say this: not one thing I have seen or read has been true. I have not taken another job. There is not going to be an announcement tomorrow. They've been shipping me out for six years and I'm still here," Johnson said. "That being said, as any other human being would, if someone calls and asks to talk to me about another job, I may listen. But it would take a special deal for me to leave."
Let's hope that he doesn't take a side trip to visit the Georgia Tech campus while in town. Although Duke would likely be able to beat out SMU for Johnson's services, I'm not sure that the the Duke opening is more attractive than the chance to jump to a more established program like Tech.
"I can only say this: not one thing I have seen or read has been true. I have not taken another job. There is not going to be an announcement tomorrow. They've been shipping me out for six years and I'm still here," Johnson said. "That being said, as any other human being would, if someone calls and asks to talk to me about another job, I may listen. But it would take a special deal for me to leave."
Let's hope that he doesn't take a side trip to visit the Georgia Tech campus while in town. Although Duke would likely be able to beat out SMU for Johnson's services, I'm not sure that the the Duke opening is more attractive than the chance to jump to a more established program like Tech.
GT possibly looking at Johnson with Edsall out
A few posts ago I said that Randy Edsall was the top candidate for the Georgia Tech job. Unfortunately for the Jackets (and perhaps Duke fans), UCONN's HC doesn't want the job.
This could impact Duke because the Jackets could now focus their attention on Paul Johnson as their top candidate. Johnson has significant ties to the state—he won 2 D-1AA titles with Georgia Southern before heading to Navy—so additional interest in Johnson could whip up a bidding war.
This could impact Duke because the Jackets could now focus their attention on Paul Johnson as their top candidate. Johnson has significant ties to the state—he won 2 D-1AA titles with Georgia Southern before heading to Navy—so additional interest in Johnson could whip up a bidding war.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Weekend Updates from The Chronicle
The Chronicle's sports blog has two recent additions with updates on the coaching search.
This entry discusses Paul Johnson's potential as a candidate, confirming the $2mil figure as a price point for the Navy HC, as well as providing some updates on Terry Bowden, former Alabama HC Mike Shula and recently-fired Southern Miss HC Jeff Bower.
This entry has South Carolina's AD Eric Hyman confirming that Spurrier was only passing through Durham on recruiting business and is not a candidate for the Duke job.
This entry discusses Paul Johnson's potential as a candidate, confirming the $2mil figure as a price point for the Navy HC, as well as providing some updates on Terry Bowden, former Alabama HC Mike Shula and recently-fired Southern Miss HC Jeff Bower.
This entry has South Carolina's AD Eric Hyman confirming that Spurrier was only passing through Durham on recruiting business and is not a candidate for the Duke job.
Even With Nebraska out of the way, other competitors for Johnson
Bo Pelini's hiring at Nebraska takes one school off the list of Navy HC Paul Johnson's suitors, but there still is another school a once-proud football tradition looking for the current Midshipmen HC to lead them back to success.
SMU has expressed a significant interest in Johnson for their vacancy, created when Phil Bennett was fired after going 1-11 this season.
Although Duke might have fallen on hard times since the end of the 80s, perhaps no school has fallen further from glory than SMU. The Mustangs went from finishing as the Nation's only undefeated team in 1982, led by the "Pony Express" backfield tandem of Eric Dickerson and current TV analyst Craig James, to receiving the NCAA "Death Penalty" when the school's football team was banned from competing in 1987. The school's program has been stuck in neutral ever since, falling to C-USA when the Southwest Conference folded in 1995 and finishing only one season with a winning record since the penalty was imposed.
So in that context, is SMU's job any better than Duke's? Probably not. Although they have a new stadium and are located in the midst of the deepest recruiting region in the country, A move to Dallas would almost certainly be a step back for Johnson. And if, according to the report, SMU is pricing Johnson's services in the $1.2-1.5 mil range, money probably won't make up for the Mustangs' deficiencies, particularly if Duke is reportedly offering $2 mil.
Georgia Tech's opening has also been linked to Johnson, but recent reports seem to mention UCONN HC Randy Edsall as the Jackets' top choice for the job.
SMU has expressed a significant interest in Johnson for their vacancy, created when Phil Bennett was fired after going 1-11 this season.
Although Duke might have fallen on hard times since the end of the 80s, perhaps no school has fallen further from glory than SMU. The Mustangs went from finishing as the Nation's only undefeated team in 1982, led by the "Pony Express" backfield tandem of Eric Dickerson and current TV analyst Craig James, to receiving the NCAA "Death Penalty" when the school's football team was banned from competing in 1987. The school's program has been stuck in neutral ever since, falling to C-USA when the Southwest Conference folded in 1995 and finishing only one season with a winning record since the penalty was imposed.
So in that context, is SMU's job any better than Duke's? Probably not. Although they have a new stadium and are located in the midst of the deepest recruiting region in the country, A move to Dallas would almost certainly be a step back for Johnson. And if, according to the report, SMU is pricing Johnson's services in the $1.2-1.5 mil range, money probably won't make up for the Mustangs' deficiencies, particularly if Duke is reportedly offering $2 mil.
Georgia Tech's opening has also been linked to Johnson, but recent reports seem to mention UCONN HC Randy Edsall as the Jackets' top choice for the job.
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