COLLEGE COACHES ON THE HOT SEAT!
Twenty-four. That’s the number of college football head coaches in their first year on new jobs this fall. And while not all of those openings were filled by dismissals after last season, the point is clear: college coaching is a precarious business.
Indeed, these days, almost any coach could find himself on the proverbial “hot” seat. In some cases, displeased boosters and/or administrators can get the war drums beating after just one disappointing string of results. And though those developments are ongoing throughout the course of the campaign, many of those “in trouble” coaches can be identified at the start of the season, when they are acknowledged by most knowledgeable observers to be in imminent danger of losing their jobs.
Handicapping-wise, knowledge of such mentors “on the hot seat” can be important stuff. At THE GOLD SHEET EXTRA!!!, we’ve tracked countless situations in past years when teams have gone into free-falls once it became apparent that the head coach and staff weren’t going to be returning for the next season. On the other hand, there has been the occasional instance of teams rallying for their embattled coaches and rattling off a string of straight-up and pointspread wins.
With that in mind, we offer the following early college “hot seat” list. As always, we suggest staying on the alert for ongoing updates, and related pointspread developments, this fall in upcoming editions of TGS EXTRA!!!
Bill Doba, Washington State...Long-suffering Cougar fans got a taste of the good life during the last few years of Mike Price’s regime. But after a promising beginning in 2003, Doba (left) has failed to steer Wazzu to a bowl in three subsequent seasons, and the natives are getting restless. What has particularly galled the Palouse faithful is the inexplicable manner in which the Cougs have often failed; seven losses alone by 7 points or fewer the past two seasons, with Doba’s decision-making often being questioned. Indeed, there are rumors that the school might seek to entice Price to return after this season if Doba (who might be retained in his old d.c. role in that scenario) can’t get Wazzu to a bowl.
Al Groh, Virginia...After a lot of talk early in his Charlottesville tenure that the Cav program was ready for a major breakthrough, Groh’s regime has lost momentum the past few campaigns. And regional sources say Groh is on notice this fall from increasingly discouraged boosters and alums who know that Groh has had the advantage of a more-lenient admissions policy than those in place for predecessor George Welsh. A slew of returning starters and a favorable slate are pluses, but keep an eye on how the attack progresses under 2nd-year o.c. Mike Groh (Al's son), who struggled while learning on the job in ‘06 and might invite the sort of conundrum that got Bobby Bowden in a sticky spot with o.c. son Jeff (since relieved of duties) at Florida State a year ago.
Houston Nutt, Arkansas...It’s always “worry time” for coaches when a new AD shows up on the scene. And Frank Broyles’ departure from the Arkansas administration could have negative consequences for Nutt (right) unless the Hogs make a run at the SEC West crown this fall. After all, Nutt was given a stay of execution by Broyles a couple of years ago, partly due to the commitment of ballyhooed HS QB Mitch Mustain, who has since transferred to USC. Along with the departure of Mustain’s HS coach Gus Malzahn (who was Nutt’s o.c. in ‘06 but has since moved to Tulsa), and some embarrassing off-field revelations, the normal chain of events leading to a coach’s dismissal are already lining up in Fayetteville.
Greg Robinson, Syracuse...College football history is rife with examples of career assistants who have achieved success as coordinators but failed as head coaches. And after two years at the Carrier Dome, Robinson (left) has done nothing to dispel that notion, as the Orange’s slide from prominence has in fact accelerated since Paul Pasqualoni was moved out after the ‘04 campaign. With only five wins in two seasons, Robinson is best advised to get Syracuse back into bowl contention this fall.
Sylvester Croom, Mississippi State...Croom’s hiring in 2004 was met with universal applause (he’s the first African-American football HC in the SEC). But it’s time for “Sly” to produce after just 9 wins (and a mere 4 SEC triumphs) in three seasons. To this point, Croom has been able to avoid many of the usual slings and arrows while playing the “rebuilding” tune, but with a heavy dose of starters back from an ‘06 team that lost four games by three points, now is the time to make a move up the SEC West table.
Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh...Let’s just say this hiring hasn’t worked out quite as Pitt supporters envisioned. Indeed, they were dreaming of a Pete Carroll-like scenario when enlisting longtime NFL coach and assistant Wannstedt to replace Walt Harris (who left for an ill-fated spin at Stanford) after 2004. And hopes were high with QB Tyler Palko in the fold after a BCS berth in Harris’ final season. But the Wannstedt Panthers have yet to get above .500 or into a bowl, and have performed as unevenly as the mostly non-descript Chicago and Miami teams that Wannstedt coached in the NFL. And Wannstedt enters a potentially crucial 2007 having to replace the graduated Palko, the attack’s linchpin the past three seasons.
Other situations to watch: Mike Sanford, UNLV...Another career assistant looking overmatched as a head coach, Sanford’s Rebels have done nothing to put the brakes on the skid UNLV was in during the end of John Robinson’s regime, winning just 4 times (and never on the road) in Sanford’s first two seasons. Mike Stoops, Arizona...Stoops has been given ample time to rebuild the Arizona program. Results are now expected in year four, especially with Stoops importing o.c. Sonny Dykes from Texas Tech in hopes of reviving the Wildcat attack. Mark Mangino, Kansas...The thought among many Big XII sources is that the Jayhawk program might have peaked under Mangino, and any significant regression this fall could trigger the eject button. Ted Roof, Duke...They don’t expect to win in football at Duke, but they don’t expect to lose every game, either. Even Roof cannot survive another winless campaign in Durham. Randy Edsall, UConn...The further the Huskies get from the Dan Orlovsky days, the harder it has become to remember that Edsall was one of the game’s hot commodities just a few years ago.
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