Top 3 coaching candidates?

[CardSID]

Unlike most of you, I'm sure, I still can't put together a list of my top 3 coaching candidates. I am curious, though, to get an idea what everyone else is thinking. That being said, who are you top 3 coaching candidates? If you want to give a percentage of the possibility, that would be an interesting conversation piece as well. Let's hear them ....

 

[CJHorn15]

Saban

Tomlin

Briles

 

[UTK66]

Right now, I'll go with:

Saban

Briles

Strong

 

[theknighttrain]

Saban

Tomlin

Strong

 

[RealtorHorn]

Saban 50% chance

Harbaugh 5%

Meyer 20%

(The Field 25%)

 

[Darrell McPhaul]

Saban 60%

Briles 20%

Muschamp 15%

Unkonwn 5%

 

[TheContractor]

I like those #s McPhaul!

Saban

Briles

Strong

Harbaugh would be there but I don't think he is a candidate.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

Saban 30%

Shaw 20%

Strong 20%

The Field 30%

Would love to have either Harbaugh or Meyer, too!

 

[utparothed]

Saban 60%
Briles 20%

Muschamp 15%

Unkonwn 5%

I have a couple of questions for you....

Were Strong or Shaw ever considered as possibilities?

It sounds like we've already started talking to either Saban or his agent (unofficially, of course) and that there's some interest there...are these on-going talks and who's doing the talking on behalf of the university? If the talks are successful, when would they become "official" and, if he decides to come to UT, when would an offer be made? I can't see him making any kind of decision/announcement before January, especially if Bama makes it to the national championship game. Say Mack does as expected and announces his retirement late in the season or right after the season and Bama's in the MNC, will we have to wait until January to have any kind of formal talks and don't we run the risk of missing out on some of the other names on the list and losing recruits due to the uncertainty of who'll be coaching them?

After reading that back...I kind of sound like the little kid grilling John Candy in Uncle Buck. That's all the questions I have for now...I'll be back tomorrow with a few dozen more.

 

[chrisgb2000]

Saban

Briles

Shaw

 

[Lord Vader]

I feel like these are the homeruns:

Saban, Tomlin, Briles - We know each one can win and recruit. (Though if there is a blank check for assistants you better damn well recruit)

 

[bbdude]

I'd like the see Meyer's name thrown in the mix but doesn't look like it will happen. He's a lot younger than Saban and boy, THE GUY CAN COACH. Briles just doesn't seem like he would be interested in Texas. I'd snap him up in a heartbeat but he's a country boy ball coach and I think A&M is his ultimate destination in a few years when Sumlin moves on.

 

[LongviewLobo01]

1. Saban - might be the greatest college coach in history. You have to make him tell you no.

1a. Tomlin - if he's available I might list him above Saban because I think between his age and success at the NFL level he would be successful here for longer than the 5-7 years I would expect Saban to be. I'm listing him as 1a with the major caveat being whether or not he's truly an option. I'll have to see it to believe it. Coaches don't leave NFL jobs like Pittsburgh for anywhere else historically, much less leaving that job for a college one.

2. Urban Meyer - He's not far behind Saban in regards to being the best coach in college and there were a lot of rumors about him being interested a few years back. The fact that he's at tOSU and he's from the area makes it seem pretty unlikely to me, but you have to make him say no also. All he has done is win everywhere he's been. He's the only coach beside Saban to win two BCS titles and hasn't lost a freaking game since taking over in Columbus a year ago. His offense would be an absolute HR here and he's already shown the ability to recruit the state well.

3. Gruden - I know there are a lot of people who don't like him because he hasn't coached in a number of years, but I don't view that as a drawback. I think the fact that he's been in the booth and working so closely with various people around football has made him an even better coach and has probably made him a much more mainstream name. I guarantee you the name recognition of Gruden would be as high as anyone else that we could hire. Oh and he's a D-A-M-N good football coach in his own right. He might be the best pure coach of anyone we could even be considering.

 

[TheContractor]

I'd like the see Meyer's name thrown in the mix but doesn't look like it will happen. He's a lot younger than Saban and boy, THE GUY CAN COACH. Briles just doesn't seem like he would be interested in Texas. I'd snap him up in a heartbeat but he's a country boy ball coach and I think A&M is his ultimate destination in a few years when Sumlin moves on.

I feel Sumlin is gone in 3months, either USC/NFL. Briles to Angie's makes a lot of sense. I love Art as a coach. Aggies will continue to do well.

 

[CardSID]

1. Saban - might be the greatest college coach in history. You have to make him tell you no.
1a. Tomlin - if he's available I might list him above Saban because I think between his age and success at the NFL level he would be successful here for longer than the 5-7 years I would expect Saban to be. I'm listing him as 1a with the major caveat being whether or not he's truly an option. I'll have to see it to believe it. Coaches don't leave NFL jobs like Pittsburgh for anywhere else historically, much less leaving that job for a college one.

2. Urban Meyer - He's not far behind Saban in regards to being the best coach in college and there were a lot of rumors about him being interested a few years back. The fact that he's at tOSU and he's from the area makes it seem pretty unlikely to me, but you have to make him say no also. All he has done is win everywhere he's been. He's the only coach beside Saban to win two BCS titles and hasn't lost a freaking game since taking over in Columbus a year ago. His offense would be an absolute HR here and he's already shown the ability to recruit the state well.

3. Gruden - I know there are a lot of people who don't like him because he hasn't coached in a number of years, but I don't view that as a drawback. I think the fact that he's been in the booth and working so closely with various people around football has made him an even better coach and has probably made him a much more mainstream name. I guarantee you the name recognition of Gruden would be as high as anyone else that we could hire. Oh and he's a D-A-M-N good football coach in his own right. He might be the best pure coach of anyone we could even be considering.

Good analysis.

 

[Darrell McPhaul]

I have a couple of questions for you....Were Strong or Shaw ever considered as possibilities?

It sounds like we've already started talking to either Saban or his agent (unofficially, of course) and that there's some interest there...are these on-going talks and who's doing the talking on behalf of the university? If the talks are successful, when would they become "official" and, if he decides to come to UT, when would an offer be made? I can't see him making any kind of decision/announcement before January, especially if Bama makes it to the national championship game. Say Mack does as expected and announces his retirement late in the season or right after the season and Bama's in the MNC, will we have to wait until January to have any kind of formal talks and don't we run the risk of missing out on some of the other names on the list and losing recruits due to the uncertainty of who'll be coaching them?

After reading that back...I kind of sound like the little kid grilling John Candy in Uncle Buck. That's all the questions I have for now...I'll be back tomorrow with a few dozen more.

We are all in on Saban. Shaw is happy at Stanford. Right now there is not much interest in Strong. No one can put any dates on any of this right now.

The scenario we need to watch out for is losing Briles to aggy if/when Sumlin bolts. aggy is trying like hell to wrap Briles up.

If the Saban deal falls through, Muschamp could be the front runner by default. That is why I think they are going to be other candidates we have not talked a lot about.

 

[LongviewLobo01]

I thought Chad Morris was going to be the guy for aggy when Sumlin leaves. I thought they HATED Briles.

Personally, I'd rather him go to aggy than stay at Baylor because at least we wouldn't have to face him then. And if we hit a HR with our hire it won't matter if he's there because we'd be on top of our game.

My question in regards to Briles is whether or not he'd be interested if we went after guys like Saban, Tomlin and others before looking his way. Would he turn us down for not making him a priority? I have a feeling that by the time we get to Briles he's not going to want the job.

No thanks on Muschamp.

 

[Lord Vader]

Meyer is a cool thing to think about, but hes got his own empire up there, and the rest of the teams will never be able to match his speed.

 

[UTK66]

I thought Chad Morris was going to be the guy for aggy when Sumlin leaves. I thought they HATED Briles.
Personally, I'd rather him go to aggy than stay at Baylor because at least we wouldn't have to face him then. And if we hit a HR with our hire it won't matter if he's there because we'd be on top of our game.

My question in regards to Briles is whether or not he'd be interested if we went after guys like Saban, Tomlin and others before looking his way. Would he turn us down for not making him a priority? I have a feeling that by the time we get to Briles he's not going to want the job.

No thanks on Muschamp.

Everything I've read concerning Briles is that he pretty much dislikes Texas quite a bit. Not sure if that is accurate or not but supposedly he isn't fond of us. Not sure if he'd have any interest in leaving Baylor for the Shitsville Sheep Humpers either. This is the first time I've really seen his name tied to shitsville in any way.

Muschamp is losing some luster on his name, no doubt.