September 2, 2008

Coaches Hot Seat releases Week 1 Hot Seat List

The first week of college football games are in the books and the results are looking pretty for some coaches, according to the latest Coaches Hot Seat List.

The most recent update finds Clemson coach Tommy Bowden vaulting to the top of the Hot Seat Rankings, on the strength (or lack thereof) of his team's performance against Alabama. While I'm not sure that TB is wearing the hottest pants in the nation, Joe goes on to explain the ranking in his blog:

Anything less than 8 wins by Tommy Bowden in 2008, and the Tommy Bowden era is OVER at Clemson. Tommy Bowden is not only coaching for his job, but if he does not get to 8 wins in 2008, Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips will find himself out of a job as well. Let’s just be very clear about the Alabama game: Alabama came out and smashed Clemson in the mouth, and the Clemson players QUIT on Tommy Bowden. This is not the first time the Clemson players have QUIT on Tommy Bowden, and it will not be the last. Bowden entered the game against Alabama with four times the talent and four times the experience of the Tide, and the Tigers got their ass handed to them. For some reason, Tommy Bowden believes that he can continue to put mediocre and underperforming teams onto the field at Clemson and keep his job, but make no doubt about it, Tommy Bowden is now fighting for his coaching career.

Again, I don't know if I would go *that far*, but... then again, if Bowden doesn't post eight wins, then... yeah, he's going out on a rail. All we've heard this season is that this squad is the most talented in epic annals of Tiger football history. If Bowden can't win eight games, then bye-bye. I get that. I'm just not sure that it qualifies him as the #1 target of the college coaching axe.

The rest of the Coaches Hot Seat top ten:

2. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M
3. Ty Willingham, Washington
4. Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh
5. Greg Robinson, Syracuse
6. Chuck Long, San Diego State
7. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville
8. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee
9. Al Groh, Virginia
10. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa

Again, I'm not 100% sure I agree with the list. For example, I think Joe Glenn's days at Wyoming are numbered despite the Cowboys win over Ohio.

Whereas I do not believe that Fulmer can do anything at all to lose his job this year, even if the Vols lose another four or five games this season. Fulmer is - in my opinion - safe this season, as evidenced by his recent contract extension.

I'm still not convinced that Steve Kragthorpe has anything to worry about at Lousiville, either. Yes... his team had more turnovers than points, but the UofL AD made a pretty strong case that Kragthorpe was left a mostly bare cupboard of rotting and/or expired goods. While Petrino contends otherwise, at least Kragthorpe has his AD -- who himself is safe by virtue of the rest of the school's athletics and revenues - in his corner. Kragthorpe rebuilt Tulsa from nothing to three bowls in a state where Golden Hurricane football is *at least* third fiddle, so if there was ever a guy you would want to inherit a bare cupboard....

Meanwhile... way down at #29... is our friend Cheeseburger Charlie Weis. Seriously?! #29?! Dude? Dude. Dude!

Finally, I think the Tim Brewster experiment might be on its last refrains, especially after the attention given to the academic failings of his recruits and the prospect of filling a new stadium in 2009. After all, what's going to fill the seats - a .500 team with Brewster or a hot new coach? It's a rhetorical question, but you're free to answer as you will.

Check out the Coaches Hot Seat for the full rundown.

Comments:

Coaches Hot Seat releases Week 1 Hot Seat List
The first week of college football games are in the books and the results are looking pretty for some coaches, according to the latest Coaches Hot Seat List. The most recent update finds Clemson coach Tommy Bowden vaulting to the top of the Hot Seat Rankings, on the strength (or lack thereof) of his team's performance against Alabama. While I'm not sure that TB is wearing the hottest pants in the nation, Joe goes on to explain the ranking in his blog:
Anything less than 8 wins by Tommy Bowden in 2008, and the Tommy Bowden era is OVER at Clemson. Tommy Bowden is not only coaching for his job, but if he does not get to 8 wins in 2008, Clemson AD Terry Don Phillips will find himself out of a job as well. Let’s just be very clear about the Alabama game: Alabama came out and smashed Clemson in the mouth, and the Clemson players QUIT on Tommy Bowden. This is not the first time the Clemson players have QUIT on Tommy Bowden, and it will not be the last. Bowden entered the game against Alabama with four times the talent and four times the experience of the Tide, and the Tigers got their ass handed to them. For some reason, Tommy Bowden believes that he can continue to put mediocre and underperforming teams onto the field at Clemson and keep his job, but make no doubt about it, Tommy Bowden is now fighting for his coaching career.
Again, I don't know if I would go *that far*, but... then again, if Bowden doesn't post eight wins, then... yeah, he's going out on a rail. All we've heard this season is that this squad is the most talented in epic annals of Tiger football history. If Bowden can't win eight games, then bye-bye. I get that. I'm just not sure that it qualifies him as the #1 target of the college coaching axe. The rest of the Coaches Hot Seat top ten: 2. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M 3. Ty Willingham, Washington 4. Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh 5. Greg Robinson, Syracuse 6. Chuck Long, San Diego State 7. Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville 8. Phil Fulmer, Tennessee 9. Al Groh, Virginia 10. Kirk Ferentz, Iowa Again, I'm not 100% sure I agree with the list. For example, I think Joe Glenn's days at Wyoming are numbered despite the Cowboys win over Ohio. Whereas I do not believe that Fulmer can do anything at all to lose his job this year, even if the Vols lose another four or five games this season. Fulmer is - in my opinion - safe this season, as evidenced by his recent contract extension. I'm still not convinced that Steve Kragthorpe has anything to worry about at Lousiville, either. Yes... his team had more turnovers than points, but the UofL AD made a pretty strong case that Kragthorpe was left a mostly bare cupboard of rotting and/or expired goods. While Petrino contends otherwise, at least Kragthorpe has his AD -- who himself is safe by virtue of the rest of the school's athletics and revenues - in his corner. Kragthorpe rebuilt Tulsa from nothing to three bowls in a state where Golden Hurricane football is *at least* third fiddle, so if there was ever a guy you would want to inherit a bare cupboard.... Meanwhile... way down at #29... is our friend Cheeseburger Charlie Weis. Seriously?! #29?! Dude? Dude. Dude! Finally, I think the Tim Brewster experiment might be on its last refrains, especially after the attention given to the academic failings of his recruits and the prospect of filling a new stadium in 2009. After all, what's going to fill the seats - a .500 team with Brewster or a hot new coach? It's a rhetorical question, but you're free to answer as you will. Check out the Coaches Hot Seat for the full rundown.