So, I always enjoy this portion of the college season. It's a nice change up from realignment talk and moving up to FBS. I get to speculate on coaching hires and fires. In my opinion, Georgia made a huge mistake. LSU made a wise decision. And the rest, well, that's still to be determined.

I think Va. Tech made a good move in hiring Justin Fuente and keeping Bud Foster as DC. If I were UVa or Miami (sorry, it's my ACC bias coming out), I'd be going after Richt now. Of the open seats below (listed in a somewhat order of prestige), I wonder who will fill those seats.

NEEDS NEW COACH:
USC
Georgia
Miami
South Carolina
Virginia Tech- Justin Fuente (& keeping Bud Foster)
Missouri
Syracuse
Maryland
Virginia
Illinois
Rutgers
UCF
Memphis
Toledo
Tulane
North Texas
LA Monroe

It also makes me really wish Liberty were already in FBS.

I'd hire Mark Richt in a heartbeat. Unrealistic expectations doomed him and almost doomed Les Miles as well. Miami and Richt would be a great match.

Liberty and Richt would be a great fit, minus he'll probably make 2-3 million a year at his new gig, plus we already have a coach. Richt has contacts in the south that would allow him to get in front of almost any recruit.

(11-30-2015 07:00 AM)GE and MTS Wrote:  I'd hire Mark Richt in a heartbeat. Unrealistic expectations doomed him and almost doomed Les Miles as well. Miami and Richt would be a great match.

GEandMTS, as a big time LU and U of Miami fan, that is an exciting thought. I was living in Boca Raton, FL when Richt went to U of M. When the U was known as QB U for a time, Richt was one of the lesser known and succesful QBs. He has done a great job as HC at GA. If Gill was out, I would love to have Richt. As Gill is in, and there is an opening at Miami, let's go with Richt.

COACHING CHANGES:
Listed from highest profile program to lowest (in my opinion)...

USC - Clay Helton (OC @ USC)
Georgia - Kirby Smart (from Alabama)
Miami - Mark Richt (from Georgia)
South Carolina - Will Muschamp (from Auburn)
Virginia Tech- Justin Fuente (from Memphis)
Missouri - Barry Odom (DC @ Mizzou)
Syracuse - Dino Babers (from Bowling Green)
Maryland - D.J. Durkin (from Michigan)
Virginia - Bronco Mendenhall (from BYU)
Minnesota - Tracy Claeys (DC @ MN)
Illinois - Bill Cubit (OC @ IL)
Iowa State - Matt Campbell (from Toledo)
Rutgers - Chris Ash (from Ohio St.)
BYU - Kalani Sitake (DC @ Oregon St.)
UCF - Scott Frost (from Oregon)
Memphis - Mike Norvell (from Arizona St.)
ECU - Scottie Montgomery (from Duke)
Toledo - Jason Candle (OC @ Toledo)
Bowling Green - Mike Jinks (RB Coach @ Texas Tech)
Tulane - Willie Fritz (from Ga. Southern)
Hawaii - Nick Rolovich (from Nevada)
North Texas - Seth Littrell (from UNC)
Texas St. - Everett Withers (from JMU)
LA Monroe - Matt Viator (from McNeese St.)
Ball St. -
Ga. Southern - Tyson Summers (DC @ Colorado St.)

There is no program left that could entice Chip Kelly to come and coach them unless Texas A&M fires Sumlin, which I think is doubtful. But if that happened, then Sumlin is a good coach waiting for a good hire.

I bet Kelly ends up at TN.

I think Kelly either ends up with the Titans or with the Colts. On a related note, I hope that the Eagles hire Josh McDaniels.

Well, only one coaching vacancy left, and I hear Ball St. is going to hire an assistant coach from the New Orleans Saints.

What a kick in the head for JMU! I wonder where they will go for a hire now? I'd hire the Chuck South coach if I were JMU.

Larry Coker is retiring at UTSA. There's another potentially quality opportunity in CUSA just down the road from their rivals in San marcos who just landed a coach yesterday.

I think that UTSA team has real potential. Big city in texas that has pro football or major college team to compete with in the metro area.