Top 5 coaches on hot seat in 2009

[BOURBON TOWN CAT FAN]

PhilSteele.com
5. Mike Sanford, UNLV - Sanford bought himself some time last year with their upset of a ranked Arizona St on the road and a home win vs a Big 12 school. I believe Sanford will also escape the hot seat this year with a winning season and a bowl bid and they could win as many as 8 games. The Rebels have had 5 losing seasons in a row (4 under Sanford) and anything short of a winning season will signal a coaching change.

4. Dan Hawkins - Colorado - CU fans were happy with the hire of a successful coach but the first 3 years have produced 3 losing records. They did get to a bowl in 2007 but when they lost the Independence Bowl they dropped to 6-7. Last year Nebraska needed a 57 yard FG at the end of the game to keep CU from 6-6 and a 2nd straight bowl. Hawkins has said 10 wins, no excuses. I do see 8 wins for CU and I see him escaping the hot seat.

3. Al Groh - Virginia - After a horrible 1-3 start last year which included an embarrassing 31-3 loss to Duke it looked like he was out the door in 2008. Virginia went 4-4 down the stretch and only lost to rival VT by 3 on the road or they could have landed a bowl. This looks like another rebuilding year and I believe Groh needs to get them to a bowl to hang on. When I analyze the schedule it looks like 6 wins will be hard to come by.

2. Bill Lynch - Indiana - Lynch did a great job taking over for the late Terry Hoeppner and he guided them to a rare bowl game in his first year. Last year did not go as planned as they finished 1-7 and were outgained by 177 ypg in Big Ten play which was by far the worst in the conference. This year they unexpectedly lose QB Kellen Lewis and I project them to finish in the Big Ten basement for a 2nd straight year. There are some very successful up-and-coming coaches in the MAC and Indiana could grab one of them to replace Lynch.

:icon_mrgreen:1. Steve Kragthorpe - Louisville - It is never easy to take over a team that is coming off of unprecedented success. Louisville was 88-20 this decade and finished #6, #19 and #6 in the country the previous three years plus they were coming off an Orange Bowl win and 6 bowls in 6 years. There was a lot of talent left in the cupboard for Kragthorpe who was very successful at Tulsa. Kragthorpe's first 2 years yielded 6-6 and 5-7 records with no bowls. They were 5-2 last year but lost their last 5 and if Louisville is not in a bowl this year, the Cards will likely turn to someone else next year. --

[TrueblueCATfan]

PhilSteele.com
5. Mike Sanford, UNLV - Sanford bought himself some time last year with their upset of a ranked Arizona St on the road and a home win vs a Big 12 school. I believe Sanford will also escape the hot seat this year with a winning season and a bowl bid and they could win as many as 8 games. The Rebels have had 5 losing seasons in a row (4 under Sanford) and anything short of a winning season will signal a coaching change.

4. Dan Hawkins - Colorado - CU fans were happy with the hire of a successful coach but the first 3 years have produced 3 losing records. They did get to a bowl in 2007 but when they lost the Independence Bowl they dropped to 6-7. Last year Nebraska needed a 57 yard FG at the end of the game to keep CU from 6-6 and a 2nd straight bowl. Hawkins has said 10 wins, no excuses. I do see 8 wins for CU and I see him escaping the hot seat.

3. Al Groh - Virginia - After a horrible 1-3 start last year which included an embarrassing 31-3 loss to Duke it looked like he was out the door in 2008. Virginia went 4-4 down the stretch and only lost to rival VT by 3 on the road or they could have landed a bowl. This looks like another rebuilding year and I believe Groh needs to get them to a bowl to hang on. When I analyze the schedule it looks like 6 wins will be hard to come by.

2. Bill Lynch - Indiana - Lynch did a great job taking over for the late Terry Hoeppner and he guided them to a rare bowl game in his first year. Last year did not go as planned as they finished 1-7 and were outgained by 177 ypg in Big Ten play which was by far the worst in the conference. This year they unexpectedly lose QB Kellen Lewis and I project them to finish in the Big Ten basement for a 2nd straight year. There are some very successful up-and-coming coaches in the MAC and Indiana could grab one of them to replace Lynch.

:icon_mrgreen:1. Steve Kragthorpe - Louisville - It is never easy to take over a team that is coming off of unprecedented success. Louisville was 88-20 this decade and finished #6, #19 and #6 in the country the previous three years plus they were coming off an Orange Bowl win and 6 bowls in 6 years. There was a lot of talent left in the cupboard for Kragthorpe who was very successful at Tulsa. Kragthorpe's first 2 years yielded 6-6 and 5-7 records with no bowls. They were 5-2 last year but lost their last 5 and if Louisville is not in a bowl this year, the Cards will likely turn to someone else next year. --


LMAO on number 1...I say he is gone if he has another bad year this year

[Copland]

I could very well believe that Krabhorse could easily be gone if they lose to UK, especially if it turns ugly. Like, say, anything to 2.

[KY VOL]

Yall want another reason to hate UL?

There was some "talk" that if UL did fire Kragthorpe that they might go after Fulmer!

[The Hack]

There is constant chatter among SPT (Syracuse's Play Toy) fans about Fulmer and Tommy Tuberville.

I doubt that a re-tread type of Coach who left prior jobs on a down turn would benefit them much.

And with their schedule (they get Syracuse at home this year :)) they could easily slide into a 6-6 season and would likely get a minor bowl bid.

I think Krapthorpe has shown the capacity to get their ship turned back around in the next 10 to 15 years, and by golly, I hope they let him give it a long-term go!!! :)

[Watchtower]

I hope they keep the Krags. If thye DO replace him, I vote for Ron Cooper.

I would be surprised if Tuberville or Fulmer would accept the Louisville job. I think both would like to stay in the South. Sorry folks, Kentucky isn't in the South. I was born and raised in Kentucky and have lived in Georgia and Florida and my first wife is from Tennessee so I know how these people feel about our great Commonwealth. I doubt Fulmer will leave Tennessee and will wind up coaching there. Tuberville might wait and look for another SEC opening.

[Brian McCat]

Hmmm...I hope they sign Krags to a long-term contract.

[I. Melvin]

To be fair to Kragthorpe, I think it's a misconception that he was left a lot of talent. UofL suffered massive attrition in his first year and the once-in-a-lifetime good fortune of having two NFL starters grow up in the shadow of Papa Johns didn't (and probably won't) reoccur.

Whatever. When ya got 'em down, kick 'em. (Bear Bryant said that, I believe.)

[The Old School JPS]

6. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina -

Seriously, Gamecock fans are not content and I'm not sure anyone else would deserve that #6 spot ahead of him.

Fulmer's approach to discipline would be a good fit at UL.

[TrueblueCATfan]

Yall want another reason to hate UL?

There was some "talk" that if UL did fire Kragthorpe that they might go after Fulmer!
LMAO.... Fat Phil in a tard uniform:icon_mrgreen:

[mrkdooley]

Start a petition, 'Dirty Birds' keep Kragthorpe!!!

Fulmer would have no interest, but Tubberville? He would take the 'Dirty Bird' job!

[ukcats1]

I do feel sorry for Koach Krackpipe though. I heard an interview with a College football analyst that summed it up pretty good, It went something like this:

"Petrino brouight in some outlaws and then left the program, Krapthorpe comes in and runs the outlaws out of town...unfortunately the outlaws were the good players."

It stinks when this happens to coaches. It reminds me of Felton with Georgia basketball, he cleans up the program and gets rid of the bonehead trouble makers and pays with his job.:thumbdn:

[JDHoss]

6. Steve Spurrier, South Carolina -

Seriously, Gamecock fans are not content and I'm not sure anyone else would deserve that #6 spot ahead of him.

Fulmer's approach to discipline would be a good fit at UL.


You're not off base with this. I know several Carolina fans, and they are not happy. To say that the Chikins haven't gotten much cluck for their buck with TOBC is an understatement.

As for Kooperthorpe, he's a dead man walking IMO.

[BigblueDrew]

You might want to add Notre Dames version of "Phat Phil" to that list. Another bad season and he is history.

[SevenTimeChamps]

Isn't Lane Kiffin already on the hot seat at UT? Something makes me think the UT AD has a short fuse with this guy.

[Tampa_Cat54]

Isn't Lane Kiffin already on the hot seat at UT? Something makes me think the UT AD has a short fuse with this guy.

No way. The AD might not be a big fan at the controversy he's stirring, but like ESPN said in an article about him, he's doing what he needs to do! He's brought a whole new attitude to Tennessee..he's looking to go straight to the top, and he will take out anyone in his path! The point is, even though he has humiliated himself a few times already(falsly accusing UF, etc) he's bringing attention to Tennessee again. Recruits are noticing the winning attitude and the change he's brought to Tennessee and they want to be a part of it(I.E. Bryce Brown, the number 1 running back backing out of Miami and going to Tennessee.) I remember in the artice someone told him that UF had put up a quote in their weight room, something Lane Kiffin had said about how UT was going to whoop UF all over the map next year...and all Lane Kiffin could say was "Wow, thats just free publicity! Now every time a UF recruit enters the weight room, they'll see the UT symbol and my name on the wall"! I hate Tennessee, but I love Lane Kiffin's attitude! Most UK fans talk about being fine with being the enemy, as long as we win..well Lane Kiffin has that exact same attitude!