Sorry for the lack of the Sunday episode. We'll just double up today. There has not been a ton of activity on the coaching change front over the weekend, but with the AFCA convention coming up in Dallas, you know that there will be some action coming soon.
Today we start in Pittsburgh, where the Panthers will be moving on a hire for their second HC hire of the season within hours. It is being widely reported that Pitt has agreed to terms with Tulsa HC Todd Graham to become their new HC, replacing the new HC that they had to fire in Mike Haywood. This will be Graham's third FBS job, as he also coached at Rice before ditching them as he was right on the cusp of turning that program around for the Tulsa gig. Yes, he can tend to be a bit mercenary. KTUL in Tulsa reports that the players at Tulsa will be informed within the hour. The Golden Hurricane defeated Hawaii in the Hawaii bowl last month.
The Michigan jet has been parked in Baton Rouge for the past two days, as Michigan AD Dave Brandon is in town to speak with Les Miles about the vacant HC job that popped up when the Wolverines fired Rich Rodriguez. Les Miles has done his best impersonation at being coy, but it's as flimsi as a Dojo living room wall.
Michigan State HC Mark Dantonio has yet to fill the OC job for the Spartans as of yet, but he is rumored to be interested in Florida WR Coach Zach Azzanni for an unspecified offensive role on the staff. The OC job is still rumored to be filled from within.
Talk about there and back again, but Brent Pease, who had left Boise State for Indiana to become the OC for the Hoosiers, is returning to Boise to become the full time OC for Chris Peterson and the Broncos. He will replace Bryan Harsin, who left to take the OC job at Texas. There is no word currently on who would replace Pease at Indiana. Harsin was announced along with Major Applewhite as Co-OC at Texas during a press conference this morning.
I reported on sources saying that Tulsa OC Chad Morris was in line for the Clemson OC job, and it has been made official, as he was announced as the new OC for the Tigers yesterday. He will replaced the fired Bill Napier.
Stanford seems to be generating a ton of interest lately, as it would seem that Jim Harbaugh has built the Cardinal into a decent job. Stanford is very interested in making an offer to Chris Peterson, but no word yet as to whether or not the offer was made. There are still in staff options that exist with Greg Roman and David Shaw. The latest names to pop up are former Falcon and Seahawks HC Jim Mora, and former Oregon HC Mike Bellotti, who stated publicly that he would have interest.
Matt Rahl will be the new OLB Coach at Wyoming. Rahl was the director ofrecruiting last season. Former OLB Coach Mike Fanoga will shift to director of high school relations (that sucks).
St Joseph's (Indiana) HC AJ Ricker is the new O Line Coach at Western Michigan for Bill Cubit. That is a risky gig being that Cubit is basically on the hot seat in 2011 after several seasons where the Broncos failed to live up to expectations.
Elon named their new HC today, and it was not a name from any known lists that I ever saw. Elon has hired NC State RB Coach Jason Swepson. As I said, it was a name completely out of the blue, and not one that I think a ton of folks are going to be happy with, although he obviously knows the Carolina's.
Obviously, Tom Bradley has gone from favorite to out of the Pitt race, but he is still very much engaged in the UConn race. The Huskies are moving very slowly, but I would expect an announcement after the AFCA convention. Maybe even during.
More news later...
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