We are heading into the stretch run of the 2014 college football season, and seats are heating up all over college football. Some have already been fired by the court of public opinion, and we agree for the most part on those assessments. We will save those names for the Coaches Swimming in the Dead Pool piece, which posts next.
For the most part, there is a decent amount of heat being distributed, as is normal, however, not as much as last fall. Of course that could fall in place by having too many long term contracts necessitating expensive buyouts, but that doesn't change the negative perception by people like me, or by those like all of you.
Let us take a look at the weekly Hot Seat update, and see who is feeling some heat...
Curtis Johnson, Tulane
The Green Wave are now 2-5 while playing in a brand new stadium. Tulane has never been a consistent major player in their history, and certainly aren't now, but Johnson is allowing the Green Wave to slide backwards from their forward movement of last season. That just cannot be tolerated when you have to fill seats in a new house.
Scot Shafer, Syracuse
He hasn't been with the Orange long, but this has not been a good tenure as we head into the end of year two. Shafer will likely be given another season to get it right, but this is not what the administration had in mind when they hired Shafer to replace Doug Marrone.
Larry Fedora, North Carolina
I don't see UNC heading in the right direction. 4-4 was not the goal for 2014 at this point, and Fedora now has the nightmare of scandal hanging over his job, and all of those in the athletic department on Chapel Hill. Fedora has never impressed me, even after the "huge upset" win over Virginia.
Al Golden, Miami
The Hurricanes are 5-3, but only 2-2 in ACC play. Golden has not won the hearts and minds of the all or nothing fan base, so he is facing playing in front of very sparse crowds in Fort Lauderdale. Sparse crowds have never been good for coaching careers anywhere.
Mike London, Virginia
I know UVA is better now than they were a year ago, and that is obvious to everyone. However, the Cavs are now just 4-4 after a strong start, and face the fears of bottoming out in November. If the Cavs fall off the cliff next month, does that then force the administration to consider a change? It's bowl or bust.
Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech
The Hokies were just completely absent against Miami last week. They are now 1-3 in ACC play. What more does the administration need to see to realize that Beamer Ball is a thing of the past?
Kliff Kingsbury, Texas Tech
The Red Raiders allowed 82 points to TCU last weekend. Yes 82 points in a conference game. 82 to anyone. This program has plummeted into the darkness since Mike Leach was wrongly shown the door. Kingsbury is not the answer. Tech is a Big 12 team, not a D2 team.
Paul Rhoades, Iowa State
The Cyclones are now 0-4 in Big 12 play, and are hardly relevant. It could be that his expensive contract buyout could keep Rhoades here a bit longer, but the Cyclones are just done this season. That Iowa win fire has been doused for good.
Kyle Flood, Rutgers
Rutgers is doing what Rutgers always does. They started out hot with a patsy non-conference schedule, only to crumble when the depth of conference play hits. Rutgers is just 1-3 in Big 10 play, but were 4-0 in non-conference play. See the pattern?
Kevin Wilson, Indiana
The Hoosiers are now 0-3 this season in Big 10 play, and just 3-4 overall. Outside of a red hot November, IU is going to be home for the holidays...again. Wilson needed a bowl bid this season, not next.
Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern
The Wildcats are in a situation much the same as Indiana. They are 3-4 heading into November. Fitzgerald is on the brink of another potential collapse late, and that could upset even the staunchest of Fitz supporters.
Tim Beckman, Illinois
That win over Minnesota was a huge relief to Illini supporters. At 4-4, it's bowl or bust for Beckman, and if he fails to split his final four, he will slide into the Dead Pool.
Ron Turner, FIU
FIU is now 3-5, and while we have seen advances this season in the overall play, the record still speaks loudly. Turner needs a strong November.
Bob Davie, New Mexico
What Davie has done is he erased the dark stain and stink of the Mike Locksley era. That being said, he still hasn't developed the wins in a league that is hardly as heavy as it used to be. Davie should see year three in 2015, but it could be his last if he doesn't get the Lobos bowling.
Butch Jones, Tennessee
The media loves Butch Jones. They go on and on about how much better Tennessee is now than they were the last couple of seasons. For me, it's about showing me the quality by moving forward in the win category. There are no moral victories in college football, and certainly not in the SEC. Eventually those highly ranked recruiting classes have got to pay off.
Todd Berry, UL-Monroe
The War Hawks had higher aspirations than a 3-4 record heading into this part of the season. Berry is always talking about how ULM is about to turn the corner, and the media buys in. I'm not buying in anymore.
Trent Miles, Georgia State
The Panthers are now officially out of bowl contention at 1-7, and Miles is now just 2-19 since last season. At what point does the administration figure that they can no longer wait for the change to occur?
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