The paragraph that throws a jab at Bama is LMAO funny. Bastards.
Mark Wheeler
InsidetheGators.com Managing Editor
As is the case with coaching searches, the rumor mill is cranked up spitting out morsels of (false) information at a high rate of speed. While Jeremy Foley said no coaches have been contacted yet, that hasn't kept names from being thrown into the mix. There are legitimate candidates - and then there are those who are so far out of the realm of possibility that they have to be considered dream candidates.
Though they are frequently mentioned, here are five names that have little to no chance of being the next head coach of the Florida Gators.
Mark Wheeler
InsidetheGators.com Managing Editor
As is the case with coaching searches, the rumor mill is cranked up spitting out morsels of (false) information at a high rate of speed. While Jeremy Foley said no coaches have been contacted yet, that hasn't kept names from being thrown into the mix. There are legitimate candidates - and then there are those who are so far out of the realm of possibility that they have to be considered dream candidates.
Though they are frequently mentioned, here are five names that have little to no chance of being the next head coach of the Florida Gators.
- Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly
Based off name recognition, on the field results and offensive production, he is probably the No. 1 candidate of many in the Gator Nation. The problem here is, despite whatever the rumor of the day is, this isn't going to happen.
Not only has he been wildly successful in his season and a half with the Eagles, he is currently in the second year of a five year 32 Ā½ million dollar contract. With Philadelphia sitting atop the NFC East with a 7-3 record, he is in no immediate danger of being fired, meaning it would take a 7-8 million a year offer just to get him to listen.
As a measuring stick, Nick Saban is currently college football's highest paid coach making 6.9 million a season. Foley, with his even handed approach to making sure all sports are on equal ground funding wise, will not be paying that much for a single coach.
Also, lets not forget that he is currently serving out a 'Show Cause' penalty handed down by the NCAA for infractions committed during his time at Oregon. If the Gators were to attempt to hire him before it ends in late December they would have to petition the NCAA for permission. Then, if they allowed it, with his past transgressions, you would all but be inviting the NCAA to set up a field office in Gainesville.
They would scrutinize him and the program that closely - making what was already the longest of long shots a dead on arrival type of proposition.
- ESPN Color Broadcast Analyst John Gruden
His name has now become popular in the second straight Florida head football coaching search. He was prominently mentioned for the job back when Muschamp was hired in 2010.
At that point, he was out of football for two years, and now those two years have become six and he still shows no signs of wanting to return to the wear-and-tear of the game.
He is a bit of a strange case in that normally when you see the name of a 'dream candidate' come up often, that candidate has some sort of ties to the school (such as Bob Stoops, Charlie Strong or Steve Spurrier) or has an incredible record boosting his candidacy.
Whereas with Gruden there are no ties to the University of Florida and his record is okay, but not outstanding (a career .540 winning percentage with a 57-55 record with the Bucs). It seems as though the longer he stays away from actually coaching, the more he is remembered for being a better coach than he actually was.
Then, the same as with Kelly, there is the matter of money. Gruden reportedly earns 4 million a year from ESPN while putting in what I would guess is probably a quarter of the amount of hours as your typical head football coach.
He hasn't shown the slightest bit of interest in a coaching job or inclining of leaving his cushy on air position.
What makes anyone think that is going to change now?
- South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier
Spurrier returning to Florida would not only be the story of the year in college football, if not the world of sports, but would be the most universally accepted hire by the Gator Nation.
After four seasons of offensive futility under Muschamp there is no doubt that with the talent returning on that side of the ball, Spurrier would be lighting up scoreboards in no time at all.
The problem here is, his return would be about four seasons too late.
This would have made more sense back in 2010 then it does today. If you've followed South Carolina at all this season - watching Spurrier on the sidelines and in press conferences - he simply looks like he is on his last legs.
Could a return to Gainesville rejuvenate him? Sure. However, it is more likely that he has a couple more seasons left in him at best before he hits the beach and links full time.
Florida needs a coach who is in it for the long-haul.
That isn't going to be Steve Spurrier, who has already been there, done that, when it comes to the Gators.
- Texas head coach Charlie Strong
With hindsight being 20/20, here is another instance of a a coach who might have been a better hire than Muschamp back in 2010.
He had a more productive career at Louisville (37-15) than Muschamp has had at Florida (27-20) and if he were still with the Cardinals, he might be the most logical candidate to come back for his fifth stint with the Gators.
Both Texas and Florida are considered to be among the top five jobs in college football. In most cases, a head coach wouldn't leave one school for the other. However, in this case, Strong is a more natural fit for Florida and would kill it recruiting in the Sunshine State.
Having said that, no matter how perfect the match may seem, there is zero possibility of Strong leaving Austin after taking over the team less than a year ago. You can make that move if you are at a 'stepping-stone' type of program, but not when you haven't even finished out your first season at a 'destination' type of school.
In doing so, he would simply lose all credibility.
- Texas A&M head coach Kevin Sumlin
Prior to the bottom falling out here in the last month, Sumlin was right up there with Kelly when names were bandied about during talk of a dream replacement for Muschamp.
He has an impressive 62-27 record as a head coach, has proven to be successful in the SEC and oversees one of the most prolific offenses in the NCAA.
What's not to love?
If this were a couple of years ago when he was still at Houston and both Texas A&M and Florida came courting, even with his Texas ties, you would still have to like Florida's chances.
Now, not only is he firmly established with the Aggies, but due in large part to these last couple of seasons, A&M's star is on the rise, while Florida's has lost a bit of it's luster.
Take for instance facilities. While Florida is in the planning stages of spending 11 million to become the last team in the SEC with an in-door practice facility, A&M is in the midst of a 450 million dollar renovation to its football facilities.
Overall Florida is still considered a better job, but don't kid yourself into thinking the gap is that wide and may become non-existent in the future unless UF catches up in the facilites arms-race.
At this point in time, there is no way he leaves the known for the unknown. Especially not with what all he has going on in College Station.
