Campus Confidential

By Adam Abramson

There’s honestly so much to talk about that I really don’t know where to begin.

I guess coaches is as important as anything.

1. Houston Nutt leaving Arkansas had been a long time coming. The Mitch Mustain fiasco numbered his days there unless he could keep winning 10 games each season. Couple that with the fact you’re not in the national title hunt with a pair of backs named Darren McFadden and Felix Jones and you’re going to anger some important people in Fayetteville. Now, for Ole Miss to scoop up Nutt is genius. The Ed Orgeron project didn’t work out as planned, so why not get a proven SEC wave maker? Nutt is a guy who will bring high energy and is the school’s only shot from letting neighboring Alabama take any good prospect out of the state.

2. I am hearing Butch Davis to Arkansas. While this makes perfect sense for the school and the former player and student-coach in the Razorbacks program, it would devastate the University of North Carolina. We were reminded of what Davis brings to the table when you take a look at his first UNC recruiting class that includes Marvin Austin, Mike Paulus, Greg Little and a fair amount other blue chip guys. Arkansas, who had just three four-star recruits last year, could use that kind of umph. As for North Carolina, they better start making some closed-door phone calls to see if they can get a name half as big as Butch Davis. One guy they might want to give a hard sell to is Turner Gill up in Buffalo.

3. Why not Turner Gill to Nebraska you ask? Well, the former player and assistant coach in Lincoln would be a fantastic fit there. In fact, I think the Cornhuskers should hire him, but the one positive thing I did this weekend was receive good information that Bo Pelini, former defensive coordinator under Solich, interim head coach after Solich was fired and current LSU defensive coordinator will be the next head football coach at Nebraska. While I think Gill is the route Nebraska should take, Pelini could step into the shoes left vacant by Bill Callahan and make a splash. Clearly the guy knows defenses and I think the faithful in Lincoln would do anything to get the Black Shirts back. I was actually reading reports about vast groups of alumni and media on the Internet tracking the plane of Tom Osbourne, who is out and about interviewing for his next head coach. That’s passion.

4. If my information is as good as I think it is, Pelini to Nebraska all but guarantees Les Miles to Michigan. Losing your offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator in successive years is bad enough. If you have your alma mater as an out, which happens to be one of the most prestigious jobs in your field, you take it. If he somehow passes, LSU should sign him to a lifetime deal and build a statue already (assuming he keeps winning). The Tigers could actually be in a bind if everyone grabs up their coaches and Miles waits until mid-January to make a decision. If Miles announces he’s staying at LSU in mid-Jan, at least the Wolverines have Ron English as an option (who I still petition for…he’s an awesome coordinator).

5. Mike Sherman is as good of a fit as anyone for Texas A&M. He has a resume that includes important pro stops and a stint at aTm. What stands out to me most is his GM role with the Packers. A lot of these guys on the NFL level don’t have that program management skill that’s needed on the college ranks. Sherman has played that juggling game and can use that to his advantage in College Station. It’s obvious that Sherman is an offensive mind, so it’s important that he dedicates a lot of time to his defensive staff and makes sure Texas A&M can restore its prowess on that side of the ball or he won’t be coach there for very long. But expect the Aggies to keep that running attack strong, as the offensive lines will only get better with Sherman at the helm.

6. Two things contributed to Chan Gailey’s firing at Georgia Tech: Reggie Ball and the University of Georgia. His quarterback of four years began his career with a bang, being named the conference’s freshman of the year. Gailey then rode him out for three more seasons filled with disappointment after disappointment. In four years, Ball threw just two more touchdowns than interceptions and didn’t beat Georgia one time. I became tired of watching Chan Gailey put his faith in Ball week after week, I couldn’t imagine what the alum felt.
   

Let me grab some lunch and we’ll start talking about the rest of this season.