CBS Sportsline: Navy's Johnson is leading candidate for SMU

[SMU Football Blog]

http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootba ... y/10502593



Navy's Paul Johnson has emerged as the leading candidate to become the new coach at SMU, CBSSports.com has learned.

The announcement of his hiring could come as soon as early next week. Officials at both schools are thought to want to wait until after Saturday's Army-Navy game.


Paul Johnson's Midshipmen will play in the Dec. 20 Poinsettia Bowl. (US Presswire)
Johnson has been mentioned in several coaching searches, but SMU might be the right job at the moment. Athletic director Steve Orsini would be getting a good fit for the academically stringent SMU program. Johnson has led Navy, currently 7-4, to a school-record five consecutive bowls. His option-based flexbone offense is considered one of the most difficult in the country to defend.

The Middies have led the country in rushing three of the last four seasons. They currently lead this season again, averaging 357 yards per game.

Navy broke a 43-year losing streak against Notre Dame this season. That no doubt made an impression on Orsini, a former Irish running back.

While the Mustangs haven't been to a postseason game since before the death penalty years (1987-88), there is a feeling in the profession that the position could be a steppingstone job to greater pay and glory. SMU barely missed out on a bowl in 2006, going 6-6. If the next coach could get the program to its first bowl in more than 20 years, he could write his ticket in the future.

Johnson, 50, is one of only four coaches to win at least 50 games in their first four seasons in Division I. The coach won I-AA national championships at Georgia Southern in 1999 and 2000 before going to Navy in 2002. His career record is 105-39.

In October, Phil Bennett was fired with four games remaining in his sixth season at SMU. Bennett stayed on to finish the season, but the Mustangs lost all four games to end 1-11.

[davidsmu94]

sorry Blog, didn't mean to steal your thunder

[Samurai Stang]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

[davidsmu94]

Yes.. unlike the New Zealand navy, which has an estimated battle survival time of 47 seconds

[SMU Football Blog]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

Samurai Stang has some of the best schtick of anybody.

A+!

[ponyinNC]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

quote of the year from samurai stang...!!!

i'm beginning to like our asian friend!!!

[Alaric]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

quote of the year from samurai stang...!!!

i'm beginning to like our asian friend!!!

He's NEVER out of character. Even Stallion cracks a smile every 2,500 posts or so.

[ponyinNC]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

quote of the year from samurai stang...!!!

i'm beginning to like our asian friend!!!

He's NEVER out of character. Even Stallion cracks a smile every 2,500 posts or so.

did you notice his sig?? smu reference there??

[dcpony]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

quote of the year from samurai stang...!!!

i'm beginning to like our asian friend!!!

He's NEVER out of character. Even Stallion cracks a smile every 2,500 posts or so.

did you notice his sig?? smu reference there??

I'm all for it. I don't care if he runs the option. SMU has run the pro-set, run-and-shoot, and spread ever since the Death Penalty and its been really good for SMU in terms of W&Ls...

SMU could do a lot worse.

PJ has won at Navy for the last six years with players who are barely D-1 caliber, even if he got some of them from the Naval prep-school.

And don't give me this malarkey about his offenses being boring. SMU should be grateful if a guy can come here and win 7-8 games a year and go to a mid-tier bowl. Anyway if PJ wins at SMU he'll have his pick of BCS jobs and the new guy can re-install the spread or the pro-set offense.

[RGV Pony]

Forwarded to Kate, hope ya'll don't mind. Just trying to help out.

[Alaric]

So how would Paul Johnson's name have gotten leaked?

I e-mailed someone 2-3 weeks ago who knows the guys on the search committee and he said probably either George O'Leary or Paul Johnson would be the next HC. I told him he was full of b.s.

[ponyte]

I know much of this American Navy! It is to be feared!

起死回生

Wake from death and return to life

I thought it was literally "Happening dead regenerationâ€

[Nacho]

I'm just glad we finally found the best coach in America.

Good luck to Paul!