Reading the Tea Leaves

[Statler]

Looking at this thing and the fact that we are all becoming like Rip Van Winkle, a few observations:

It is interesting to note that Neuheisel's name started appearing about time that PJ talked to GT a second time. Also, if Fran or Coker was the guy, then they would have been hired.

Looks to me like Neuheisel is waiting to see if he gets the UCLA gig and may have asked Steve-O to wait. Steve-O is trying to put some pressure on RN by leaking DF or LC. Fran or Coker is the backup. Looks to me like we get a coach one way or the other within 48 hrs of UCLA announcing their coach.

Hey this is pure speculation and Darth has no "real" information.

[SMUMan02]

Looking at this thing and the fact that we are all becoming like Rip Van Winkle, a few observations:

It is interesting to note that Neuheisel's name started appearing about time that PJ talked to GT a second time. Also, if Fran or Coker was the guy, then they would have been hired.

Looks to me like Neuheisel is waiting to see if he gets the UCLA gig and may have asked Steve-O to wait. Steve-O is trying to put some pressure on RN by leaking DF or LC. Fran or Coker is the backup. Looks to me like we get a coach one way or the other within 48 hrs of UCLA announcing their coach.

Hey this is pure speculation and Darth has no "real" information.

Finally, some speculation that is at least plausible. That's been very hard to come by around here lately.

[jimhagle]

Plausible speculation or not we all have not a clue what is really going on-

[Dwan]

Slick Rick has the UCLA job in the bag.

[davidsmu94]

Slick Rick has the UCLA job in the bag.

You think? If so how embarassing... he was good enough for UCLA, but not us.

[Pony_Fan]

stop calling him slick rick pls....sounds stupid. thx.

[Dwan]

The UCLA AD has painted himself in the corner. He did not even want to interview SLICK RICK, but he is popular with the Alumni and took an interview to appease the alumni. UCLA also wanted to be sure to hire a head coach since the last time they hired somebody with head coaching experience was when the hire [deleted] Vermill. UCLA also wanted to hire a coach who would retain their DC Dwayne Walker, who is a great coach, but also one of the best recruiters in the country.

UCLA has a bigger academic chip on their shoulders than SMU. Granted they are one of the top 5 public schools in the country so their academic arrogance has some merit. They have always been happy being a top 5 basketball program and an 8-4 football program. Berkley, which is a better school, will let anybody in if they can play football (see Marshawn Lynch....he cant speak english) and are willing to pay a coach well over a million dollars. Dorrell earned 800k....which is by far the lowest amount by a school with a history like UCLAs.

If our hire is tied to UCLA, then we will have to wait until after their bowl game on Saturday. Dwayne Walker is the coach for that game. They play BYU, a team they beat earlier in the year. If they come out, play inspired ball, blow out BYU, then UCLA will hire Dwayne Walker. If they lose, they will hire Neuhisel.

[ponydawg]

SLICK RICK.........

If our hire is tied to UCLA, then we will have to wait until after their bowl game on Saturday. Dwayne Walker is the coach for that game. They play BYU, a team they beat earlier in the year. If they come out, play inspired ball, blow out BYU, then UCLA will hire Dwayne Walker. If they lose, they will hire Neuhisel.

So does that mean we should cheer for UCLA?

[Dwan]

No. Rick Neuhisel would be a a terrible hire for SMU. Fran would be a much better choice. Rick took two national title calibur schools in Washington and Colorado and when he left them both, they where sub .500 teams that lacked talent.. He is a good game coach but is a horrible judge of talent. He has won at schools that have talent that he did no recruit, and then lost in a horrible way when his players were in the system. He can do well at a school that can attract talent like UCLA, but at a place like SMU where you need to find players that are below the radar and fit your system....it would be disaster. It would be like hiring Bill Clinton to be a fund raiser for a womans group.....good fund raiser, just not for that group