Nick Saban accepts Dolphins offer

[Corso]

So now we get to pluck all their recruits, right?

[ClassOf81]

How many Texas kids are on their commitment list?
I don't suppose we can steal them, but it's always nice to dream, eh?

[Water Pony]

Who is being mentioned as Saban's replacement?

[BRStang]

The names circulating at this point, in the order of the most speculation, are:

1) Butch Davis (U of Miami savior and, most recently, Cleveland Browns HC);

2) Jack Del Rio (HC of Jax Jaguars)

3) Bobby Petrino (HC of Louisville)

4) Tommy Tubberville (HC of Auburn)

5) Jimbo Fisher (Current OC of LSU)

[RGV Pony]

BR, an article in The Advocate also listed Les Miles & Dennis Erickson as possibilities.

[DallasDiehard]

Miles might not be a bad fit, actually. He's already at a similar school, and he's shown himself to be a very successful recruiter of top players.

[DallasDiehard]

So now we get to pluck all their recruits, right?

Of course - goes without saying.

For the record, Rivals seems to think LSU has nine commitments at this point:
Kyle Anderson TE 5.6 6-6/260 17 The Woodlands, TX
Darry Beckwith LB 5.9 6-1/224 9 Baton Rouge, LA
Ciron Black OL 5.7 6-5/315 11 Tyler, TX
Dajleon Farr TE 6.0 6-6/235 3 Galena Park, TX
Chris Hawkins DB 5.8 6-1/180 8 Walker, LA
Lyle Hitt DT 5.6 6-2/272 28 Baton Rouge, LA
Al Jones DE 6.0 6-2/236 2 New Orleans, LA
Steven Korte RB 5.8 6-2/230 4 Mandeville, LA
Kevin Myers OL - 6-6/360 NR Compton, CA
Antonio Robinson RB 5.8 6-0/195 10 Winnfield, LA

And unfortunately, I don't think there's any danger of Anderson, Black and/or Farr (the three Texans on the list) changing their commitments to us. They should, of course, but I wouldn't call it likely, you know?

[Stallion]

I'm not aware of a single one ofg those recruits ever mentioning interest in SMU.

[OldPony]

I believe LSU is trying to decide whether to go after Phil Bennett or Mike Cavan. We better extend Bennett's contract again.

[Water Pony]

Search begins for Saban's replacement
Davis, Petrino thought to be front-runners
Monday, December 27, 2004
By Mike Triplett, Staff writer

ORLANDO, FLA. -- The LSU head coaching vacancy was a hot topic across the country Sunday, a day after Nick Saban announced he was leaving Baton Rouge to coach the Miami Dolphins.

From Bobby Petrino to Houston Nutt to Les Miles and Dennis Erickson, coaches were asked by local media if they had any interest in the job or had been contacted by LSU.

Meanwhile, LSU athletic director Skip Bertman was diving into the school's coaching search. Bertman, who did not join the Tigers in Orlando this week, did not return calls seeking comment Sunday.

But LSU spokesman Herb Vincent said Bertman was "actively working on the next phase to find a head coach. He's now activating the search and starting to contact the appropriate people."

Bertman said Saturday that the school had already hired a search firm and started compiling a contingency list of possible replacements when Saban began talking with the Dolphins on Dec. 14.

The purpose of the search firm is to help coaches keep their interest in the job under wraps. As a result, information is expected to be hard to come by as this process continues.

But some candidates seem more likely than others:

-- Bobby Petrino, Louisville: The 43-year-old coach signed a contract extension earlier this month after his name came up in the search processes at Notre Dame, among other schools. But LSU is still expected to place Petrino atop its wish list, and there is no buyout clause in his new deal.

Louisville officials had no comment Sunday when asked if Petrino had spoken with LSU about the job, and Athletic Director Tom Jurich could not be reached. The seventh-ranked Cardinals arrived in Memphis, Tenn., on Sunday night in preparation for their Liberty Bowl matchup with Boise State.

Petrino is in his second year at Louisville after stints as the offensive coordinator at Auburn and for the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. But he has led the high-scoring Cardinals to a 10-1 record this season.

Last year, Petrino infamously met with Auburn officials to discuss the possibility of replacing Tommy Tuberville, who still holds that job today.

-- Houston Nutt, Arkansas: Nutt, 47, was offered the Nebraska job after last season before deciding to stay with the Razorbacks. But the LSU job is regarded as a step up from Nebraska these days. Plus, Nutt might want to strike while the iron is hot after a 5-6 season in Fayetteville.

"I've had no contact with LSU," Nutt told the Morning News of Northwest Arkansas on Sunday. "I think it's all just talk. I think it's all just rumors."

Nutt, however, should know plenty about LSU's appeal. Like Saban, Nutt is represented by agent Jimmy Sexton.

-- Les Miles, Oklahoma State: The 51-year-old, fourth-year coach is reminiscent of Saban five years ago, when LSU plucked Saban from Michigan State. Miles has done great things with the Cowboys, but his team will always be No. 2 in the state. Miles, who signed a seven-year, $10 million contract extension last year, said Sunday, "I'm focused only on preparing for Ohio State in this (Alamo) bowl game."

Miles is an offensive-minded coach who played on the offensive line at Michigan, where he served as a longtime assistant coach. He was also an offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and a tight ends coach with the Dallas Cowboys.

-- Butch Davis, recently resigned from Cleveland Browns: Davis is widely seen as the most natural fit to fill the vacancy. LSU expressed an interest in him five years ago, when he was coaching at the University of Miami. But he had NFL aspirations, and he took the Browns job a year later. Earlier this month, Davis resigned from that job and said he was planning to take a year off from coaching to deal with his health. But this job might be too good to pass up. Neither Davis nor his agent, Marvin Demoff, could be reached for comment.

-- Terry Robiskie, interim Browns coach: Davis' replacement, Robiskie, is the only person who has openly expressed his interest in the job. The 50-year-old Louisiana native and former LSU player said earlier this week that he is "absolutely" interested, though his top choice is to be re-hired by the Browns. "My house, my dad, my family, they're probably 32 miles from Baton Rouge," said Robiskie, who grew up in Edgard. "My uncle lives about five miles from campus. It would be intriguing to me. I'd be more than willing to listen."

-- Dennis Erickson, San Francisco 49ers: Erickson has been mentioned by some national media but doesn't seem like a front-runner. The 57-year-old coach gave an agitated "no" to reporters after Sunday's 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills when asked if the school had contacted him. Erickson, who earlier this year interviewed for the Ole Miss job, has said that LSU contacted him five years ago while he was coaching at Oregon State. He also coached the Seattle Seahawks and the University of Miami. After the Ole Miss interview, Erickson said he was "done" listening this season to college offers, but he added, "I don't know that you can ever rule out anything in this goofy business."

-- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Ferentz, 49, would surely wind up on LSU's wish list as one of the nation's top coaches. And his name will certainly come up as his Hawkeyes prepare to face the Tigers this week. But he has remained adamant that he is not interested in leaving Iowa. And if he does, the NFL seems a more likely possibility.

Other hot names that seem likely to stay in their current jobs include Auburn's Tuberville, California's Jeff Tedford and Boise State's Dan Hawkins.

[Water Pony]

-- Terry Robiskie, interim Browns coach: Davis' replacement, Robiskie, is the only person who has openly expressed his interest in the job. The 50-year-old Louisiana native and former LSU player said earlier this week that he is "absolutely" interested, though his top choice is to be re-hired by the Browns. "My house, my dad, my family, they're probably 32 miles from Baton Rouge," said Robiskie, who grew up in Edgard. "My uncle lives about five miles from campus. It would be intriguing to me. I'd be more than willing to listen."

-- Dennis Erickson, San Francisco 49ers: Erickson has been mentioned by some national media but doesn't seem like a front-runner. The 57-year-old coach gave an agitated "no" to reporters after Sunday's 41-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills when asked if the school had contacted him. Erickson, who earlier this year interviewed for the Ole Miss job, has said that LSU contacted him five years ago while he was coaching at Oregon State. He also coached the Seattle Seahawks and the University of Miami. After the Ole Miss interview, Erickson said he was "done" listening this season to college offers, but he added, "I don't know that you can ever rule out anything in this goofy business."

-- Kirk Ferentz, Iowa: Ferentz, 49, would surely wind up on LSU's wish list as one of the nation's top coaches. And his name will certainly come up as his Hawkeyes prepare to face the Tigers this week. But he has remained adamant that he is not interested in leaving Iowa. And if he does, the NFL seems a more likely possibility.

Other hot names that seem likely to stay in their current jobs include Auburn's Tuberville, California's Jeff Tedford and Boise State's Dan Hawkins.

[Jim Rome]

As good as he is, I don't know if Hawkins has enough national name power for the LSU boosters. Tedford is very interesting, though.

[mrydel]

LSU has requested and been given permission to interview Houston Nutt.

[RGV Pony]

Houston Nutt? Geez. As an LSU season ticket holder, in the back of my mind since all of this started I've heard this murmur over and over...please not Houston Nutt please not Houston Nutt.

I've never seen such a mediocre coach have his name brought up for so many jobs. Overrated, IMO.

Then again, at least we know Coach Bennett is safe on the Hilltop & won't be receiving calls from Baton Rouge.

[mrydel]

I have heard the "please not Houston Nutt" from several LSU fans, but the feeling by the local "experts" is that Nutt will have the job within the next 48 hours. I have no knowledge or feelings in what happens. Just repeating what is being said in Arkansas. They are already prepared to bring in Butch Davis to coach the Razorbacks.