Tommy Bowden’s firing from Clemson follows the 21st century trend of firing your coach early to get a jump on the competition when it comes to hiring your next coach (The “Zooking,” if you like.) It also sets in motion a whole series of movements, negotiations, and possible ripple effects throughout the HR departments of college football. The likely suspects to step in as Clemson’s next head coach:↵
Early Candidates to Replace Bowden at Clemson
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Dabo Swinney, Clemson Assistant Coach. The unsexy stability pick, Swinney will have the benefit of the doubt thanks to his local recruiting roots and status as someone who gets blue-chippers to commit and commit often. All of the cozy benefits of relative stability follow: the players know him, the administration doesn't have to deal with an unknown quantity, and as an insider he has an understanding of what may or may not be working within the team no outsider can have. Also will be a pioneer for his people by being the first man named "Dabo" to coach a Division 1 football program; Dabos around the world will take inspiration from his bravery and trailblazing ways.↵
↵↵Will Muschamp, Texas Defensive Coordinator. Beloved by the media, respected by colleagues, and the subject of a low-grade cult following on the internet, Muschamp’s meteoric rise from Valdosta State to Texas as a defensive guru has taken him through tutelage by Nick Saban, Mack Brown, Tommy Tuberville, and legendary defensive coordinator Bill Oliver. He’s led defenses to top 10 rankings and was the defensive coordinator on LSU’s 2003 BCS Championship squad. Intense; gets players to put out unspeakable effort, and is often a brilliant scheme guy on defense. Drawbacks: will have to learn the job of head coach on the job, and may bleed on players.↵
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↵Todd Graham, Tulsa Head Coach. A talented young coach on the rise who put Rice back on the map and then immediately hopped to Tulsa, allegedly taking excessive bathroom breaks to call his agent during the negotiations on a contract extension with Rice, which he signed only to jet two days later to Tulsa. Negotiating skullduggery aside, getting Graham would mean hiring a hot young commodity and hopefully getting the package deal of aquiring Guz Malzahn, his offensive coordinator and the architect of one of the leading offenses in college football 2008. His resume's probably been faxed already; if you're interested, Clemson, call him, but give him some time to get to the men's room before you start talking turkey or anything.↵
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Skip Holtz, ECU Head Coach. The past month hasn't been kind to him, but he's relatively local, young, hungry, and has done a good job rebuilding East Carolina. It's not a glamor pick, but Holtz has been consistent in working the Pirates into contention in Conference USA and has some definite name recognition and recruiting chops.↵
↵↵Lane Kiffin, Late Head Coach of the Oakland Raiders. Kiffin was the co-offensive coordinator at USC before he did his time on the rack in Oakland, and is being touted for the Syracuse job and Tennessee “opening” in some circles. (“Opening” because it’s technically not “open,” unlike the Syracuse job.) Would be another first-time college head coach, but is young, a superb offensive mind, and a definite change of pace from good ole boy Bowden in terms of tone and delivery, a valid point since Bowden wasn’t getting through to his players anymore.↵
↵↵Bobby Petrino, Arkansas Head Coach. Oh, stop that. We kid. Maybe. But seriously, call Jimmy Sexton if you want to, you know, just talk.↵
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This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.
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