The name Ole Miss brings in to replace the disgraced Hugh Freeze likely won’t be quite as big as some Rebels fans are hoping, based simply on how infrequent it is for one Power 5 school to swipe another’s head coach. Sure, Les Miles is likely interested in moving a few hours north. But beyond him, we’re probably talking a mid-major head coach or an elite-ish Power 5 assistant.
Would you rather hire Derek Dooley or face 2 years of major NCAA sanctions?
For some reason, the failed Tennessee head coach ranks highly on one list of technically possible Ole Miss hires.
Photo by Frederick Breedon/Getty Images
As everyone fires out lists of potential replacements, one that stands out is this odd list from Bet Online, where you can wager actual dollars on whom Ole Miss will hire in five months:
- Chad Morris, SMU HC (probably has eyes on a better gig)
- Derek Dooley, Cowboys assistant (... uh, hang on)
- Miles (iffy!)
- Chip Kelly, former 49ers HC (ain’t happening)
- Mike Norvell, Memphis HC (good idea!)
- Blake Anderson, Arkansas State HC (good idea!)
- Brent Venables, Clemson DC (ain’t happening)
- Lane Kiffin, FAU HC (such a silly idea, even Kiffin is trolling everyone about it)
- Scott Frost, UCF HC (probably has eyes on a better gig)
- Bobby Petrino, Louisville HC (already has a better gig)
- Mike MacIntyre, Colorado HC (already has a scandal)
- Charlie Strong, USF HC (good idea!)
- Bryan Harsin, Boise State HC (sure, try it!)
- Neal Brown, Troy HC (good idea!)
- Willie Fritz, Tulane HC (maybe a good idea!)
- Matt Luke, Ole Miss interim (saving money during a roster downturn might be smart)
Why is Dooley, the former Tennessee head coach who’s drawn nary a whisper of interest from college football since he joined Dallas’ staff four years ago, so high on this list? Was that a typo? Did they mean Derek Mason? Did they mean Vince Dooley? Is anyone betting money on him ironically?
Dooley inherited a mess from Kiffin and turned it into shambles. His 15-21 record there does not tell the tale of faded discipline and halfhearted recruiting. This comes closer: The University of Tennessee produced zero draft picks in two entire years following his tenure, with Butch Jones’ program producing six picks this time around.
So! A brain teaser, inspired by whichever oddsmaker dreamed up the idea of Ole Miss facing both the NCAA and a Dooley era at the same time:
Well? Would you rather suffer some stiff NCAA sanctions and know exactly what you’re getting into, or would you choose to roll the Dooley dice?
More college football
- The definitive story, for now, on the Freeze era, by Steven Godfrey.
- Almost literally every coach who’s left the SEC West since 2000 has done so under bizarre circumstances. I ranked them.
- Bill C team of the day: Virginia Tech, where Justin Fuente’s already set the bar nice and high.
- Commit of the weekend: five-star gunslinger Matt Corral picks Florida.
- Also piping-hot is rival FSU, which landed a load of blue-chips this weekend and is now the favorite for No. 1 2018 recruit Justin Fields.
- Let’s talk to the NCAA about whether it’ll ever stop letting schools dictate where players can transfer.
- The Solid Verbal’s interview with SEC Network’s Cole Cubelic about 2017 line play is worth your time.
- Good Bull Hunting’s Freeze video made me laugh so loud, my wife yelled, “Are you OK?” from across the house.
- Yeah, Mark Richt’s still doing his summer backflip off the high five at Miami.
- Just finish Last Chance U? Here’s where the biggest names are playing this season.
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