The College Football Coaching Carousel and More

With the college football regular season and championship games having drawn to a close and only the bowl games left, the coaching carousel that happens every offseason has begun to spin. Here are a few thoughts to chew on for now:

The biggest news in major college football coaching the last 24 hours has obviously been the news that Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen is heading West to coach Oregon State, replacing the departed Mike Riley who was hired by Nebraska almost a week ago (more on that in a moment).

The thing about this Wisconsin deal is this: Barry Alvarez is a Nebraska guy, he played for Bob Devaney in the late 60s (66 to 68, as a matter of fact). I had respect for the way he built Wisconsin up in the 90s and into the 2000s. But as of late, he's too much like Jerry Jones for my liking. The guy is too hands on in the athletic director's chair and he just needs to let coaches coach.

Take, for instance, something I noticed in Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde's latest column, posted last night. In it is a quote by Alvarez, which was said after Bret Bielema left Wisconsin a couple of years ago to take the Arkansas job:

"Bret used my gameplan to win," he said. "The coach I hire will have to understand who we are and how we go about our business."

Does that sound like someone who wants to let his coaches coach? It doesn't to me. It sounds to me like someone who wants to take all the credit and glory for the Wisconsin program's success.

On that note, Andersen wanted to install his zone read offense at the beginning of the year. But midway through the season, they went back to being ground and pound Wisconsin, which is what Alvarez prefers. It sounds to me like these two never really were able to co-exist.

It also wouldn't totally surprise me if that 59-0 whitewashing by Ohio State in the championship game last week had something to do with the Wisconsin coaching situation. In particular, it wouldn't totally shock me if it comes out later that Andersen already knew he was leaving and just packed it in.

As to who Wisconsin will hire? I'm not a betting man generally but if I were in the business of prediction making I'd say it will be current Pittsburgh coach Paul Chryst. Chryst is from Madison, played at Wisconsin in the late 80s and spent seven years as Wisconsin's offensive coordinator.

Regarding the hiring of Mike Riley to Nebraska, I am cautiously optimistic about the move even though Riley was not my first choice. He certainly is the opposite personality wise of Pelini, which is one thing the program needs. He is also doing a heck of a job trying to salvage the current Nebraska recruiting class. In general, Nebraska fans need to put down the pitchforks and give the man a chance to win...or lose...our trust. Speaking of Nebraska athletics...Incarnate Word? What the hell was that awful basketball performance? How did a good team get so crappy over several months? Any way you slice it that Cinderella story...long gone.

The guy I wanted in particular though, Jim McElwain, ended up at Florida. I think that's a great coaching hire by the Gators. Missouri has won the SEC East twice in a row but with McElwain in charge I'd say that little streak is in serious jeopardy.

Regarding the playoff matchups, be real. Alabama is the team to beat. Meyer is a good coach, Florida State is the defending champ and Oregon is perennially good but I really love Alabama's chances to win the whole thing. They have been trending upward for the past month, Sims is getting better with each game and Cooper's peaking right at the end of the season.

The scary part about Alabama in 2015 is that Blake Sims will be even better with a full offseason of development even though he loses Cooper...and LSU and Auburn will both be licking their wounds after down years. The only way I can see Auburn beating Bama next year is if they somehow get Muschamp. That could be an equalizer. And as for Lane Kiffin...Dead wrong about that one. Thought they would bust with his ego coming in. Not so.

As for the Big 12 teams being left out, the Big 12 did it to themselves in my opinion (and Ohio State played pretty well last game too). I have nothing against TCU or Baylor as I have many great friends from both schools, although I will say this: When you pay over $400,000 for the branding of the slogan "One True Champion" as the Big 12 did, then you name TCU and Baylor co-champs, get out of here with that. It's not Baylor or TCU's fault that they got left out, both had tremendous seasons. They should blame Big 12 commish Bob Bowlsby and Big 12 administration for this one. Too bad because TCU could have played Alabama toe to toe.

One final Rockets thought: Team is 16-5 but still has a ways to go. 16-5 sounds good but only gets you tied for 4th in the Western Conference at that point...West is just ridiculous. 7th place team in the West is 17-7. Rockets need to get guys back healthy and beat the teams they are in contention with fairly regularly. 3-4 against the top 6 in the West this year isn't going to cut it...50 wins might only get you an 8 seed. Interestingly enough, the Rockets, even though they've made the NBA Finals four times and won two titles, have never won more than 58 games in a single season.

Until next time....