I'll talk to Jeff Quinn today, many reports say he's already interviewed for the UC head coaching position.
I'm not totally against him getting the job -- it's not as if it's unprecedented for an assistant to take over and have success. I can think of two off the top of my head: Boise State's Chris Petersen was the offensive coordinator at Boise State for three years before Dan Hawkins left for Colorado and he's elevated the program. Utah's Kyle Whittingham went from defensive coordinator at Utah to the head coach and there's been no drop-off.
Or, you could go with the tried-and-true and promote Central Michigan's head coach.
The name that doesn't make much sense -- at least from a PR standpoint -- is Skip Holtz. Holtz interviewed with Thomas the last time and didn't get it -- you'd hope two Big East titles would make the job better than it was three years ago and you could get better than the last runner-up. But maybe not.
Whatever shakes out, I'd be surprised if it wasn't over this week. Mike Thomas wasn't exactly caught off guard with this one and his M.O. has been to move quickly when he can. Mike told me the other night that he wouldn't make any public comments or return calls until this is over, so for those of you starving for a "no comment" -- consider that one.
* Is the Conference That Can't Count going to be off by two? And if so, what happens to the conference it raids? The Chicago Tribune has several possibilities for the 12th team in the Big 10, most of them from the Big East, as well as Missouri.
Mizzou has long been rumored. It would hurt their rivalry with Kansas, but ignite the rivalry with Illinois. Would the Big 12 then look to TCU to fill their roster?
Now, if the Big 11 raids the Big East, does Memphis take a slot left by UC, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse or Pittsburgh? Of those, Rutgers makes sense because of its access ott he New York market, Pittsburgh and UC make sense geographically.
* No need to wait too long for your ESPN dream of Yankees-Red Sox, the first game of the season will be the first of 142 overhyped games between the two. It gets the ratings, but man, the rest of us...
* Another vote for a breakout season for Jay Bruce.
* If the three-team trade stays like this, I really like it for Seattle and Toronto and not so sure how much Philly gains. It could be the really rare trade that helps all three.
* Matt Holliday could return to St. Louis -- perhaps he waited too long and has not enough suitors. But man, him making more than Pujols? I know it's a product of when you're a free agent, but still.
* Craig Calcaterra pretty much says what I'd have to say here about Tony La Doubleday "fixing" baseball.
* Remember Donruss' "Diamond Kings" in the 80s? Here's a look at some of the poor choices of the 80s.
* The fact that Frances Bean Cobain is 17 makes me feel really, really old.
On the other hand regarding Skip Holtz, you could argue that he's also had 3 years to get better as a coach and prove that he's ready. Personally though I don't have a realistic favorite in the search. I'll trust Thomas just so long as his choice isn't Coombs. (There's probably a psychological study to be done about those who really want Coombs. So mentally damaged by coaches leaving that they're willing to take someone who's not only not proven as a college head coach, but not even as a coordinator just so long as he won't leave.)
I personally, do not like the idea of Big 10 expansion. It's mostly because of selfish reasons, because I think it will de-value the Ohio State Michigan rivalry. Put them in the same division they can't play for the championship of the Big 10 anymore, put them in different divisions they could play 2 times a year.
In addition to that though, I don't like the 2 division system. How many years in the conferences with championship games do you actually get the 2 best teams playing. I can think of quite a few years where you have 2 power teams in the one division. Last year in the Big 12, there were 4 teams stronger in the south than any of the teams in the North.
Plus, adding a team just for the sake of expanding the TV market doesn't make sense to me. I understand they really want to tap the east coast market by adding Syracuse or Rutgers, but other than money does it make the conference stronger to add either team? I'd much rather see the addition of UC or West Virginia. Although I'm not so sure either would leave the Big East.
First of all I hate this conference raiding.
That said, I'm not sure UC or Louisville fit the Big Ten. There is some academic credential that all the Big Ten teams have. I believe Syracuse, Rutgers and Pitt are the only Big East teams with that credential - at least I seem to remember reading something along those lines. I know WVU doesn't have it.
The rumor the past year or so has been Mizzou to the Big 10. Arkansas leaves the SEC and goes to the Big 12 replacing Mizzou (kinda like going back to the old Southwest Conf they used to be in). Finally the SEC goes after one of the larger state schools in the ACC or WVU to replace Arkansas .
Maybe nothing will happen.. I certainly hope so.
I think the credential is they have to be considered an AAU school, which Syracuse and Rutgers fit. I would guess if they add anyone it will be one of those 2 schools. Ideally, it would be Notre Dame, but until NBC gets tired of airing bad football every week, it's just not going to happen.
http://www.aau.edu/about/article.aspx?id=5476