Rich Rodriguez Set to Join CBS Sports

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After Rich Rodriguez was fired from Michigan after the 2010 season, college football fans wondered where Rich Rod may end up next? Would it be a head coaching job and could it possibly be back at the University of West Virginia, a place he left to take the Michigan job?



There were also rumors, according to two different sources, who told me Rodriguez was going to surface as the head coach at Clemson.

Turns out neither were correct.

CBS Sports announced a few minutes ago, via Twitter, they have added the former Michigan coach as an in studio and game analyst for the 2011 college football season. Rodriguez joined the CBS staff earlier this year as they brought the former head coach to provide insight to National Signing Day.

Could Tate Forcier Possibly Head for a Division-II School After Ditching Miami?

After quarterback Tate Forcier decided to depart the friendly confines of Ann Arbor and the University of Michigan, it seemed as if he was a prize on the free agent market.

After losing out to freshman star, Denard Robinson, it seemed Forcier seemed to lose interest and ended up academically ineligible for the 2011 Gator Bowl. Whether his grades forced his departure from Michigan or Forcier left on his own, the question on everyone's mind was, "where will he go next?"



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Almost a month after it was announced Forcier was no longer a part of the football team at Michigan, news broke that the young quarterback was heading for South Beach and the University of Miami.

"Miami had the best opportunity," he told ESPN. "There is so much positive energy around this program and I really want to be a part of it. I love these coaches and feel like they are the right guys for me. I had a great visit and I really want to be a part of the rebirth at Miami."

Even with Forcier's transfer to Miami, it did not seem likely he would be the starting quarterback for the Hurricanes especially behind 2010 starter, Jacory Harris. Of all the places the former Michigan quarterback could have chosen, Miami seemed the unlikeliest of places for him to choose.

Almost four months later it seems Forcier's days at Miami are over before they even had a chance to begin. According to the Associated Press, who cited sources close to the quarterback, Forcier apparently cut off contact with Miami almost six weeks ago.

While he has yet to make a public statement about what has transpired since he signed a transfer agreement back in February, these sources told the AP that undisclosed personal matters were overshadowing football. Those matters apparently led Forcier to decide against enrolling in school at Miami.

What happens now is anyone's guess. Those around college football will begin to guess where the young player will land or even if we will see him reappear on the college football scene.

It might be pure speculation but Matthew Celder, a college football small school analyst for Examiner.com, has three schools in mind which could be good fits.

"The University of North Alabama seem to be big time players in the transfer market," Celder told me. "Especially after reportedly landing former University of Florida cornerback Janoris Jenkins, pending NCAA approval."

Celder also told me Georgia State, after losing transfer Star Jackson and suspending quarterback Drew Little, as well as Valdosta State, who had a quarterback quit the team, are two schools who are in desperate need at the position and could benefit from a guy like Tate Forcier.

As of right now, Forcier is yet to make an announcement or even talk publicly about his decision not to enroll at Miami. Whether or not he plays football in 2011 is something we may not know for awhile. At least not until an official decision comes from the Forcier family.

Whether it's his ego or his lack of focus in the classroom, it seems the young quarterback may be out of options and out of universities who are in the need of players who can not make up their mind.

His Division-I days might be behind him so maybe a Division-II school is the way for this young quarterback to go. At this point he really does not have any more to lose, especially if he wants a future in football at the next level.


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Rich Rodriguez: Where and When Will the Former Michigan Head Coach Surface?

Ever since the Rich Rodriguez era came to an end in Ann Arbor, I've wondered where he could land next. Where will his next head coaching job be and who he might open to?

After coaching at two BCS schools, Michigan and West Virginia, it would only seem logical he would return to coach another BCS school. But what if a non-BCS came calling?

Let's assume for a minute a coach like Chris Petersen at Boise State, Gary Patterson at TCU, or Kyle Whittingham at Utah were to get offers they couldn't turn down. And let's assume all three of these schools were to have interest in bringing Rodriguez in as their new head coach. Which job would he take? Would he take any of them?

Of course his name is going to bring with him the stigma of failing at Michigan. There are going to be fans who want no part of having him be the next head coach of a team they root for, especially teams who are so used to success year in and year out.

As for me, I would give Rodriguez a chance at a school that needs a shot in the arm. A school who's been desperate to become what the three aforementioned schools have become.

Since we're looking at this as a debate how about I mention a school I grew up rooting for. A team who needs that shot in the arm I talked about before. A team who seems to be stuck in neutral and a school who's university seems to be ok with it.

I'm talking about Fresno State.

The Bulldogs are finishing their final season in the Western Athletic Conference before they move to the Mountain West Conference to join former rival Boise State along with Nevada and Hawaii who are also making the jump.

Since the Bulldogs hired Pat Hill prior to the 1999 season, the football program is still yet to win an outright conference championship. Not only that, but in the 11 seasons under Hill, Fresno State has won just four of their 11 bowl appearances.

While a losing record got their head basketball coach, Steve Cleveland, fired it landed Hill a three-year contract extension.

If you talk to some of the media who cover the team and they'll tell you that while it seems mediocrity has become a habit in the central valley, the fans will continue to come out because of the hype surrounding quarterback Derek Carr. He's the younger brother of another former Fresno State star, David Carr.

But there's one thing the Bulldogs are missing. It's the one thing that will keep them from even being in the middle of the pack once they move to their new conference.

That one thing is recruiting.

There's a change that needs to be made and the program needs a name players can relate to and a name they recognize.

For the last few years the Bulldogs haven't been able to recruit the players they need to be able to turn their football team into a conference champion and BCS buster year in and year out.

Before we mention money, let's not forget Boise State has a smaller recruiting budget and has somehow been able to to bring players in who have kept them not only at the top of the WAC, but also on the national scene.

They've been a team who have been talked about before, during, and after each college football season. They're hated by just about every BCS fan because they continue to hang around.

There's no doubt Petersen has been the right head coach to bring out the best in his players, but Rich Rodriguez is a guy who can do the exact same thing to a school who desperately needs his experience.

Fresno State won't have the luxury of playing conference cupcakes like San Jose State and New Mexico State. They'll have to face off against not only Boise State, Nevada, and Hawaii, but they'll deal with an upstart San Diego State program along with Air Force and a Colorado State team that can never be taken lightly.

Why not bring in a name that automatically makes recruits think twice about signing with rival schools?

Michigan fans couldn't wait to ship him out of town and West Virginia fans couldn't have celebrated more when he failed in Ann Arbor. Miserably.

But when Rodriguez comes up for air and he makes it known he's ready to get back into coaching, there won't be a shortage of teams willing to pay him what he wants to be their next head coach.

For Fresno State, they need to be on that bandwagon. If for no other reason than to let their fans know they're committed to doing more than they've done to this point.

Put the rules violations and things said about Rodriguez aside. He's still a name that attracts attention and a name that brings instant notoriety.

Say what you want about his coaching styles or the way he handled himself at Michigan, but with that kind of pressure from not only the athletic department but the boosters as well, it tends to change people and not for the better.

Given another opportunity could turn this coach from a villain to a success story.

All it takes is the right program and the right players. Whether it's Fresno State or another school who could be looking for a new head coach, the name Rich Rodriguez is going to be mentioned more than once.

When he finally does return, all eyes will be on him and the program he takes over.


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National Signing Day: Michigan's Brady Hoke Surprises Everyone

A first year coach isn't supposed to be this good. He's not supposed to come in to a new job, hit the ground running, and surprise everyone on one of the biggest days in a coach's life.

For Brady Hoke, that's exactly what he did. For those that doubted the man that was hired by the University of Michigan from San Diego State may not be doubting him much longer.

When a first year coach, especially one that most would say isn't proven in big time college football, signs 20 high school recruits to letters of intent people tend to stand up and take notice. If you haven't, shame on you.

During his first press conference after being named the new head coach, he said all the right things and responded in all the right ways to get fans believing in this program again. After that, it was up to him to show that he was up to the challenge. So far, he's responded just fine.

He turned around an Aztec football program that had been a joke since Marshall Faulk left the red and black. In 2010, Hoke led them to their best record in quite some time. Not only that, but he had one of the best running backs not only in the conference but some might argue he's one of the best in the nation, Ronnie Hillman.

The Aztecs became a team to be respected. They were a team that everyone in the Mountain West took seriously and a team that should have knocked out Missouri who was ranked in the top 15 at the time. Though, thanks to poor defense, the game slipped away in the final minutes.

Though Hoke had a short tenure at San Diego State, he left a legacy that new head coach Rocky Long will have to live up to. Where Hoke goes from here at Michigan will be up to the players that were left behind with the firing of Rich Rodriguez and those brought in on National Signing Day in February of 2011.

There's still lots to do with the Wolverine football program, that much is for sure. But if today is any indication on just how good this new head coach can be, the fans and alumni will have a lot to celebrate next season.

Don't ever count out a first year coach unless he proves otherwise. Hoke hit the ground running and he's proving that he's ready for whatever challenges might be thrown his way.

Look out Big Ten, there's a new sheriff in town.

Brady Hoke and Michigan Are a Perfect Pair

When the news broke yesterday that now former San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke would be the new head coach at Michigan, I saw more negative reaction than I expected to see. I then realized that the anger or frustration was not because he couldn't move this program in the right direction, it was because Hoke wasn't the Jim Harbaugh or Les Miles that a lot of them wanted.

Not only did reaction come from all over the country about the hiring but reaction was coming out of San Diego as well because it was the Aztecs Hoke was leaving in a lurch. The one thing I didn't see any of the Aztec fans, at least the ones I saw on my Twitter timeline on Tuesday, was the fact that Hoke had warned that this day was coming. So now that it was here, why were they surprised?

When he was hired back in 2008, Hoke made a reference to the fact that Michigan was his dream job. So here we were two years later and he did exactly what he set out to do. Land his dream job.

On Wednesday afternoon, Hoke and the Michigan Wolverines held a press conference to announce the hiring of their new head coach. For those who were naysayers about the hiring might have changed their minds after they stopped to listen to a very well spoken and very fired up coach.

When it came to Ohio State he did something that other Michigan coaches have not done. He said they were THE most important game on their schedule. Finally, someone willing to speak the truth about that rivalry. Speaking of Ohio State, Hoke never mentioned the Buckeyes by name but called them "that school in Ohio." A few hours on the job and he's already throwing jabs.

The question around the social media scene on Wednesday was, "is Hoke the right guy for the job?" The answer to that question, in my humble opinion, is a resounding YES.

This is not a guy who's unfamiliar with Michigan and the pressures that come with being a coach on the Wolverines' staff. Hoke was a lineman coach under Lloyd Carr from 1995-2001 and was then named Associate Head Coach in 2002. That would be his last year at Michigan before becoming the head coach at Ball State in 2003.

He returns to his old stomping grounds but this time it's as the head man of the program. He did a tremendous job turning around San Diego State and making them a respectable football program for the first time since Marshall Faulk donned the red and black.

He now moves on to Michigan where he'll have a talented quarterback in Denard Robinson along with a host of other talent up and down this roster. There's no question he can turn things around in a single season. This is a man that has that kind of capability.

Say what you want about his 34-38 record at Ball State or his 13-12 record at San Diego State, this is a whole new job description with endless possibilities. This is not some mid-major program playing in a mediocre sports town. This is the University of Michigan, the maize and blue, and this is a team that is ripe to do big things in the Big Ten.

You can be skeptical if you want, you have that right, but at least give Brady Hoke the benefit of the doubt. Wait and see what he does during his first season before you start making up your mind about what he can and can't do with this program.

While you may not think he's earned that right, you should still hang on to that bandwagon pass. Once you jump off it, Wolverine fans don't want to hear how "you knew it all along."

Brady Hoke is going to be just fine. In fact, he'll be better than fine.

If I were a Michigan fan, I would get ready for the 2011 season. This might just be one for the books.

Source: Rocky Long to Replace Brady Hoke at San Diego State

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Update: 8:43pm CST - According to the Associated Press, San Diego State is close to finalizing a deal with Rocky Long for him to replace the recently departed Brady Hoke as the head coach of San Diego State.

With Brady Hoke close to being on his way to Michigan, the San Diego State Aztecs will be looking for their next head coach to replace him.

According to a source I spoke to in San Diego, the Aztecs are already in talks with Rocky Long to be the next head coach.

This shouldn't come as a shock to a lot of San Diego State football fans as it was expected that Long would take the job if in fact Hoke departed for Ann Arbor.

Nothing is offical yet but once it's done we'll let you know.

Reports: Brady Hoke the Next Head Coach at Michigan

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Update: 8:42pm CST - As we all learned earlier this afternoon, a deal was finalized for Brady Hoke to become the next head coach at Michigan. A press conference is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at 1pm local time.

According to Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union Tribune, Brady Hoke's agent is or has been in negotiations with Michigan for him to become the next head coach of the Wolverines. Sports station 1090 AM out of San Diego is also confirming that Michigan's athletic director, Dave Brandon, will meet with Hoke to discuss the vacant head coaching job.

There have been quite a few reactions throughout the Twitterverse and most aren't of the good variety. From what I've seen from several different Michigan fans, they aren't happy that Les Miles returned to LSU and that Brady Hoke is going to be their next head coach.

Now those are only a few responses as there are plenty of other Michigan fans throughout Twitter that might have a different reaction but I'm only giving you what I've seen so far.

Nothing is official yet so if and when it does, we'll hit you with the particulars.

The next discussion to be had is who takes over at San Diego State? Well, if they want to continue their run  of excellence I would think they would want to bring in a guy that knows how to win and has done so already at another mid-major school.

One name I'll throw out is Fresno State head coach Pat Hill.

Reports: Les Miles Will Remain at LSU, Will Not Take the Michigan Job

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Reports are coming fast and furious out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana that LSU head coach Les Miles will not accept the Michigan job and will return as the head coach of the Tigers.

According to Randy Rosetta, LSU beat writer for the Baton Rouge Advocate, he received a text message from the LSU athletic director confirming that Miles will in fact stay with LSU.

Now the rumors will really start flying.

San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke has been the one name that continues to come up and has come up over the past month or two since word of Rich Rodriguez's fate, or potential fate at that point, was a foregone conclusion.

Another name that was brought up by Lisa Horne of Fox Sports, via Twitter, was University of Huston head coach Kevin Sumlin. He's not exactly as big of a name as Hoke but then again Hoke's name isn't huge either.

It's a wait and see game at this point but what we do know is Les Miles has taken his name out of the running.

For Michigan, it's Down to Les Miles or Brady Hoke

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Just hours prior to the Cotton Bowl at Cowboys Stadium, talk began to spread through the stadium about the possibility of LSU head coach Les Miles getting interest from Michigan about their head coaching vacancy.

Though no one thought Miles would answer any questions about the job before, during, or after the game, it didn't take long to find out that the two sides were going to begin conversations to gauge each other's interest.

We know that this isn't the first time Miles' name has come up. You might remember his name coming up before Rich Rodriguez left West Virginia in the middle of the night to become the new head coach in Ann Arbor.

This time, Rodriguez is out and the Wolverine fans want a big time name to replace him. A guy that's going to bring them wins over Ohio State and another national championship. Though not necessarily in that order.

But Miles isn't the only name that's being talked about when it comes to the biggest vacancy in college football right now. Another name that is on the Ann Arbor radar is current San Diego State head coach, and former Michigan lineman coach under Lloyd Carr, Brady Hoke.

He's not the "sexy name" that most would believe a job like this would require. Sure Hoke has a familiarity with the university as he spent seven years under Carr but that doesn't make him the kind of guy that can come in and immediately turn this team around.

There was a comment made by Yahoo Sports' Columnist Dan Wetzel about how Hoke would be his choice if he were a fan. To me that statement makes absolutely no sense at all.

If you polled, just for argument sake, 100 Michigan fans do you really think the majority would be ok with Brady Hoke? Absolutely not and especially not if Les Miles is being mentioned.

When Miles' name first came up before LSU's win over Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl, I talked to a few people in the press box who agreed that taking the head coaching job at Michigan would not be a step up for him. It would be a lateral step at best and one could argue it would be a step down seeing as Miles has had more success at LSU.

As far as Hoke is concerned, San Diego State is hoping Les Miles takes the job at Michigan for no other reason than they're enjoying the success they had this past season. Keeping Hoke means continuing that ride. One that doesn't look like it's going to end any time soon.

There's been no indication of when a decision is going to be made as to who the next head coach of the Wolverines will be. We do know it's down to two names but only one of those is the right guy for the job.

Whoever is chosen will leave another empty seat that will need to be filled. Will it be LSU or San Diego State?

Reports: Jim Harbaugh To Be The Next Head Coach of the San Francisco 49ers

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Rumors that have surfaced this afternoon, though none confirmed, are reporting that Jim Harbaugh will be the next head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

If those reports are true it will take him out of the running completely for the Michigan job. The Wolverines will now likely turn to San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke and quite possibly might be interested in LSU head coach Les Miles who was asked about that possibility today during his Cotton Bowl press conference.

Michigan: Rich Rodriguez Out, Brady Hoke In?

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According to reports that are slowly coming out, the University of Michigan has fired head football coach Rich Rodriguez. Fox 2 News in Detroit, via Twitter, confirms that report.

This is a move that a lot of us knew was coming and after reports surfaced that Rodriguez would be meeting with the athletic director this afternoon, it was just a matter of time before we learned what his fate would be. Turns out it was exactly what we all knew it would be.

What happens next is anyone's guess. Most of the talk late yesterday centered around Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh becoming the next head coach in Ann Arbor but as of this morning that possibility seemed all but gone.

I'll give you a few names that will begin to come up now that the news is official.

1) Les Miles - Head coach at LSU

2) Brady Hoke - Head coach at San Diego State


Yes those are only two names that could be considered but they are two guys that have been thrown around before. Miles is a Michigan guy and after talking to a source with ties to LSU, they told me that there was no question in his mind Les would take the job if it was offered. However, the source did say that they didn't think Michigan would offer him the job.

I also talked to a source out of San Diego who has it on good authority from a San Diego State insider that if Jim Harbaugh were to turn this deal down, it's Brady Hoke's job to lose.

Take that for what you will, but that is something I had heard a few weeks ago when the San Diego Union Tribune talked about the very same thing.

There's no question in anyone's mind that Hoke would love to be the next head coach at Michigan but I don't think even he believed Harbaugh wouldn't be the guy.

This could get very interesting very quick. I'll give you updates as they come.

Jim Harbaugh Won't Be a Michigan Man

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Just when you think you know how things are going to turn out they end up changing and going in a direction you never thought they would.

That's exactly what happened with Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh who, from what I was told yesterday, was expected to be the next head coach at Michigan. Just over 24 hours later, it seems Michigan is completely out of the running for his services. In fact, according to Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press, if Harbaugh does stay in the college ranks it will be as the head coach at Stanford.

However, don't count out an NFL team from putting together a solid offer to try and lure him to the professional ranks. There was word yesterday that the San Francisco 49ers were the team that was ready to go hard after Harbaugh and reports had the team offering somewhere in the vicinity of $30 million but it wasn't known how many years they would be prepared to offer.

Another NFL team that could get involved, according to Jason LaCanfora the Miami Dolphins could also be a player especially since they got to see Harbaugh in the Sugar Bowl last night as his Stanford club blew out Virginia Tech.

Going back to the conversation I had yesterday with a source close to Michigan, he told me if Harbaugh did not end up going to Ann Arbor they would bring back Rich Rodriguez for another year and then use the 2011 off season to chase down former Florida Gators' head coach Urban Meyer.

It's amazing how things change in just 24 hours but, as of right now, it seems as if Jim Harbaugh is not going to be the next head coach of Michigan. The one thing that could keep him at Stanford is the fact that his quarterback, Andrew Luck who's expected to be the top pick in the 2011 NFL draft, could return to school for one more season.

The final answers to Michigan as well as what Jim Harbaugh's future will be should be known either over the next few days or weeks.

The 49ers are one NFL team that's looking for a new head coach but they're not alone. Harbaugh is going to be a hot commodity until he makes his future official.

Until then, let the rumors continue to fly.

Source: Jim Harbaugh Could Be Named as Michigan's Head Coach This Week

 
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For all of you that have followed the rumors surrounding Michigan you know the one name that continues to be tossed around as the top candidate is current Stanford head coach, Jim Harbaugh.

There were rumors this morning that a deal fell apart between Harbaugh and university but a source I just spoke to says there was no such deal and there were no negotiations between the two sides. However, they did tell me that Michigan could have Harbaugh locked up on a contract by the middle of this week.

The source was careful to say that none of this is set in stone but from sources they have close to Michigan as well as current and former players, there is a divide between the Lloyd Carr "guys" and the Bo Schembechler "guys" that needs to be repaired.

I was told that this was not going to be about money for Jim and that he was so angry about what he saw from the Wolverines in their bowl game this past weekend that he is as motivated as ever to make some changes.

That being said, you know I've talked about San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke in the past. I brought that name up with this source and they told me he's the guy that's being pushed by former Lloyd Carr "guys." He's not the guy that is going to fix the problems at Michigan and he's not the "sexy" name that alumni, boosters as well as current and former players want.

Another rumor that had surfaced this morning was the apparent interest in Harbaugh from the San Francisco 49ers. A television rumor a few minutes ago reports that the 49ers have a $30 million deal on the table but I have not been able to confirm there's any truth to that or the amount of years that are involved.

However, I was told that the 49ers would have to double the amount of money offered to Harbaugh to make him think twice. But even if they did, he wants to be a Michigan guy and there's not much San Francisco can do to change that.

Here's the most interesting information of all and something that caught me completely off guard. If the Wolverines can not get a deal done with Harbaugh which, again, is completely unlikely, they will keep Rich Rodriguez for another year and then their top candidate will be none other than former Florida Gators' head coach Urban Meyer who apparently has or had an out clause at both Utah and Florida for ONLY Ohio State and...wait for it...Michigan.

These are all just rumors but they are coming from a very good source who has this from someone who is very much plugged in to the university and would have the inside track on the situation.

Throw Brady Hoke out the window, that's not going to happen.

Jim Harbaugh is the guy they want and the guy they will do whatever they can to get. They know bringing him to Michigan brings him closer to his parents who live in Wisconsin. The flight wouldn't be nearly as long as it is from northern California.

I'll have more on this story as it comes around to me during the "Countdown to the Cotton Bowl" all this week. I'll be on the air with Dave Michaels from 4-6pm CST Monday through Thursday.

You can hit this link http://bit.ly/dkkS5a and click on the "Listen Live" button on the upper left hand corner of the screen.

Michigan Can't Have Jim Harbaugh, So Who Will They Get?

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Jim Harbaugh isn't going to Michigan, that much we're sure of after reports surfaced this morning that a deal between the Stanford head coach and the Wolverines fell apart over the weekend.

If the deal fell apart over the weekend there had to be a reason for that and I don't believe it has anything to do with money. He has a solid job at Stanford and no matter how much he wants the job with the Wolverines, with his wife just giving birth, you better believe she has a say in this as well.

Don't get me wrong this isn't a job that a coach like Jim Harbaugh shakes his head at. This isn't a job that he doesn't take seriously or want in the worst way. But when family gets involved and you're in a situation where you can make your family comfortable, things are always as clear as they once seemed.

According to one source I spoke to who has ties to the university, he still believes Harbaugh is going to be the guy. He also told me if Harbaugh isn't hired by the Wolverines, Rich Rodriguez will stay put. Seems far fetched to me but this guy hasn't led me astray yet so I'll buy in to what he's selling. At least for now.

So let's assume for a minute that the Stanford coach isn't the guy and let's forget for a minute that I think this deal is dead for good. Who is next in line and is there really a "short list" of candidates that Michigan is going to look at?

For those of you that have been on the blog before you know I've talked about Boise State head coach Chris Petersen in terms of deserving a bigger coaching job. But every time I bring his name up, he always seems to surprise me by staying with the Broncos but I know it's for reasons that have nothing more than family to do with it. I admire that.

It's that reason alone that I'm actually not going to talk about Coach Petersen when it comes to Michigan. In fact, I'll take him completely out of the running. Boise State fans can thank me later or they can sent me a box of girl scout cookies, I'm completely fine with both as long as the cookies don't have peanut butter in them.

Now that we have Petersen's name out of the way, it's time to talk about who the job could very well go to because his name is going to get a lot of run around San Diego as well as Michigan. It's a name that I've already talked about at length when it comes to the job in Ann Arbor which is about to come open at any time now. Especially after they got embarrassed by Mississippi State.

The name that I will talk about is a guy that San Diego State fans know all too well only because he's the Aztecs' head football coach, Brady Hoke.

He's already gone on the record when it comes to the job in Ann Arbor and it didn't hurt his cause when he made it known that it was his dream job. Problem is, I'm not sure Hoke knew that he would become a top candidate when he made those remarks. I'm almost positive he figured Harbaugh was going to get the gig so there was no reason to say anything less than what he meant.

Now that he seems to be out of the picture, at least for now, Hoke has to know that his name is going to get written in a papers from San Diego to Ann Arbor and everywhere in between.

For those of you who think he's not the right guy for the job, I would think again. You might be in love with Stanford's head coach but you might be equally as impressed with what San Diego State's football program has been able to accomplish under their head coach.

He knows Michigan and he's coached there before. He knows a little bit about the pressure of being on the coaching staff.

Before I crown Brady Hoke the next head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, I'm going to let this process play out. There are those that aren't ready to write off Jim Harbaugh just yet. Just because there's a report that a deal fell apart over the weekend it doesn't mean that either side is done talking or negotiating.

He wants the job, that much is clear. Otherwise he wouldn't be talking to Michigan at all. But don't think for a second that the Wolverines are the only team that wants Harbaugh's services.

The San Francisco 49ers are apparently high on the Stanford head coach and it stands to reason that they would offer him a chance to stay in the bay area and not have to change his commute much. Not only that, but the pay day for becoming an NFL head coach, like his brother in Baltimore, would make his family quite comfortable in Northern California.

According to Mike Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press, via Twitter, he says there's no truth to the reports that we've heard this morning and apparently Peter King has the race for Harbaugh down to Michigan and the 49ers. It matches all the reports that have been floating around this morning.

However, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com seems to think that the 49ers could be the lead dog if they can put a compelling enough deal on the table. Could that be the reason the apparent "deal" with Michigan fell apart or was there any deal at all?

This is a wait and see game for right now. The two names you need to familiarize yourself with are Jim Harbaugh and Brady Hoke.

Those are the two names that are going to become very interesting in this race over the next few weeks.

Chris Petersen, Not Jim Harbaugh Should Be Michigan's Top Candidate

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Boise State is one of the most hated programs in Division 1-A college football. No matter which state you travel to or how many fans you talk to there isn’t one person who doesn’t know, or despise, Boise State.

It’s not the winning they hate and it’s not even the blue turf, though some might have that high on their list, it’s the lack of a strong schedule year in and year out.

You can talk about their Fiesta Bowl win over Oklahoma and you can even talk about their win over Oregon to kick off the 2009 season. But there are as many people who credit the Broncos with those wins as discredit them as overrated.

We can sit here and debate Boise State until we’re blue in the face, no pun intended, but there is one man with ties to Boise State that gets a lot of respect outside the city of Boise and the Western Athletic Conference.

Boise State’s head coach, Chris Petersen.

That name seems to come up with just about every coaching vacancy that seems to open each and every year in college football no matter where it is.

When the Florida job came open after Urban Meyer decided to step down Petersen’s name immediately hit the rumor mill. Some, myself included, were almost sure he was the number one candidate and shoe-in for the job.

That’s why we were all shocked when the Florida athletic director introduced long time Texas Longhorns defensive coordinator Will Muschamp as their new head coach.

Now, with the Florida job filled as well as the University of Miami, there’s one job that everyone is looking at and one that most believe is already filled. The University of Michigan.

Ever since head coach Rich Rodriguez made the move from West Virginia to Ann Arbor his time was already ticking away. The Wolverine fans weren’t fond of him right from the start and it didn’t take long for them to voice their opposition. The same opposition that has been heard the loudest this season.

With another disappointing season under their belt, it would almost seem like a lock that Rodriguez is about to lose his job. He even went so far as to say he would not lobby the athletic department to be able to stay.

That in itself is the biggest white flag of surrender that Rodriguez has ever sent up the flag pole. It seems like he knows his time has come to an end and he isn’t going to keep the inevitable from happening.

If the rumors are true and he is headed out the door there’s one man that most believe will be his successor, current Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh. In fact, he’s the man that seems to be the growing favorite among Wolverine fans.

But before we hand him the scepter and the keys to the Michigan kingdom, there are those of us that not only believe Harbaugh won’t be the head coach of the Wolverines but I’ll even go as far as to say he’s not the best man for the job.

Say what you want about him being an alumni of the university and a guy that has done a great job with the Stanford football program, but has he really shown the ability to handle the kind of pressure the Michigan job would come with? Stanford isn’t exactly Michigan.

Harbaugh is a coach that is capable of doing big things at the next level of college football but when we’re talking about someone that can take this team back to where it used to be, there’s only one name that needs to be mentioned.

Petersen is not your prototypical rah-rah, fire you up, kind of guy. He’s not the kind of guy that’s going to jump up and down when a big play is made.

He is an under-control, methodical, thinking two and three plays ahead kind of coach. The Wolverines don’t need to be fired up, they need to win. Now.

Before you make the argument that a coach coming from a mid-major program won’t have the same success in big-time college football, need I remind you Urban Meyer spent two seasons as the head coach of the Utah Utes before he won two national championships with the Florida Gators.

Petersen not only brings a proven track record of winning but he brings a name that most top recruits, and their families, will already be familiar with.

Where most football programs would worry about a brand new coach bringing in the right players, one would almost have to wonder if he would have to do any recruiting at all. Would the players come to him?

I have no problem with Jim Harbaugh. In fact, I’m a huge fan of his and I enjoy the kind of spirit and energy he brings to the Stanford sidelines.

But, if I’m the Michigan Wolverines and I’m looking for a guy that can take me back to the top of the Big Ten and back to a shot at the BCS National Championship, there’s only one name they need to write down.

Chris Petersen.

If Michigan Comes Calling, Brady Hoke Needs To Answer

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San Diego State's football program has seen a drastic turnaround and in record time.

After a 4-8 season in 2009 the Aztecs finished the 2010 season with an 8-4 regular season record and an invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl at their home stadium in San Diego.

The man that led them there? Head coach Brady Hoke. The 35-17 win over Navy in the Poinsettia Bowl on Thursday night was their first bowl win since 1969 and they did it in impressive fashion.

Quarterback Ryan Lindley threw for 276 and two scores while running back and game MVP Ronnie Hillman rushed for 226 yards and four total touchdowns for the Aztecs.

Make no mistake about it this Navy team, led by quarterback Ricky Dobbs, the Aztecs made easy work of was not a bad football team at all. In fact, very much the opposite. But it made no difference, the Aztecs were in their own backyard and in their own stadium.
Navy never had a chance.

Heading in to college football's off season rumors surrounding San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke will undoubtedly start to surface sooner rather than later. Though his name has already been mentioned among a few job openings there's one in particular that might be too enticing to pass up.

Michigan.

If Rich Rodriguez is fired, as some believe he will be, you can expect Hoke's name to be among the leading candidates. We don't know for certain that Rodriguez is in fact on his way out but it seems more certain now than in previous years. 

But why Hoke? Isn't he just some college football coach in a mid-major conference out west? Yes he is, but so was Urban Meyer for two seasons at Utah before becoming a two-time national champion at Florida. How many coaches have actually had the kind of success Hoke has had at San Diego State? Can you count them on one hand or do you only need a few fingers?

He already has ties to the school after having been an associate head coach and defensive line coach under Jim Tressell from 1995-2002. After his stint there, Hoke became the head coach at his alma mater Ball State leading them to a 34-38 record in six seasons including a 12-1 record in his final season with the school (2008).

The other name that will come up next to Hoke's is Stanford head coach, and Michigan alum, Jim Harbaugh. He's the man a lot of college football fans believe will be the number one man on Michigan's list. However, there's no indication that he will leave Stanford to take that job no matter how much they're hoping he will.

If Harbaugh remains at Stanford, like some are already speculating, it's Hoke's name that will come up next. If he gets the call and the university's number comes up on his speed dial, he would be a fool not to answer the phone and at least find out what they're offering.

In fact, I'll go a step further. Brady Hoke would be a fool not to take the job if it's offered to him.

Sure I know it's just an assumption at this point because the job isn't open yet but there's a growing consensus that it will be after the season officially comes to a close after the first few weeks of January or maybe after the Super Bowl concludes at the end of the month.

However, if Michigan wants to get a big jump on recruiting and doesn't want to lose any ground it would behoove them to replace Rodriguez as soon as possible.

There are those that are going to mention Hoke's contract extension at San Diego State but, as we all know, not all contract extensions keep head coaches from accepting their dream job at their alma mater. It shouldn't stop the Aztecs' head coach from doing the same.

You can talk about loyalty and you can talk about wanting to be at San Diego State and wanting to achieve greatness there, but greatness at Michigan far outweighs any amount of success in the Mountain West Conference.

If you don't believe me, ask TCU why they're leaving the conference.

If it weren't for a college football coach in a sleepy Southern California town, they wouldn't have much to celebrate sports wise. The San Diego Padres missed the playoffs and the Chargers are in danger of doing the exact same thing. The Aztecs have given the sports fans in that town something to cheer about.

Brady Hoke has done something that a lot of other coaches at San Diego State haven't been able to do and he's done it in a shorter time period than a lot of people thought he would. He's done a job that should absolutely be commended and he's brought the right players in to get the job done.

In the back of his mind he has to know that there is a possibility his dream job will come open and he has to know that there's only one guy ahead of him on their wish list.

If that one guy turns the job down it's up to Hoke to decide whether loyalty will win the day or if his dream job will steal his heart away and lead him back to Ann Arbor.

He'd be a fool not to take it. It's the only shot he's going to get.

Will Brady Hoke Be the Next Head Coach at Michigan?

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Rich Rodriguez has been rumored to be on the hot seat for at least the last few years. It was never a matter of when he was fired, but if.

Well, apparently that time has come if you believe the word coming from Gregg Henson of 105.3 FM in Dallas, TX.

Henson, via his blog says, "[San Diego State head coach] Brady Hoke is a dark horse candidate to replace Rich Rodriguez at Michigan if there is a change and [Stanford head coach] Jim Harbaugh doesn't want the job.  Hoke has even gone as far as to tell San Diego State that he would leave for the Michigan job."

The only reason I find that a tad bit curious, not to say that I don't believe Henson's sources because he's never been led astray before, but Hoke just signed a contract extension with the Aztecs a few weeks ago. If he was that interested in the Michigan job, why sign the extension especially since his first contract ran through the 2013 season?

Well, this article from Brent Schrotenboer of the San Diego Union Tribune may lend some credence to Henson's sources especially since Hoke just about admits that Michigan is his dream job.

When asked if Michigan had a opening at the head coaching position Hoke said, "we wouldn't have signed an extension."

Michigan would love to have Harbaugh, but if he turns the job down it might be Hoke's job to lose.

Michigan Football: Rich Rod Out, Jim Harbaugh in?

Ohio State took it to Michigan again. They beat them in ever facet of the game. Defensively, offensively, it didn't matter, the Buckeyes ran away from the Wolverines, 37-7.

With that in mind, it would seem to me that Rich Rodriguez has coached his last game in Ann Arbor. There's no way that the school can or should bring him back. They need a shot in the arm, they need a new start, they need someone that is going to bring this team back to greatness. The Wolverines have lost nine of the last 10 games in this series including eight straight. That alone is grounds for change in the eyes of Michigan fans, boosters, and maybe the administration itself.

I do feel sorry for Rodriguez, however. He was the same guy that said he wasn't leaving West Virginia before he snuck away from the Mountaineers to take the Michigan job. Fans there were furious. They wanted retribution and they wanted his name stripped from the campus or the minds from every fan there.

But, on the flip side of things, West Virginia fans have kept their curse on Rich Rod and it's worked. The Wolverines haven't had the same kind of success since their head coach came to Ann Arbor. Success to them is beating Ohio State and they haven't been able to do that.

With Michigan's season coming to a close, the rumors will begin hot and heavy as to whether Rich Rod will keep his job through next season, if at all. We've heard these rumors before and we've heard the one name that continues to be brought up. This is a guy that has made an impact where he is now and turned a Stanford team into a top 10 team nationally.

This is a name that everyone knows is more than interested in the Michigan job because it's his alma mater. The name is Jim Harbaugh, the current head coach for the Stanford Cardinal.

His quarterback, Andrew Luck, is headed to the NFL, so is there really a reason to stay where he is? Is there a reason he shouldn't take the job at Michigan if it's offered to them?

I can think of one. Domination of the PAC-10.

Sure it doesn't sound like much, but when was the last time Stanford found themselves at the top of the conference that is usually dominated by USC? Does he really want to take over a Michigan team that won't be in the same conversation with Ohio State or even Wisconsin for at least the next few years? Will the Michigan brass expect him to turn this team around in a single year, expectations they know are far too high?

Whatever the expectation is, I believe Harbaugh will stay at Stanford and will send the Michigan administration scrambling to find someone that is wanting the job.

Only thing is, they'll be hard pressed to find a guy that has the same credentials and same big name than Jim Harbaugh. How shocking is it going to be when he declines their offer? What's next for Rich Rodriguez?

All those questions could be answered within just the next few weeks or sooner. We know that Rodriguez is, and should be, out as the head coach. Who the next man will be is yet to be seen. But I don't believe it will be Harbaugh no matter how much Michigan wants him.