Whittingham being speculated about USC job...

[ttowncoug]

Based on the fact that their was friction between he and his AD about keeping his assistants at Utah ($$$), I could see him jump ship. Texas, IMO, probably would pay him the most. Really feels like the Mike Price scenario too.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/la-sp-utah-whittingham-usc-20151021-story.html

 

[405 Coug]

I have always has a lot of respect for Whittingham, and I think he is under appreciated by his AD and many Utah fans, until this year. There were rumors about him getting the boot just a year or two ago, which I really didn't understand. Based upon that wouldn't be surprised to see a school with big money pick him up, he might as well grab his piece of the pie while he can. He is the 7th or 8th in terms of pay in the Pac 12, (Leach is #5), and Utah fans were complaining about him being paid too much last year.

 

[M-I-Coug]

I'm not sure about USC being a good fit, strictly on a personal level. According to Wikipedia, Kyle is an LDS member, probably a devout Mormon since he played at BYU and continues to coach at Utah. The culture at USC, (or anything outside of the state of Utah, for that matter), is totally different. Sure, he can join a local "ward" in LA, but I just don't see that happening.

Also, I wouldn't compare Kyle's Mormon faith and with Leach's faith. I would be very surprised if ML is an active LDS member.

 

[CougEd]

I'm not sure about USC being a good fit, strictly on a personal level. According to Wikipedia, Kyle is an LDS member, probably a devout Mormon since he played at BYU and continues to coach at Utah. The culture at USC, (or anything outside of the state of Utah, for that matter), is totally different. Sure, he can join a local "ward" in LA, but I just don't see that happening.

Also, I wouldn't compare Kyle's Mormon faith and with Leach's faith. I would be very surprised if ML is an active LDS member.

As Leach describes himself as a "Jack Mormon"

 

[79COUG]

As Leach describes himself as a "Jack Mormon"

"I consider myself to be a spiritual man but with some definite obedience issues."
Mike Leach

 

[SaveFerris]

There was talk last year of Whittingham going to BYU after this season. With how Utah has done I would think the AD would want him back but he is a BYU guy and that might be more attractive to him than Utah and definitely a better fit than SC. I do think on paper he would be scary good if he did go to SC and they gave him time to put his program in place.

 

[CougEd]

There was talk last year of Whittingham going to BYU after this season. With how Utah has done I would think the AD would want him back but he is a BYU guy and that might be more attractive to him than Utah and definitely a better fit than SC. I do think on paper he would be scary good if he did go to SC and they gave him time to put his program in place.

could you imagine the defense he would put together.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

I have always has a lot of respect for Whittingham, and I think he is under appreciated by his AD and many Utah fans, until this year. There were rumors about him getting the boot just a year or two ago, which I really didn't understand. Based upon that wouldn't be surprised to see a school with big money pick him up, he might as well grab his piece of the pie while he can. He is the 7th or 8th in terms of pay in the Pac 12, (Leach is #5), and Utah fans were complaining about him being paid too much last year.

The rumors about the boot is what happens when you have back to back losing seasons at a school that was used to having some success. He's a great example of why you don't want to make a kneejerk decision about a coach. It didn't help his case in 2013 when the loss to WSU is what got us into our first bowl game in a decade and kept them out of one. I saw one prediction this week that says that Utah loses 5 out of the last 6 games. I'd be shocked to see that happen.

 

[CougEd]

There was talk last year of Whittingham going to BYU after this season. With how Utah has done I would think the AD would want him back but he is a BYU guy and that might be more attractive to him than Utah and definitely a better fit than SC. I do think on paper he would be scary good if he did go to SC and they gave him time to put his program in place.

could you imagine the defense he would put together.

 

[Fab5Coug]

I'm not sure about USC being a good fit, strictly on a personal level. According to Wikipedia, Kyle is an LDS member, probably a devout Mormon since he played at BYU and continues to coach at Utah. The culture at USC, (or anything outside of the state of Utah, for that matter), is totally different. Sure, he can join a local "ward" in LA, but I just don't see that happening.

Also, I wouldn't compare Kyle's Mormon faith and with Leach's faith. I would be very surprised if ML is an active LDS member.

But, SC did so well with their last BYU alum hire...

 

[CougEd]

But, SC did so well with their last BYU alum hire...

I think Sarkisian had "obedience" issues as well. His were a penchant for booze and woman.

 

[Cougatron]

It will not be USC. I think USC will go to the NFL to get a coach. That's where the success came from for them with Carroll, and more than likely it also will be where they return to get a coach. That's what UCLA did and it revitalized that program. They miss fired on the last in conference hire. I don't think they will be going for Whittingham.

I think Sean Payton, Ken Norton Jr (He was assistant Head Coach when Caroll was there). etc. are what they are looking at.

Payton has ties to San Diego... he's 2-4 this year. He's had all kinds of issues with the bounty scandal, he was suspended...none of that I think is his fault, but it's been kinda obnoxious for him in New Orleans, but he was able to win a Super Bowl, and he coached a Hall of Fame QB in Drew Brees...

Going to USC is probably a very attractive option for him. He can leave the NFL a Superbowl HC still be loved in New Orleans...let someone else take the reins and be a a hero in So Cal getting access to the best in facilities and talent...without having to deal with free agency taking away the players he developed like Jimmy Graham. I think he's their #1 choice, and it wouldn't surprise me if they get him.

Ken Norton has like 6 super bowl rings as a player/coach. He was assistant HC at USC before he left to follow Caroll... He knows the region real well. Knows exactly what Coach Caroll has done to be successful.

Whittingham is a good coach, but USC doesn't want to be like other programs...that's why the sark hire was stupid. They didn't think it through and...hired another HC from a college team, just because he was an old assistant under Caroll. Norton is no drunk, and he also is highly respected by players where as Sark is not.

If they were to hire a coach in the college ranks I think it would be Houston's coach He was an excellent OC for Meyer. He's head coaching in Houston who are undefeated, and everyone thinks his absence is the reason Ohio State hasn't looked quite the same as when they won.

It wouldn't surprise me to see him end up at USC as he played at Cal Lutheran in thousand oaks. It would surprise people, because he's a conference USA coach, but his track record has all the signs of someone special and rare, and it will only be a matter of time before he is snatched up by Somebody. Sumlin was at Houston for only 3 years it wouldn't surprise me Herman is snatched up after 1 year there if he runs the table.

 

[SCglory]

I think Sarkisian had "obedience" issues as well. His were a penchant for booze and woman.

Sark was/is not a Mormon

 

[chinookpirate]

Sean Peyton has two years left at $8 million/year guaranteed. He isn't walking away from that to go back to college.

 

[How_did_this_happen?]

I have always has a lot of respect for Whittingham, and I think he is under appreciated by his AD and many Utah fans, until this year. There were rumors about him getting the boot just a year or two ago, which I really didn't understand. Based upon that wouldn't be surprised to see a school with big money pick him up, he might as well grab his piece of the pie while he can. He is the 7th or 8th in terms of pay in the Pac 12, (Leach is #5), and Utah fans were complaining about him being paid too much last year.

There were many fans over on BlockU that wanted him fired last season. It was amazing, but I guess that is just the way fans can be.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

There were many fans over on BlockU that wanted him fired last season. It was amazing, but I guess that is just the way fans can be.

To be fair, Utah did fine in the MWC but struggled for relevance in the Pac-12, slumping to back to back 5-7 seasons. Any fan base in the country would have been right to wonder if their coach who was successful in a lower level conference wasn't cut out for the big leagues. It's great for them that Whittingham is having a fine year but I don't blame the fans that wondered if there was a problem. They went 33-6 in their last three years in the MWC and then went 18-19 in their first three years in the Pac-12. When the frenzy reached its height last year, Utah had just lost to a WSU squad that was 1-3 before the game. Tell me that you wouldn't have been freaking out and I'd call you a damned liar.

We all want Leach to be successful here, but there is an awful lot of tough talk going on right now about good Leach is doing and the real truth is that if we don't beat Arizona this weekend, we are probably going to be pummeled by Stanford. We would be sitting at 4-4 getting ready to face an ASU squad that has outscored us 107-52 in the past two seasons. Lose that one and our reward is UCLA on the road in Pasadena. If that goes the way that the pundits would guess, we are sitting at 4-6 and in the middle of another storm and hoping that we can beat CU and UW to qualify for a bowl game. College football is fickle and she hasn't treated us well in over a decade. Hell, Utah was one play per game away from being 5-7 again last year.

I like what I see at the moment, but we've been in this spot many times in the past 30 years where we stayed home for the holidays. So, while I hope that things go well, maybe a little humility and perspective is in order.

 

[Cougatron]

College and High School are the only two areas that have that due to the nature of eligibility. NFL obviously is a whole other beast and really is about organizational structure. Cap Coaches and Chemistry and Contracts.

With college programs it really is about how the roster cycle moves. It's not really everything...because coaches / talent level play a factor, but a group of seniors can and often do beat youth when they are less talented or even coached poorly.

A good example would be Texas and Michigan this year. Texas has tremendous talent all the time, so how are they doing poorly? Well...Charlie Strong stripped the roster and is starting mostly freshmen. Essentially starting the roster cycle over. Obviously...that is going to cause tons of problems...despite them being incredibly talented.

Now Michigan is doing incredibly well in the 1st year for Harbaugh. So what's the difference? Is Harbaugh some infinitely better coach?...
Not necessarily...

Here's the two deep for Michigan.

Here's the two deep for Texas.

It really should jump out just how many Seniors Harbaugh is playing...and how many Freshmen Texas is playing.

So did Charlie Strong...all of a sudden forget how to coach? No.
Did Harbaugh work some incredible magic? Not really.

What made Harbaugh do much better out the gate was him not stripping the roster. Playing as many seniors as possible, and using simple schemes / maintaining the same DC as before. (kids don't have to learn a new scheme) and make very slight adjustments.

Strong went for the complete roster strip...and he's paying the price for it.

We had to do something similar to Strong but it was out of necessity to make room for new recruits. Hence a lot of the sloppy play.

But one thing WSU/Michigan/Texas all have in common....critical special teams mistakes. Even though Michigan has seniors...not every single detail can be controlled...they just happen more often for young teams.

We are on an excellent path and our future is very very bright with how much youth we have and how well they are competing. It won't be long before we are in a position like Utah.

 

[cr8zyncalif]

I think that the NFL idea has merit. SC can pay the going rate for the right guy. But it is also possible that they will go for a power 5 coach from a less well endowed school that has a great season. Too early to call; I don't expect a decision until December at the soonest.

 

[SCglory]

I think that the NFL idea has merit. SC can pay the going rate for the right guy. But it is also possible that they will go for a power 5 coach from a less well endowed school that has a great season. Too early to call; I don't expect a decision until December at the soonest.

you may be hearing about another SC personnel decision before that....

 

[CougSinceBirth]

you may be hearing about another SC personnel decision before that....

I am assuming you mean Haden is out, SC?

I wonder if Whittingham just stays in LA after the game? I kid, I kid.

 

[chinookpirate]

Harbaugh is a HOF coach.

Strong is a joke.

 

[froropmkr72]

Harbaugh is a HOF coach.

Strong is a joke.

No....Strong is not a joke. Strong is a excellent coach and has been for many years now.

 

[Cougatron]

Harbaugh is a HOF coach.

Strong is a joke.

Harbaugh - .596 win % 0 Conference Championships
Strong - .625 win % 2 Conference Championships

This is one of those examples where people make statements without checking the facts.

 

[chinookpirate]

Nothing screams "great coaching" better than taking perennial top 15 talent and turning it into the #52 ranked team in the country.

2-4 is speh shul.

I loved the way Stong coached to NFL conference and division titles.

 

[Cougatron]

Nothing screams "great coaching" better than taking perennial top 15 talent and turning it into the #52 ranked team in the country.

2-4 is speh shul.

I explained the difference on what is happening with both Michigan and Texas. What do you think Harbaugh's record would have been with freshmen instead of seniors? He's 5-2 right now....2-5? What a surprise.

 

[froropmkr72]

Nothing screams "great coaching" better than taking perennial top 15 talent and turning it into the #52 ranked team in the country.

2-4 is speh shul.

I think your pale-colored republican glasses have deemed everything good white and everything colored....bad. Please....now tell us all how you're the biggest Michelle Obama fan and how you'd luv her to be the next WSU President? Nothing screams great coaching than taking Louisville from 1-6 to 7-1 in their conference.

 

[chinookpirate]

Racist. You sicken me.

 

[froropmkr72]

Racist. You sicken me.

That's always a good one.....

 

[chinookpirate]

Other than ruin threads and drive away traffic with your sick Nazi tactics, why are you here?

You contribute nothing

You never discuss Cougar football

You never discuss... anything. So, why are you here?

 

[YakiCoug]

you may be hearing about another SC personnel decision before that....

Mike Garrett returneth!

 

[froropmkr72]

Other than ruin threads and drive away traffic with your sick Nazi tactics, why are you here?

You contribute nothing

You never discuss Cougar football

You never discuss... anything. So, why are you here?

After the first score you've said what?