Spurrier to Bama - Done Deal

The Bammers suddenly changed course this morning, firing Mike Shula only days after he was supposedly coming back for another year with serious staff changes. Tony Barnhart already predicts a slow, painful, embarrassing coaching search. Last year they gave him a $600,000 raise. This year he forgot how to coach.

Let the silliness begin! Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Jimmy Johnson, Pete Carroll, Butch Davis, Bill Parcells, and Bill Belichick have all submitted resumes according to Tider Insider and the Bammers. We enter a week where all is possible, all options are open, and no buyout is too much. This is the exuberance stage. Next week is "done deal" week. This period is filled with rumors of big name, unattainable coaches who have not officially denied interest being described as a "done deal." The third week is the parade of denials. Legitimate offers may be made by the Board of Trustees and turned down, embarrassing said Trustees and the university. Week four is the week a coach finally emerges. Paul Finebaum will continually criticize Alabama administrators this week for dragging the process out and not coming up with a big enough name. Week five is when a coach is announced. He will disappoint all but the most ardent Bama fans who will rally around him comparing him to the Bear and predicting championships within two years. Finebaum will pan the choice and lay the groundwork for his dismissal in four years.

In all seriousness, I hope Bama finds a good coach. The conference is more fun when Bama is strong. I just don't think they will find anyone who will be the big name they so desperately desire.

Here's my list of possibilities:
1. Mike Riley - HC, Oregon State - The problem here is that Riley turned down the job a few years ago. Why would he change his mind now?
2. David Cutcliff - OC, Tennessee - He's a Bama grad, but has longstanding ties to Bama's version of the devil.
3. Jimbo Fisher - OC, LSU - If the Trustees decide to go outside the Bama family, Fisher is a dark horse. He's a Southern football mainstay and has coached in Alabama before at Samford and Auburn. Rumors of a fallout with Les Miles signal his departure.