Jobs Fulmer And Tuberville Might Be Eyeing

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Phillip Fulmer and Tommy Tuberville want to coach again.  They’ve made that perfectly clear on numerous occasions.

Fulmer, 59, has said he doesn’t want to go to a program that’s in need of a big rebuilding job.  Tuberville, 55, has said he’s “a gun for hire,” but rest assured, he’s not interested in a cellar-dweller program, either.

So where might these guys end up?  Tuberville’s name has popped up just about everywhere.  Fulmer’s… not so much.  In his favor, however, is the fact that not everyone can snap up Tuberville and Brian Kelly.

So which jobs look to be coming open?  Here are a few of the guys on hot seats right now (with current record in parenthesis):



Dennis Erickson, Arizona State (4-5) –  I don’t believe Erickson will be fired, but you never know.  ASU has had some success in the past and served as a launching pad for John Cooper 20 years ago.  I just can’t picture State reaching a deal with Tuberville or Fulmer.  Those coaches don’t have enough recruiting ties to California… where ASU has to go for talent.

Al Groh, Virginia (3-6) –  Groh is a dead man walking and Fulmer has mentioned to acquaintances that Virginia might be a possible next stop.  I don’t think Tuberville would head to Charlottesville, so Fulmer might be on the Cavaliers’ radar.  He’d have to go head-to-head in the same division with old buddy David Cutcliffe if he did land this gig.

Dan Hawkins, Colorado (3-6) –  The Buffs aren’t what they used to be under Bill McCartney in the late 80s and early 90s.  But they do play in the weaker of the two Big 12 divisions.  Fulmer was probably angling for this job when he said earlier this season that he has a house in Wyoming and loves the West.  Not sure if Tuberville would want to head West, but I’m guessing he’d high on Colorado’s wish list.

Steve Kragthorpe, Louisville (3-6) –  Kragthorpe took over a team that had lost a lot of seniors when Bobby Petrino jetted to the Falcons.  Still, fans (donors) don’t like excuses.  The Cardinals have taken a big step backwards, but they have had success previously under both Howard Schnellenberger and Petrino.  You can win at Louisville and the Big East is a breeze.  I’ve been told Tuberville would be high on the Cardinals’ list (despite wild rumors that they would make a run at uber-expensive Jon Gruden).  Fulmer would probably kill for this gig.

Greg McMakin, Hawaii (3-6) –  The run and gun and fun of June Jones’ offense is a distant memory.  McMakin’s gay slur is not.  Would Tubs head to Hawaii?  No way.  But would Fulmer consider taking a final gig in paradise?  The expectations aren’t high and there are a lot worse places to live.  Then again, there’s no way UH could pay Tuberville or Fulmer what they would want.  No chance on this one.

Mike Sherman, Texas A&M (5-4) –  I don’t think that Sherman will be blown up after just his second year, but Aggie fans don’t like falling so far behind arch-rival Texas.  I was told by a friend of Fulmer that this school would be high on his list.  A&M would also figure to be a perfect fit for Tuberville, who was the defensive coordinator in College Station in 1994.

Charlie Weis, Notre Dame (6-3) –  This job has Brian Kelly written all over it.  I can’t imagine Urban Meyer would leave Florida for a school that has the fan expectations of UF but the academic requirements of Stanford.  Irish fans can’t accept the fact that unless they drop their academic standards, their days of being a national power are over.  I don’t see Tuberville getting a sniff from South Bend, much less a 59-year-old Fulmer.

Paul Wulff, Washington State (1-8) –  Tuberville won’t head to the Palouse.  Would Fulmer?  He’s said he doesn’t want to go to a rebuilder, but he also has that place out in Wyoming.  I can’t picture it.  This one might go to yet another Pete Carroll assistant.



Best bets right now:

Tuberville

1. Louisville
2. Texas A&M
3. Colorado


Fulmer

1. Virginia
2. One of the above three jobs that Tuberville might turn down

(UPDATE — Maryland, which was initially mentioned as a possible landing spot for Fulmer, has a coach-in-waiting on staff in offensive coordinator James Franklin.  And I’m sure their fans are happy to be turning a so-so program over to someone who is already on the staff.)