Let’s start this thing

It’s not really so bad. This is such an interesting time of year in college football for several reasons. But one of the best to me is the coaching rumor mill. It makes for great reading. But at some point we have to sort out what’s true, right? It seems like newspaper columnists rely on message board posts as their sources. Then they put it up on their newspaper websites. Then, shockingly, it turns out to be wrong (or premature).  So they take it down, or change. All the while never once commenting about their error, or holding themselves accountable.

So, here are things I know. These are not rumors. This is information I have obtained from sources cultivated over many years.  Of course, I won’t always be right. There’s too much intentional leaking of misinformation, and people playing spin-doctor to always be right. But I guarantee more accuracy than the newspaper you typically read.

1. Tommy Tuberville likes Texas A&M. Likes it a lot. Problem is, he has a family enamored with Auburn.  Realize that since ‘94 he’s been 3 different places. This is the longest he’s been somewhere since he was at Miami from ‘86 to ‘93. It’s easy to understand why his family would feel like it’s time to stop somewhere.  Tuberville has commented before that Texas A&M is a place he wouldn’t mind ending up. Tuberville will listen, and be legitimately interested, but the money won’t be enough to get him to move. Texas A&M would have to pay him roughly twice what it’s paying Dennis Franchione now. Won’t happen. But Tuberville will get a nice raise.

2. Speaking of Texas A&M, word is more emails have been rounded up from the VIP Connection scandal. I’m hearing that these emails are worse than the first batch,  but not in the sense that they expose Texas A&M to more NCAA violations (so don’t worry Aggies). But let’s say it won’t help out Fran’s reputation with players.  I’ll have more details on these before they’re released.

2. Goodbye Karl Dorrell. He’s a good man and a good coach. He’s also gone. The complete beatdown by Utah started the rumblings.  Then losing to a terrible ND team made them deafening. Losing to WSU was the nail.  With the Bruins closing out the season vs. ASU, Oregon, and USC, those in charge will wait until the end of the season to make it official, but expect it in the days following the USC game. It’s tough because not only is Karl a good guy, but he’s aUCLA grad. It makes it tougher all around.

3. Texas Tech hates Karl Dorrell. Most Texas Tech Red Raiders love Mike Leach. And Leach is a funny guy. He’s also made football fun on the South Plains. That’s why Tech fans will be cursing Karl Dorrell’s name when, after he is fired, UCLA makes a push for Mike Leach. This won’t be a situation where they go after Leach and no others. But look for Leach to be the favorite. Leach stand to make around 1.5 million next year at Texas Tech. My understanding is it won’t take a huge bump to get him to Los Angeles. He was born in CA, went to law school in CA, and began his coaching career out there. Leach is a fit for the Pac-10, although he did make an unusual attempt to strengthen his defense this year. Sources on both sides seem pretty convinced that Leach will be drinking his next whiskey at the Dresden Room in LA next year.

4. Houston Nutt is..well..  This is a tough situation to get a read on. Honestly, I’m getting conflicting information on it, and would rather wait until something more solid comes up before writing about it.

5. Bill Callahan. Does this even bear mentioning. Even Tom Osborne referred to the “new staff.” He offered a strained explanation of what he meant, but we all knew. Some thought he was out after Kansas put 76 on them. I did, too. But a well-placed source in the mid-west let me know that Callahan will finish the season. I doubted them, but they turned out to be right.

I have some more, but will have to get to it later.