I think UL has a guy right under their nose in Vance Bedford. I think Coach Bedford has what it takes to me a good head coach and he is great with the Players and already have folks in place. Plus Vance would give us just enough "Cockyness" at the Head Coach spot.

Are any of the prospective new coaches African-American?

 

I think they'll hire the right coach regardless of race.

I have no idea who the next coach will be but like I said in another thread, as a UK fan I would just had soon kept the enemy we know in Strong as have Jurich on the prowl for a new coach. The last thing UK needs is a shot of energy in the UL program. It seemed Charlie brought the recruits and wins but never seemed to bring the energy at the level he could have. The scary thing is the recruits are still there, the potential for many wins is still there and with the right coach they may pull an Auburn... If you ask me, UL is in a better spot than many of their fans realize.

I will stay a fan regardless, but I am 100% against Rich Rod taking over. I'd love to be wrong, but I don't like him.....

I will stay a fan regardless, but I am 100% against Rich Rod taking over. I'd love to be wrong, but I don't like him.....

 

That makes two of us.

Just little info on what folks are saying

 

Quick notes: Notes added for Petrino, Watson and Rodriguez. Vance Bedford added and Rodriguez moved down a bit. Plus, premium notes added to the bottom of this list.

 

THE HOT LIST

Bobby Petrino - The former Louisville coach was 41-9 with the Cardinals, but left in 2007 to go to coach the Atlanta Falcons. He left Atlanta to take the head coaching job at Arkansas, and was successful until an off-the-field scandal resulted in his ouster. He is currently the coach at Western Kentucky University.

What We're Hearing:

1-5-14 6 pm - Former players are flooding Twitter with messages of support. We can say for certain that some of the players on the team now reacted VERY favorably to Petrino when asked.

1-5-14 9 pm - Bobby's name keeps popping up. Seems he's the most obvious candidate so he's the one people talk about most

 

Chad Morris - One of the hottest names on the coaching circuit, Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris was a Texas high school coach for 16 seasons before he was the OC at Tulsa in 2010 with Todd Graham. He's been at Clemson for the past three seasons and their offense has been impressive.

1-5-14 What We're Hearing: One of the hottest names in college football right now. Will Louisville hire another coordinator?

 

Shawn Watson - Louisville's current offensive coordinator is a favorite of the UofL administration and many of the players. As a mentor to Teddy Bridgewater, Watson was part of Louisville's success over the past three seasons and has some head coaching experience in the past although most recently he has been a coordinator.

What We're Hearing:

1-5-14 6 pm - Louisville still loves him, but the Cardinals may be shooting higher.

1-5-14 9 pm - Hearing that both coordinators either have already or will be considered in interviews

 

Vance Bedford - Louisville's current defensive coordinator is well loved by the Louisville administration and the players. Bedford has the ear of all of Louisville's defensive recruits and ran one of the nation's best defenses this season.

What We're Wearing:

1-5-14 9 pm - Hearing that both coordinators either have already or will be considered in interviews

 

Rich Rodriguez - An intriguing possibility that has Louisville fans buzzing, Rodriguez is the most accomplished coach on this list (136-94-2) after a successful run at West Virginia from 2001-07 included wins in the Sugar Bowl, Gator Bowl and Fiesta Bowl in back-to-back-to-back years before he left WVU for Michigan. His three-year stint at Michigan ended with a 15-22 record and a practice scandal, but he surfaced at Arizona in 2012 and immediately began winning again, going 8-5 the last two seasons with wins in the New Mexico and AdvoCare V100 Bowls.

What We're Hearing:

1-5-14 6 pm - Arizona source thinks he'd jump at the chance to coach Louisville. He built WVU into a power and is the only coach on this list with multiple BCS wins.

1-5-14 9 pm - As of Sunday evening an Arizona staffer hadn't heard from him today.

1-5-14 9:20 - Source just he believes Rodriguez's stock is falling at Louisville

Bedford seems like the most logical choice to me. A solid assistant who could keep most of the recruiting class together. I dont understand the fascination with Petrino. Hes a heck of an offensive mind, but he doesnt recruit very well, and he cant stay in the same place for more than a few years. If UL hired Petrino, sure he'd be a great coach, but I'd bet in 2 years he would be outta there.

Charlie seemed to have issues with the fans not the money. He just seemed to have a chip on his shoulder down the back 9.

 

Always has been and will be an issue. I'm a fan of all 3 of our D1 programs…I get looked at weird for wearing something UK football, then UL (not so much WKU), but I like them both.

 

However, the knock vs. Louisville is just that. But, Miami has had the same problem for years, too. That hasn't stopped them from winning hardware, and being in that top tier of jobs the last 30 years (some won't consider The U a top tier, but I do, if nothing more than their tradition and literal back yard recruiting hotbed to chose from). I hate if for the players at UL, 8, 9, 10 and 11 win seasons & that 1st class stadium isn't 2/3 full sometimes….while, 75 miles down I-64, their rivals have just as many in attendance and nowhere near the success.

Pros and cons with all these names. Truth be told, I don't know enough to even make a real educated choice. Bedford for example: he's been great at Louisville it seems, but how much of that defense can really be attributed to Bedford? It's clearly Strong's defense.

 

I'm glad I'm not the one having to make this call. Off the top of my head, I didn't even contemplate Rodriguez as a possibility, but after all those wild games against him in the Big East, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't intrigued by the idea of his being on the sidelines at Louisville.

Always has been and will be an issue. I'm a fan of all 3 of our D1 programs…I get looked at weird for wearing something UK football, then UL (not so much WKU), but I like them both.

 

However, the knock vs. Louisville is just that. But, Miami has had the same problem for years, too. That hasn't stopped them from winning hardware, and being in that top tier of jobs the last 30 years (some won't consider The U a top tier, but I do, if nothing more than their tradition and literal back yard recruiting hotbed to chose from). I hate if for the players at UL, 8, 9, 10 and 11 win seasons & that 1st class stadium isn't 2/3 full sometimes….while, 75 miles down I-64, their rivals have just as many in attendance and nowhere near the success.

 

Takes a long time to build football culture. Even for UK, that league simply has it in boatloads. Louisville fans have always done well for the big games, of which there will be many on next year's schedule. UofL broke its single-season attendance record this year; I expect they will do so again in 2014.

Louisville is not a destination job in football.

They may be able to lure a really good football coach but that coach will likely look to parlay a good run into going to a bigger job that is not necessarily confined to a metro area.

If it someone who sees it as a destination job it is probably someone that is on the back nine of their coaching career.

Just my opinion and not just trolling here.

With all of that said, I think I'd go after James Franklin.

Louisville is not a destination job in football. They may be able to lure a really good football coach but that coach will likely look to parlay a good run into going to a bigger job that is not necessarily confined to a metro area. If it someone who sees it as a destination job it is probably someone that is on the back nine of their coaching career. Just my opinion and not just trolling here. With all of that said' date=' I think I'd go after James Franklin.[/quote']

 

I have to agree and it stinks for the UL fans. UC is very similar, stepping stone jobs. UC now has a coach working a retirement gig. UL appears to be going after someone young and hungry which is what they should be doing to keep the program going forward. It's still a basketball school, UL fans have to ride the highs and lows of coaches trying to get somewhere other than Lousiville. Strong was a stud, he was the B Kelly of UC.

I know a few UL fans on here are not high on Rodriquez but wouldn't he be the type of guy that would stick around a while ?

He made the move to Michigan after being great at WVU and he found out what happens at big time programs when you don't win quickly... Maybe that humbled him a little.

Seems like he would be the type of guy that would win games and be content at UL

Louisville may not be Texas, but it's a better job than many realize. Joining the ACC is going to make it a lot better too.

Jurich hasn't missed very often in his hires. My guess is he finds the right fit for the program.