LSU Coaching Changes, Dabo Swinney’s Future, and College Football Updates
Every week, the college football coaching carousel spins faster. Hirings, firings, and wild speculation follow close behind.
This season’s already been a ride, with nine Power 4 schools making coaching changes by early November. As the early signing period for high school recruits creeps up, the drama just keeps building.
This week, LSU’s in the hot seat. Political interference and massive buyouts have tangled things up even more than usual.
Other schools, like Florida State and Clemson, have their own coaching headaches. The landscape feels as unpredictable as ever.
The LSU Coaching Saga: Political Interference and Hefty Buyouts
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LSU’s situation? Total chaos. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry jumped into the school’s coaching decisions, leading to the firing of head coach Brian Kelly and athletic director Scott Woodward.
Kelly’s dismissal came with an eye-watering $53 million buyout. Woodward’s exit cost LSU another $6 million-plus. Governor Landry’s move hasn’t gone over well—one anonymous athletic director even called him a “typical fan with an ego.”
Interim Leadership and Future Prospects
Amid the mess, interim athletic director Verge Ausberry is seen as a calming presence. LSU has already confirmed him as the full-time AD, and now the search for a new head coach is underway.
Industry chatter says Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is high on LSU’s wish list. The recent appointment of McNeese State president Wade Rousse as LSU’s new president might help steady things a bit.
Florida State: A Program in Limbo
Florida State’s 42-7 win over Wake Forest was a relief for head coach Mike Norvell. Still, the program faces plenty of questions.
Athletic director Michael Alford announced a “comprehensive assessment” of the football program after a rough loss to Stanford. Norvell’s $58 million buyout makes any change tricky, especially for a school without the deep pockets of the Big Ten or SEC.
Financial Constraints and Market Competition
FSU’s tight finances make it tough to compete in a high-stakes coaching market. Penn State and several SEC schools are also looking for new leadership, and the price tag for firing Norvell and hiring a replacement could hit $100 million.
The school’s already spent big on facility upgrades. Despite all that, the team’s stats have improved, and a strong finish might keep Norvell around another year.
Other Notable Coaching Changes and Speculations
The carousel isn’t slowing down. Penn State’s exploring options after Curt Cignetti and Matt Rhule decided to stick with their current gigs.
Missouri’s Eli Drinkwitz, Louisville’s Jeff Brohm, and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea are getting some attention. The SEC coaching market is fierce, with names like Georgia Tech’s Brent Key and Lane Kiffin popping up.
Challenges of Attracting Top Talent
Luring top coaches is never easy. Some, like Brohm, Lea, and Arizona State’s Kenny Dillingham, have deep roots at their alma maters and strong ties to their communities.
That local loyalty makes them less likely to bolt, even for bigger paychecks. Oklahoma State, meanwhile, is expected to look for a replacement for Mike Gundy with Texas connections—maybe North Texas head coach Eric Morris or UTSA’s Jeff Traylor.
Clemson and the Dabo Swinney Dilemma
Clemson’s rough season has sparked talk about head coach Dabo Swinney’s future. With a 3-5 record and a $60 million buyout, firing him isn’t really on the table.
His contract does allow for a relatively cheap exit if he chooses to leave. Swinney says he’s committed to fixing things and isn’t looking to leave Clemson.
Industry Perspectives and Potential Moves
Some schools might try to tempt Swinney, given the shortage of high-profile candidates. But his loyalty to Clemson and the standards he’s set make that a long shot.
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The whole situation just underlines how tough this coaching carousel can be for schools chasing the next big thing.
Innovative Contract Clauses and Unusual Applications
Some schools are getting creative with contract clauses to keep their coaches. Indiana’s Curt Cignetti, for example, has a clause that triggers a “good faith” market review if he takes the team to a College Football Playoff semifinal.
That could mean a big salary bump or an easier path to leave. Incentive-based clauses like this might become the new normal as schools try to hold onto winners.
Unconventional Applications and Fun Tidbits
The return of EA Sports’ college football video game has inspired some oddball coaching applications. A UCLA fan named Sean Peake actually wrote to the school’s athletic director, using his video game success as a credential for the head coaching job.
The application wasn’t taken seriously, but hey, it adds a bit of levity to an otherwise intense coaching carousel.
Conclusion: The Ever-Spinning Carousel
The college football coaching carousel just keeps spinning. LSU’s political drama, Florida State’s financial headaches, and Clemson’s coaching dilemmas all bring their own flavor to the chaos.
The early signing period is coming fast, and honestly, the pressure’s intense. If you want the latest updates and deeper dives, check out the original article on the New York Times.