Collecting resumes in Knoxville

By Bart Doan  |   Tuesday, November 04, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Tennessee Volunteers
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As the Phil Fulmer era in Tennessee draws to a close, the focus for the Volunteers is on the future. The new face of Tennessee football is out there. In fact, he’s probably busy drawing up plays and looking through his Rolodex of excuses for the media as to why he’s not entertaining thoughts of going to Tennessee. So, in the effort of being completely submissive to guesswork, here are five names that you can expect to pop up over the next few months as the Vols search for Fulmer's replacement.

(For this short list, candidates minus head coaching experience were not considered. Not because they aren’t qualified, but because the feeling here is that Tennessee is not looking for a young hotshot who's unproven. Also taken into account is the ability to recruit, which is paramount for a program like UT that recruits on a national level.)

1. Mike Leach, Texas Tech: Here’s a guy who should have gotten a look last year, or in previous seasons. In Austin, you can buy t-shirts that coin the phrase, “Lubbock: The best thing about it is seeing it in your rearview mirror.” Leach has built a program with an identity in a place most people only stop at if they need gas. His price tag will be high now that his secret is out and Texas Tech is a title contender, but with UT bringing in a staff intent on running a spread offense last season, the transition may not be as difficult as one might think.

2. David Cutcliffe, Duke: Cutcliffe has already denied interest, which means next to nothing. Truth is, Tennessee fans were flat-out depressed when he took the Duke job, because they knew he was an overlooked commodity who never should have been fired from Ole Miss. This is a guy who can handle the job. Whether he’s willing to bolt Duke after just accepting the Blue Devils at the alter remains to be seen.

3. Jeff Tedford, Cal: Tedford was a rising sideline star a few years ago when Cal gave him an extension. While Tedford has been wont to late-season collapses and underachieving, keep in mind that he’s third rung on the recruiting trail in his own state at a school with strict academic conditions.

4. Jim Leavitt, South Florida: Despite the incredible success Leavitt has had at South Florida, a program only a decade old, his name rarely comes up for these giant job openings of late. He has said repeatedly that he is not interested in going anywhere, but for the second consecutive season, his Bulls started like a wildfire before returning to earth. Heck, he’d fit right in. He’s already taken potshots from Nick Saban regarding his academic policies. With lesser athletes and a conventional, pro-style system, the outspoken Leavitt has proved capable of handling a program like Tennessee’s. His recruiting ties to the South would be crucial.

5. Bobby Johnson, Vanderbilt: For Tennessee, nothing is more embarrassing than watching next-door instate neighbor Vanderbilt supplant you as the best team in the state, if even for only a year. While Johnson still has not gotten Vandy bowl-eligible, he knows how to run a clean program, has salient recruiting ties in the South, and gets the most out of his players.

Keep an eye on: Brian Kelly (Cincinnati), Will Muschamp (defensive coordinator, Texas) and Butch Davis (North Carolina).
Quit thinking about: Steve Spurrier (South Carolina) and Bob Stoops (Oklahoma).
Don’t be excited about if mentioned: Chris Petersen (Boise State) and Gary Pinkel (Missouri).
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About Bart Doan

Bart has been with Realfootball365.com for about six months and thoroughly enjoys writing for the site. He has been featured for his writings on college football in The Sporting News, The Indianapolis Star, Sports Illustrated, and on CBS Sportsline.com. When he's not drowning himself in the ...
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