With Jim Tressel out at Ohio State, will Whittingham become a candidate later this year?

by JazzyUte on May 31, 2011 1:08 AM MDT in Football

With the shocking news earlier Sunday that Ohio St. Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel resigned, one of the best college football jobs in America just opened up.

Will Kyle Whittingham be a candidate when the 2011 season comes to a close?

Well probably not. I'm guessing the first person Gene Smith calls is former Utah head coach Urban Meyer - who resigned as Florida's coach last year.

If Meyer is itching to get back into the game, I see no reason why he wouldn't accept the Buckeyes' position. You know, with it being his dream job after all.

Then again, the Buckeyes are probably going to be levied with major sanctions and the next guy who steps in will most likely have a rebuilding project on his hand. For Meyer, a guy who supposedly backed out of his comfortable job coaching in the talent-rich state of Florida because of stress, the potential of an over-scrutinized rebuild at a program where the fans aren't exactly thrilled the last coach was forced to resign might not be the most ideal situation.

You wouldn't blame him if he deferred to a sacrificial lamb - say, Kyle Whittingham?

Of course I doubt Meyer, who is best buddies with Whittingham, would push Whittingham to take the job expecting him to fail. But that might not stop Ohio State from giving him a look.

It's all way too speculative right now, so I'm not too worried. But if Whittingham leads Utah to a surprisingly good season in the Pac-12 this year, I would be very surprised if his name did not come up to replace interim head coach Luke Fickel.

But we'll see...

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Thats one of the negatives of having such a steady, consistent coach.....

his name is going to come up in just about every major coaching search. I think Kyle has found a spot at utah that he really likes. I am not saying he will never leave, but i doubt he would take a job at Ohio State (which has been turned into a joke that will only get funnier).

Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy

by BigBenSportsGuy on May 31, 2011 8:11 AM MDT reply actions

I agree...

Whittingham is in a good spot. He also has the chance, once the Pac-12 deal kicks in, to make a lot more money than he currently is.

There are fewer and fewer incentives to leave Utah now that the program is in the Pac-12.

by JazzyUte on May 31, 2011 1:44 PM MDT up reply actions

I don't see Whit leaving for any job except N.D.

Coach Whitt has a dream job here. He makes $1million+ bonuses and TV appearances. He seems to have a great relationship with the school AD. His team is moving to the Pac, so BCS access is no longer an issue. He also has a 5 yr contract, that extends another year every time Utah makes a bowl game (so basically he has a life-time contract). Plus his family is mainly in Utah and everyone at the U loves him. So why leave all that to take over an OSU program that is about to get the death penalty from the NCAA? Sure he’d get paid more, but he’d be entering a program rank with corruption, thug players, and a booster base that would question and often undermine his every move.

The only job I see Whit leaving Utah for is Notre Dame, and I’m basing that on Coach Whitt’s own words during an interview last year.

by RunninUtes30 on Jun 1, 2011 5:08 PM MDT up reply actions

He's the wrong religion for Notre Dame.

They like coaches who fit their “culture”. I’d be very surprised if he’s ever offered the Notre Dame job.

Everyone hates a pink-shirt-wearing communist.

by displacedute on Jun 1, 2011 5:56 PM MDT up reply actions

Not sure religion matters much for ND Football.

Many of the ND players aren’t Catholic, and there have been several coaches who aren’t Catholic either including former coach Willingham.

Sorta like BYU. Sure they’re a religious school, but you don’t necessarily have to be a Mormon to play/coach there.

by RunninUtes30 on Jun 2, 2011 2:31 AM MDT up reply actions

i dont see him leaving anytime soon

the reasoning be that we just got into the BCS partly because of him he has been here since the 90s (i think) and he has been helping build this program its his and they are finally in the lime light. maybe in about 5 to 10 years if he wants a change, but i dont see him now since its his time to shine

Now that is what I call a fish.

by Alavel on May 31, 2011 9:24 AM MDT via mobile reply actions

BTW Jazzy

read your stuff on the penn state blog. I have your back, I just dont want to join that blog.

Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy

by BigBenSportsGuy on May 31, 2011 10:37 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks...

I was asked to give my opinion. I did. That’s it. Nothing more. I never intended to speak for ALL Ute fans – tho I think most share my view.

by JazzyUte on May 31, 2011 1:40 PM MDT up reply actions

its the "vocal minority" phenomenon

sure, there are a few, loud Boylen supporters who contend that we were just this close! to being national contenders wtih Boylen, but they are few and far between (unfortunately, they are loud and borderline obnoxious). The general thought among Ute fans was perfectly conveyed in your thoughts on that blog.

Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy

by BigBenSportsGuy on May 31, 2011 2:33 PM MDT up reply actions

I doubt that Urban Meyer would take the job at Ohio State a year after resigning at Florida.

That would just be a dickhead move, and the Gator Nation wouldn’t take that well at all.

by GatorUte on May 31, 2011 1:31 PM MDT reply actions

I agree...

I also think the situation at Ohio State is not favorable for the next head coach. They’re going to have to rebuild and if the next coach struggles even the smallest bit, I’m wondering if the fans turn on him because, from what I’ve seen. most don’t accept that Tressel had to resign.

It’s never good entering a situation when the last coach is so beloved, yet was forced to resign. They’ll be quick to pounce on any coach.

by JazzyUte on May 31, 2011 1:42 PM MDT up reply actions

So it's just WHITCON 1?

You gotta bring that thing back if his name starts coming up, I love it :-D

by scotty256 on May 31, 2011 3:09 PM MDT reply actions

You have it backward.

Defcon 5 is the default level of readiness for the Defcon system. Defcon 1 = Nuclear War about to break out. So Whitcon 1 would mean that Kyle Whittingham has a pen in hand and is about to sign the contract.

by Ute in DC on May 31, 2011 3:55 PM MDT up reply actions

Oops

Obviously I’m not a military strategist :-x

But I see the picture below! Yaaaaaaay!!!

by scotty256 on Jun 1, 2011 12:01 AM MDT up reply actions

haha, DC is right...we're safely at WHITCON 5...

Maybe I should add it to the side bar of Block U and change it accordingly?

What do you guys think?

by JazzyUte on May 31, 2011 5:10 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs

Yes, add it.

At least during the offseason. It might be a needless distraction during the season, but for now, a little entertainment might be in order.

by Ute in DC on May 31, 2011 7:14 PM MDT up reply actions

So this story was linked over to the Deseret News...

Via a Pac-12 blog news feeder (the story copied over there and Dirk Facer linked to that version).

Anyway, BYU fans are mocking the possibility and calling me a homer (duh) for insisting this is a possibility.

Of course, as you mentioned, it’s the offseason and we all need a distraction. I’m just speculating for speculation sake. Too many people take things way too seriously!

They don’t believe Whittingham would be a candidate. Because, in their mind, he’s just not a very good coach.

by JazzyUte on May 31, 2011 8:28 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah, most D-News comments lack any logic.

I don’t care for the ostensibly pro-Utah posters either. Pretty much all their articles on college football degenerate into a pissing match. And it’s not even good smack either. It’s boring, unfunny smack with wrong or made-up statistics.

That being said, any BYU fan that would mock Whittingham as a coach must not think Mendenhall is a very good coach either. The series is 3-3 between them, and Whittingham has a slightly better overall record.

by Ute in DC on May 31, 2011 8:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Hear, hear!

DNews has some worthwhile reads now and again, but the comments section is complete and total garbage.

I keep accidentally eating my pets. Maybe I should get something less appetizing, like a cat instead of a Twinkie.

Sort-of-daily sort-of-funny sort-of-thoughts at danoftheday.com

by CrimsonUte on May 31, 2011 9:05 PM MDT up reply actions

amen!

I stopped posting over there several months ago. Its the same people who day after day say the same thing and try to prove to each other that they are superior.

It always makes me laugh; the Deseret News revamped their comments section last year with the claim that their goal was “civil dialogue”. Whats funny is that the Des News has the worst trolling problem of any of the local message boards. Seriously. There is not a bigger collection of jack-asses on the internet. The Des News does it completely wrong.

Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy

by BigBenSportsGuy on Jun 1, 2011 8:04 AM MDT up reply actions

Not worried

Whitt passed up coaching for his alma mater and is firmly entrenched as a Utah man. He understands the local culture, struggles, history, and rivalries. He’s been up on the hill for just shy of two decades. The program is now his baby. With the team joining the PAC 10, he’ll receive a substantial pay raise. The end result for a conference championship is now the same, The Rose Bowl. Don’t think he would leave his natural home for a more flashy job. He might be mentioned as a candidate for Ohio State, but doubt he will ever wear the sweater vest.

by UteinBrooklyn on May 31, 2011 5:27 PM MDT reply actions

This was my thought too.

With all the money that will soon be coming Utah’s way, they’ll be able to give him a nice raise, especially if he has a good season. I know nothing about him, but if he cares about having a high profile job, he’s in a position now to turn the HC position at Utah into a high profile job. It wasn’t that long ago that the Oregon HC job would have been considered a stepping stone job, but money+winning changes everything. Besides, I doubt anyone that already has a good HC job is going to want to step into that mess at Ohio State.

by Mind of no mind on Jun 1, 2011 1:23 AM MDT up reply actions

Don't be surprised if Whit is one of the lasts to get a pay raise.

Whittingham will eventually get a pay raise, but don’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen for about 3-4 years.

In regards to football coaches, the initial beneficiaries who are going to see raises will be the assistant coaches. We’ve already seen it a little bit with Utah going after Chow.

Dr. Hill, and Whit have both said, that if Utah wants to compete, it’s going to have to increase how much it pays it’s assistants. Heck even Larry Scott has commented on how as a whole, the Pac-12 assistants were among some of the lower paid.

by UnHoly Ram on Jun 1, 2011 8:07 AM MDT up reply actions

Eeeegads!

Whit in a sweater vest??? That image is almost as bad as Rosie O’Donnell in a bikini.

"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson

by uteowl on Jun 1, 2011 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions

thanks for the visual

#thingsididntneed

Affectionately known on Over the Monster as "Pete"
Follow me on twitter: @BigBenSportsGuy

by BigBenSportsGuy on Jun 1, 2011 1:36 PM MDT up reply actions

i sure as hell hope not

Ohio State is one of those holier than thou college football teams, I really hate their fans who think their shit don’t stink. scumbags. Can’t imagine Whit coaching that team.

by utahmanami on May 31, 2011 7:34 PM MDT reply actions

the sgt in charge of my flight

is a buckeys fan and his point of view is hey at least we arent USC

Now that is what I call a fish.

by Alavel on May 31, 2011 11:25 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions

That's Funny

Because I’m sure there are many USC fans consoling themselves this week with the thought that at least they aren’t Ohio State.

by UnHoly Ram on Jun 1, 2011 11:09 AM MDT up reply actions

you would have loved the sight of their fans after florida beat them down in the bcs ncg.

they were bragging that they would do this and do that (before the game)but by the middle of the second quarter i think they knew what was going to happen to them. i was at the bellagio casino playing poker (which is right by the sportsbook) alot of sad faces on those buckeye fans.

Anderson Silva would never fight "Bones". He is too scared to fight the real P4P champion. Nick Diaz, the man who will prove to the MMA world that he is the best WW in the world. Still public enemy #1 and enjoying every minute of it.

by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 2, 2011 7:06 PM MDT up reply actions

With everything's that's been going on at OSU

I doubt Whit would want to go to Ohio St. He’s mentioned many times before he loves it here. Only way I seem him leave if he is offered a job in the NFL

by PhuckthePhillies on Jun 1, 2011 10:34 AM MDT reply actions

I don't even see that

My gut tells me that Whit is here for at least the next five years – Unless… we win a couple of conference championships right out the gate, a National Championship (ever), or stink up the conference. I don’t see the later happening and it will take time and circumstance for the first two.

"It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word" - Andrew Jackson

by uteowl on Jun 1, 2011 1:02 PM MDT up reply actions