Did you miss Tuesday Night Football last night? I did. For some reason, I thought the game was tonight, and I had been looking forward to dueling TVs going with World Series Game 1 on one screen and hard hitting Conference USA Football on the other. Sigh.
I didnt really have a call on the game as I am taking a break until Saturday. East Carolina ended up curb stomping a Memphis team that appears to be spinning its wheels. The ECU Pirates, however, are not spinning their wheels and look primed for a November run. Get used to seeing them on TV in the next few weeks. They travel to Blacksburgh to play the Hokies next Thursday in a grudge match after upsetting Tech last season. Then, later in the month they play a special Sunday Night Football against Tulsa. Some will bill that as a CUSA Championship Game preview, but the way the standings shake it’s hard to see the loser of that game qualifying, especially if its Tulsa. So that ought to be a dramatic game, as should be the regular season finale aginst Southern Miss. It’s one of the televsied games over Thanksgiving weekend. That game looks to be the one that will decide the East division and the representative in the following week’s title game.
So, it’s just the start of what should be a rather intriguing month for ECU as they try to defend their Conference USA Title from a year ago. I always have my eye on the Pirates. Head Coach Skip Holtz record against the spread during his ECU tenure speak for itself. I love this team, almost to a fault, when they’re an underdog. They could be catching points in all three games mentioned above. The other drama worth following is simply the future of Holtz. How long will he stay at ECU? Already a hot coaching commodity, that stock soars even further should he notch another league title. You have to think his eyes are on a bigger job at some point. In discussing things with my “friends” Vito, Paulie and Dawg, here are the on-the-street odds for where Holtz ends up next year. Place your bets.
Illinois, 10-1
Really the favorite on the board. I know they have said the Zooker will be back, but a lot of times those statements are nothing more than mid season lip service. We’ll see how they feel when the season ends at 1-11. And, its headed that way. The Illini are a mess. It’s almost November and they still have not won a game against a Bowl Subdivison foe. It’s so bad that last week’s 10-point loss to Purdue represented progress as the Illini ended up with a push against the Vegas line. Hey, it’s the first time Illini backers–if there are any–didnt lose money all season. I dont know why they’re bothering any more with Zook. They really should just go after a guy like Holtz. They would be going from a coach on the wrong end of the credibility scale to one on the high end of the scale. And, it would upgrade the league to have such a fine coach on board. You know, as a fan of another Big 10 school, let’s forget I even mentioned this.
Louisville, 13-1
The bizarre thing about the situation in Louisville is that I think Steve Kragthorpe is a pretty good coach. He led Tulsa to a pair of bowls after they won something 20 total games the previous ten years. But, his replacements at Tulsa have enhanced the program and his own piss poor results in nearly three seasons with the Cards speaks for themselves. I dont think he is around next year. While I dont think Holtz would take this job, its one of the few on this list that I can guarantee will be available come December. That’s why the odds arent higher.
Notre Dame, 15-1
You can hear the collective groan from college football fans everywhere if this move were to happen. Lou Holtz is annoying enough with his pro-Notre Dame agenda on ESPN and it would reach new heights if his son were too take over the program. This would drive my fellow couch potatoes nuts to hear him pimp his school and son in the same breath for the next few years. Of course, that erection you see is the collective one from Domers who are already aroused at the fact that the program savior from the 1980s might be giving his son for the cause. The question here is how solid is Charlie Weis’ job status? Losing to USC wasn’t going to ding his security too much, but this bears watching down the stretch. Domer fans can handle a 10 or 9-win season. But as we saw with their struggles against an average Boston College squad, the Irish cant just show up and dominate. BC isnt any better than Pitt, Navy, UConn and Stanford all of whom the Irish play down the stretch. Lose enough to those guys in November and this could blow up for Weis. If so, they would be foolish not to look at Holtz.
Florida State, 18-1
I know the program patriarch has received a vote of confidence. I know they have a high priced coach in waiting. I know they may have turned their season around with a win over UNC last week. But, this team still does not have many answers on the defensive side of the football. With four ACC games and the season closer against the Gators, there could still be as many as three losses left on the slate. The chances of a losing record and missing the bowl remain strong. This is Deep South football we’re talking about. A late season collapse might push the whole thing beyond the brink of return. If Bowden does go, certainly Skip Holtz will get a look. As annoying as Holtz would be at ND, can you imagine the angst from Domers if their program Godfather’s kid stooped so low to take a job at a perceived lesser school in Talahasse. The smugness at BGS would reach epic heights. I’m cheering for this one simply because of those emotional crossroads.
Cincinnati, 20-1
Folks placing this bet have to hope for a chain reaction of events, beginning and ending with Brian Kelly pulling up his own stakes for a better job. If the Bearcats want to keep their train rolling after he leaves, they had better reach out and get a guy like Holtz. I have a suspicion that Kelly isn’t going anywhere after this season unless a really, really, really big job opens up. For example, why would he go to Illinois when he’s already in position to make BCS bowls and compete for national titles at Cincy? But, I think this is an intriguing hypothetical and it surely will attract a bet or two.
Arkansas, 25-1
When your program is led by Bobby Petrino, dont you always have to keep your eyes open for potential new coaches. Let’s say Ryan Mallet turns pro and a job in an easier league opens up. Are we saying Petrino wouldnt bolt for it? Of course he would. Holtz would then be eyeing an opening at another one of his father’s past stops.
Michigan, 75-1
The ultimate longshot. Admittedly, this one aint happening, but we’re releasing odds anyway in hopes of roping in sucker bets from Columbus, Morgantown and East Lansing. There’s a lot of potential profit to be mined from the partisans in those locales.
