College Football: Coaches and Coordinators on the Hot Seat

Every football season begins with hope and promise for college football fans nation wide. Fans count their teams returning starters, ponder the ability of incoming recruits, look over this season’s schedule, and talk about how the off-season workouts went for their players.

Fall practices flames the passion of fans a little more and then game day comes. For most fans reality hits somewhere between the first and second quarter. A lucky fan does not see the reality of their season until a couple of weeks into the season, but once reality sets in regardless of who you cheer for, the same words will be spoken, “We are not a good team again this year”.

Who or what’s to blame for your team’s bad start? Was the schedule too hard? Did the team incur too many injuries? Or is your favorite college team just not that good? Regardless of what the problem may be, the ultimate responsibility lies on the head coach and his staff.

Here’s a list of head coaches and coordinators that are in trouble four weeks into the 2011 season.

Houston Nutt, Head Coach, Ole Miss

David Lee, Offensive Coordinator, Ole Miss

Many pundits saw this one coming. Nutt had back-to-back 9-4 seasons in 2008 and 2009 including back to back Cotton Bowl victories. Then he had a 4-8 2010 season with a 1-7 SEC record. After a last second loss to BYU at home and an embarrassing loss to Vanderbilt and Georgia, Nutt is in deep trouble before the 2011 season really gets going.

This is Houston Nutt’s fourth year on campus at Ole Miss. Typically a head coach wants four years to get “his” own players on the team so those player fit the schemes he wants. There’s no blaming Ed Orgeron for leaving the Rebels without talent, his last recruiting class in 2007 was ranked 27th in the nation. This is Houston’s team with solid talent available.

Nutt brought in David Lee from the Miami Dolphins to direct his offense in hopes of generating the same offense they had together at Arkansas with Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, and Peyton Hillis. Only problem is McFadden, Jones, and Hillis are NFL Pro Bowl quality running backs. Does Nutt have that type of talent in Oxford?

Ole Miss Recruiting:

In 2008 Mississippi finished recruiting ranked 29th in the nation.

In 2009 Mississippi finished recruiting ranked 18th in the nation.

In 2010 Mississippi finished recruiting ranked 18th in the nation.

In 2011 Mississippi finished recruiting ranked 19th in the nation.

Ole Miss offensive ranking in 2011(out of 120 FBS teams) after week four:

Total offense: Ranked 118th

Scoring Offense: Ranked 103rd, 18.75 points per game

Rushing Offense: Ranked 102nd, 90.5 rushing yards per game

Rushing Offense: Averages 2.85 rushing yards per attempt

Passing Offense: Ranked 113th, 144.5 passing yards per game

Passing Offense: 54 completions, 7 interceptions, 3 passing touchdowns

What excuses can Nutt and Lee provide for their poor offensive showing? None. Should the Rebels return from Fresno State with another loss look for the alumni and boosters to start gathering buy out money sooner than later.

Vic Sealy, Defensive Coordinator, Kansas Jayhawks

Yes Turner Gil has only been the head coach at Kansas since 2010 and the Jayhawks are off to a 2-1 start, but his 5-10 coaching record has to be of concern for fans and alumni. There is some talent left on campus from former head coach Mark Mangino’s days and Turner turned in a solid 2011 class.

Kansas Recruiting:

In 2008 Kansas finished recruiting ranked 40th in the nation.

In 2009 Kansas finished recruiting ranked 31st in the nation.

In 2010 Kansas did not finish ranked in the top 50 in recruiting rankings.

In 2011 Kansas finished recruiting ranked 36th in the nation.

What’s the problem in Lawrence? Vic Sealy’s defense is a major problem. The Jayhawks have given up 24 or more points in all three games this season; McNeese State 24, Northern Illinois 42, Georgia Tech 66.

Kansas has given up 18 touchdowns and only held teams to two field goals.

Total Defense: Ranked 120th (last) in the nation, 550 yards per game.

Scoring Defense: Ranked 120th (last) in the nation, 44 points per game.

Rushing Defense: Ranked 120th (last in the nation, 282 yards per game.

Passing Defense: Ranked 102nd in the nation, 268 yards per game.

Rick Neuheisel, Head Coach, UCLA

Rick Neuheisel has no one to blame but himself in 2011. Neuheisel fired five assistant coaches from last year’s staff and made himself the play caller for 2011. He installed the Pistol Offense in 2010 with mixed results. The Bruin offense finished 2010 ranked 32nd in rushing offense but finished 116th in passing offense for a total of 100th best or worst offense in the nation.

UCLA has underperformed with the talented recruits they have on campus. There’s no reason or excuse for not having a top 20 recruiting class every year and seeing that ranking translate to wins on the field. Last year’s 45th ranked recruiting class should have the Bruin faithful concerned along with a seven win 2009 and a four win 2010.

UCLA Recruiting:

In 2008 UCLA finished recruiting ranked 13th in the nation.

In 2009 UCLA finished recruiting ranked 14th in the nation.

In 2010 UCLA finished recruiting ranked 8th in the nation.

In 2011 UCLA finished recruiting ranked 45th in the nation.

How has Neuheisel’s 2-2 team performed statistically?

Total Offense: Ranked 59th in the nation, 411.25 yards per game.

Scoring Offense: Ranked 74th in the nation, 27 points per game.

Scoring Defense: Ranked 91st in the nation, 20.75 points per game.

Rushing Defense: Ranked 93rd in the nation, 183.25 yards per game.

Passing Defense: Ranked 72nd in the nation, 229 yards per game.

Total Defense: Ranked 98th in the nation, 412.25 yards per game.

Little offense and no defense should make for another long season in Westwood especially in the offensively minded PAC-12.

Frank Spaziani, Head Coach, Boston College

Frank Spaziani has only been the head coach at Boston College for three years but his 17-14 record is worrisome. His 1-3 2011 record is frightening for Eagle fans.

BC has lost to Northwestern (24-17) at home, University of Central Florida (30-3) on the road, and Duke (20-19) at home. Their lone win is against a Football Championship Subdivision school, Massachusetts (45-17).  

Spaziani did not walk into the Boston College head coaches’ position without knowing the team and the system ahead of time. Spaziani was on the BC coaching staff for 12 years as a running back’s coach and defensive coordinator before becoming their head coach in 2009.

Each year the Eagles’ record has slowly dipped under Spaziani; 8-5 in 2009, 7-6 in 2010, and 1-3 to date in 2011. Spaziani has taken the Eagles to back-to-back bowl games but lost both games in those lesser bowls; Emerald Bowl and Fight Hunger Bowl.

What’s the problem in Chestnut Hill? Recruiting could be better… a lot better. The last time BC finished in the top 25 in recruiting was in 2004 at 24th in the nation.

Boston College Recruiting:

In 2008 Boston College finished recruiting ranked 33rd in the nation.

In 2009 Boston College did not finish ranked in the top 50 in recruiting.

In 2010 Boston College finished recruiting ranked 47th in the nation.

In 2011 Boston College finished recruiting ranked 38th in the nation.

BC has not played the toughest part of their schedule and they have under performed against lesser quality teams thus far. The Eagles still have to play at Clemson, at Virginia Tech, versus Florida State, at Notre Dame, and at Miami.

Total Offense: Ranked 99th in the nation, 328 yards per game.

Scoring Offense: Ranked 99th in the nation, 21 points per game.

Total Defense: Ranked 92nd, 406 yards per game.

Scoring Defense: Ranked 50th in the nation, 22.75 points per game.

Ted Roof, Defensive Coordinator, Auburn University

How can a defensive coordinator coming off a BCS National Championship win be on the hot seat? Having the 60th ranked defense in 2010 and the 110th ranked defense in 2011 is a start. This has to drive Auburn head coach Gene Chizik crazy as he is known as a defensive coach; Auburn 2002-2004, Texas 2005-2006.

Auburn has as much talent on campus as any other team in the nation. (Auburn fans will argue this point to their advantage or to their defense one way or another.) They lost eight defensive starters to graduation, the NFL, and/or armed robbery (Mike McNeil). Roof did not substitute for linebackers Josh Bynes or Craig Stevens much last year, so they do have a lack of experience this season at those positions.

Regardless those are all excuses with the recruiting classes they have hauled onto campus (25 four-star recruits and 4 five-star recruits since 2009). If Auburn was shutting everyone down they would point to how great they have recruited over the past three years.

Auburn Recruiting:

In 2008 Auburn finished recruiting ranked 20th in the nation.

In 2009 Auburn finished recruiting ranked 19th in the nation.

In 2010 Auburn finished recruiting ranked 4th in the nation.

In 2011 Auburn finished recruiting ranked 7th in the nation.

Auburn has given up 15 red zone scores out of 17 red zone drives for 90 total points allowed in 2011.

Scoring Defense: Ranked 92nd in the nation, 31 points per game.

Total Defense: Auburn is giving up 477.50 yards of offense per game.

Rushing Defense: Ranked 112th in the nation, allowing 226.50 rushing yards per game.

Passing Defense: Ranked 90th in the nation, allowing 251 yards per game.

Gus Malzahn needs Roof to come up with quality stops to take some of the pressure off of Auburn’s offense. When a two-touchdown lead becomes a two-touchdown loss, who do you blame?

Other head coaches on the hot seat:

University of Memphis, Larry Porter: a 1-10 2010 season and zero wins to start the 2011 season will not help Porter keep his job. The Tigers scoring offense is ranked 117th in the nation only scoring 11 points per game.

University of Georgia, Mark Richt: 2-2 record in 2011. Richt has not advanced to SEC Title game since 2005. Bulldog fans expect more.

University of Illinois, Ron Zook: a 4-0 start and a win against ranked ASU helps start the season out well, but if things go south Fighting Illini fans will remember the 7-6 2010 record quickly.

Arizona State University, Dennis Erickson: ASU has not gone bowling 2007. If ASU stumbles through the season, the Sun Devils will look to replace him.

Ohio State University, Luke Fickell head coach. Fickell could be replaced by elite coach before the bowl season is over.

Washington State University, Paul Wulff: Three year record entering this season was 5-32 (2 wins, 1 win, 2 wins). A 3-1 start has Cougar fans excited but WSU has yet to reach the meat and potatoes part of their schedule. A bowl appearance would take him off the hot seat but three or four more wins will be tough to reach.

*All recruiting rankings based off of Rivals.com.

**All statistics given from the NCAA. 

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