Thoughts of the Day: November 23, 2021

A few thoughts to jump start your Tuesday morning:

THIS COACH SEARCH WILL NOT LINGER A LONG TIME There are two things Scott Stricklin has to know as he tries to reel in the next football coach at the University of Florida: (1) He can’t turn this into a Tennessee-like fiasco that lingers on and ends up with the sixth or seventh choice; and (2) he better get this hire right.

Stricklin said Sunday that the Gators have no timeline for finding a new football coach but he knows as well as everyone else that the longer this goes on the less likely it is that he will land the coach he wants. With the early signing day on December 15, he’s got to act quickly to give the next coach a shot at salvaging a disintegrating recruiting class and to get a head start on the transfer portal.

During Jeremy Foley’s tenure as athletic director, four football coaches were hired – Ron Zook, Urban Meyer, Will Muschamp and Jim McElwain. He had to fire three of them and Meyer retired for stress-related health issues. Stricklin is 0-for-1. He knows he has to land the right coach, one who’s going to be here and be successful for more than four years. Of the coaches who have been here since Steve Spurrier retired in 2001, Meyer is the only one who lasted more than four years and he was gone after six.

If Florida is to get back to a championship level and be able to compete with Georgia in the SEC East, then Scott Stricklin cannot fail.

The ones to watch as of midnight Monday: The two at the top of the leaderboard as we make the clubhouse turn are Billy Napier and Lane Kiffin. Napier, at this point, seems to be the front runner. Will Louisiana playing a Saturday game and then the Fun Belt Conference championship game be a problem? Will LSU come in and make a big cash bid at the last moment? Can Kiffin’s bad boy past be overlooked?

Inquiring minds want to know!

FINEBAUM AND KIRBY SMART RE: THE FIRING OF DAN MULLEN

Paul Finebaum: “The Spurrier wing of the party had had enough of Dan Mullen. They didn’t like his attitude, they didn’t like his quirkiness. They didn’t like the way he berated assistant coaches in front of others and it rubbed them the wrong way. That much I can tell you. I’m not saying Steve Spurrier pulled the trigger but I sincerely doubt this decision was made without Steve Spurrier’s blessing.”

Kirby Smart: “The stakes have gotten higher, the pay has gotten higher and with that comes expectation. It’s a much tougher job, and I think you see a lot of people in our level go to the next level because it has a little less strain on your family. I know it’s a tough atmosphere but most people would say they pay you so much it doesn’t matter, but at the end of the day I hate it for Dan because I think Dan’s a good person and it’s a tough situation. But, it’s the profession we chose to be in and I know Dan will be fine. He’ll be perfectly fine.”

NO. 23 GATORS PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON CAL, MOVE TO 4-0 What sets this Florida (4-0) basketball team apart from recent Gator teams is the defensive intensity. The Gators gave the Cal Golden Bears (2-3) a lesson in full court and perimeter pressure Monday night when they kept their record perfect with an 80-59 blowout win.

The Gators held a 19-17 lead at the 7:43 media time out in the first half when the defensive pressure began to get to the Bears. Up until that time, Cal had committed only one turnover, but in those last eight minutes the Gators turned the Bears over six times as UF went on a 27-10 run to end the half.

Up 46-27 at the half, the Gators kept pouring it on defensive in the second half, forcing 11 more turnovers. The Bears never got closer than 19 points the rest of the game. Although Cal had a distinct size advantage, the Gators negated it by forcing the Bears to set up way outside their comfort zone in their offense. Forced to set up their offense 2-3 feet beyond normal, Florida turned it into a nightmare shooting night from beyond the arc. Cal came into the game shooting 37 percent on its three-balls. The Bears were only able to launch 10 shots and made just two.

Colin Castleton led the Gators with 16 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block and one steal. Tyree Appleby scored 15 while Myreon Jones had 13 and Phlandrous Fleming Jr. had 11. The Gators shot 51.9 percent for the game and 42.1 percent on three-pointers. Florida scored 19 points off California turnovers.

The AP Top 25 basketball poll: 1. Gonzaga 4-0; 2. Gonzaga 4-0; 3. Purdue 5-0; 4. Kansas 3-0; 5. Duke 5-0; 6. Baylor 4-0; 7. Villanova 3-2; 8. Texas 3-1; 9. Memphis 4-0; 10. (Tie) Alabama 4-0, Kentucky 3-1; 12. Houston 3-0; 13. Arkansas 3-0; 14. Illinois 2-1; 15. Tennessee 3-1; 16. St. Bonaventure 5-0; 17. Arizona 5-0; 18. BYU 4-0; 19. Auburn 3-0; 20. Michigan 3-2; 21. Seton Hall 3-0; 22. UConn 4-0; 23. FLORIDA 3-0; 24. Southern Cal 3-0; 25. Xavier 4-0

The Coaches Top 25 basketball poll: 1. Gonzaga 4-0; 2. UCLA 4-0; 3. Kansas 3-0; 4. Purdue 5-0; 5. Baylor 4-0; 6. Duke 5-0; 7. Villanova 3-2; 8. Texas 3-1; 9. Alabama 4-0; 10. Memphis 4-0; 11. Houston 3-0; 12. Arkansas 3-0; 13. (Tie) Michigan 3-2, Kentucky 3-1; 15. Illinois 2-1; 16. St. Bonaventure 5-0; 17. Tennessee 3-1; 18. BYU 4-0; 19. Arizona 5-0; 20. Seton Hall 3-0; 21. UConn 4-0; 22. Auburn 3-0; 23. Oregon 2-1; 24. FLORIDA 3-0; 25. Southern Cal 3-0

SEC BASKETBALL ROUNDUP

Monday’s games: No. 10 Kentucky (4-1) 86, Albany (0-5) 61; LSU (5-0) 83, Belmont (3-2) 53; Virginia (3-2) 65, Georgia (2-3) 55; Wisconsin (3-1) 69, Texas A&M (4-1) 58; Florida State (4-1) 81, Missouri (3-2) 58; No. 13 Arkansas (4-0) 72, Kansas State (2-1) 64

OVER, UNDER, AROUND AND THROUGH THE SEC (FOOTBALL) No. 3 Alabama (10-1, 6-1 SEC): Since the loss to Texas A&M, Bryce Young has thrown for 1,850 yards (10.8 per attempt), completing 127-171 passes for 18 touchdowns without an interception. For the year, he’s thrown for 3,584 yards (9.8 per attempt) with 38 TDPs and only three picks.

No. 25 Arkansas (7-4, 3-4 SEC): Wide receiver Treylon Burks (59-975, 10 TDs) is banged up but expected to be ready to play against Missouri.

Auburn (6-5, 3-4 SEC): Auburn starts strong but fades late, prompting HBC Bryan Harsin to say at his Monday press conference, “We’re not finishing games. I know we can finish better. If we made it happen in the first half, I know we can make it happen in the second half.”

No. 1 Georgia (11-0, 8-0 SEC): Georgia will be facing a Georgia Tech team this weekend that has allowed at least 480 yards in its last seven games, the worst streak for any ACC defense since 2004.

Kentucky (8-3, 5-3 SEC): Although he’s been linked to job openings at LSU and Florida, HBC Mark Stoops says he is “nothing but committed” to Kentucky.

LSU (5-6, 2-5 SEC): Jim Nagy, the Senior Bowl director, says, “If LSU lets Florida come into Louisiana and grad Billy Napier without making a serious push for him it could end up being a serious miscalculation. Napier is ready for a big job and already has great relationships with HS coaches in the state.”

Mississippi State (7-4, 4-3 SEC): The win over Tennessee State was the 150th in Mike Leach’s coaching career. In the SEC, only Nick Saban has more career victories as a head coach.

Missouri (6-5, 3-4 SEC): HBC Eli Drinkwitz says Missouri began to turn its season around when the team stopped threw out the egos and figured out who really wants to be there.

Ole Miss (9-2, 5-2 SEC): Matt Corral ripped into teammates after their win over Vandy, saying, “If we play like that against Mississippi State we’re going to get blown out.”

South Carolina (6-5, 3-4 SEC): Placekicker Parker White needs four points against Clemson Saturday to break Elliott Fry’s career scoring record (359 points).

Tennessee (6-5, 3-4 SEC): Speaking of his seniors Monday, first year HBC Josh Heupel said, “They bought in to a new coaching staff and have become great leaders.”

Texas A&M (8-3, 4-3 SEC): Freshman wide receiver Demond Demas (15-235, 1 TD) will miss the rest of the season with a leg injury.

Vanderbilt (2-9, 0-8 SEC): Former Vandy and NFL running back Zac Stacy in in jail in Orlando on charges of domestic violence against the mother of his son, who he allegedly punched in the head several times.

COUNTDOWN TO FIRING DAY WEEK TEN Extinct Species List

Les Miles, Kansas (Permanent replacement Lance Leipold) Randy Edsall, UConn (Permanent replacement Jim Mora Jr.)

Clay Helton, Southern Cal

Chad Lunsford, Georgia Southern (Permanent replacement Clay Helton)

Ed Orgeron, LSU

Nick Rolovich, Washington State

Matt Wells, Texas Tech (Permanent replacement Joey McGuire)

Gary Patterson, TCU

Tom Arth, Akron

Walt Bell, UMass (Permanent replacement Don Brown)

Jimmy Lake, Washington

Butch Davis, Florida International

Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech: Chip Lindsey, Troy Dan Mullen, Florida

On Life Support

Geoff Collins, Georgia Tech: It’s surprising Georgia Tech didn’t fire him Saturday after that 55-0 beatdown at the hands of Notre Dame. If they think that was bad then wait until Georgia gets hold of the Jackets next Saturday.

Manny Diaz, Miami: Former players want Manny gone and there will be a new AD but will they wait until the new AD is in place to not only fire Manny but hire his own guy?

Scot Loeffler, Bowling Green: It seems just a matter of time before he gets the old heave-ho. The Falcons are 3-8 but the finale with Ohio U is winnable. Rod Carey, Temple: He’s 4-14 since 2020 and the Shirley Temple alums aren’t happy with another last place finish in the AAC. If he isn’t canned he’ll be on the shortest of leashes next year.

Steve Addazio, Colorado State: Things are not going well for Addazio, who gets to lose to Nevada to finish 3-9. Does Urban need someone helping out on the O-line?

Endangered Species List

Steve Sarkisian, Texas: How do you lose six in a row at Texas with all that talent? If he loses to K-State Saturday will he be a one-and-done or will they give him a chance to be a two-and-through with one more year to prove he can actually coach?

Dino Babers, Syracuse: Just three weeks ago, Dino was in good shape, a win away from bowl eligible. He’s still one win a way and about to get a third straight loss to No. 18 Pitt.

Chip Kelly, UCLA: He’s 7-4 and nothing is ever certain at UCLA, which still thinks there is another John Wooden out there to win seven NCAA basketball championships. It’s hard to imagine that they’ll fire him even if he loses to Cal but just to be safe he needs to win this one.

Seth Littrell, North Texas: He had one foot in the proverbial coaching grave three weeks ago but now he has the Mean Green winning three straight and a threat to end the magic for unbeaten UTSA. But what if he loses and finishes 5-7? That could be dicey.

Phil Montgomery, Tulsa: Cincinnati wasted SMU which gives the Phighting Phils hope that the Schmooz show up hung over from their clobbering. A win and its bowl game city for Tulsa Time! Whodathunkit six weeks ago?

Justin Wilcox, California: All he needs to do is beat UCLA and Southern Cal to be bowl eligible. Southern Cal possible? UCLA longshot. If he gets offered a job somewhere else, he needs to take it.

Jeff Scott, South Florida: He fired his defensive coordinator, which is probably a good thing since the Bulls are giving up 38 a game. They get to close their season at the Bounce House with a loss to UCF. Next year he has to deliver more than one win against a Division I team.

David Cutcliffe, Duke: Next week Cut gets to save Manny Diaz’s job while losing his own. Not really a fair trade since David Cutcliffe is one of the nicest guys in all of college football, but nice guys rarely finish first at schools where the average SAT score is about 1400 or so.

ONE FINAL PITHY THOUGHT: With one week remaining in college football’s regular season, brace yourself for the craziness that will begin sometime around Friday evening. We’ve had 15 coaches fired and probably another five or so will get canned this weekend, but that is just the beginning because fired coaches will have to be replaced, and coaches who lose a coach to another school will have to find replacements as well. My over/under for coaching changes is 21 this year. It’s pure insanity for this much change, but in this world where the average Division I coach is paid seven times what we pay the president of the United States, there is no such thing as patience. It’s win or be gone and if you’ve got a chance to go from an average $2.8 million a year to SEC level $5 million or more, you don’t wait around for something better. You take it. That’s the world we live in these days.