Sources: Strong leads Louisville's list
by OhioVilleAlum on Dec 2, 2009 2:21 PM EST
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CommentCardinals athletic director Tom Jurich has had no contact yet with Strong, sources said. Jurich told his counterpart at Florida, Jeremy Foley, that he will not interfere with the Gators' preparations for the SEC championship game Saturday against Alabama. However, shortly after that game is over, Jurich is expected to contact Strong, and an interview could take place as early as Sunday.
Jurich is expected to spend time this week traveling to do research on other prospective candidates for the job, but Strong is the clear front-runner according to multiple sources.
Others who have expressed interest in the Louisville job include Central Michigan coach Butch Jones and former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer. Sources said Fulmer had a telephone discussion with Jurich Tuesday to discuss the job, but he is not considered a prime candidate for the position.
The fact that Strong has not been hired as a head coach yet has been an enduring mystery to many college football observers -- and an enduring frustration to the Black Coaches Association, which seeks to promote minority candidates for jobs.
Strong's current Florida defense leads the nation in fewest yards and points allowed per game, and last year's national championship unit was ninth in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Strong has carte blanche from head coach Urban Meyer to run the defense; after the Gators held LSU to three points earlier this season in Baton Rouge, Meyer referred all questions about the defensive game plan to his coordinator. He has also been a vital part of Meyer's recruiting machine in the state of Florida and around the South.
If Jurich hires Strong, it would be a departure from his previous two head coaches -- Bobby Petrino and the freshly fired Steve Kragthorpe both have offensive backgrounds.
Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
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Florida defensive coordinator Charlie Strong has emerged as the leading candidate for the Louisville head-coaching job, multiple sources have told ESPN.com.
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Cardinals athletic director Tom Jurich has had no contact yet with Strong, sources said. Jurich told his counterpart at Florida, Jeremy Foley, that he will not interfere with the Gators' preparations for the SEC championship game Saturday against Alabama. However, shortly after that game is over, Jurich is expected to contact Strong, and an interview could take place as early as Sunday.
Jurich is expected to spend time this week traveling to do research on other prospective candidates for the job, but Strong is the clear front-runner according to multiple sources.
Others who have expressed interest in the Louisville job include Central Michigan coach Butch Jones and former Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer. Sources said Fulmer had a telephone discussion with Jurich Tuesday to discuss the job, but he is not considered a prime candidate for the position.
The fact that Strong has not been hired as a head coach yet has been an enduring mystery to many college football observers -- and an enduring frustration to the Black Coaches Association, which seeks to promote minority candidates for jobs.
Strong's current Florida defense leads the nation in fewest yards and points allowed per game, and last year's national championship unit was ninth in total defense and fourth in scoring defense. Strong has carte blanche from head coach Urban Meyer to run the defense; after the Gators held LSU to three points earlier this season in Baton Rouge, Meyer referred all questions about the defensive game plan to his coordinator. He has also been a vital part of Meyer's recruiting machine in the state of Florida and around the South.
If Jurich hires Strong, it would be a departure from his previous two head coaches -- Bobby Petrino and the freshly fired Steve Kragthorpe both have offensive backgrounds.
Pat Forde is a senior writer for ESPN.com. He can be reached at ESPN4D@aol.com.
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And what part of this is news, really?
We have all heard about Strong and that Jurich wasn’t going to talk to someone until after the regular season was over.
What if Strong turns us down? Food for thought. He seems pretty wanted right now. UVA is interested too. Bring on Tuberville!!!
I agree.
I don’t know why everyone is so sure that we will get him just because we offer him the job. He has to be one of the hottest prospects in the country right now. It seems to me that he would want to go to a program that is in a little better shape than ours right now. Guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
"Three or four plane crashes and we're in the playoffs" - John McKay
Besides ND, the next best job open this year looks to be the Louisville job. Kansas had a nice little run, but they were considered fairly overrated by us in the Big XII. And UVA is a lot further from being good than UL. If y’all offer to Strong, he’ll take it.
I agree
I don’t see any other open job out there that offers a better opportunity for a first time coach than Louisville. Short of Notre Dame and I don’t see them going after Strong.
by Cool Hand Cards on Dec 3, 2009 11:18 PM EST up reply actions
Good point.
Of course he could just stay at Florida until something better pops up. He’s kinda been known to do that.
There’s also nothing saying a better job won’t open up later this year after the Notre Dame position is filled. Like Cincy… same area, same conference, and much better current talent. Facilities aren’t as good, but for a 3 or 4 year job, how important is that anyway?
Very true
Although I would rather follow Kragthorpe than Kelly!
"This season has been everything most of us feared it would be[.]"
Mike Rutherford, Card Chronicle
http://www.cardchronicle.com/
Good point
Another good reason why what must be done inevitably should be done immediately: The more waiting, the more jobs open up.
Hopefully Jurich’s decision to take the high road and wait until after the season is finished to fire Krags and until ater the SEC title game to offer the job to Strong will work out. I don’t disagree with his logic and behavior especially after being played by J.L Smith. But other ADs might put doing the best thing for their program above doing the right thing when the lines are so blurred. Can’t blame him either way.
by UL is my hot hot sex on Dec 2, 2009 6:16 PM EST up reply actions
Hopefully though
if that happens, Strong would take into account that we had class and didn’t interrupt him in the midst of prep. for the SECCG.
I think UVa is more interested in Mike London...
…but I agree we need to have a more developed list. Sure don’t understand going for the Houston coach. An “up’n’comer” offensive guru who has revitalized a CUSA school? Sounds awfully familiar.
When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson
My feeling is we'll get Strong
Sure, nothing is in stone yet, but with Strong comment about being hired by us and Meyer’s quote about Strong being a good candidate for our position, all the evidence is pointing toward it. Glad to hear this source say he’s at the top of Jurich’s list. That was my biggest concern (especially after him hiring Krag out of nowhere). And, if you think about it, Louisville is the perfect place for him.
1. We’re not so huge that it’s a job impossible for someone without head coaching experience to get… Notre Dame, Florida State.
2. We’re in the Big East which is at least semi competitive (at least equal to VA in the ACC)
3. Our program is slightly better than VA, their last semi successful season was 2004 and 9-4, ours was 2006 with 12-1.
4. We gave UF Richard Pitino, so they owe us an assistant.
by REALISTICCARDSFAN on Dec 2, 2009 11:50 PM EST reply actions
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