The start of a new college football season brings many questions to the minds of hardcore fans. Inevitably, there is always a list out there that someone compiles of 10 coaches who need to win to keep their respective jobs. Here are my top ten coaches for 2012 that really need to get it done, with the worst possible record I feel they can get and remain the coach next to the name.
10. Gene Chizik (6-6) While he is not immediately in jeopardy with a sub-par season, Alabama is not slowing down any time soon. Take away Cam Newton and he is 16-10 with horrible blow out losses away from home and some pretty poor performances at home. Chizik is a good coach, but this year's team has all new coordinators and is still very young. 7 and 8 win seasons are gonna get old on the Plains if Alabama keeps adding to its trophy case.
9. Mark Richt (9-3) Richt is entering a year where he has left himself little wiggle room. Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas remain missing from the schedule, leaving the Bulldogs with no room for hiccups. He should walk to 9 wins this season, and ought to be no worse than 11-1 going into the post season. 9-3 would mean losses to South Carolina, and two other teams that were not very consistent last year. In other words, they need to win.
8. Randy Etsall (6-6). For a man who "loves" Maryland, he certainly needs to try a little harder. He left Uconn for his dream job, and laid a rotten egg in year one. The Terps fired Ralph Friedgen after winning 9 games and being named ACC coach of the year, so you have to believe time is short is Etsall does not reach a bowl game.
7. Tommy Tuberville (8-4). He quit caring in 2007 when Nick Saban was hired to kick his rear end, and nothing has changed. I really don't expect him to be around after this year, but if he wins 8 at Texas Tech in a much stronger BIG 12, it will hard to let him go.
6. Tom O'Brien (7-5). NC State expected more out a Boston College's winningest coach of all time, but he has not delivered an exceptional season since he came to coach the Wolfpack. He is not in huge trouble, but I think they may look else where if they don't finish with a winning record this year.
5. Joker Phillips (6-6) Kentucky just wants to get to a bowl game...something they failed to do last year. If not for ending a 20 plus year losing streak against the Vols, he would probably already be out.They do not have the talent or schedule to win more than 6 games, so the margin for error is roughly 0.
4. Mike Reilly (8-4). Oregon is the new Florida from the 1990's. They are showing no signs of slowing down, which means that Oregon State is about to feel the heat for a long time to win big. Until last year, they were solid. Things fell apart last year for Reilly, and he may be on his way out if they don't compete better in a top-heavy PAC 12.
3.John L. Smith (11-1). Bottom line: He's one and done unless he beats Alabama or LSU. The schedule is the easiest it is ever gonna be, and he is a sitting duck for the most part anyway. Atlanta or bust for John L. Bust is more probable...
2. Mack Brown (9-3). Brown's pay before the Alabama loss: $ 4 million. Brown's pay during and after the Alabama loss and during the 13-13 run since that game: $5.2 million. If Texas is gonna keep paying big money, they had better get better coaching out of Brown. There are no excuses for the mediocrity on the field in Austin, and if he doesn't win 9 this year, he may retire or be fired.
1. Derek Dooley (8-4). To be fair, Dooley has had horrible luck. But it is Tennessee and they don't like being 6-6 or 5-7. He needs to beat someone relevant this year to keep his job. PERIOD.
