USC coaching search: Lovie Smith interviewed; Sarkisian on radar

[BleedGopher]

per CBS:

USC, seeking a replacement for fired coach Lane Kiffin, has already interviewed former Bears coach Lovie Smith for the position, according to a league source. It would ideally love to land former Super Bowl winning coach Jon Gruden, but that won't be happening.

Sources said that University of Washington coach Steve Sarkisian was well positioned to land that position, though a recent three-game losing streak may have cooled his star some.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer...bears-coach-lovie-smith-for-head-coaching-job

Go Gophers!!

 

[Gopherprof]

As a Bears fan, Lovie would be a really interesting hire. He doesn't exactly fit the mold of a Southern California guy, but he's laid back just like Carroll was, and I think he could assemble a loyal staff that could go out and recruit for him (not that it's all that hard to recruit at USC)

 

[zman]

I assume it beats doing nothing but why would a former pro coach want to have to whore himself to high school aged recruits? No thanks.

 

[Gopherprof]

I assume it beats doing nothing but why would a former pro coach want to have to whore himself to high school aged recruits? No thanks.

I'd much rather try to sell a recruit on my program than convince a 25-year-old with a 20 million dollars in his pocket to work hard.

 

[zman]

To each his own. The thought of spending time kissing high school kids *sses sounds pretty unappealing to me.

 

[Sparlimb]

The Sarkisian thing will be interesting. Was co-offensive coordinator with Kiffin and my USC friends believe he was always the better coach. Has done a pretty decent job at Washington turning them around. I don't have a lot of respect for schools or coaches that leave to another in-conference school. I wouldn't be surprised if they give Orgeron an interview as the team is playing well under him right now and he's a hell of a recruiter.

 

[Gopherprof]

To each his own. The thought of spending time kissing high school kids *sses sounds pretty unappealing to me.

How is that any different than kissing the ass of your elite NFL players, though? You think Leslie Frazier can ever say **** to AD about anything? Or John Fox to Peyton Manning?

At least as a college head coach you have control over the situation once the players join your program. Look at Greg Schiano. He tried to take the college approach into the NFL and his players have damn near mutinied.

 

[Gopherprof]

The Sarkisian thing will be interesting. Was co-offensive coordinator with Kiffin and my USC friends believe he was always the better coach. Has done a pretty decent job at Washington turning them around. I don't have a lot of respect for schools or coaches that leave to another in-conference school. I wouldn't be surprised if they give Orgeron an interview as the team is playing well under him right now and he's a hell of a recruiter.

I think Sark would be a bad hire. You're USC. You can't do better than a guy with a 31-28 record at Washington?

 

[husker70]

I think Orgeron will get enough consideration to be on the next staff if not the head coach. Then there are the Denver Broncos. With Fox out, do the go to Jack Del Rio? The odds on favorite for the USC job.