I've got to think that there is TREMENDOUS pressure on Jurich to replace Strong with a home run hire. Like you said (and I agree 100% with), he sold the ACC that they will always be competitive in football with the likes of FSU and Clemson and that his athletic programs aren't cyclical. The problem is that it's fairly late in the coaching carousel and signing day is not too far away. Considering that the majority (maybe all) of UL's recruits committed to Strong and not Louisville Community College, they are probably going to be poached big time unless Jurich can bring in somebody of Strong's ilk. Let's go through the rumored candidates:
James Franklin - this one has got to be a joke. Franklin makes $4M/yr at a SEC school whose academics are excellent. His coaching philosophies thrive on recruiting smart players (similar to Stanford and Northwestern) who are under recruited. With a 96% admission rate and 160-something ranking, it's going to be a VERY tough sell to those types of players to even consider going to LCC. This one is not happening at all.
Pat Narduzzi - it's possible but he just went through a highly publicized coaching interview and was handsomely rewarded for his loyalty to MSU with a hefty raise. That's not to say if Jurich came in at $3M/yr he wouldn't leave, but Narduzzi just cited loyalty to Michigan State and love for that program as a big reason why he withdrew his name from UCONN's list if Diaco turned them down. Money talks though and if Jurich can convince him to leave D'Antonio with a HUGE pay raise, he might bolt. I'd say the odds are about 40/60 not happening.
Chad Morris - I can see this one happening. I personally think Jurich will go offensive with his hire to attempt to stay on par with FSU and Clemson's high flying offenses. What better way to compete with them than hiring one of them? Morris makes $1.2M/yr roughly so he'd likely be looking at a $3M/yr offer to leave. That stock is back up again after walking all over OSU's D (no matter how bad it was). Plus, he has recruiting connections in Louisville's recruiting areas. I'd say 70/30 possible.
Bobby Petrino - Personally, I would LOVE for Louisville to go back to Petrino, throw tons of money at him only to leave for a better job (again) or get in trouble (again). They have one coordinator on a show cause but they're already as high as they can go conference wise so battling the NCAA wouldn't be a concern for them. I'd say this one is 50/50 possible.
Jim Tressel - the show cause is a killer. Louisville gave the ACC a guarantee that they are a football power and that means they have to be in high profile bowl games just about every season. To play in these high profile bowl games without their head coach for the first few seasons would be quite a distraction. Also, he would have to miss the team's first 5 games next season. I haven't seen the ACC schedule for 2014, but that means he will miss some conference games. I thought Tressel made SOME sense for UCONN because of their AAC purgatory sentence but he makes no sense for a P5 conference school. 5/95 not possible.
Tom Herman - like Morris, this one is possible. Offensive guy whose offenses have been prolific everywhere he's gone. Like I said under Morris, I personally think Jurich will go offense with this hire and if he can't get Morris, I can see him going heavy after Herman. 65/35 possible (if Morris is available).
RichRod - I guess you never know with him but I don't think this is happening. He has a good thing at Arizona right now and I *think* he's learned his lesson bolting from a good thing. Jurich would have to come in WAY over the top with a pay raise and I don't think RichRod is worth $4-$5M/yr money. 10/90 not happening.
Derek Mason - for the same reasons as Franklin, it's hard to see Mason leaving Stanford for Louisville Community College. It's a bit more possible than Franklin though since a $3M/yr offer would be a substantial raise for Mason and pay cut for Franklin. He'd have to overcome being a west coast guy moving east and might not have the recruiting connections Strong had in Florida to immediately boost their recruiting. I can't see many west coast kids with (or even without) good grades coming east to LCC. 20/80 not happening.
