I like your mindset thinking from a AD DB mindset, but Muschamp hard pass, Steele is 60, Claeys had a bad scandal that forced him out, and Kill's health and age is a hard no. Anyone else from his past connections besides Lashlee?
Agreed that Moorhead has to be the de facto #1 choice, but it's going to be a lot of work for whoever takes the gig so why would he? He could easily get a lower level P5 job that would a hell of a lot easier if he wants it I'm sure (especially if Oregon's O has a good season). Not to mention we DEMOTED HIM when PP arrived. I'm sure he doesn't have the fondest memory for us all things considered...
Cignetti is also 60, hard pass. We need someone in their low 50s or under. This is a young man's game, especially with the amount of work required for whoever is the next HC. Entz has zero connections to our recruiting pipeline states, I don't care if the next HC is a Northeast guy or not, but they have to be able to recruit NJ/MD/PA/GA/FL. Entz actually does have a few FL guys at NDSU, but he's been a Midwest guy all his life and other than money (which could easily be a 2-3x raise) as a reason, I don't know if he would he be set up for success here with limited connections to the Northeast/Northeast recruiters and coordinators more importantly.
Chadwell has been discussed at nauseam as well, he's already making 850K. We ponying up $2m to hire him when we could probably get a guy like Entz for easily half that? Not to mention he could easily go to an ACC gig next year if one opens up. Plus, why would he leave a RANKED program for a bottom 5 program???