Morning Wrap: Florida Makes Full On Blitz for Jim McElwain

((ht: coloradoan.com))

So, there's now no question who the University of Florida is targeting for their vacant head coaching job.

The Gators definitely want Colorado State coach Jim McElwain to come back to the SEC. And in case you were wondering how serious the courtship is....check out this photo of Gator AD Jeremy Foley at McElwain's home:

UF AD Jeremy Foley at the home of CSU Rams head coach Jim McElwain presumably discussing #Gators job @TFrei #Gators pic.twitter.com/tLc6IjXKSP
— John Leyba (@Presto89) December 3, 2014

Yes, it was taken at McElwain's home in Fort Collins, Colorado about an hour north of Denver where the Denver media and quite a few others spent their Tuesday night.

According to the Coloradoan Newspaper, the negotiating currently ongoing with Florida AD Jeremy Foley may involve McElwain's "Buyout" clause.

The paper says while the buyout as written in the coach's contract stands at $7.5 million, which is enough to scare most anyone off, it's not likely a school such as UF would actually have to pay that amount to hire McElwain away.

The buyout is apparently negotiable depending on the school that comes courting.

Read more from the Coloradoan.com RIGHT HERE

Our guess is this deal gets done by the end of the week. The Florida contingent has not exactly gone out of their way to hide their interest nor has McElwain.

Arguably, he's the best potential hire the Gators could make. A guy familiar with the SEC and from the Nick Saban coaching tree who has had success as a head coach.

Yes, Florida is a high pressure job and a major overhaul is needed. But the resources to do that are already in place.

Expect an announcement by Monday.

Though we could be wrong....

College of Charleston MBB Coach Under Investigation For Verbal Abuse

((HT: WCIV-TV))

The College of Charleston is currently investigating head men's hoops coach Doug Wojcik for alleged verbal abuse of his players.

The investigation is focused on the day-to-day treatment of players as well as specific instances between Wojcik and his players who, apparently, met with school officials already.

Wojcik is two years into his five-year contract and, if it gets to this point, a possible buy-out could cost more than $1 million.

here's the breaker from Charleston
WCIV-TV | ABC News 4 - Charleston News, Sports, Weather

Okay, Carl... You Haven't Resigned, You're Fired...

Florida Atlantic withdrew Carl Pelini's resignation as football coach and has now fired him with cause saying he failed to report misconduct by members of his staff...

Assumedly this has to do with the former DC, Pete Rekstis, and his admission he used illegal drugs...

The letter doesn't mention any of Pelini's drug use...

Pelini resigned October 30. But Pelini denied the illegal drug use claim made by FAU AD Patrick Chun- even as another member of the FAU staff admitted seeing him use marijuana and cocaine.
((HT: FAUOwlTV))


The semantics of Pelini now having/needing to repay $500,000 are now moot... which means that lump sum is, probably, now his settlement.

FAU is 3-0 since Pelini was replaced by interim coach Brian Wright, and could become bowl-eligible with a win in the regular-season finale against FIU... which looks promising...

Tom Fornelli discusses the resignation/firing at the time it went down with Tim Brando...
((HT: CBS Sports Network))

Texas Had No Clue How To Stop Taysom Hill, BYU Stuns Horns (UPDATED: Saban To Austin Talk Starts Anew...Diaz Reassigned)

Pardon Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz if he has nightmares of Taysom Hill.  Diaz's Longhorn defense had no clue how to stop the BYU quarterback.


On 17 carries Hill rushed for 259 yards and 3 touchdowns as BYU stunned the Texas 41-21. 

 “We expected to run on them, we didn't expect to break the school record." Hill said.

BYU's 550 yards rushing total broke the school record however, a Texas defense has never given up that many rushing yards ever.

“I’m disappointed in them, disappointed us." Texas head coach Mack Brown said.  "We didn’t stop the run, couldn’t make third and fourth and short, and that’s the story of the game."

With such a pitiful defensive performance by the Texas defense their seems to be real doubt about the future of Diaz.

When asked after the game if Diaz is the right person to lead the Longhorn defense Mack Brown responded,  “I didn’t think our coaches or our players lived up to what we needed to do tonight to win … including me.”

When Diaz was asked the same question he said, "That’s not even a topic to talk about.”

It just might be very soon.




And, now the larger question is one the HQ has brought up before:

"Does Texas back up the truck to bring Nick Saban in?"- especially if he wins another national title in Tuscaloosa...

The HQ has heard all the talk about Miss Terri not liking living in Alabama any more... and, usually, what the Boss says goes...

What...??? $10-million a year...???

The buyout money for Mack Brown could be brought in at the beginning of business Monday without anything more than a snap of the fingers... and since Mack makes $5-million, Saban could be turning his crimson in for burnt orange...

Quickly...

But Manny Diaz gets fired first...

1800 UPDATE: He did... or was reassigned, depending on your point-of-view...

Greg Robinson was given the battlefield promotion from his quality control position

"Our performance on defense last night was unacceptable, and we need to change that," Mack Brown said in a written statement. "Greg will be here tonight and get with the staff and players to start preparing for Ole Miss. He will be running our defense immediately. We're very fortunate that Greg has been around, watched all of our practice video and has a good scouting report moving forward. His familiarity with the staff and players should make for a smooth transition. He knows this place, did a terrific job in leading our defense before, and I'm excited to have him back on the field. We're back at it and working hard to beat Ole Miss this weekend."

So, Why Does Kirk Ferentz Still Have A Job...???

((HT: WHO-TV))

Because he has a four-million dollar per year deal that has him coaching through 2020

Kirk Ferentz has a contract through January 31, 2020, that pays him between $1.87M and $2.07M per season in base salary, plus another $1.48M per season in "recurring supplemental payments."

He also gets a "longevity bonus" which requires Iowa AD Gary Barta pay him between $325,000 and $575,000 on an escalating scale throughout the balance of his deal...

In the year 2020...

The buyout clause in Kirk Ferentz's contract mandates that Barta pay him 75% of his base salary if he is terminated without cause- $219,142 per month until the contract ends in January 2020.

He is the state's highest paid employee, making $1.4 million more than the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics director Jean Robillard.

Oh, Iowa lost to Northern Illinois yesterday...
Here's the highlights...


So, why is Kirk Ferentz still employed...???

He's too expensive to fire...