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Trent Dilfer’s UAB Tenure: A Program-Killer in the Making?

Mark Haines on October 15, 2024

Is this a program-killer in the making?

Picture this: It’s a crisp autumn Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. The stands at Protective Stadium are sparse, and the energy is subdued. On the sideline, a man with a Super Bowl ring on his finger and a deer-in-headlights look in his eyes watches as his team gets steamrolled.

This isn’t some fever dream. This is the reality of UAB football under Trent Dilfer.

Now, I’ve seen my fair share of coaching hot seats. But Dilfer’s? It’s not just hot. It’s supernova hot. We’re talking “center of the sun” hot. And here’s the kicker: It’s all happening faster than you can say “freakin’ Alabama.”

The Unlikely Experiment Gone Wrong

In the high-stakes world of college football, UAB decided to roll the dice on a former NFL quarterback turned high school coach with zero college experience. It was the kind of move that either ends up in the genius column or… well, let’s say it’s currently trending towards the “What Were They Thinking?” file.

As Joseph Goodman, the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group puts it: “There was always a chance at UAB with Trent Dilfer that things could go horribly wrong in a hurry. Well, we’re here after six weeks of his second season on the Southside.”

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GRIDIRON ARMAGEDDON: SEC Titans Clash, Big Ten Behemoths Collide, and Big 12 Underdogs Rise in a Weekend That’ll Shatter College Football’s Status Quo

Mark Haines on October 12, 2024

Here we go, football fanatics. We’re about to witness GRIDIRON ARMAGEDDON: SEC Titans Clash, Big Ten Behemoths Collide, and Big 12 Underdogs Rise in a Weekend That’ll Shatter College Football’s Status Quo. This isn’t just another Saturday of college football. It’s a seismic event that’s about to rock the very foundations of the sport. From the thunderous roar of SEC stadiums to the electric atmosphere of Big Ten showdowns and the uprising of Big 12 underdogs, every snap, every tackle, every touchdown could rewrite the playoff narrative. Forget everything you think you know about rankings and reputations. When the dust settles on this epic slate of games, the landscape of college football will never be the same. Are you ready?

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Finally-A-Friday, Week 7, Tonight’s Showdown in the Desert, Utah at Arizona State

Mark Haines on October 11, 2024

Game: 16 Utah at Arizona State

Game Time: 10:30 PM Eastern, 7:30 PM Pacific

TV: ESPN

The stage is set for a classic Big 12 showdown under the Friday night lights. Still licking its wounds from a humbling loss to Arizona, Utah heads to Tempe to face an unexpectedly potent Arizona State squad. It’s a clash of styles, a battle of wills, and a pivotal moment for both teams in the conference race.

The Utes: Wounded But Dangerous

Utah, known for its stifling defense and physicality, has been hit hard by injuries. The availability of star quarterback Cameron Rising remains a mystery, shrouded in the typical Whittinghamian secrecy. If Rising can’t go, it’ll be up to freshman Isaac Wilson to navigate a hostile environment and avoid the red zone woes that plagued him against Arizona.

The Sun Devils: A Desert Mirage or the Real Deal?

Arizona State, led by freshman quarterback sensation Sam Leavitt, has defied expectations with a 4-1 start. But their schedule has been soft, and Utah represents a significant step up in competition. Can Leavitt handle the pressure of a primetime matchup against a top-tier defense?

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What’s up with Purdue?

Mark Haines on October 10, 2024

In the crisp autumn air of West Lafayette, Indiana, a story of ambition, miscalculation, and the unforgiving nature of college football is unfolding. At its center stands Ryan Walters, a 37-year-old wunderkind of defensive coaching. Now facing the greatest challenge of his young career, fans are asking, “Is Ryan Walters heading to the top of the Coaches Hot Seat rankings?”

Two years ago, Walters was the toast of the Big Ten. As the defensive coordinator at Illinois, he had engineered a turnaround that transformed the Illini from a conference punching bag to a genuine contender. His defenses were smart, aggressive, and, most importantly, effective. When Purdue came calling with a head coaching offer, it seemed like the natural next step in a meteoric rise.

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Week 7 – Hot Seat Rankings Overview

Mark Haines on October 8, 2024

In college football’s high-stakes arena, where multimillion-dollar decisions hinge on the outcome of a single play, a silent countdown ticks away. We’re approaching the season’s midpoint, that critical juncture where athletic directors start crunching numbers that have nothing to do with touchdowns or field goals.

Welcome to this week’s Coaches Hot Seat Rankings, where we peel back the curtain on the beautifully absurd world of college football economics.

Forget win-loss records for a moment (though they’re the fuel that feeds this fire). Forget rivalry games and conference standings (the kindling, if you will). Today, we’re diving headfirst into the labyrinthine world of contract buyouts—those golden parachutes that can turn a simple firing into a financial apocalypse.

We’ve identified the top 5 coaches whose seats aren’t just hot—they’re scorching. But here’s the twist: their fates aren’t sealed by X’s and O’s alone. No, these men are trapped in a game where the final score is tallied not on a scoreboard but in a boardroom.

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Vote for Your Hot Seat Takes

Mark Haines on October 6, 2024

Every win matters. Every loss stings. But some coaches are feeling the heat more than others. Who deserves to be on the hot seat? Your vote counts.

Win/Loss results for last week’s rankings appear below.

Cast your vote now: https://tinyurl.com/53ydy73m

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The Coaching Carousel: A Wild Ride of Buyouts, Bargains, and Burnt Biscuits

Mark Haines on October 1, 2024

Hefty Buyouts Await 4 of Our Top 5

Let’s go on a whirlwind tour of the college football coaching carousel, where the stakes are high, the contracts are crazy, and the pressure is hotter than a two-dollar pistol. We’re talkin’ buyouts that could make your head spin, fan bases ready to revolt, and coaches clinging to their jobs like a possum to a persimmon tree.

First Stop: Gainesville, Florida

Picture this: The Swamp, home of the Florida Gators, where the humidity rivals the pressure to win, and the athletic department operates like it’s stuck in a time warp. We’re talkin’ Windows 95 computers, flip phones, and a fax machine that’s practically considered cutting-edge technology.

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The Hot Seat Burns: Purdue Parts Ways with Graham Harrell Amidst Offensive Struggles

Mark Haines on September 30, 2024

In the high-stakes college football world, where every play counts and every game matters, the pressure cooker environment can sometimes boil over. And in West Lafayette, Indiana, the temperature had been rising steadily.

The Fall From Grace

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What We’re Watchin’ Saturday – Week 5 Edition

Mark Haines on September 28, 2024

Early Games

Kentucky at 6 Ole Miss

Game Time: Noon Eastern/9:00 AM Pacific

TV: ABC, ESPN+

Ole Miss is on fire; the Rebels are hotter than a two-dollar pistol. They’re lighting it up, leading the FBS in passing yards, total offense, scoring offense, and scoring defense. Dart’s slinging it like a gunslinger, and the Rebels are putting up video game numbers. But, let’s be honest, they’ve been playing a bunch of cupcakes. That changes this Saturday. Kentucky had Georgia on the ropes, and now they’re coming for Ole Miss. Can Kentucky slow down the Rebels’ high-octane offense? Or will Jaxson Dart and his crew keep this train rolling? This SEC showdown is about to get wild.

20 Oklahoma State at 23 Kansas State

Game Time: Noon Eastern/9:00 AM Pacific

TV: ESPN

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LSU’s Tiger Stadium: A Century of Gridiron Glory

Mark Haines on September 26, 2024

Few venues can match the storied legacy of Louisiana State University’s Tiger Stadium in the annals of college football history. For nearly a century, this hallowed ground has been the stage for some of the sport’s most electrifying moments, a colosseum of the South that has witnessed the rise and fall of football dynasties.

A Monument to American Ingenuity

The year was 1924. Calvin Coolidge was president, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” premiered, and in Baton Rouge, a modest 12,000-seat stadium known as “State Field” rose from the earth. Little did anyone know that this humble beginning would evolve into one of college football’s most iconic landmarks.

But the true stroke of genius came during the Great Depression, a time when American resourcefulness was put to the test. In the 1930s, as the nation grappled with economic turmoil, Louisiana’s larger-than-life Governor Huey P. Long and LSU’s crafty athletics manager Thomas “Skipper” Heard concocted a plan that epitomized the era’s “make do and mend” spirit.

The Dormitory Stadium: A Depression-Era Masterstroke

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