Just considering the coaching landscape and had this thought...

Jim Harbaugh may be the hottest coach in the country this side of Brian Kelly. He's a michigan guy. If you can win at Stanford, imagine what he can do with Mich's resources...It is possible that he could be in the Maize and blue at this time next year.

Lots of folks have front-butt getting his balloon popped at the end of the year. If so, I look for ND to make a major splash of the Jon Gruden variety or at least a run at Brian Kelly. It is possible that one of them could be coaching under touchdown Jesus at this time next year.

So, two of our recruiting rivals (one of whom is an actual rival) could take gigantic steps forward in the next 365 days and we are stuck with "Happy the Recruiting Clown" for another year.

Thoughts on the chances of this happening or can I come back in from the ledge?

I wouldn't come off the ledge just yet, but according to ESPN, it looks like Gruden will be back in the MNF booth next year. So one big name appears off the board.

I think that could change anytime Gruden is offered a big time contract. I'm sure the school will help pay ESPN till they replace Gruden with Kornheiser again.

Harbaugh ripped UM last year publically so I'm not so sure he'd be welcome back with open arms. As for DickRod, he's been recruiting well. I don't think someone will replace him and recruit even better. So has Weis despite the losses. So no matter what happens at ND and scUM, I don't see it negatively impacting our recruiting. What it will do is if they start winning big, it takes attention away from us and don't look now, but we actually don't have scUM to climb over in the Big Ten right now.

scUM will give RR another year, if its just about W-L 's, but if he was cheating with this practice times stuff, and if things go sour in the off season, he could get canned for those reasons..........but I gotta think they will give him another year regardless......maybe even two more

CW is most likely gone, imo. I gotta think they make a play for BK or JG. He has proven hes as bad a coach as RZ. Speculation has RT of the Bears getting canned, with Weis getting his OC job at the Bears with some sort of negotiation between the Bears & ND where the Bears essentially partially subsidize ND's buyout by hiring Charlie

I was wondering if that lack of admiration between Harbaugh and UM might make him want to take another B10 job...like one in C-U?

I actually like the idea of Charlie Weiss as OC of the Bears, but it may be on the heels of a HC change. I like Lovie, but he has to be on the hot seat now.

I do think CW is toast in South Bend; Brian Kelly should get a real estate agent.

I also agree with the sentiment that RR will stay at UM for at least another year, although I think UM is more likely to oust a poor selection, ala Gillespie at UK, because they seem to care much more than Illinois, which will retain bad coaches long after it is obvious that they can't get the job done.

And speaking of Illinois, I think we have Zook one more year, even though he truly sucks, because the house will get properly cleaned when RG retires at the end of 2010. We have to wait...more's the pity.