Shhh...be very, very quiet, we're hunting coaches

Colorado AD Mike Bohnhead is going about his coaching search much more stealthily after the Butch Jones fiasco.  CU may have interviewed someone Saturday but we do not know who.  The PR department is working overtime to give CU some type of image, so it might just be rumors started to make it look like they are doing something.  

The latest Twitter rumor over the night was the return of Dan Mullen's name to the conversation.  This one could also just be another “positive rumor”, since when he was mentioned early in the process, it was quickly brushed off.  He is already making $2.65M and has a $1.4M buyout at Mississippi State.  He has done a fabulous job of improving that program and making it competitive in the SEC.  However, he will always be second fiddle at best to Bama, LSU, Florida, Georgia, Auburn...etc. in the SEC.  The rumors of $16M might have caught his attention and his stock is high right now, so if he was going to jump this would be the time.  Tommy Tuberville did leave Texas Tech and the Big XII for Cincinnati, or he could just be fishing for a raise.

San Jose State's Mike MacIntyre has all the right qualities on paper (or electronically from Stuart and CUattheGame.com, via San Jose Mercury News: http://www.cuatthegame.com/2012/coaching-change-at-cu/ ).  He quickly turned around a moribund 1-12 SJSU program into a 10-2 squad this year, and in just two seasons, beating schools like San Diego St., BYU and Louisiana Tech (whose coach Sonny Dykes is now at Cal) this year, as well as staying very competitive and putting a scare into Stanford. He knows the high school coaches from and has recruited all over California. He interviewed for the South Florida job at least, so he is definitely looking to move up the coaching ladder.

Multiple reports have said that Fresno State’s coach Tim DeRuyter insists he has never been contacted by CU folks in any way.

Other names that cause chuckling and show that there are many locals who are in no way connected to reality: 1) Bill McCartney-it was a ridiculous idea two years ago that in hindsight might have actually been the way to go then; however, there is no chance in hell now that Mac ever takes the job, no matter what they might offer while Bohnhead is in charge, nor does he give much support to the program, or is even welcomed by it, after his comments; 2) the return of Gary Barnett-can’t see this happening for so many reasons, but Bobby Pesavento  thinks it’s a good idea; 3) PLEASE give it a rest Dave Logan fans!  Tim Tebow will return to quarterback the Broncos before Logan is the head coach of the Buffs (and I am pretty sure it is the same idiots who continue to clog the airways and discussion boards by mentioning both of these names!); 4) Also, there is not even a miniscule chance that even Bohnhead would touch the controversial names with previous baggage in a self-righteous place like Boulder-so also give it up on the Jim Tressel and Bobby Petrino crap; 5) Jon “Chucky” Gruden-c’mon man?!  He loves the spotlight on MNF and his QB segments on ESPN.  Why on earth would he give it up to come back to coaching college?  If he did, it certainly wouldn’t be at CU for “only” $3M a year.

Great email/letter to Mark Kisla of the Post: “A novel approach. I question the functionality of athletic director Mike Bohn's ability to lead Colorado out of the hole that, in many ways, he dug. I played safety for the Buffaloes in the 1960s. I question the pell-mell desperation of CU's search for a football messiah. That Butch Jones flew in on a private jet and was caught trying to dodge the press is creepy. Did we really want another Chuck Fairbanks? With all the university's brainpower, why is this debate left to platitude-spewing Bohn? If we focus on the players and their success academically, sociologically and medically, then we can move forward with a new type of program that will attract good, solid players. If CU actually takes care of its players, that would be a story we could sell and players' families would buy.”-Bob, Boulder.  Kiz responded by suggesting the writer should apply for the AD job himself.  Anything would be an improvement. 

There are also growing rumors of transfer talk among CU players.  One tweet report “most” of the bigger name freshmen and sophomores were considering it and filling out their paperwork.  However, the list also included P-Rich, and there is no way he is going to sit out another year in order to just play one more.  It could be that a few are looking at the documentation involved so as to be prepared for that possibility.  I think I would be really worried right now if I were an 18 year old with an unknown future. Some are saying "if they don't want to be at CU, then show them the door" but it is really hard to tell those kids that after what they have witnessed and experienced under this administration.  It could also be a show of solidarity from them.  Ralphie knows, they need to do something.

Although I haven’t seen anything official, some sites are no longer listing 3-star DB/WR prospect Devin Ross (CA) as a CU commit.  He was definitely wavering immediately after Embree’s firing and was the recruit probably receiving the most interest from other schools.

Countdown to recruiting “dead” period: 8 days.  This is becoming more and more ominous of a date and title.

Interesting Notre Dame financial tidbit: The school held a $25 lottery to win the right to purchase tickets to the BCS championship.  They had over 100,000 requests, adding up to $2.5M-yes million-dollars pure profit, not yet even counting anything they will make from the ticket sales and payout.