Ole Miss’ coaching search took some interesting turns Tuesday, including reports that Archie Manning and Mike Glenn could be heading to Tuscaloosa, Ala., later today, presumably to interview Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.
The day began with confirmation that Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth withdrawing from consideration for the Ole Miss job. It is believed that Hudspeth has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacancy at Tulane, with the Green Wave having given him a deadline to accept or reject its offer. If that’s true _ and we believe it is _ Hudspeth obviously learned he was not first in line to land the Ole Miss job.
Manning returned to Oxford _ not Pittsburgh, Pa., as was reported by a Memphis radio station _ Tuesday and was scheduled to meet with the current Ole Miss team at 3 p.m. today. (There was no media availability in Oxford Tuesday, for the record). Head to Head Radio reported Tuesday afternoon the two-man committee then planned to head to Tuscaloosa to talk to Smart. A source close to Smart said Tuesday afternoon there was no interview scheduled, adding that there has been no involvement between the two parties. (Editorial Note: We're big fans of Head to Head and believe they have strong sourcing. We, however, have to report the denial of that report, especially given the quality of our source and his knowledge of Smart's situation.)
Smart’s name could surface soon at Texas A&M. According to a source close to the Aggies’ program, there is tremendous internal division regarding what to with Mike Sherman. The source said former A&M coaches Gene Stallings and Jackie Sherrill, two men with strong SEC ties, are both pushing for Smart to lead the Aggies into the SEC next season. Sherman’s season, one that ended with an agonizing loss to Texas on Thanksgiving night, is considered unforgivable by some powerful people close to the Aggies’ program, per the source.
Arkansas State coach Hugh Freeze and Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora are also very much in the mix at Ole Miss. Freeze is also listed as a candidate at Memphis, while Fedora is drawing interest at Kansas, North Carolina, Arizona State and possibly Illinois.
Finally, ESPN is reporting today that Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen is emerging as the leading candidate at Penn State. We can only defer to that report and assume it is accurate. If Mullen were to leave Starkville, look for Mississippi State to turn quickly and aggressively to Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
The day began with confirmation that Louisiana-Lafayette coach Mark Hudspeth withdrawing from consideration for the Ole Miss job. It is believed that Hudspeth has emerged as the leading candidate for the vacancy at Tulane, with the Green Wave having given him a deadline to accept or reject its offer. If that’s true _ and we believe it is _ Hudspeth obviously learned he was not first in line to land the Ole Miss job.
Manning returned to Oxford _ not Pittsburgh, Pa., as was reported by a Memphis radio station _ Tuesday and was scheduled to meet with the current Ole Miss team at 3 p.m. today. (There was no media availability in Oxford Tuesday, for the record). Head to Head Radio reported Tuesday afternoon the two-man committee then planned to head to Tuscaloosa to talk to Smart. A source close to Smart said Tuesday afternoon there was no interview scheduled, adding that there has been no involvement between the two parties. (Editorial Note: We're big fans of Head to Head and believe they have strong sourcing. We, however, have to report the denial of that report, especially given the quality of our source and his knowledge of Smart's situation.)
Smart’s name could surface soon at Texas A&M. According to a source close to the Aggies’ program, there is tremendous internal division regarding what to with Mike Sherman. The source said former A&M coaches Gene Stallings and Jackie Sherrill, two men with strong SEC ties, are both pushing for Smart to lead the Aggies into the SEC next season. Sherman’s season, one that ended with an agonizing loss to Texas on Thanksgiving night, is considered unforgivable by some powerful people close to the Aggies’ program, per the source.
Arkansas State coach Hugh Freeze and Southern Miss coach Larry Fedora are also very much in the mix at Ole Miss. Freeze is also listed as a candidate at Memphis, while Fedora is drawing interest at Kansas, North Carolina, Arizona State and possibly Illinois.
Finally, ESPN is reporting today that Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen is emerging as the leading candidate at Penn State. We can only defer to that report and assume it is accurate. If Mullen were to leave Starkville, look for Mississippi State to turn quickly and aggressively to Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz.
