As posted earlier, Mel Tucker dropped out of consideration for the Michigan State head coaching job with this tweet today:
So what does it mean and what's next?
My sources have their ears to the ground, but things are very quiet.
One line of thought is that Tucker could see the writing on the wall that this job is headed toward Luke Fickell.
That was the belief earlier in the week when Pat Narduzzi quickly dropped out of the running. There were initial attempts to invite Narduzzi in for an interview, but prevailing thought is Narduzzi also recognized that he wasn't the A-list candidate. From a public relations standpoint, Narduzzi couldn't afford to let Pitt hang in the wind for more than half a morning on Wednesday. Pitt has lost too many coaches to other jobs in recent years, and although Narduzzi has had some success at Pitt, he hasn't had enough to make them sweat it out. So he had to opt out quickly.
News of Tucker's candidacy escalated last night when Chris Solari reported that Tucker was scheduled to interview with Michigan State today (Saturday). I confirmed with my sources that Tucker was set to interview.
Like Narduzzi, Tucker decided to opt out of the running before it could become a negative firestorm back home. There are few things worse for a college head coach than to be caught attemping to get a job elsewhere, only to come up short. It's a shameful walk home.
Rather than go all out for the MSU job, hang in the wind, and lose, Tucker cut bait and announced his plans to stay in Boulder.
Similarly, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was scheduled to interview on Saturday. Shortly after news broke of his scheduled interview, he told NFL.com reporters that he was canceling and staying home. Losing a job derby wouldn't be shameful for an NFL coordinator, but Saleh is a pro guy and is expected to stay in that level.
Add it all up and the prevaling line of thought is that the college candidates are dropping out because they feel Michigan State is already set to hire Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell.
SpartanMag.com reported on Wednesday night and Thursday morning that contractual progress was in full gear for Michigan State to make an offer to Fickell. The offer didn't come on Thursday, as university wheels were set in motion to stage interviews and carry out a traditional hiring process before entertaining the thought of forwarding an official job offer.
Interviews were set to begin today. It's unclear whether Tucker interviewed with Michigan State.
So when is Fickell going to interview at Michigan State? One source believes that it will be on Sunday, but again, that has not been verified.
What's the worst-case scenario? Fickell decides to stay at Cincinnati with improvements to his $2 million contract, less stress, fewer challenges and an easier schedule at the Group of Five level. That would leave Michigan State with a Plan B pool of Mike Tressel and perhaps Chris Creighton and others raising their hands to be considered. I don't think things are headed this way. For now, the uncalm quiet is heading toward a lightning rod announcement of some sort from Fickell or Michigan State, which could still be at least one or two days away. Either he's awaiting an interview and an offer, or he will opt out, which again doesn't seem likely considering the prepared contract and all the tea leaves. MSU's football future awaits.
Is there an unknown candidate that has been kept ultra quiet? I have heard not rumblings in that area.
Stay tuned.
So what does it mean and what's next?
My sources have their ears to the ground, but things are very quiet.
One line of thought is that Tucker could see the writing on the wall that this job is headed toward Luke Fickell.
That was the belief earlier in the week when Pat Narduzzi quickly dropped out of the running. There were initial attempts to invite Narduzzi in for an interview, but prevailing thought is Narduzzi also recognized that he wasn't the A-list candidate. From a public relations standpoint, Narduzzi couldn't afford to let Pitt hang in the wind for more than half a morning on Wednesday. Pitt has lost too many coaches to other jobs in recent years, and although Narduzzi has had some success at Pitt, he hasn't had enough to make them sweat it out. So he had to opt out quickly.
News of Tucker's candidacy escalated last night when Chris Solari reported that Tucker was scheduled to interview with Michigan State today (Saturday). I confirmed with my sources that Tucker was set to interview.
Like Narduzzi, Tucker decided to opt out of the running before it could become a negative firestorm back home. There are few things worse for a college head coach than to be caught attemping to get a job elsewhere, only to come up short. It's a shameful walk home.
Rather than go all out for the MSU job, hang in the wind, and lose, Tucker cut bait and announced his plans to stay in Boulder.
Similarly, San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh was scheduled to interview on Saturday. Shortly after news broke of his scheduled interview, he told NFL.com reporters that he was canceling and staying home. Losing a job derby wouldn't be shameful for an NFL coordinator, but Saleh is a pro guy and is expected to stay in that level.
Add it all up and the prevaling line of thought is that the college candidates are dropping out because they feel Michigan State is already set to hire Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell.
SpartanMag.com reported on Wednesday night and Thursday morning that contractual progress was in full gear for Michigan State to make an offer to Fickell. The offer didn't come on Thursday, as university wheels were set in motion to stage interviews and carry out a traditional hiring process before entertaining the thought of forwarding an official job offer.
Interviews were set to begin today. It's unclear whether Tucker interviewed with Michigan State.
So when is Fickell going to interview at Michigan State? One source believes that it will be on Sunday, but again, that has not been verified.
What's the worst-case scenario? Fickell decides to stay at Cincinnati with improvements to his $2 million contract, less stress, fewer challenges and an easier schedule at the Group of Five level. That would leave Michigan State with a Plan B pool of Mike Tressel and perhaps Chris Creighton and others raising their hands to be considered. I don't think things are headed this way. For now, the uncalm quiet is heading toward a lightning rod announcement of some sort from Fickell or Michigan State, which could still be at least one or two days away. Either he's awaiting an interview and an offer, or he will opt out, which again doesn't seem likely considering the prepared contract and all the tea leaves. MSU's football future awaits.
Is there an unknown candidate that has been kept ultra quiet? I have heard not rumblings in that area.
Stay tuned.
