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Ah, Thanksgiving week. Wonderful because it offers up some of the best college football matchups of the year. Horrible because it signals the all-too-sudden conclusion of the college football season.
But 2016’s Thanksgiving week turkey also offers up a spicy seasoning of COACHING RUMORS. Two colossi of CFB currently have their names bandied about in connection to Purdue and LSU, and as ever the meat and potatoes in this feast of a story involves one Les Miles.
That’s right: as the Pilot News’ (sure) Doug Griffiths asserts, Purdue “football” is close to an agreement with your favorite grass-fed signal caller. BUT! As SB Nation’s Purdue blog Hammer and Rails points out, and Griffiths himself admits, this latest rumor or whatever is nowhere close to concrete. (Griffiths is the former editor of a Scout site devoted to Purdue athletics, and we’re all too aware of those outlets’ journalistic bona fides, which is to say please like, share and subscribe.)
Not saying it's Miles but I'd be stunned if we don't know next #Purdue coach by kickoff of Bucket game.
— Doug Griffiths (@PilotNewsdoug) November 22, 2016
How perfectly B1G it would be to have Miles, Jim Harbaugh and Urban Meyer all in the same conference. Wonderful.
Jimbo Fisher to return to LSU?
Speaking of anonymously sourced reports, The Advocate’s Ross Dellenger writes that LSU leadership is keen on Jimbo Fisher taking over head coaching duties next season, what with interim head coach Ed Orgeron face-planting against Florida last Saturday in Baton Rouge. Speaking of that game, here’s a tweet that is true.
So many people took Ls when Florida made that goal line stand. LSU, Coach O, Alleva, Butch Jones.
— Andy Staples (@Andy_Staples) November 19, 2016
Fisher was offensive coordinator in the early 2000s first under Nick Saban then under Miles, and it’s widely assumed that whoever takes over in Death Valley need have a strong offensive coaching background. Bud Elliott spoke with Fisher earlier last week, and ole Jimbo is focused on football and loving life in Tallahassee.
I did [see the report] when I walked out of a meeting, had no idea. But here’s the thing: I’m not going to talk about any jobs. I love being at Florida State. I plan on being here and I’m just getting ready for Syracuse. That’s the last thing I’m going to say on that. No offense to anybody or anything else, that’s just what I’m going to do. I love being here.
Not exactly the staunch denial FSU fans may want. But seriously, a big name coach who consistently recruits well but underperforms relative to fans’ and the media’s expectations? What could be more LSU than that?
Butch Jones to players: I’m just glad you tried.
Say, coach, what are your feelings now that you’re not going to Atlanta (again) even though you were ranked hilariously high back in Week 1?
Jones on this senior class: "They’ve won the biggest championship – that’s the championship of life”
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) November 21, 2016
This is the full “championship of life” quote from Butch Jones today.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) November 21, 2016
He was asked about his emotions during Senior Day: pic.twitter.com/8EaoK8H7Ht
Oh no. Surely the internet won’t hammer him for this remark ...
Butch Jones said Tennessee "won the biggest championship – that’s the championship of life" (h/t @rockytopinsider) pic.twitter.com/NAcqGzrcS9
— SB Nation (@SBNation) November 21, 2016
Oh dear.
Butch Jones' Wikipedia page pic.twitter.com/QGS5NMCbLw
— Justin King (@JustinKing) November 22, 2016
It can’t get worse, can it?
Alabama hears Butch Jones quote, attempts to tabulate how many Life Championships they can claim
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) November 21, 2016
Even Wolken owned you, Butch. WOLKEN.
Will Muschamp remains a lovable weirdo.
Here’s renowned mathematician and South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp on the nature of time, holidays, meals and football practice.
Will Muschamp: "Thanksgiving is a meal. It’s not a day." Gamecocks will practice in morning.
— Josh Kendall (@JoshatTheState) November 22, 2016
Will Muschamp thinks "Thanksgiving is a meal, not a day" and is planning to watch a lil "tape then watch a lil more tape" on TG #FootballGuy pic.twitter.com/1mHVvNK9Ve
— Jack McGuire (@TailgateHeisman) November 22, 2016
... OK? Far more reasonably, however, is Muschamp’s insistence on “winning the state” of South Carolina and ruining Clemson’s season in the process. The game’s in The Other Death Valley, though, so good luck, coach.
Enjoy your Egg Bowl, folks.