Kelly, UCLA are a good fit
The hottest coaching candidate was locked up last weekend when Chip Kelly chose UCLA over Florida. He earlier had turned away interest from Tennessee and Nebraska.
He clearly had no desire to willingly jump into a fishbowl.
Let’s say sometime in the not-so-distant future, UCLA beats Southern California by a couple of touchdowns to win the Pac-12 South and put itself into position for the College Football Playoff. Afterward, Kelly decides to go out to eat with a few friends.
Assuming he takes off the visor, does anyone notice? And that’s the point.
Sure, Kelly is more familiar with and more comfortable with the Pac-12. He is likely to win at UCLA, and he might win big there (he went 46-7 in four seasons at Oregon). But he likely would have done that anywhere.
We’re going to see if, after five years away from the college game, he’s still the same disruptive force as his first time around. His “blur” offense is no longer unique, but it’s still effective – and those who know Kelly suggest he’s not tied to the hurry-up or even the spread, but rather always looking for the next innovation.
Even in Eugene, Ore., where he was the most recognizable face in a town that has eaten up with the Ducks, Kelly seemed uncomfortable with the attention – and it was laid-back compared with some college towns.
In Los Angeles, even if things go very, very well, Kelly will live a relatively anonymous life. Even if he’s recognized, he will be just another minor celebrity in a town filled with actual stars.
Tennessee: Tennessee “carefully interviewed and vetted” potential coaching hire Greg Schiano, athletics director John Currie said a statement in defense of his coaching search.
The Volunteers reportedly had a deal in place with the Ohio State defensive coordinator on the morning of Nov. 26. But the deal fell through by the end of the day after intense backlash from the fan base, state representatives and local business owners.
“We carefully interviewed and vetted him, as we do candidates for all positions,” Currie said. “He received the highest recommendations for character, family values and commitment to academic achievement and student-athlete welfare from his current and former athletics directors, players, coaching colleagues and experienced media figures.”
Much of the uproar after USA TODAY reported Schiano was in line to be the next Tennessee coach stemmed from his time on the staff at Penn State in the early 1990s.
Schiano spent five seasons there, four as defensive backs coach on the staff of convicted child sex abuser Jerry Sandusky.
Testimony released in 2016 brought Schiano’s name into the fray, as former Penn State staffer Mike McQueary testified fellow assistant Tom Bradley told McQueary that Schiano was aware of an instance of abuse by Sandusky, who was Penn State’s defensive coordinator.
Schiano and Bradley denied having knowledge of or witnessing any of Sandusky’s abuse.
Currie said the Volunteers dug into Schiano’s past, including his term at Penn State.
“Coach Schiano worked at Penn State from 1990-1995,” Currie said. “Consequently, we, of course, carefully reviewed the 2012 investigation report by Louis Freeh. Coach Schiano is not mentioned in the Freeh report and was not one of the more than 400 people interviewed in the investigation. We also confirmed that Coach Schiano was never deposed and never asked to testify in any criminal or civil matter. And, we conferred with our colleagues at The Ohio State University, who had conducted a similar inquiry after the 2016 release of testimony. I know that Coach Schiano will continue to have great success in his coaching career and wish him and his family well.”
Elsewhere: Florida named Dan Mullen head coach. He had won two titles in four years (2005-08) as Gators offensive coordinator and spent the past nine years at head coach at Mississippi State. ... Mississippi took the interim tag off Matt Luke and made him its full-time replacement for Hugh Freeze. ... Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher declined comment on reports linking him to the coaching job at Texas A&M. The Aggies fired Kevin Sumlin. ... Rice coach David Bailiff was fired after a 1-11 season. The two-time Conference USA Coach of the Year went 57-80 with four bowl appearances in 11 seasons at Rice. ... Arizona State fired Todd Graham, who had a winning record. “I don’t think there’s any coach on staff who would tell you honestly that (he would be) satisfied with being 7-5, second place in a weak Pac-12 South and going to a low-level bowl game,” said Ray Anderson, the vice president for university athletics, “as opposed to being 9-2 and going to a major bowl game where we can really make some noise and compete at the highest level.” ... Iowa State announced that Matt Campbell had agreed to a new six-year contract worth $22.5 million. ... Chris Ash, who just finished his second season as Rutgers coach, was given a new fiveyear contract through the 2022 season.