04/25/24
October 15, 2009
Louisville Sets Sights on Gruden for Possible Opening: This rumor was posted on the NFL.com blogs regarding the football head coaching job at the University of Louisville. Current head coach Steve Kragthorpe is on the hot seat, and it seems the school already has a high-profile coach on their radar -- Jon Gruden. If Kragthorpe gets canned, will Gruden leave the MNF booth to coach at a mid-level Big East program?
posted by cletus7777 to football at 09:29 AM - 11 comments
Gruden's already being mentioned for numerous NFL coaching jobs. I would be surprised if he wanted to drop down a level to college. I think that either he or Mike Shanahan will be coaching the Cowboys next season.
posted by rcade at 10:12 AM on October 15, 2009
There will likely be a half dozen NFL coaching gigs open by the end of the season. If Gruden would like to end his overly positive stint discussing rainbows and kittens four hours a week and return to the sidelines, I should think he'd be able to land one.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:12 AM on October 15, 2009
I don't know why he would want to go to Louisville. If he wants to go back to college ball, he shouldn't make any hasty decisions. If Notre Dame loses to WSU on Halloween, there will be wheels set in motion in South Bend, and an opening will appear there before too long.
I would also think that anyone looking at the Louisville job would want to look at the Virginia job as well. Can't picture Groh getting out of this year intact, even though the Cavs have come alive lately.
Right now, Gruden is a definite upgrade in the MNF booth from what they had before. Based on what ESPN thinks is airworthy broadcast talent, they are very fortunate to have Gruden on board.
But eventually either Gruden or Jaws has to go from the booth because they need to have more voice differentiation between the announcers. Those two guys don't sound different enough.
With Gruden, Cowher, and Shanahan all hovering on the sidelines, I'm worried that Dan Snyder is going to try to hire all three of them.
posted by beaverboard at 10:27 AM on October 15, 2009
Right now, Gruden is a definite upgrade in the MNF booth from what they had before. Based on what ESPN thinks is airworthy broadcast talent, they are very fortunate to have Gruden on board.
I almost wish he'd stay out of coaching for his announcing. I actually don't mind listening to MNF with him in the announcer's booth. But ya, I also expect him to be coaching next year. Wait till season's end, and he can have a fairly decent choice of gigs.
posted by jmd82 at 10:58 AM on October 15, 2009
If Notre Dame loses to WSU on Halloween,
I laughed so hard when I read this that my spleen fell out. I think by this point WSU will be starting Butch the Cougar at QB. Charlie's job is in no danger on Halloween.
With Gruden, Cowher, and Shanahan all hovering on the sidelines,
And don't forget Holmgren. He will probably want back in next year. As a Seahawk lifer (ugh), I'm not sold on Mora. I'd take any of the above to take over and light a fire under the team's collective ass. With the exception of Holmy, of course.
posted by THX-1138 at 11:25 AM on October 15, 2009
Well, I don't think I would trade Gruden for Mora. Gruden is a pretty inconsistent coach, and he loves the geezers. Gruden and Mora have similar records their first three years (Mora with ATL, Gruden with TB).
posted by bperk at 11:57 AM on October 15, 2009
Gruden with TB
He did win that whole Super Bowl thing.
posted by jmd82 at 01:20 PM on October 15, 2009
At the time, a lot of TB's success was attributed to Dungy. As seasons passed and the Super Bowl got further away and Gruden didn't have much success, even more of the Super Bowl success has been attributed to Dungy.
posted by bperk at 02:01 PM on October 15, 2009
John Gruden's brother played for Louisville, so who knows. The Ville probably can put up the money for him (potentially) and they are expanding the stadium there...
posted by bluemagpie at 09:25 PM on October 15, 2009
Gruden can not develop a QB. How many QB's did they go through in Tampa? Johnson, Garcia, Simms, Griese, and a whole bunch of guys I can't remember. Only Simms was drafted by them (and while he showed promise), Gruden benched him after he was hurt.
posted by jc at 02:27 PM on October 16, 2009
This seems like a demotion for Gruden. Now that Tampa Bay is so completely terrible without him, he is looking like a better and better coach.
A college coach is totally different in that they have to be effective at recruiting. Chucky has very little loyalty to his players. A player can easily get on his bad side and sit on the bench, even if they are better than a player he is playing. That won't play so well in college when you are convincing parents to let their kid go to your school.