NFL Lsu Football

What is it about the SEC that compels folks to regularly combine a fetid brew of boastfulness with ignorance? The latest example Via The Wizard of Odds provides all kinds of quotable outward contempt from LSU coach Les Miles towards count 'em 1)USC, 2)the Pac-10 and 3)the Big 12/everyone else. The following comments were made during an interview with New Orleans radio station WWL as reported by Carl DuBois of The Advocate.

Let's go through this piece-by-piece, shall we? Analysis after the jump.

Since the Michigan State gridders will spend yet another holiday season at home watching football on television, maybe it is a good thing we fired our coach. It gives us Spartans something to talk about, and something to do, other than basketball and hockey.

And, Brian Kelly, head coach of Central Michigan University, now seems to jump to the top of the list of potential Spartan coaches. This, after Cleveland Browns defensive coordinator Todd Grantham is now out of consideration for the MSU football job -- according to WILX-TV's Tim Staudt. In his newscast tonight, Staudt failed to mention his source or the reason why, but was emphatic about Grantham no longer in the running. He does have a credible inside skinny with Michigan State, so his word is pretty good... much better than anyone named "Hondo."

Kelly's Chippewas crushed Buffalo, 55-28, today to finish 8-4 this season and 7-1 in the Mid-American Conference. CMU will play the 8-3/6-1 Ohio Bobcats next week in the MAC championship for a bid to the Motor City Bowl. Impressively, however, is Kelly's ability to turn a program that was dead as a doornail just two years ago into a conference title champion. This, in addition to his two national titles and his 90%+ winning percentage at Division II Grand Valley State. Kelly will interview with MSU for a second time this week, according to Staudt. He is also being courted by Iowa State.

Staudt mentioned Kelly in the same breath as Pat Shurmur of the Philadelphia Eagles and Mark Dantonio, head coach of the University of Cincinnati. Staudt stated that Shurmur has not been contacted by MSU since he interviewed 10 days ago.

Dantonio's 6-5/3-3 Bearcats, meanwhile, came off an impressive 30-11 victory over previously undefeated #7 Rutgers last week to dash Rutgers' national title hopes and also to make the Bearcats bowl-eligible. Dantonio, whose claim to fame includes a stint as the defensive coordinator when Ohio State last won the national championship in 2002, has also mastered a turnaround of a dead football program.

The one name left out of Staudt's comments: Bo Pelini, defensive coordinator of Louisiana State. By the way, #9 LSU defeated #5 Arkansas, 31-26 today. Pelini has one coaching victory under his belt, defeating Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl as the head coach of Nebraska back in 2003. But, he has also coached numerous top-ranked defenses, including this year's LSU, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. He played cornerback at Ohio State. The ES likes Pelini.

You can expect an announcement early next week. MSU needs to recruit, BAD, and we need our coach in ASAP. MSU President Lou Anna Simon knows this, and she may have already made up her mind... but is just eating some turkey and taking some days off to sleep on it...

So who are the finalists for the Michigan State coaching job? Spartan AD Ron Mason countered rumors in the past week that there had been interviews. Believe what you may, but you can believe that the Spartan brass HAS contacted these folks, whether or not Mason knows it or wants to admit it. Remember, Mason isn't the point on this -- MSU prez Lou Anna Simon is.

The ES digs Bo Pelini. Look at his bio. Look at HIM. He looks defense. He looks mean. Hire him. Immediately. That is why the ES likes him over Grantham...

I rated everything on a 3-point ES Likert scale:

1=zippo or nearly zip; 2=ok, nothing to brag about; 3=meets MSU needs

#1 BO PELINI - bio
Louisiana State University - Defensive Coordinator

Coaching responsibility: 3 out of 3 (head coach for bowl game)
MSU connection: 1 out of 3
Big 10 connection: 2 out of 3
College success: 3 out of 3
Intangibles: 3 out of 3 (lots of winning experience, NFL experience, he inspires, young)
TOTAL: 12 out of 15

Pelini is in his second season as LSU's defensive coordinator. In 2004, Pelini served as Oklahoma's co-defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach, helping the Sooners to the national championship game against Southern Cal. Pelini spent the 2003 season as the defensive coordinator for 10-3 Nebraska, leading a defense that tied the school record with 47 turnovers. In addition, the Cornhuskers were No. 2 in the nation in takeaways and they led the nation in turnover margin at +1.77 per game. Pelini was promoted to interim head coach where he guided Nebraska to a 17-3 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl. Pelini's coaching background includes nine years in the NFL coaching for the San Francisco 49ers, the New England Patriots and the Green Bay Packers. As a player, Pelini was a standout free safety at Ohio State, earning four letters from 1987-90.

#2 TODD GRANTHAM - bio
Cleveland Browns - Defensive Coordinator

Coaching responsibility: 2 out of 3
MSU connection: 3 out of 3
Big 10 connection: 3 out of 3
College success: 2 out of 3
Intangibles: 2 out of 3 (NFL experience, college success, young)
TOTAL: 12 out of 15

Grantham was named the defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns on February 17, 2005. Grantham joins the Browns with six years of NFL coaching experience with Houston (2002-04) and Indianapolis (1999-2001) as a defensive line coach and also brings nine additional years of coaching experience from the collegiate level. Grantham served three seasons as the defensive line coach at Michigan State (1996-98). He added the title of assistant head coach in 1998, with Michigan State ranked 19th in total defense in 1996 and 13th in 1997, making consecutive bowl trips. Grantham spent six seasons (1990-95) at his alma mater, Virginia Tech, the final two as defensive line coach. In 1995, the Hokies ranked first nationally in rushing defense, fifth in scoring defense and 10th in total defense. Virginia Tech racked up 50 sacks en route to the Big East title and a Sugar Bowl triumph over Texas.

#3 JON TENUTA - bio
Georgia Tech University - Associate Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator

Coaching responsibility: 2 out of 3
MSU connection: 1 out of 3
Big 10 connection: 2 out of 3
College success: 3 out of 3
Intangibles: 2 out of 3 (25 years of experience on defense)
TOTAL: 11 out of 15

Tenuta is in his fifth season as Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator with 25 years of experience as a defensive coach. He also coaches the Yellow Jackets' defensive backs. Tenuta has built one of the nation's best units over the last two seasons, ranking in the Top 25 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense for the last two seasons, including 13th against the run both years. Tech allowed an average of 104.3 yards rushing and 307.7 total yards for 2004-05 combined. Tenuta came to Tech in 2002 after one season at North Carolina, which he guided to become the top-rated defense statistically in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2001. Under Tenuta, the Tar Heels led the ACC in total defense and pass defense while ranking third in run defense and scoring defense. Tenuta previously served as a defensive coordinator at five other schools, including Marshall (1987), Kansas State (1988), SMU (1990-94), Ohio State (2000) and North Carolina (2001). He is a native of Columbus, Ohio.

#4 BRIAN KELLY - bio
Central Michigan University - Head Coach

Coaching responsibility: 3 out of 3 (head coach)
MSU connection: 1 out of 3
Big 10 connection: 1 out of 3
College success: 3 out of 3
Intangibles: 2 out of 3 (lots of winning experience, young)
TOTAL: 10 out of 15

In just two seasons, head coach Brian Kelly has rejuvenated the Central Michigan University football program. CMU is on the verge of a Mid American Conference title, with a 6-0 conference record and 7-3 overall including last week's 31-7 victory over their arch-rival, Western Michigan University. In just his second year at the helm last year, CMU put together a four-game winning streak midway through the season en route to a 6-5 overall record and 5-3 mark in the Mid-American Conference. It marked the Chippewas' first winning record since 1998 and most overall and conference wins since the same season. Kelly arrived at CMU fresh off consecutive NCAA Division II national titles at Grand Valley State University. He was 118-35-2 in 13 seasons at Grand Valley, including 103-22-2 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. The Lakers were 41-2 in Kelly's final three seasons, winning 32 consecutive games at one point, and claiming Division II national championships in 2002 (14-0) and 2003 (14-1). His 2001 squad finished 13-1 and advanced to the national championship game. Kelly was named the AFCA Division II Coach of the Year twice (2002 and 2003) and led the Lakers to five conference titles and six Division II Playoff appearances in his 13 seasons at Grand Valley.

#5 PAT SHURMUR - bio
Philadelphia Eagles - Quarterbacks Coach

Coaching responsibility: 1 out of 3 (position coach only)
MSU connection: 3 out of 3
Big 10 connection: 3 out of 3
College success: 2 out of 3
Intangibles: 1 out of 3 (NFL experience, young)
TOTAL: 10 out of 15

Pat Shurmur is in his fifth season as the Eagles quarterbacks coach and his eighth as member of Andy Reid's staff. His first three seasons in Philadelphia were spent as the Eagles tight ends coach, helping develop three-time Pro Bowler Chad Lewis. An All-Big Ten conference center and team captain at Michigan State, Shurmur joined Andy Reid's staff in Philadelphia in 1999 after an 11-year stint as a college assistant. Shurmur spent the 1998 season at Stanford as an offensive line coach in charge of the centers and guards. Prior to his tenure at Stanford, Shurmur spent nine seasons at Michigan State instructing the tight ends, special teams and offensive line. Under his guidance, MSU developed three tight ends that went on to the NFL: Ty Hallock, Duane Young and Mitch Lyons.

#6 CHARLIE STRONG - bio
University of Florida - Assistant Head Coach, Defensive Coordinator.

Coaching responsibility: 2 out of 3
MSU connection: 1 out of 3
Big 10 connection: 1 out of 3
College success: 3 out of 3
Intangibles: 2 out of 3 (lots of winning experience, NFL experience)
TOTAL: 9 out of 15

Strong has served as a defensive coordinator in every position since 1999, and is currently the assistant head coach to Urban Meyer at Florida. He was the interim head coach for the 2004 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl vs. Miami (Fla.). Has 23 years experience as a collegiate coach (Florida, South Carolina, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Southern Illinois, Texas A&M) and seven years as a defensive coordinator. Also has two years coaching experience at the professional level as an intern with the New Orleans Saints in 1993 and the Detroit Lions in 1994. Coached in 17 bowl games, including 10 January bowl games.

Two of the Dolphins' highly-regarded 2005 Draft Class members are friendly teammates.

But they might not be as good of friends as you think.

Travis Daniels is an alumni of the 2003 LSU Tigers' National Championship team.

...ahem...coached by Nick Saban.

And, Channing Crowder, the Dolphins up-and-coming young stud linebacker, wore the blue and orange of Florida during his college football days.

How are they debating Saturday's showdown of top ten SEC rivals?

It's LSU vs. Florida.

No holds barred.

Are there any bets? Sure there are. They are both millionaires.

I bet it's fun to be in the Dolphins' locker room right now. Teammates who attended rival schools going at it.

Hey, at least they have a winning team to pull for right now.