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Zombie Coaches

Posted by TaylorTRoom on November 10th, 2009 under Football

No, not coaches like Chizik, that will devour your brain, but rather coaches that are like “zombie banks”, that are dead (their schools want to fire them), but still moving (because their schools lack the buyout money to do so). I think that this is a new phenomena, because buyouts got so large in recent years.

I think Dan Hawkins is a zombie coach. He and CU both know it’s not going to work out. It would be best for both if they fired him, paid him off, and they went on their ways. Unfortunately, CU does not have the millions needed for his buyout, and in these tough economic times are not likely to find it. That’s why Hawkins is very likely to be the Buffs’ coach next year, even though everybody knows it’s a bad idea.

Are there others? Mike Sherman would be one, if he hadn’t beaten Tech so badly, and wasn’t on track for a bowl invite. He did and he is, though, and so is very much alive.

Is Ron Zook a zombie coach? Rich Rodriguez isn’t- Michigan has the money to fire his ass if they want to. Same with Weis- if ND decides they want to move on, the money won’t stop them from making the move.

Any others? I’ve made a list of coaches who don’t seem to be working out, with large buyouts, and at financially strapped programs, along with the buyout amount (as near as I can determine).

Zook – Illiniois ($7.5 million)!
Friedgen – Maryland ($4.5 million)
Hawkins – Colorado ($3 million)
Kragthorpe – Louisville ($2.2 million)

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19 Responses

  1. Sugarpants said:

    November 10th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    I don’t think there’s any interest in Maryland in buying out the Fridge.

  2. bigdukesix said:

    November 10th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    Don’t really follow UVA football, but I just read that Al Groh’s buyout is 6.5 million. Perhaps he’s a zombie?

  3. TaylorTRoom said:

    November 10th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    I left Groh off? Oops. Yeah, he’s definitely a zombie. I read where the UVA AD spent last summer trying to negotiate groh’s buyout down.

  4. CloseToJumping said:

    November 10th, 2009 at 9:01 pm

    How about Dennis Erickson? I am hoping so, as Kevin Sumlin to ASU would possibly have the family Jeffcoat following him. I have never heard anything about that position, that is just how the nightmares play out inside my mind sometimes.

    My guess is the Neuheisel will be at this time next year.

    I think Louisville could send Kragthorpe packing.

  5. BatesHorn said:

    November 10th, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    Friedgen seems like a zombie. The terps are terrible and have been on a down hill slide ever since he exhausted Vanderlinden’s recruits. But Maryland is beyond broke right now, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they chalk this up to rebuilding and give him another year. But then again, with the colossal suck that is the Redskins dominating the local media, Friedgen engage in daylight cannablism and it’s 50/50 on whether the WaPo would cover it.

  6. blackscholes said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 1:11 am

    I think Kragthorpe is toast at Louisville.

    Disagree on Neuheisel.

  7. Hookah Horns said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 1:19 am

    Gary Pinkel should be a zombie, but probably isn’t because Mizzou has no self esteem.

  8. Bateshorn said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 6:06 am

    This post made me rewatch Shaun of the Dead.

  9. parlin said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 6:47 am

    Before Maryland kicks him to the curb, the law says they have to take his door off.

  10. Texas Wahoo said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 7:53 am

    Friedgen has already hand-picked his successor. Very strange situation.

  11. Tex said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 8:21 am

    Groh is not a “Zombie” because UVA is LOADED.

  12. anonymous said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 11:07 am

    UVA’s athletic department is not loaded. If it was, he would be gone. I think they are still paying for their decision to give pete gillen a ten year contract prior to winning a single NCAA tournament game. And didn’t they just spend a wad build a new basketball arena?

  13. Sugarpants said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 11:53 am

    I think Al Groh will be gone at the end of the year, but moved into an AA job, because they like his as a person. It will be a McWilliams situation.

    I think Fridge has escaped the wrath for several reasons. First, people love him. Second, Maryland still considers itself a basketball school and their attention is focused on Gary Williams. Third, he’s recently put some good players in the NFL and the UnderArmor connection still makes folks think that they can rebuild. Fourth, the entire ACC is down and there’s not the worry that they have to “keep up with the Joneses.”

    What about Mike Sherman? He seems like he’s stepping into Schnellenberger territory.

  14. j.r.69 said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    How about Bobby Bowden? FSU has been sucking ass all year and the natives are way more than restless–like carrying torches and pitchforks.

    And Bob Toledo should be considered a zombie coach in New Orleans’ voodoo coaching graveyard, Tulane.

  15. Roach said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 12:11 pm

    The rumor is that CU has alumni committed to paying for Hawkins buyout if they decide to fire him. Former CU football players have made no secret of the fact that they think he is an idiot on the radio in Denver.

    But they have 3 games left against ISU (road) OSU(road) and Nebraska (home) I could easily see them finishing 2-1 and Hawkins getting another year.

  16. TaylorTRoom said:

    November 11th, 2009 at 12:18 pm

    A zombie coach isn’t the same as a “hot seat” coach. The latter provides up to a season of discomfort, before the AD fires him and the program rebuilds excitement around a new coach.

    A zombie coach doesn’t leave, because the school lacks the money to buy them out. A zombie coach stays on to sign whatever he can for the next recruiting class. He spends the full spring avoiding alumni gatherings, due to the uncomfortable questions he gets there. Other AD employees avoid eye contact when they pass in the hallway. The following season, he is still there, struggling harder to recruit, with less fans at the games. The AD’s effort to raise buyout money becomes a full time job, just to end the misery.

    Sherman and Bowden aren’t zombies. Sherman is off the hot seat, and Bowden’s issue is existential, not financial.

  17. Buddy Garrity said:

    November 12th, 2009 at 9:29 am

    Tim Brewster may not be safe, will prob get another year though

  18. TaylorTRoom said:

    December 3rd, 2009 at 6:04 am

    So far, Friedgen, Zook, Hawkins, and Dodge get another year, and Groh and Kragthorpe are fired.

  19. Duncan Hoheisel said:

    January 15th, 2010 at 1:04 pm

    Entertaining site. My class mates and I were just discussing this the other evening. Also your webpage looks excellent on my old laptop. Now thats uncommon. Keep it up.

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