The "what if" game with Fuente ...

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Will Pharaoh return?

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Of course not.

I don't think there is any doubt that Fuente is a really good coach and would be solid here. My one question is the recruiting question. I could see him being more of a Pinkel who gets the most out of slightly above average talent. I just don't know if he has the ability to win head to head recruiting battles with Clemson, Georgia, and Florida. That's what it will take to ever win an SEC title. Just being a great coach won't get it done, you have to be a great recruiter too. But if he sells himself to Tanner, and Tanner believes he can get it done, I'm on board.

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I could see him being more of a Pinkel who gets the most out of slightly above average talent

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This is his closest analog. We've seen where Mizzou has been competitive in the conference. I've got to think that USC can attract higher quality talent simply due to geography.

Fuente is a fine coach, and we'd be lucky to have him. But of the Big Three, Herman and Smart are slightly more attractive.

Let's hope we can get one of them...

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Okay, so let's say Fuente ends-up here.

What could he do at QB with what he would inherit?

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Fuente made a 2* QB look like the best QB in college football. With Nunez, McIlwain and Mitch....he would have more talent to work with than he's ever had. One of those guys is going to become an absolute stud next season under Fuente.

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What might Fuente do with some of the other returning players?

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He'll try to keep as many as he can and engage them/build a relationship, same as any other HC that comes in.

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Will Pharaoh return?

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Pharoh is going to get drafted int he Top4 Rds, he gone, possibly Top 2 if he turns it on this last half of the season..

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Memphis is playing with some seriously undervalued talent - no big stars, no 4 or 5 star recruits. Mostly 2 and 3 stars and a lot of walk ons that the staff has developed.
This staff obviously has a good eye for talent and knows how to coach-em up.

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Sure, he found some quality 2 stars, but IMO, this is all coaching. Fuente is just getting his guys to perform at a higher level than most other teams in the country. His offense is outstanding, his defense is meh, but if he can bring in a top tier DC, then this could be a awesome for us.

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Fuente just looks like the next Urban Myer too me

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You mean he's going to come here win a few natty's before faking a heart attack and going big 10?

Tell him to sign the dotted line.

Couple of quick weekend updates.

First ... Pharaoh is not a done deal for the NFL. He says he does not even want to talk about it right now, that he has to talk to his family and Coach Spurrier ... and then he might wait to see who we hire and talk to that coach as well, before he declares one way or the other.

As it was told to me, this may not be a great year for an underclass WR to come out in the draft - especially one that does not fit the mold for a NFL WR (tall) and one who gave-up his return duties this year.

Next, with regard to Fuente ... take this for what it is worth.

Fuente is a Nike guy. Our Under Armour contract was contingent on Spurrier to a large degree. Some conflict may be taking shape. There are some whispers coming out of our accounting offices that the Under Armour check has not arrived yet ... it's past due, (unless it arrived very recently). And there are rumblings that Nike has reached out, may be waiting to see what happens ... and that Under Armour is also waiting to see what happens AND, some are claiming Under Armour wants to throw major weight around in the Maryland coaching search and there may be further conflict that our search is going-on at the same time and perhaps involves one or two of the same candidates.

Meaning, part of the contracts that coaches find appealing are the apparel contracts ... and Under Armour might be playing a favoritism card with Maryland over SCAR in this coaching search, unwilling to pony-up for our coach, but stepping up to the plate for the Maryland hire.

Nike might think they can get in on another SEC program at a deal if they wait long enough ... and if it is Fuente he's gonna want Nike first chance he gets.

FWIW, Harmon is also a Nike guy at Houston ... so you can see where this is going.

Under Armour is playing a dangerous game considering they have Auburn, Notre Dame, South Carolina, Maryland, BC, Cincy, Texas Tech and Wisconsin ... and that's about it. Losing South Carolina would hurt them.

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Good stuff, Rooster.

How does a coach wind up as a Nike guy?

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I don't completely understand how it works these days ... it used to be only a big deal to the basketball coaches who wanted the Nike shoes for their players.

As I understand it, the contract is in addition to what the school pays, but still part of the package. Sometimes, a substantial part of the package.

The endorser, the product supplier, agrees to pay said coach X number of dollars, and the school or program X number of dollars ... and these days it is all a package deal.

With that said it is no secret that Dawn Staley wants the deal done with Nike. She is the only woman in history, that I know of, who has a Nike shoe named after her like Jordan does.

Martin wants Nike too.

I'm pretty sure Tanner wants Nike too from what I am hearing.

My one fear with Fuente is that he is not a "rah rah" guy. He is the best available at developing talent, however. If we hired him, we would need to spend some serious cash on a recruiting coordinator and a DC.