re: Who were the candidates for the LSU job in 2005?

Skip had a list already of potential HCs(he and CNS had their clashes too). SOS was interested in coming back to NCAA from NFL. Skip coached in Miami before LSU(knows Sunshine State athletics), and was at LSU as Baseball HC when SOS was passed over by some LSU's BOS and LSU Ath Dept, they were focused in Brown's Sam Rutigliano,etc..in 1987. Not the Duke upstart HC.

Skip valued SOS knowledge of the SEC, it's style of play, it's Asst Coaches, High Schools, his ability to recruit both Fla and La(where he had done well when LSU floundering),etc.. SOS was the SEC's undisputed Football King at the same very time Skip was the SEC's undisputed Baseball King..same era.

CNS and the NFL rumors had been building in the months prior to Christmas of 2005. If Huizenga's big pitch and/or CNS decision been made prior to Christmas day..say before SOS gave Hootie and SoCar gang his word..

Which program would you've chosen? Holtz USC or CNS stocked LSU cupboard(LSU was absolutely loaded 2005-2007)? SOS, like Bowden, had labeled LSU a sleeping giant, and sans his alma-mater he landed at via former LSU HC/then Fla AD Bill Arnsparger a few years later, had considered LSU a monster gig he desired..

Despite being passed over in 1980s, and his rubbing it in on LSU when Fla's HC for the dismissive job interview LSU gave him, he has mentioned numerous times when playing LSU, that it is one of the nation's top jobs, and lacks for nothing.

You well know by now, that Sexton and backchanneling discussions, can well happen before the actual played out timelines, when declarations are clear, and folks not left scrambling at or after the buzzer.

SOS and LSU have come close to being a match twice..1987 and 2005..it just wasn't in the cards.

Hell, it wasn't out of the realm of possibility in 2007, if CLM left for Mich(if they would've offered him)..that SOS was probably still at or near the top of Skipper's list.