Some coaches need a Hail Mary finish

Some coaches need a Hail Mary finish

                 What's the problem

Chuck Amato,     N.C. State's talent is in the upper
N.C. State,      echelon of the ACC, but the
sixth season     Wolfpack is the most undisciplined,
(42-27)          unorganized team in the nation.

Rich Brooks,     In two-plus seasons under Brooks,
Kentucky,        the Wildcats have SEC wins against
third season     Vanderbilt and Mississippi State.
(8-22)           That's it.

Lloyd Carr,      One of the game's classiest coaches
Michigan,        is tiring of NCAA hypocrisy. The
11th season      meltdowns in big games aren't
(101-32)         helping.

Dirk Koetter,    Uneven seasons marked with hard-to-fathom
Arizona State,   losses are not a good
fifth season     combination when trying to impress a
(30-27)          new athletic director. Nor is a lack of
                 discipline on and off the field.

Mark Mangino,    Recruiting is abysmal, and 10 of
Kansas,          Mangino's 16 wins are against non-
fourth season    BCS schools.
(16-28)

Houston Nutt,    Two straight bowlless seasons, 3-9
Arkansas,        in his last 12 SEC games and past
eighth season    flirtations with other jobs (Nebraska,
(55-38)          LSU) will be too much to overcome.

Gary Pinkel,     His teams are enigmatic and
Missouri,        mediocre, and his standoffish
fifth season     personality rubs big-money
(27-28)          boosters the wrong way.

Bill Snyder,     The Wildcats finally won the Big 12
Kansas State,    in 2003 but have lost 10 of 13
17th season      league games since. The program's
(135-66-1)       momentum has been snuffed.

                 Where it gets ugly

Chuck Amato,     The athletic director begs fans for
N.C. State,      patience; the coach begs his team to
sixth season     play with more discipline. Neither has
(42-27)          worked.

Rich Brooks,     The Wildcats play with zero emotion and
Kentucky,        zero creativity on offense. That has led to
third season     fan apathy and empty seats.
(8-22)

Lloyd Carr,      If the Wolverines have a four-loss season
Michigan,        and fall to Ohio State for the fourth time
11th season      in five years.
(101-32)

Dirk Koetter,    A season that started with promise
Arizona State,   bottomed out last month and will get
fifth season     much worse if the Sun Devils lose to lowly
(30-27)          Arizona--again. It doesn't help that Koetter
                 seems to have lost this team.

Mark Mangino,    I can't see a win for the Jayhawks the
Kansas,          rest of the way, which would translate to
fourth season    losses in seven of their last eight
(16-28)          games--all against Big 12 teams.

Houston Nutt,    A loss to any of three teams Arkansas
Arkansas,        should beat over the next month--South
eighth season    Carolina, Ole Miss or Mississippi State--
(55-38)          likely will mean the end for Nutt.

Gary Pinkel,     This Saturday, when a loss at Colorado all
Missouri,        but ends the dream of winning the
fifth season     Big 12 North.
(27-28)

Bill Snyder,     The Wildcats may not win again, which
Kansas State,    would mean six straight losses to finish
17th season      the season.
(135-66-1)


                 Where he'll be in 2006

Chuck Amato,     The school has invested too
N.C. State,      much in Amato to make a change
sixth season     after this season. But if the
(42-27)          underachieving continues into
                 2006, a change will be imminent.

Rich Brooks,     Fired and retired.
Kentucky,
third season
(8-22)

Lloyd Carr,      Unless he decides to retire,
Michigan,        Carr will take another shot at
11th season      straightening out a team
(101-32)         loaded with talent.

Dirk Koetter,    Offensive coordinator
Arizona State,   for a BCS school.
fifth season
(30-27)

Mark Mangino,    Offensive coordinator
Kansas,          for a BCS school.
fourth season
(16-28)

Houston Nutt,    If Nutt is looking for a job and
Arkansas,        Missouri is looking for a coach,
eighth season    Tigers A.D. Mike Alden will
(55-38)          remember the Hogs' win over Mizzou
                 in the 2003 Independence Bowl.

Gary Pinkel,     The Tigers will finish 7-4, which
Missouri,        should be enough for Pinkel to
fifth season     stick around--unless he leaves
(27-28)          for a better job.

Bill Snyder,     Snyder won't get fired, and he
Kansas State,    won't quit--and then he will
17th season      turn things around next
(135-66-1)       season.

speed reads

Wasn't so long ago that Randy Walker seemed to be on his way out at Northwestern. His teams were struggling, and the university was overwhelmed by former player Rashidi Wheeler's death. Now that Walker is a hot commodity again, will he show Northwestern the same loyalty the administration showed him?

I hope John Bunting makes it at North Carolina. His candid personality is good for the game, and he could straighten out things if given enough time. But we don't live in a long-term world, and Buntings teams are just too inconsistent. Give him another year, and if it doesn't work out, it's time for UNC to put up some serious cash to go after a big name. Hey, Dennis Franchione could be available after next season.