...it seems to me that the timing of Spurrier's "retirement" may provide some insight into which direction the school plans to go with its next hire. Hear me out...
I think Spurrier wanted to have one more good season and ride off into the sunset. Initially he thought he had the horses to do that so at the end of last year he told Tanner something to the effect of "we'll see how things look at the end of the season but right now I'm leaning towards retiring next year.
Then the season went in the tank and Spurrier lost his fight. Tanner was probably willing to wait it out until the end of the year, but then the Southern California and Maryland jobs came open, jobs which might appeal to coaches they were interested in, and the timetable got moved up. Tanner told Spurrier we need you to step down now, and the Ol Ball Sack was more than happy to accommodate (lest he finally have a losing season to his name).
They aren't getting the guy that So Cal wants regardless. That's just a better job, plain and simple.
I doubt any of the names we're hearing from bigger schools would honestly consider Maryland as a suitable destination. But would a Tom Herman or Justin Fuentes? Absolutely. Again, probably thinking too much about this, but it seems that maybe they're leaning towards a young up and Comer and didn't want to lose out to those already in the hunt.
Or maybe they just want to have all options available.
At any rate, I doubt they give the interim the permanent position. Say what you will about TDP, but it takes balls to make a hire like Dabo. That's the kind of decision that ruins your reputaton if it doesn't work out. I'm not sure Tanner has those kind of cojones.
I think Spurrier wanted to have one more good season and ride off into the sunset. Initially he thought he had the horses to do that so at the end of last year he told Tanner something to the effect of "we'll see how things look at the end of the season but right now I'm leaning towards retiring next year.
Then the season went in the tank and Spurrier lost his fight. Tanner was probably willing to wait it out until the end of the year, but then the Southern California and Maryland jobs came open, jobs which might appeal to coaches they were interested in, and the timetable got moved up. Tanner told Spurrier we need you to step down now, and the Ol Ball Sack was more than happy to accommodate (lest he finally have a losing season to his name).
They aren't getting the guy that So Cal wants regardless. That's just a better job, plain and simple.
I doubt any of the names we're hearing from bigger schools would honestly consider Maryland as a suitable destination. But would a Tom Herman or Justin Fuentes? Absolutely. Again, probably thinking too much about this, but it seems that maybe they're leaning towards a young up and Comer and didn't want to lose out to those already in the hunt.
Or maybe they just want to have all options available.
At any rate, I doubt they give the interim the permanent position. Say what you will about TDP, but it takes balls to make a hire like Dabo. That's the kind of decision that ruins your reputaton if it doesn't work out. I'm not sure Tanner has those kind of cojones.
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