Shanahan is on the Gators short list to replace Meyer

Urban Meyer Press Conference today at 4:30pm on ESPNAs someone who has been around the University of Florida sports program for over 30 years this has been a crazy about 20 hours.

I have been in contact with a number of major Gator boosters and the search for a replacement for Urban Meyer could come in direct contact with the Redskins unofficial attempt to make Mike Shanahan their next coach. The Gators know they must work quickly to replace Meyer and hold together what should be a top five recruiting class.

Shanahan and Florida Athletic Director Jeremy Foley are very good friends and they talked about the former Broncos boss returning to Gainesville where he was an assistant coach in the early 1980’s. He was interviewed twice once in 2001 to replace Steve Spurrier and then again in 2004 to replace Ron Zook.     

One reason that Shanahan might take the Florida job over Washington could be because if Shanahan's contract contains the right terms, he'd be able to collect the $14 million owed him from the Broncos and keep the full amount of any money paid to him at Florida or any other college program.

On the sports business end of the deal most pro coaching contracts allow for a fired coach to keep the money owed him by the NFL team if he chooses to take a college job.  

This could make the Gator job very attractive. Shanahan could do a five year deal that would pay him say $20 million dollars at Florida while still pocketing the $14 million dollars from Denver. That is way more cash than he could make from the Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.

He is 57 years old and a five year stint at Florida could allow him to retire a rich man and give Meyer a chance to return should he feel that he can coach again.

So Shanahan will have to make his mind up quick. Go back to the NFL or head to the SEC?

Another possible Redskins candidate is also on Foley’s short list.  Over the past few years Bill Cowher flirted with the idea of coaching in the college ranks. Florida would be a good fit for the former Steelers boss.  A number of reports have had Cowher interested in talking with the Bucs if their head coaching job came open. But Gainesville might be a better fit for Cowher.    

Speaking of Spurrier there is no doubt that “The old ball coach” would love to finish his career at Florida and there might be some movement in that direction as some of the boosters would love to have him back.  

OK let’s say Shanahan chooses to come to Washington like it looks he will where does Foley go then? 

Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops – he gained his fame while being the defensive coordinator for “The Ball Coach.” He is a good recruiter and knows Florida well.

1. Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, who served as Meyer's offensive coordinator at Florida until this season, also makes a lot of sense. He knows that program, knows Meyer’s system and is somebody Foley is very familiar with. Mullen also did a good job in Starkville this season, his first as a head coach.

2. TCU head coach Gary Patterson has proven that he deserves to get a BCS job. Plus he could open the Gators to Texas. Foley showed that he was willing to go after coach without a big name and so he could be in Phoenix to talk to him and…

3. Boise State coach Chris Petersen who will be facing the Horned Frogs in the Fiesta Bowl. Could the winner be the front runner for the Gators job?

    

4. 
   
   Houston coach Kevin Sumlin could fit all of Foleys requirements. He loves offense, is ready to make the next step, is a great recruiter and would be Florida’s first African American head coach. He is someone that has been on the Gators radar for a while and could be the surprise choice for the job.

   For more info: The Gators Examiner, TCU Examiner  and the University of Houston Examiner

 More on my sleeper pick coach Sumlin of Houston