Houston denies the Lane Kiffin speculation
While an early Thursday morning report from USA TODAY’s Dan Wolken has linked Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin as the next head coach at Houston, several new outlets have immediately conflicted that report.
Even Houston itself has come out and conflicted that report. Here’s a tweet from Vice President for Athletics at the University of Houston Hunter Yurachek:
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) December 8, 2016
For all you non-Catholics out there, gray/black smoke means no decision has been made. White smoke would mean a decision has been made.
Among those in the media to conflict the Kiffin to Houston report, ESPN’s Brett McMurphy, FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman and Houston beat writer from the Houston Chronicle Joseph Duarte:
No decision has been reached on Houston job, source told @ESPN & UH’s key decision makers not expected to meet until tonight
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 8, 2016
USAToday reporting Houston's set to hire Lane Kiffin.. UH source told FoxSports no decision's been made & no offer's been extended to anyone
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2016
Re: Lane Kiffin: #Houston is pushing to made decision by tonight: So its new HC can have a recruiting weekend before NCAA Dead Period starts
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 8, 2016
Sources: Houston has not offered job, no decision made yet on next head coach
— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) December 8, 2016
Both Wolken and McMurphy indicate Houston’s decision makers will meet Thursday evening, perhaps to finalize the plan for the school’s new football coach. With all the speculation out there, don’t be surprised if by the end of the day, Houston officially has a new head football coach.
While many have speculated that former USC head coach Steve Sarkisian, now an Alabama offensive analyst, would be the natural offensive coordinator replacement for Kiffin in Tuscaloosa next season, that doesn’t appear to be the case. If LSU can’t land Kiffin to run the offense in Baton Rouge, Ed Orgeron may turn over the keys to his offense to Sarkisian.