We all know the punch line by now.

Will Muschamp, fired by Florida little more than one season ago, already has another head coaching job in the SEC East. This time with fewer resources and a roster that is in dire need of a talent upgrade.

South Carolina can hang its hat on one thing, at least: Muschamp will be a better recruiter than coach Steve Spurrier was late in his tenure.

Still, many have questioned South Carolina’s hire of Muschamp, publicly and privately. According to ESPN’s Travis Haney, there’s a prevailing negative sentiment associated with the decision.

“He was just fired a year ago in the same division,” a Power 5 head coach said, according to Haney. “Help me understand why he gets another job like that.”

As far as one can trust the media trail to lead down a correct path, South Carolina initially coveted Houston coach Tom Herman. When Herman told the Gamecocks thanks but no thanks, the team turned toward Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart. The move to hire Muschamp was a bit of a panic by athletic director Ray Tanner, according to some.

“They ran out of options … really quick,” an agent said, according to Haney. “They wanted Herman, couldn’t get him. Then Kirby [Smart] goes to Georgia. Then what?”

Haney also reported that Steve Spurrier’s recommendation of Muschamp “carried a lot of weight with Tanner and the school’s board.”

Muschamp will have to contend with the perception that he is media-friendly and a nice man, but not a great head football coach. If he recruits well in Columbia, S.C., that will be a good start. But he has to find a way to experience some offensive success. If his team fails on that side of the ball as it did in Gainesville, there will be a lot of merit to those questioning the hire.