Les Toolish

Recent Comments
Said it before and now I will say it again: "Dumpster fire". Stricklin needed to have either Frost or Kelly wrapped BEFORE canning Rabbit Punch McElwain. This week has been a PR disaster. Recruits are jumping ship amidst the uncertainty. None of the remaining conceivable coach prospects are appealing. It appears there are too many chefs in the AD's kitchen. Self-inflicted wound. Death via hubris.
Great piece. You nailed every point. I was pilloried without exception earlier in the week for referring to the likely loss of Kelly as a "dumpster fire", but that's exactly what it is if reports about Kelly and Frost are true. Stricklin needed to have one of these two wrapped up before dumping Jim "Rabbit Punch" McElwain. If it gets to Mullen, who would not have been a terrible hire if the relationship had not already become so toxic, Florida is back in Muschamp Mac&Cheeseville, making a very expensive move sideways. Strong and Taggert are ridiculous ideas at this point in time. Taggert is not currently succeeding in the big time and Strong went down in flames in the most public of ways just a year ago. The ONLY remaining possibility (not probability) out there might be Bob Stoops: "Bob, you love anything about yer buddies down here in Gainesville? Ah, GOOOOD, good, good, good, good, good! 'Cause we're on fire and you're the only fireman with the equipment to put us out. Tell us how much that will cost and we'll just go ahead and cut you a check. Otherwise, this is a PR calamity for Florida. They stuck their necks way out and got their heads chopped right off. Florida's status has been diminished in a very public forum.
This test is easy: Only Kelly will do. Frost is unproven in the big time and might well melt under the bright lights. You just can't tell. Strong is a great D guy and recruiter, but presided over a dumpster fire at Texas, a reasonable analog of the Florida job. Can't take that risk. ONLY KELLY has won at this level. He has won big and with impressive consistency. And here's a biggie: His offense drives Nick Saban to drink. Remember when Saban wanted the NCAA to ban Kelly's manic spread? Then, Saban tried to imitate it. Who else worries Nick Saban? Scott Frost? Charlie Strong? Bob Stoops (who did beat Saban in a big bowl game ONCE)?