USA Today considers Florida a top-10 job
After speaking with a number of coaching search insiders and agents, USA Today reporters Dan Wolken and Paul Myerberg came to the conclusion that the Florida job is a top-10 position.
This comes as a bit of a surprise considering the Florida Gators position is often considered one of the best jobs in college football with other schools such as Alabama, Southern Cal and Texas.
With the natural recruiting advantages that the state of Florida provides, a deep pool of athletic resources and the Gators’ standing in the SEC, the opportunities to build a dynasty are much higher at a program like Florida than many other schools.
RELATED: Is Florida a top-5 job?
Based off the responses of those Wolken and Myerberg spoke with, the inaccurate perception of Florida being a top-5 job is for two reasons.
From USA Today:
Why is Florida, which won national titles in 1996, 2006 and 2008, considered within the industry to be just a touch less attractive than the best jobs in the country?
Facilities and expectations.
Did you know that Florida doesn’t have a standalone football operations building? In an era where practically every major school has a top-of-the-line indoor facility or is building one, Florida is still at the mercy of having practices altered by weather (which is certainly a concern in the spring and late summer when thunderstorms tend to roll through the area).
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Expectations are another issue. Though clearly some things didn’t work for Muschamp, the fan base extended him very little goodwill for the 2012 season when he went 11-2 and nearly played for a national title. And that’s at a program with a moderate track record of success prior to Steve Spurrier’s arrival in 1990.
Earlier in the week, Saturday Down South speculated where the Florida job falls into the echelon of coaching jobs in college football.
Our conclusion? Top-5.
The inherited advantages of a top recruiting base, the SEC and a roster with NFL talent make the Gators a destination job in college football and in the top tier of coaching positions.
According to Wolken and Myerberg, the top-five discussion isn’t as clear.
“They have the money to do what they need to do and they’re not hesitant to do it,” one person said. “Jeremy’s operating principle is tell me what you need to win, you’ll get it.”
So while there may be some debate over whether it’s a top-five job, it’s certainly considered in the top 10. And though it’s still early in the process, the consensus is a sitting head coach who has already been successful at a high level will take it.
Do you agree with USA Today’s ranking?