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Mike Stoops linked to Iowa State job

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If Arizona football coach Mike Stoops is looking to make a move to Iowa State, it's news to UA athletic director Jim Livengood. Radio reports in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday had Stoops being in negotiations with Iowa State athletic director Jaime Pollard for their coaching vacancy. Stoops, who is leading the Wildcats to a Las Vegas Bowl appearance on Saturday against BYU, was asked about the report following practice. "I have no comment," Stoops said. "I am getting ready to play a game." Iowa State has been bombarded with coaching rumors since Gene Chizik accepted on Monday the head coaching position at Auburn. Buffalo coach Turner Gill, Fresno State's Pat Hill, former Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer and St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator Steve Loney have all been hinted as finalists.

Arizona Republic

Mike Stoops, AP Mike Stoops, AP
Comment #1 has been removed
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December 19, 2008  09:20 AM ET

I'm surprised to see Fulmer's name come up but I hope he gets it and turns the program around.

December 19, 2008  10:20 AM ET

I was so hoping for Turner Gill to go to Iowa State and show that he could do better than 5-19.

December 19, 2008  10:22 AM ET

as a lifelong cyclone fan, I can say I was hoping for turner gill. I am excited at the idea of Stoops though. If somehow we could get the money to get Fulmer, I would die.

December 19, 2008  10:22 AM ET
QUOTE(#1):

but what chance does he have at ISU????

It wouldn't take much to sweep the Big12 North every other year. I mean, look at what Mangino was able to do at Kansas last year -- and that's Kansas!

December 19, 2008  10:42 AM ET
QUOTE(#5):

as a lifelong cyclone fan, I can say I was hoping for turner gill. I am excited at the idea of Stoops though. If somehow we could get the money to get Fulmer, I would die.

From happiness? Fulmer is a slug. He might bring you more heartache than happiness.

December 19, 2008  10:49 AM ET

Why would ISU go for a coach with a 24 - 34 career record at Arizona? At 7 - 5, this is the first year he's even had a winning record.

December 19, 2008  11:09 AM ET

Seems like a step down for Stoops

December 19, 2008  12:11 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

Why would ISU go for a coach with a 24 - 34 career record at Arizona? At 7 - 5, this is the first year he's even had a winning record.

Didn't Auburn go for a coach with a 5-19 records, you just need the right complexion for the protection. Another mediocre coach gets a job in lieu of someone who has paid thier dues. Amazing.

December 19, 2008  12:17 PM ET

Football is OVER..it's not like anyone cares about the two mickey mouse teams in the NC!

December 19, 2008  12:20 PM ET

Turner Gill signed an extension with UB so unless they are talking about next year...

December 19, 2008  01:03 PM ET

Stoops would be a great fit as ISU. He'd lose more than he won, but every couple of years would get ISU into a bowl game. And for Stoops, that would be good enough to guarantee job security. We're talking about a low-expectations program here. A little bit of success is all they ask.

December 19, 2008  01:07 PM ET

Read on some blog that it would be poetic justice if ISU got Tubberville to be head coach. He could accomplish more than his assistant Chizik did.
I would love to see the B12 North become stronger and not remain the weak step child of the B12 conference. And of course being a Husker I want NU to be 1st with the others taking alternate runs as B12 North champs on our off year.

December 19, 2008  01:16 PM ET

I wonder if Bother Bob will score 60 on little brother

December 19, 2008  01:16 PM ET

"I have no comment" = Yes.

ISU would be fine if they didn't even have a coach and just let the kids run the program. I mean they wouldn't do any worse than they have been doing.

Although, it WOULD make sense, as Stoops has spent the last 4 years returning the Wildcats to mediocrity, and on the verge of losing the Las Vegas Bowl, I say-- Mission Accomplished.

I know all CFB fans can only hope that Stoops will be able to raise Iowa St. back to the same level of mediocrity in as short of time, as he did the Wildcats. And I, for one, cannot wait.

December 19, 2008  01:25 PM ET
QUOTE(#14):

Read on some blog that it would be poetic justice if ISU got Tubberville to be head coach. He could accomplish more than his assistant Chizik did. I would love to see the B12 North become stronger and not remain the weak step child of the B12 conference. And of course being a Husker I want NU to be 1st with the others taking alternate runs as B12 North champs on our off year.

Tommy has already made it very clear that he is taking the year off before considering other jobs. With 5 M over the next two years from Auburn, he certainly doesn't need the money. I'm hoping that when Jay Jacobs gets fired for the disaster that will likely come with Chizik, Tommy decides to take over as AD at Auburn. His wife has been reportedly asking him to retire from coaching ever since the undefeated season anyway. If he does end up coaching somewhere next year anyway, I totally wish him the best. Maybe we can get him back in 4 years, haha.

December 19, 2008  02:01 PM ET

Whoever takes the Iowa State job faces some basic challenges:

1) Iowa does not have a large resident population with the largest city being Des Moines at 350,000 and Cedar Rapids at 135,000.

2) Iowa has a small minority population as a percentage of that.

3) Iowa competes against other Big 12 teams that DO have large populations to recruit from including Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

4) They're competing with Univ. Iowa for in-state recruits.

Conclusion: Whoever takes the job at ISU had better be a master recruiter with strong connections in the recruiting strongholds like Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida or California. Granted, that is true of any coach in any major program, but it is more critical here.

That is not a criticism of ISU or their commitment to success, it's just a demographic reality.

December 19, 2008  02:46 PM ET

When you go winless in the Big 12 and didn't play Texas, OKlahoma or Texas Tech, your program is in very bad shape. You Chizik apologists who say that he needed 4 years to get his kids in and turn it around are delusional. Either Chizik "mailed in" his performance, was lazy or was just plain bad at ISU. What ever it is it spells a nightmare scenario for Auburn and Iowa State. Because who ever takes over the program has NO CHANCE of significant improvement for a few years and he'll get fired before then. Despite all the negatives pointed out by pwings, ISU has been competitive in the past and can be again. But, they are in a deep hole now and Stoops ain't got enough to dig them out. BTW, Stoops is just trying to avoid the axe that may be coming his way after lsoing to a 3rd place MWC team in the Las Vegas Bowl.

 
December 19, 2008  03:11 PM ET

iowa iowa iowa the people over there wear bright yellow flame retardant pants with buttons

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