As the Kentucky Wildcats prepare to take on in-state rival Louisville Cardinals in the Governor’s Cup, some interesting news has developed on Saturday morning. First reported on some forums, then followed by college football analysts Bruce Feldman and Pete Thamel, Mark Stoops is considered a “name to watch” for the Texas A&M job.
This comes after Jimbo Fisher was fired and paid a $76 million buyout earlier this month, the largest in college sports history. That buyout displays A&M’s willingness to spend money, as they should with the largest endowment in the FBS at $17,219,500,588. Thi also, the Aggies are willing to pay big money for the guy they want.
Stoops would be an interesting move considering he coached under Fisher at Florida State and and similarities to his coaching style. That said, he is also considered to have one of the best jobs in the country, with a top-10 salary national at a program without expectations of winning a national championship.
Other reported names for the coaching vacancy include Mike Elko (Duke), Kyle Whittingham (Utah), Jedd Fisch (Arizona), and Jeff Traylor (UTSA).
Following back-to-back disappointing seasons for the Kentucky football program, frustration is high amongst not only fans but players and their families too, as seen following the South Carolina loss. While Stoops would certainly get one more season to Could this be time for both sides to move on?
Thamel reports that Texas A&M is hoping to make a hire by the end of the weekend, calling the next 24 hours “critical’. So things could move extremely quickly here regardless of the hire.
Kentucky Insider will keep you updated as more information is released.
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