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There are four that were mentioned. O'Sullivan, Schlossnagle, Holliday, and O'Connor.O'Sullivan, which I could not see him coming period. Monte Lee, was he even approached? I am not that high on Lee but time may prove me wrong. But just wondering if all of the blue bloods turned us down or what? Not that it matters at this point but just curious.
There are four that were mentioned. O'Sullivan, Schlossnagle, Holliday, and O'Connor.
O'Sullivan and Schlossnagle are highly paid....each over $1MM...and would require us to break the bank to hire them as both UF and TCU can pay more than they already are. Holliday is also well paid and is at his alma mater and Okie State also has plenty of money to spend to keep him. O'Connor at UVA is reasonably affordable but he is at a program that he resurrected from the dead (UVA was about to cancel baseball) and built it into a powerhouse and O'Connor has reportedly turned everyone away without even an interview...he seems to love Charlottesville.
The fact is we don't know who Ray approached for all we know he got his man. He got a young talented coach without having to empty the treasury to buy him from, say Fla. All we really know is what was in the rumor mill we can but guess about what transpired. I try to be a realist and not go on just emotion and who I think might be the best fit. This man turned down Va. Tech and Bama so they say and if he was good enough for them he surly is good enough for me.
We need to remember that the "big" names that were out there were only mentioned by us fans and the media. Not once was a name uttered by Ray. IMO we'll never know who else he approached and who turned him down. At this point, since a hire has been made it would be bad form for him to divulge such information.
It's hard to hire a coach away from another school when he is already making good money. Lee claims Ray didn't contact him is what I heard but who knows?I can't help but wonder if Ray had an informal conversation with Lee and Lee expressed no interest in the job? Again, just for curiosity. I had rather have Kingston, at this point, than Lee. Time might prove me wrong.
It has been reported that Tanner met with Jim Toman, Kingston and Monte Lee.
Quote from The State today:
"Multiple sources told The State that O’Sullivan was seriously considering taking the USC job, but after winning the national title he apparently opted to remain at Florida."