Reporters from Tribune newspapers around the nation give their take on the question . your opinions?
Brian Hamilton, Chicago Tribune
Dan Hawkins owns a cringe-worthy record running a Colorado program about to bolt for the Pac-whatever-it-is. Ralph Friedgen would've been vaporized at Maryland if there were enough buyout bucks unearthed, and now he gets to show a new president and athletic director all of two wins from 2009.
But there is trouble, and then there is Rich Rodriguez, who faces an altogether different problem: A lot of Michigan fans really, really don't want him to coach their football team anymore.
Now add eight wins in two years, one Big Ten win in 2009, a defense that's getting worse, a brutal 2010 schedule and an NCAA investigation. Rodriguez needs seven wins, at least, to save his job. Hope his Michigan cap is flame-retardant.
Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun
Most everyone around Maryland knows the pressure that coach Ralph Friedgen is laboring under this season.
Heck, Friedgen was said to be on the hot seat after the 2008 season, when the Terps went 8-5.
That season looks positively rosy considering what happened next. After starting 2008 at 6-2, the Terps -- who went to the Orange Bowl in Friedgen's first season (2001) -- won just four times in 17 games.
It's not only the losses. Season-ticket sales went from 28,661 in 2005 to 22,804 last season and are projected to dip further. Suites in the renovated stadium have gone unsold. Not all of that can be blamed on the economy.
Friedgen, 63, with two seasons remaining on his contract, has no protectors in the administration. A new president comes on board Nov. 1. The school is searching for a new athletic director.
"We'll get this thing turned around," growled one of the assistants after Friedgen escaped with his job last season. For Friedgen's sake, the comeback needs to start now.
Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times
Let's consider some hot-seat contenders and pick a winner:
Dan Hawkins of Colorado, who was so good at Boise, has a winning percentage of .326 in four years in Boulder and reportedly would have been out last year if not for the hefty buyout in his contract. Needs to turn 3-9 around or else as school ramps up for Pac-10 membership.
Dennis Erickson of Arizona State won 10 games his first season in 2007, but has been picked to finish ninth in Pac-10 this season. He had better not.
Ron Zook of Illinois recruited most of the players who the national title for Florida in 2006 for Urban Meyer, but has been Wrong Way Ron at Illinois since leading team to Rose Bowl loss to USC.
Paul Wulff at Washington State has gone 3-22 in two years with his Cougars generally considered to be the worst major college team in America. There's only one direction up from there ... or else.
LSU is asking more from Les Miles after going 17-9 in the two years after winning the national title..Yeah, fans are funny that way. Ralph Friedgen's magic has worn off at Maryland.
Winner in a landslide: Rich Rodriguez, Michigan. Everything that could go wrong in Ann Arbor has gone wrong. It took a crowbar and a ton of money just to pry him away from West Virginia, and he has gone 8-16 in two years while leading the Wolverines into probation. You'd think a school being sanctioned for excessive practice abuses would improve on the field. RichRod probably needs 7-5 and a bowl appearance to survive an already tumultuous tenure.
Brian Hamilton, Chicago Tribune
Dan Hawkins owns a cringe-worthy record running a Colorado program about to bolt for the Pac-whatever-it-is. Ralph Friedgen would've been vaporized at Maryland if there were enough buyout bucks unearthed, and now he gets to show a new president and athletic director all of two wins from 2009.
But there is trouble, and then there is Rich Rodriguez, who faces an altogether different problem: A lot of Michigan fans really, really don't want him to coach their football team anymore.
Now add eight wins in two years, one Big Ten win in 2009, a defense that's getting worse, a brutal 2010 schedule and an NCAA investigation. Rodriguez needs seven wins, at least, to save his job. Hope his Michigan cap is flame-retardant.
Jeff Barker, Baltimore Sun
Most everyone around Maryland knows the pressure that coach Ralph Friedgen is laboring under this season.
Heck, Friedgen was said to be on the hot seat after the 2008 season, when the Terps went 8-5.
That season looks positively rosy considering what happened next. After starting 2008 at 6-2, the Terps -- who went to the Orange Bowl in Friedgen's first season (2001) -- won just four times in 17 games.
It's not only the losses. Season-ticket sales went from 28,661 in 2005 to 22,804 last season and are projected to dip further. Suites in the renovated stadium have gone unsold. Not all of that can be blamed on the economy.
Friedgen, 63, with two seasons remaining on his contract, has no protectors in the administration. A new president comes on board Nov. 1. The school is searching for a new athletic director.
"We'll get this thing turned around," growled one of the assistants after Friedgen escaped with his job last season. For Friedgen's sake, the comeback needs to start now.
Chris Dufresne, Los Angeles Times
Let's consider some hot-seat contenders and pick a winner:
Dan Hawkins of Colorado, who was so good at Boise, has a winning percentage of .326 in four years in Boulder and reportedly would have been out last year if not for the hefty buyout in his contract. Needs to turn 3-9 around or else as school ramps up for Pac-10 membership.
Dennis Erickson of Arizona State won 10 games his first season in 2007, but has been picked to finish ninth in Pac-10 this season. He had better not.
Ron Zook of Illinois recruited most of the players who the national title for Florida in 2006 for Urban Meyer, but has been Wrong Way Ron at Illinois since leading team to Rose Bowl loss to USC.
Paul Wulff at Washington State has gone 3-22 in two years with his Cougars generally considered to be the worst major college team in America. There's only one direction up from there ... or else.
LSU is asking more from Les Miles after going 17-9 in the two years after winning the national title..Yeah, fans are funny that way. Ralph Friedgen's magic has worn off at Maryland.
Winner in a landslide: Rich Rodriguez, Michigan. Everything that could go wrong in Ann Arbor has gone wrong. It took a crowbar and a ton of money just to pry him away from West Virginia, and he has gone 8-16 in two years while leading the Wolverines into probation. You'd think a school being sanctioned for excessive practice abuses would improve on the field. RichRod probably needs 7-5 and a bowl appearance to survive an already tumultuous tenure.
