Pre internet process

You pretty much got your info from the sports radio guys.

Yes. That is also how we used to follow recruiting and the NFL draft - read about it the next day in the morning paper. Sometimes I think I pay way too much attention to this crap now, especially recruiting.

In 1994 they called a presser to announce Pat Sullivan as coach then Joe Dean told him he wouldn’t pay his buyout. Pat backed out of the deal and got back on the plane. The reaction if that happened today would be incredible

The fighting tigers book series has a number of stories on this, basically a lot of “Ara Parsigien’s wife bought a house in BR” rumor stuff. Basically the same as TD is now but word of mouth.

Pre Internet most people had no idea about the coordinators beyond their name, if that, definitely no tracking of the hiring process.

Has nothing to do with the internet but usually feelers and I guess what you would call interest-discussions would go out all over the place. Boosters/TAF, non-employees, etc. would usually lead the way.

That way there could be open discussions without commitment and if there were leaks, that could harm either, both had plausible deniability with statements like "LSU has not contacted me".

I'm guessing that is still happening prior to these interviews and it just didn't work out in regards to Freeman and Nielsen.

But I do wonder if people like DP, things like the internet or increased/immediate coverage, and of course the actual sheer number of media personalities all looking to be the first to report on such has thrown that normal process into somewhat of a disarray.