re: UPDATE: Texas Coaching Search - Tier 1 and Tier 2 lists

If Texas is really ready to go $7mm or more per year, their effective list is almost everyone in college or pro football.

I think the coaching choice is going to be driven by the timeline. If you look at the guys playing in the BCS championship game, it is in their best interest to string Texas along. One of them will be able to leverage the win and Texas into a huge payday.

If Texas is looking to get someone right away, you can scratch the NFL guys and the two coaches in the BCS championship game.

Of the remainder, would it hurt to try and money whip someone like Urban Meyer?

At the end of the day, I think it will most likely be a tier 2 guy. The most likely tier 2 candidates are

1) Briles
2) Smart
3) Fitzgerald
4) Franklin

I think that Franklin and Fitzgerald have a bit of an advantage because of the academic handicap that they have been working under, their background will impress Bill Powers.

There is a fairly influential group of alumni that are avid supporters of Briles. He is one of the best spread guys in the country. He knows Texas, is well respected by the high school coaches and it makes you wonder what he could accomplish with better talent and resources. Kirby Smart has come up recently as well. He has been very smart about his career so far, in terms of waiting for the right job. Texas has the resources for him to compete for a championship and it is likely he puts his name in the hat.