re: Why do I get this feeling......

Good grief. I would certainly hope so.

Any athletic director worth his salt would have multiple, confidential feelers out, getting a sense of who might be interested. I mean, do you really want LSU and Alleva to be caught with their pants down?

It's called planning for contingencies, having an option A, and option B (and C and D.)

If LSU loses tomorrow and the decision is made to work something out with Les (hopefully short of a firing, but some sort of mutual agreement where Les gets a negotiated buyout), wouldn't you think it would be best if Alleva has a pretty good idea of who are realistic candidates?

I would hope feelers have been sent out, through third party emissaries, to coaches like Patterson, Briles, Mullen, Fisher, Fuentes, Mora, Shaw, Smart, Strong, Gundy. Not saying I would want some of those names, but do some groundwork, get some intel.