If Tennessee was going to hire Hugh Freeze to be their next OC, they would have already hired him. When Tyson Helton left for Western Kentucky after the Vanderbilt game, Tennessee had plenty of time to get the jump on the rest of the SEC and hire Freeze to be the OC. Now Tennessee does not have the advantage. Hugh Freeze now holds all the cards. Here is how:
1. Kliff Kingsbury was hired by USC
When Clay Helton and USC hired Kliff Kingsbury yesterday, it was a last ditch effort for Helton to save his job. What actually happened was they hired the guy that will replace Helton on an interm basis once he is fired during the 2019 season.
2. Chip Lindsey has left Auburn to be the OC at Kansas
A great hire for Les Miles. Many thought Lindsey was one of the top candidates to be the next OC at Tennessee. I had him in the Top 5 on my realistic wish list.
I don't blame Bell for taking this job at all. Granted UMass has gone 16-44 in the past five seasons, but there was no guarantee he was going to have a job at Florida State after the 2019 season. Especially if Willie Taggart doesn't get the Seminoles headed in the right direction.
4. Turner Gill has retired as the head coach of Liberty
The former Buffalo and Kansas head coach announced yesterday he is retiring. This opens up a head coaching position.
5. Mike Locksley has left Alabama to be the head coach at Maryland
This is the doomsday scenario for Tennessee. It is great for the DC native to be able to take over a program that is coming off a turbulent season. However, it isn't great for Tennessee. Nick Saban will be searching for his fifth OC since 2013 (Nussmeier, Kiffin, Daboll, Locksley). Saban has plenty of options to choose from, and could greatly impact the Tennessee hire.
6. Urban Meyer retired as the head coach of Ohio State
No one was shocked at the announcement yesterday that Meyer was retiring after the Rose Bowl on January 1. Ohio State also announced that Ryan Day, who was the OC and interm head coach during the season, was going to succeed Meyer as the Buckeyes head coach. Does Day keep Kevin Wilson on as the OC?
What does all of these things have in common? Hugh Freeze. He could easily take any one of these jobs and leave Tennessee out in the cold.
Chip Lindsey is already off the board. Let's say Freeze takes the job at Auburn or Florida State. This means Saban can offer the OC job at Alabama to Dan Enos. At that point Tennessee is looking at number four on their wish list (McClendon, Kitchens or Friend). I'm sure Tennessee fans remember the last time the program had to settle on a coach.
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