Four coaches will enter the 2011 season on the hot seat. It isn’t a coincidence that all four coaches are in The Pac-12 Conference. Over the last decade, the conference has been dominated by The USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks. Both teams especially The Trojans have run roughshod over the competition in the conference en route to BCS bowl bids. For four coaches a lot of the success of The Trojans and Ducks was at their expense. Now they must worry about that tap on the shoulder if another subpar season is on tap.
Dennis Erickson – Arizona State
Erickson has a history of early success at schools as he wins with the talent left behind by the previous head coach. 1989 was his first at The University of Miami and Erickson led The Hurricanes to The National Title. 2000 was his second season at Oregon State and Erickson led The Beavers to a Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame. In 2007 Erickson took over at Arizona State and led The Sun Devils to a 10-win season and a share of The Pac-10 Title. Since then Erickson has never had a winning record and subsequently The Sun Devils have not made a bowl game. The natives are restless in Tempe as Erickson was not brought in to have losing seasons. The university has spent money changing the logo and they will be unveiling an all black uniform this season, so it is time for results from Erickson.
Season projection: 8-5
Will Erickson keep his job? The Sun Devils will show signs of improvement throughout the season. A win over arch-rival Arizona and a bowl win will keep Erickson in Tempe.
Mike Stoops – Arizona
Stoops and his 40-45 record during his tenure in Tuscon have been on and off the hot seat. The Wildcats started out of the gate last season with a 7-1 record only to lost the last five contest of the season. Included in that five game losing streak was a home loss to rival Arizona State and a blowout loss to Oklahoma State in The Alamo Bowl. Stoops has had three consecutive winning seasons, but his teams tend to show glimpses of greatness only to fade back into the pack.
Season projection: 6-6
Will Stoops keep his job? It will be tough to show Stoops the door, but this team cannot afford to fade to the bottom of The Pac-12. Stoops will have a serious talk with athletic director Greg Byrne and it will depend on which way the boosters sway Byrne.
Rick Neuheisel – UCLA
“Tricky RICK” left Colorado and Washington with winning records but also amid speculation of recruiting violations at both schools. Neuheisel was fired from The University of Washington and sued the school along with The NCAA and won, which means he has to run the cleanest program in any sport. UCLA’s crosstown rival is still bringing in better recruiting classes than The Bruins despite The Trojans being on probation. Neuheisel was brought in to bring innovation and excitement to the offense and neither has taken place. In three seasons Neuheisel has had one winning season and his Bruins have never defeated The Trojans.
Season projection: 6-7
Will Neuheisel keep his job? Neuheisel was a great quarterback at UCLA, but that didn’t save previous head coach Karl Dorrell who was Neuheisel’s teammate. Neuheisel will be relieved of his duties if another mediocre season is on tap. The Bruins have a long and storied history with the likes of Troy Aikman and Ken Norton Jr., and mediocrity will not cut it at UCLA.
Paul Wulff – Washington State
In three seasons in Pullman, Wulff has only led The Cougars to five wins with only two conference wins. The Cougars are the laughing stock of The Pac-12 and opponents know that a match-up versus Washington State is a glorified scrimmage. Going forward in this mega conference The Cougars cannot afford to get lost in the shuffle.
Season projection: 2-10
Will Wulff keep his job? If Wulff is coaching this team in 2012 I and Wulff will both be highly surprised.
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