I've seen a couple people mention Kirby Smart, but if I remember correctly, didn't he interview for the Texas Tech job last year? Nevermind, I just found something that said he was to interview, but it was an incorrect rumor. I was going to say that I would put him a few years ahead of Holgorson, in that he probably isn't far from a bigger job with a bigger check. Maybe he's about equal to Holgorson, though.
As for Ed Orgeron...I'm not sure what to think about that guy. Anyone can say that his reputation is built on propaganda and that he's never been caught doing anything wrong and whatever else. Maybe that's correct and maybe it's not. I do know that Nick Saban doesn't have that sort of reputation, and the same goes for many other coaches who have opponents that would benefit from their name being soiled. One thing that is for certain is that if he is mostly clean, aside from a few little "T-Shirt" violations here or there, as a result of ignorance of the rules, that's fine. But, big schools have enough resources and enough people to make "T-Shirt" violations go away and UL doesn't. It's all about risk & reward. Getting a guy like EO in here could reap many benefits. However, whether or not his reputation is a result of propaganda or fact, there is some added risk. And, his record is what it is. Worst case, he is a bad coach. If he wasn't given a fair shake by the school/boosters, then best case is that he's an unknown as a HC. Either way, this adds more risk. At this point in its history, I'm not sure that what UL needs is a lot of risk. Then again, nothing is certain...EO could come in and run a clean program and bring great success, just like the "sure thing" hire could come in and run up a couple violations while sucking on the field.
The other thing with EO, outside of the risk/reward aspect, is whether or not the rumors of him wanting the job are true. Normally I wouldn't put much stock into that, but being as it came about last year and his interest was verified, or at least the fact that there was a conversation, was verified; I suppose that there is something to this. My problem with this is WHY does he want the job? Does he view UL as a good place to prove himself as an HC, while being near family, because he knows that another major HC job isn't coming his way anytime soon? Or, is he tired of being a #2 guy and wants to settle down somewhere? If he is closer to the second reason than the first, then I would definitely tell him thanks, but no thanks. To me, the last thing we need is a guy who wants this job. Like we've said over and over again, we want a guy that wants to come here and leave in a few years. UL doesn't need a guy who wants to come here without having another destination in his plans. I want the Ath Dept to find a guy that they want, that may not really be interested at first...a guy that they have to sell the school to...a guy that probably doesn't see UL as a place that he wants to be at for very long (but may really like once he's here for a couple years). So, before I'd really want to consider EO, I'd want to know IF he really wants this job as much as some people says he does, and WHY he wants it.