What's the Fuss?

I got a call this morning from my source close to the Auburn situation, with an update.

The information about East Carolina’s Skip Holtz was misinterpreted along the channels. Holtz isn’t close to a deal with Auburn. He is a candidate though.

Here’s what I know now: Holtz is expected to interview for the Auburn job with Athletic Director Jay Jacobs, just like Buffalo coach Turner Gill, Tulsa coach Todd Graham of Tulsa, Ball State’s Brady Hoke and most recently TCU coach Gary Patterson has.

Now, here’s where Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp comes into the picture. Muschamp is Auburn super-booster Bobby Lowder’s choice. And while it would be easy for Muschamp to relinquish his designated coach-in-waiting position at Texas because he’s not expected to sign a contract until January, it’s highly unlikely.

What’s happening at Auburn is simple. Jacobs is trying to do his job, which is to go through the interviewing process to find a new coach. And Lowder is doing his job as a super-booster, which is to work behind the scenes to find the guy he wants.

The saga continues.

Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen will be Mississippi State’s next head coach, according to media reports.

He is expected to be introduced Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Templeton Athletic Academic Center on the campus of Mississippi State. According to an e-mail sent by MSU’s athletic department, “The fan event will feature the new head coach, interim president Dr. Roy Ruby and director of athletics Greg Byrne, and will be followed by a press conference.”

Mullen and Byrne are then scheduled to travel around Mississippi, attending various Bulldog events.

It is unsure if Mullen, who has coached with Urban Meyer since 1999 at Notre Dame, would could Florida’s offense in the FedEx BCS National Championship Game on Jan. 9, 2009.

Mullen has been widely recognized as the mastermind behind Meyer’s spread offense, tutoring the quarterbacks to fit their role. He coached Alex Smith at Utah and was part of Tim Tebow’s recruiting to and then grooming at Florida.

Sylvester Croom resigned as the Bulldogs coach on Nov. 29, ending his five-year rein as the Southeastern Conference’s first black head coach.

While the rumors swirled about Mullen interviewing with MSU. In the meantime, the Bulldogs reached out to South Carolina defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson, Gamecocks coach Steve Spurrier said.

Early candidates to replace Mullen as offensive coordinator are assistant head coach and offensive line coach Steve Addazio, and wide receivers coach Billy Gonzales.

If I had a chance to develop a college football playoff, this is a peek at what it would be like.

There would be eight teams, the six major conference champions, the top ranked finisher from the other conferences and the next highest BCS-ranked team.

The teams:
Big 12: No. 1 Oklahoma
SEC: No. 2 Florida
Pac 10: No. 5 USC
Big Ten: No. 8 Penn State
Big East: No. 12 Cincinnati
ACC: No. 19 Virginia Tech

At-large berths:
No. 3 Texas
No. 6 Utah

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First, let me say I don’t really have a vote for the Heisman Trophy.

But if I did, here’s who it would go to.

Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford.

There. Short and sweet. To me, there really wasn’t any hesitation here. The Heisman Trophy clearly states that it is awarded to the “Outstanding College Football Player of _____.” Not the MVP of a team, not the player who puts the team on the back during the last few weeks, not the fan favorite and not the guy with the best stats.

So, sorry Tim Tebow, although you did run a heck of a campaign during the last few weeks. But there was just too much talent on the Gators this season, as you’ll see below. Colt McCoy gave a good run at it, but he was just slightly less superior than Bradford. And while Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell put up gaudy numbers, just like the rest of his Big 12 brethren, he wasn’t the best player in the country.
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Florida running back Chris Rainey will play in today’s SEC Championship Game with an injured groin, according to The Associated Press.

Rainey was spotted limping off the practice field earlier this week. When asked, Florida coach Urban Meyer said Rainey suffered the injury about five week ago.