Rocky Top is still an elite job

When did the head football coaching position at the University of Tennessee become a second rate job?...if Lane Kiffin did not bolt, I believe the Volunteers would have been back in the elite of the SEC...the Tennessee football program has fallen on hard times of late, but the right coach can easily turn this program back into a Top 10 team year-in and year-out...before Urban Meyer came to Florida, the Gators were struggling under Ron Zook...

The one advantage Tennessee has is that the entire state supports the football program...the athletic department has no problem spending money to upgrade the football facilities...hopefully the Vols can get back to where they were a few years ago...and it would be really nice if the Tennessee could some how get matched up against USC in a bowl game real soon...

Serious question - what is the official mascot of Geico Insurance?...is it the gecko, the caveman, or that bundle of money with eyes?...

Over the last two weekends a total of 8 NFL playoffs games were held and only one game was still undecided when the fourth quarter began...

Overall this has not been an exciting NFL season...the last two weeks of the regular season saw the Colts purposely tank two games to end any chance at a 16-0 mark while other numerous playoff teams also sat their starters...week 17 saw the Cowboys and Jets shutout their opponents...and the playoffs have been just awful...

Will Al Davis make a decision and either fire or keep Tom Cable as head coach of the Oakland Raiders...Davis is starting to act like Brett Favre in not being able to make a decision...

Tim Griffin of ESPN.com ranked the top 10 college football coaching jobs...here was his list:
1. Texas: It’s got it all -- facilities, support, tradition and located within a rich recruiting base. Mack Brown has made this the nation’s best job. Muschamp would be crazy to skedaddle to Rocky Top and leave this behind.

2. Florida: Recruiting might be better than Texas and the location provides a beach lifestyle. The only trouble with this job, compared to Texas, is that Florida’s place in the SEC is a little more tenuous than Texas’ place in the Big 12.

3. Ohio State: Tradition, facilities and an unmatched place in the pecking order of the Big Ten. Some coaches would love the weather in Columbus, while snowbirds might see it lacking compared to places like those at the top..

4. USC: “Tailback U” has returned to the top thanks to Pete Carroll’s transformation. This is the football team for a southern California without an NFL franchise.

5. Alabama: Still wondering why Dennis Franchione left Alabama for Texas A&M. Another stadium expansion after this season’s national championship has made this a job that Nick Saban would willingly leave one of the NFL’s flagship franchises to return to. Considering his college allegiance, he’s a smart man.

6. Oklahoma: Bob Stoops might have the best setup in coaching considering he’s working for Joe Castiglione and David Boren. Recruiting will always be a matter of plucking Texas players and Stoops has done a marvelous job at that over the years.

7. Penn State: It will be interesting to see who follows Joe Paterno when he finally decides to hang up his whistle. This is one of the Big Ten’s best jobs with facilities and history to match. It might be daunting to follow Paterno, however.

8. Notre Dame: Still has the attention of NBC and the tradition of college football’s most storied program. Can they find the right coach to return Notre Dame to its place of dominance?

9. LSU: There’s a reason why Les Miles decided to stay here rather than pursue the Michigan job. Rabid talent base and SEC television money make this one special. And you can eat good crawfish any time you want.

10. Nebraska: The only drawback for this job is its lack of a fertile home recruiting area. But other than that, this job has got it all including one of the nation’s most knowledgeable fan bases. It’s the biggest unifier for the entire state as college football is clearly king here.

It is sad to see Michigan and Tennessee off the list...but if this list was done a few years back, it is doubtful that Nebraska and Alabama would have made the top 10...