College Football Hot Seat Rankings: One Loss Means Rich Rodriguez Is On Notice
Where are all of the Ron Zook haters now?
OK, Zook may not lead Illinois to a bowl game, and when all is said and done he may be done in Champaign, but this weekend's upset at Penn State on homecoming weekend earned the beleaguered coach some internal support.
The performance by Syracuse's Doug Marrone, who is an early Coach of the Year candidate, is arguably the most impressive turnaround in 2010. He has the Orange at 4-1 following an upset at South Florida.
There are a few coaches at smaller programs who naturally don't have the same resources as their BCS counterparts, and it's time to cut them a little slack. However, expectations are still high for them, but they don't quite make the headlines like the coaches at bigger schools.
For example, it's pretty clear that UAB's Neil Callaway, North Texas' Todd Dodge, Eastern Michigan's Ron English and FAU's Mario Cristobal are all on the hot seat. But that heat is much different than, say, what Georgia's Mark Richt or Texas A&M's Mike Sherman are encountering this season.
This doesn't get New Mexico's Mike Locksley off the list, though.
Still, it's time in the Hot Seat Rankings to not just look at wins and losses, but who's really feeling the most heat.
10. Derek Dooley, Tennessee
1 of 10
Derek Dooley's first season in Knoxville has been challenging, and Saturday's 41-14 loss to a struggling Georgia team is the first sign that Tennessee may be regretting its coaching decision.
In fairness to Dooley, he stepped into a program in disarray following the unexpected departure of Lane Kiffin. The Volunteers also lack depth and have been forced to play 15 freshmen this season.
Still, the dismantling at the hands of Georgia was a huge eye-opener for Tennessee, considering the Bulldogs have not played well all season.
Hot Seat-ometer: 1 (on a scale of 1-5)
9. Rich Rodriguez, Michigan
2 of 10
At 5-1, it may seem unfair to put Rich Rodriguez on notice.
But the Wolverines' 34-17 loss to Michigan State was just what the anti-Rodriguez camp was waiting for in Ann Arbor.
That's three straight losses to the Spartans, and next up is a tough game with Iowa.
This could get ugly real quick for Rodriguez.
Hot Seat-ometer: 1.5 (on a scale of 1-5)
8. Dan Hawkins, Colorado
3 of 10
Dan Hawkins was working his way off the hot seat and had the Buffaloes riding high from a big win over Georgia. But Colorado was manhandled by Missouri as the Tigers rolled 27-0.
That loss quickly put Hawkins back on notice. As Colorado plays its final season in the Big 12, CU brass would like to enter the Pac-10 after playing in a bowl game.
It's still possible, but Colorado must win a game or two that it will play as an underdog.
Hot Seat-ometer: 2 (on a scale of 1-5)
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
7. Dave Wannstedt, Pittsburgh
4 of 10
Pittsburgh entered 2010 as the favorite in the Big East, but the Panthers are 2-3 following a close loss to Notre Dame.
Once again Dave Wannstedt's coaching decisions came into question, and now he's officially on the hot seat if this season keeps going this direction.
He's 37-28 as Pitt's coach and can still win the conference, so Wannstedt still has hope.
Hot Seat-ometer: 2.5 (on a scale of 1-5)
6. Dabo Swinney, Clemson
5 of 10
Clemson was 2-3 last year and had a midseason run that the Tigers used to reach the ACC Championship Game.
Dabo Swinney could really use that type of magic again, as the Tigers have not lived up to their potential in 2010.
Clemson's best game may have been a 27-24 overtime loss at Auburn. Losing to Miami and North Carolina in back-to-back ACC games has put the Tigers on the defensive, and it may be tough to fight their way to a winning season.
The Tigers still have games against Georgia Tech, North Carolina State, No. 16 Florida State and No. 10 South Carolina.
Hot Seat-ometer: 3 (on a scale of 1-5)
5. Mike Sherman, Texas A&M
6 of 10
Texas A&M fans have been hoping to see signs the Aggies are ready to turn the corner and return to prominence in the Big 12.
Mike Sherman's boys played well against Arkansas, but in the end the Aggies did not have enough magic to get a signature win.
Sherman can deny it, but the pressure is squarely on his shoulders now. A&M was looking at reaching eight or nine wins this season, but sitting at 3-2 with four very tough opponents still on the schedule, it's not looking too good.
Hot Seat-ometer: 3.5 (on a scale of 1-5)
4. Mark Richt, Georgia
7 of 10
If Mark Richt can bottle the magic from this weekend's romp of Tennessee and get a few more wins, the heat will subside a bit.
Nothing will help him more, though, than a victory over Florida, which is clearly down a bit this season.
Until that win comes, Richt remains on alert.
Hot Seat-ometer: 4 (on a scale of 1-5)
3. Paul Wulff, Washington State
8 of 10
Maybe Paul Wulff just took over a program that wasn't ready to win, or maybe he really needs one more season to prove he's brought in better talent.
Unfortunately for him, it's difficult to find where he's going to get another win this season and save his job.
This week the Cougars get Arizona. Not a good way to bounce back from getting beat by Oregon.
Hot Seat-ometer: 4.5 (on a scale of 1-5)
2. Tim Brewster, Minnesota
9 of 10
The best way to tell a coach is clinging to his job? Watch how he manufactures stories to deflect attention from himself.
Case in point: Tim Brewster. The Minnesota coach was all fired up about Wisconsin's Bret Bielema going for a two-point conversion late in the Badgers' 41-23 whipping of the Gophers.
In case you are keeping track, Brewster is now 0-10 in trophy games and 0-10 against ranked opponents.
Hot Seat-ometer: 5 (on a scale of 1-5)
1. Mike Locksley, New Mexico
10 of 10
In its best shot at winning in 2010, New Mexico lost 16-14 to previously winless New Mexico State.
Mike Locksley's coaching career is on fumes.
Paging Mike Leach...Mr. Leach...there's a coaching job for you in Albuquerque.
Hot Seat-ometer: 12.5 (on a scale of 1-5)
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
