We've been hearing about Smart to Ole Miss for a few days and I have no inside sources or anything, but I doubt Smart is interested in that job. He can bide his time and get a great job. Jumping into tough jobs in BCS conferences has never been a great move for high profile assistants. Mike Stoops at Arizona? Ron Prince at Kansas State? Charlie Strong is struggling at Louisville. We all know that Dan Mullen is going to need to get out of Starkville sooner rather than later if he wants to land a job at an elite program one day. How about David Cutcliffe at Ole Miss? And everyone remembers Ed Orgeron at Ole Miss. There aren't too many exceptions to the rule. The secret to success for first time head coaches is to cut your teeth at a non AQ program that can afford you an opportunity to make a name for yourself or land a job at a strong BCS program that gives you instant credibility with recruits.

So, if you haven't heard yet, Texas A&M just fired Mike Sherman......

http://www.mrsec.com/2011/12/texas-a-will-enter-sec-with-a-new-coach/

The early reports are that they will go after Kevin Sumlin from Houston and that wouldn't be a bad hire, but his Air Raid style offense is unproven in the SEC. Might this be a better fit for Kirby Smart? And would he be interested?

I think that move would make a lot more sense for Smart than anything else that's out there right now. A&M can afford to throw a ton of money at Smart. It's a program with a lot of potential in a talent rich state. It's a school that traditionally appreciates the defensive minded coach. They have more reasonable expectations in relation to their resources. And maybe most importantly, it's a school that is about to enter the SEC and what better way to rebuild your program and prepare for SEC competition than to get one of the SEC's best assistants?

There are already some internet rumors about this move floating out there and some of them actually predate Sherman's firing yesterday. Not that I put a lot of stock in internet rumors, but the point is that the move makes a lot of sense. If Smart leaves for A&M then I couldn't blame him and will wish him well anywhere he goes.