Saturday College Football Random Thoughts & Army-Navy Open Thread

Today marks the end of the 2019 college football regular season. There is only one game but plenty a-goings on across the country.

COACHING CAROUSEL

By now you have undoubtedly heard of Lane Kiffin’s hiring at Ole Miss.

His spot at FAU! was filled by Willie Taggart who got the boot at FSU.

Mike Norvell leaves Memphis to take over in Tallahassee.

Memphis lazily promotes from within bringing up some kid named Ryan Silverfield who was “deputy head coach” and offensive line coach.

SEE HOW YOU LIKE IT

Clemson finally got poached with co-Offensive Coordinator/WR coach Jeff Scott headed to USF as head coach.

Ohio State is also losing a key piece of their coaching staff with Co-Defensive Coordinator/secondary coach Jeff Hafley going to head up Boston College.

OTHERS

Appalachian State are again rolling the dice by promoting Shawn Clark to replace Eli Drinkwitz who had been promoted the year before.

Colorado State recycled Steve Addazio from Boston College.

The only remaining opening is Fresno State.

NFL Black Monday (the day when many coaches get fired) is December 30. There could be some more moves at that point.

DEMOTED

Former Ole Miss head coach Matt Luke heads to UGA to coach offensive line. Kirby Smart tried to hire fired CSU head coach Mike Bobo. Instead of joining Georgia, he will be South Carolina’s new offensive coordinator.

Arkansas’s new coach Sam Pittman has smartly brought in former Mizzou head coach Barry Odom to be defensive coordinator.

Outgoing Arky head man Chad Morris is the new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn, replacing Kenny Dillingham took the same job at FSU.

Charlie Strong, who is owed $3.1 million from USF, is still available. Could some lucky team just be waiting for the ESP to pass to hire him? I’m just sayin’...

TRANSFER PORTAL

• Michigan wide receiver Tarik Black has entered the transfer portal. The junior has 25 catches for 323 yards and a touchdown this season.
• Texas Tech quarterback Jett Duffey, who started the final eight games for the Red Raiders this season plans to grad-transfer. He threw for 2,840 passing yards and 18 touchdowns with only five interceptions, and should be in demand.
• Also looking to transfer is Ohio State safety Brendon White.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day said White’s absence was due to “personal reasons” and that he planned to talk with the Olentangy Liberty grad this week.

White had a significant role with Ohio State in 2018, recording 45 tackles (four for loss) with one interception. He was the Rose Bowl Defensive MVP in the Buckeyes’ win over Washington after recording seven tackles (two for loss).

However, when Ohio State switched a single-high safety defense in 2019, White’s role was minimized. He was expected to start in the “Bullet” position, but Pete Werner’s Sam linebacker duties dominated those snaps. Limaohio.com

• Stanford has twelve players in the Transfer Portal.

BAMA

Alabama safety Shyheim Carter will participate in the 95th East-West Shrine Bowl.

Army Black Knights (5-7)

vs

#23 Navy Midshipmen (9-2)

Eagles Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

CBS 2:00pm CT/3:00 PM ET

Series: Through the 2018 meeting, Navy leads the series 60–52–7, but has lost the last three games.

Weather: Cloudy and 53°. The field will be wet but the rain should subside by kickoff.

Navy is favored by 10½ with an over/under of 40½.