I have a friend that's a big donor to the school saying Herman's not leaving this season, hopefully we can get into a power 5 conference before he bolts.
Herman has shown he's a good coordinator (Ohio St), and is doing a damn good job thus far as a head coach here at UH. Opportunities for him aren't going to evaporate after this yr. If he were to bolt after just ONE season, IMO, he's just another Todd Graham who's basically full of ****. His whole "HTown takeover" (his vision) he's been trying to get these HS kids to buy into will have been a bunch of BS as well. He's going to do whatever he wants to do (as it's his life), however, I think he should give UH (and Khator), the school that gave him his FIRST opportunity to be a head coach, two more yrs after this season to get into a P5 conference. If it doesn't happen after two more yrs IMO it isn't going to happen. If UH does get into a P5 conference a sleeping GIANT will have been awoken, and so many of the elite kids who go off to greener pastures every yr will now have a HUGE reason to stay home and play in front of their family and friends and be in a top conference against better opponents. Herman knows this and it's one of THE main reasons he took the job to begin with. Remember he has a good number of yrs coaching here in Texas, and this is where his high school coaching connections are as well. I liken it to when UH was trying to get into the SWC, and when they finally did they won the conference three out of the first four yrs they were in it. Will be interesting to see how it plays out, but right now the focus should be on Memphis and only Memphis. One game at a time.
They're pretty easy to get down after a few games: 1. Alma Mater 2. Fight Song (https://twitter.com/UHCougarFB/status/663163080730238976) 3. Eat em' up (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spVhkGRM1tU) 4. Womp Womp (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EObAZFawrrA) 5. Cage Sway (I think Tom Herman made this one, happens ~10 minutes before kickoff in front of the student section, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41L5vV_qx-A) http://www.uhcougars.com/trads/hou-traditions.html
Herman's current contract is basically 1.5MM with .5MM in possible bonuses. He's basically right in the middle of the FBS salary scale, which is a nice place for a rookie HC to start at. UH can probably afford to pay him 2MM outright, but after that it gets dicey. Jobs that meet one or more of these three criteria worry me: 1) Can pay him over 3MM/yr 2) Is located in the Southern US (think no more North than Oklahoma, and bonus points if near TX) 3) Is a "marquee" program Nobody really foots that entire bill so far, but places like Miami and South Carolina come close (not sure they would swallow 3MM/yr on someone so unproven).
I don't think you have to worry about Miami. The U is a terrible program with terrible fans. Herman will likely be able to pick his next job and I have a hard time seeing him want to try to fix the mess that is Miami. South Carolina, on the other hand, could pose a threat. I don't know if Herman would leave after one year, but it's certainly not unheard of. For all the heat that Todd Graham took, he's now considered one of the better coaches in college and could possibly be the Trojans new head coach. That certainly isn't a cautionary tale for coaches who jump ship after one year.
Im not saying its going to happen, but if things continue on as they are for the Aggies and Texas, I feel Herman will end up at one of them in another year.
I don't think South Carolina is a job he'd leave Houston for...and definitely not for Miami. Now, if USC comes calling or if UT decides to quite being mediocre, I could see something happening.
UT isn't firing Strong anytime soon. They have a lot of freshman and sophomores starting, basically in rebuilding mode. They beat OU, Should've beaten Okie St (if it wasn't for horrible officiating). They'll give Strong a fair shake
On a scale of 1 to 10 in terms of my worrying, Miami is a 2, and South Carolina is maybe a 3 and a half. I just don't see either job being a real threat. There will be better opportunities for him.
Are they still paying Mack Brown? They've got deep pockets, but not sure they wanna pay three coaches.
It wouldnt be for this year, but after next season (or in the middle if the wheels entirely fall of for Strong) where UT would be looking for a new coach. Mack Brown I think gets paid for another 2 years and Strong would have 1 year left. Not exactly cheap, but I think UT would easily foot the bill if it becomes obvious Strong isnt the guy. Having guys like Mccombs around becomes useful in these kinds of situations. They could pay Herman in the 4-5 million range, which is substantially more than UH could and would probably give him a blank check to fill out his staff. If I were Herman I'd wait it out one more year unless the Trojans come calling.
Not to mention, UT isn't going to allow it without a fight. That said, if something happens and an undefeated Baylor or OK St doesn't get into the playoff because they didn't play a championship game again, the conference might be forced to do something.
Big XII and PAC both could be adding. The PAC wants to get a foot in the Texas market and the Big XII does not want another major conference following the SEC into the state. Oklahoma wants UH in the Big XII. The PAC has been considering adding two teams. UH's administration would prefer the Big XII for all the obvious reasons but would accept a PAC invite. Every time I ask high ranking donors or those very close to the athletic program, they are rather confident they will get an invite to a power conference in the next couple years (prior to this season starting). My suspicion based on what they have all said, is that they would love a Big XII invite but will end up in the PAC.
Not sure Herman would be a slam dunk to leave UH if they are admitted into PAC or Big XII even if some larger programs make offers. A move to a power conference would likely lead to a raise for Herman and he would have a great deal of power and has an excellent recruiting base and will have excellent recruiting classes lined up. He also has stated he doesn't want to move around and wants to build a program. I wouldn't be shocked if he ultimately did take the UT job if offered but I don't think it is a certainty.
Sometimes I wonder if Herman's push for higher attendance is also because he knows one or two of the P5 conferences are watching UH's numbers.
If Herman leaves for UT we might as well just all throw ourselves off the roof of Hofheinz. It's one thing to get ridiculed and looked down on, but then to have all of your coaches taken away by the programs that are more or less your main detractors... while still being told you're unworthy. That's just... next level hell.
