Edsall, Kansas, rumors etc.

I tried hard to find these rumors about Randy Edsall and Kansas. Perhaps I don't know college football outside of the Northeast, but to me Edsall to Kansas makes so little sense I can't even take the talk seriously. We'll get to that later.

But, I tried to find these rumors etc., especially since Mangino isn't fired yet, and the only place I see Edsall and Kansas mentioned is in a blog post at AOL's Fanhouse on Nov. 18. Now, this is just speculation by the writer and not sourced.

Here is how silly season begins. Speculation about Edsall and the Lew Perkins connection gets chewed up in the internet rumor factory. Then, the buzz created leads to a rumor. Now, the local press asks Edsall about the rumors that were actually speculation.

Then it's a Fox News special -- Edsall to Kansas. It's silly season at its highest. Let's think about this the last several years.

Do a Google News search on Edsall and Kansas. It all stems from the Fanhouse post as far as I can tell.  

Edsall interviewed with the Ga Tech job that went to Paul Johnson. Johnson was always the front runner -- a media member based in Atlanta told me that a month before --  but also said that Edsall was a strong contender. I think Edsall to Ga. Tech two years ago would have been a good fit, but that didn't work out and Edsall signed a new deal.

Now, last year, these rumors out of Syracuse were so strong and real that we couldn't ignore them. Edsall to Syracuse made some sense, but I think UConn is the better job for now.

Now, year 3 of the Edsall rumor is him to Kansas to reunite with Lew Perkins.This one makes little sense to me, even if what transpired this year hadn't happened.

Edsall has coached and recruited his entire career on the East Coast. He knows Pennsylvania like his own home, and he has Florida, Pa, and New Jersey as the major recruiting grounds. None of those players ever go to Kansas. Kansas is a midwest school that recruits in the midwest. Edsall has no ties to the area and doesn't have a firm grasp of the landscape.

I am not sure any Kansas coach can recruit Pennsylvania and New Jersey extensively. So, essentially those contacts are burned. Look at the Kansas roster. It's mostly midwest and Texas. The UConn staff actually has left active Texas recruiting in recent years becase they were, as a coach told me, "chasing ghosts."

Now, let's take a look at the Kansas job. You check out Kansas against Oklahoma all-time? 27-68-6 all-time. Kansas is always going to be behind Texas, Oklahoma and Nebraska in the Big 12. Competing against these teams in the midwest recruiting is an uphill task. I like UConn's shot at winning the Big East consistently than Kansas' shot winning the Big 12 consistently.

Kansas is a good job, but at 51, Edsall is in a position to get picky. He is established and has a job for as long as he wants it here. Factor in the $1.25 buyout, and then I just can't find the logic. This would have to be either a money decision, or a flat out personal choice. It isn't a better opportunity, that's for sure.

Is Edsall a lifer? I don't think there is one in college football anymore. The Huskies are shaping up to be a pretty good team next year and even if they don't win the Big East, they probably could be making their fourth straight bowl apperance. Factor that in, with a lower buyout, $500,000, the fact his youngest son will be graduating high school, then he might make a move next year when some attractive East Coast jobs could be available.

We have to take the Rich Rodriguez lesson here. It's not always about coaching, it's about fit. Rich Rod doesn't fit at Michigan. Edsall doesn't seem to fit at Kansas.

Of course the best job from Edsall is Penn State, but when that job opens up they will have the pick of the litter. He would win big there and lockdown PA and NJ recruiting. But, people have been waiting for that job to open a very long time. That job is the unicorn of coaching, and everyone with PA ties wants it.

I remember writing this last year when Cuse was a done deal. How did that work out?