The many deceptions of Chris Petersen

Despite what the ESPN and Fox analysts want us to believe, we didn't find out last night that Boise State is an elite team. We learned they could outlast another mid-level team. But we also learned the Broncos coach Chris Petersen is one gutsy coach. He has more trick plays and is never afraid to use them. For that ... I love Boise State. Go Broncos!

You can relax now

With Urban Meyer's change of heart today that he'll just take a leave of absence as head man at UF, there are fans at many other places who are much more at ease today than just the Gator Nation.

These are the programs who can breathe a sigh of relief that their coach won't be shopping for a new home in Gainesville.

1. Dan Mullen, Mississippi State. Mullen may have only went 5-7 in his first year in Starkville, but he's Meyer bred, has a great offensive mind and could complete a near seamless transition. The Bulldogs can relax for now that Mullen will be back in 2010.

2. Kyle Whittingham, Utah. This would likely be Meyer's choice to replace him, but AD Jeremy Foley knows this is his call. Still, Whittingham would be a great pick and he's proven he can beat Alabama.

3. Bobby Petrino, Arkansas. This just feels like a horrible fit, but Petrino can flat out coach. He's slimy and no one can trust him (just ask the fans at Louisville). Just imagine what he could do with the talent in Gainesville. It's kind of scary.

4. Bob Stoops, Oklahoma. I don't really think he'd leave Norman for this job, but he'd have to give it some serious consideration. Sooner fans just have to get tired of hearing his name come up so often. The funny thing about this one is some ESPN talking head (I think it was Dr. Lou Holtz) who said they should consider his brother Mike at Arizona. That could possibly be the worst suggestion ever (surprised he didn't suggest Skip Holtz from East Carolina).

5. Jim Harbaugh, Stanford. I still think he's waiting to take over at Michigan after next year, but it would be hard for someone as competitive as Harbaugh to not consider going to Florida. Stanford fans want to remind everyone that Harbaugh just signed an extension, but what does that really mean today? The Gators would love this guy's moxie.

6. Kevin Sumlin, Houston. If this had happened there would have been a lot of surprised Florida fans. But Sumlin is well respected and many think he'll get a big-time job in the next year or two. His offensive mind may be better than Meyer's and Mullen's. Houston knows it can't keep Sumlin forever.

7. Chris Petersen, Boise State. Rumor is Petersen is not looking to upgrade from his gig in Idaho, but could he really turn down a choice job like UF? I think not. If you can win the way he has in Boise imagine what he'd do with the talent you can attract in Florida? However, Boise fans can relax because Petersen loves right where he is.

8. Gary Patterson, TCU. Both the 'Eye and the 'Eer are big Patterson fans, so we think this would have been one of the top three options for Foley. The Horned Frogs have been highly competitive during Patterson's tenure, and they play some of the best defense in the nation. He'd also be a great fit in the SEC.

9. Charlie Strong, Louisville. There's probably no one more pleased to hear Meyer will probably be back for 2010. Strong, who has taken the Louisville job, has remained in Gainesville to coach the defense in the Sugar Bowl. If not for the new job, Strong could have been a legitimate inside candidate. Now Strong doesn't have to consider reneging on Louisville.

10. Bill Stewart, West Virginia. I can dream right? He would give the Gators a chance to see what it would be like to have Bobby Bowden coach at UF. Stewart would also coach the superbly talented Gators to a second- or third-place finish and confuse the fans with random, unintelligible post-game comments.

5 Job Openings in 2009 (and who should be hired)

Arizona
Current Coach: Mike Stoops
Who the Wildcats should hire: Chris Petersen (Boise State)

Stoops can save his job by getting into a bowl game this season. But a 36-28 loss to a weak New Mexico is not a good sign. Arizona is 3-1 right now and securing four more wins is not out of the question. However, I see Petersen taking over in Tucson. He has become one of the top young coaches in the nation. Boise is 26-3 in two-plus seasons under Petersen, including a 15-1 mark in Western Athletic Conference play.

Syracuse
Current Coach: Greg Robinson
Who the Orange should hire: Turner Gill (Buffalo)

I know everyone thinks (or wants) former USC assistant and former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, but Gill has done an amazing job at Buffalo. The Bulls wisely gave Gill a contract extension through 2012 after guiding Buffalo to a 5-7 record. Buffalo is just 2-3 this season, but this is a program that was a doormat before his arrival. There have been rumors that former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr is considering the job. Just seems like a very odd fit.

Tennessee
Current Coach: Phil Fulmer
Who the Volunteers should hire: Skip Holtz (East Carolina)

The buzz about Holtz has dimmed a bit following consecutive losses by his Pirates, but he would be a great fit at Tennessee. He’d be talking in that Tennessee drawl about 30 seconds into the press conference announcing his hiring. Skip learned how to be a head coach during five seasons at UConn (38-23) and now in his fourth season at ECU, where he guided the Pirates to back-to-back bowl games. He was considered a favorite to get the West Virginia job last winter before Bill Stewart led the Mountaineers to a big win in the Fiesta Bowl. He would get the Vols back on top in the SEC.

Virginia
Current Coach: Al Groh
Who the Cavaliers should hire: Jerry Moore (Appalachian State)

OK, maybe this is a bit of a stretch and wouldn’t make too much since for the long haul since Moore will be 70 in July. But he’s a great coach. What he has accomplished for the Mountaineers is amazing. He is 169-72 with three consecutive Football Championship Series titles. Moore has BCS experience as he coached Texas Tech from 1981-85.

Washington
Current Coach: Tyrone Willingham
Who the Huskies should hire: Jim Mora Jr. (Seattle Seahawks)

I still believe Willingham should be given another year, but with a new AD (Scott Woodward) his time in Seattle is probably coming to an end. Now my suggestion may not be realistic since he is expected to be promoted to the Seahawks head coach next year. But the former walk-on linebacker is an intense competitor and should be an excellent recruiter. He could rebuild Washington into a national contender again very quickly. Remember, one of the reasons he was run out as the Atlanta Falcons head coach was because of a radio interview he did in Seattle where he said he’d leave the NFL to return to his alma mater.