While waiting for the turkey to cool, my final coaching search thoughts. I recognize that everything we think we know is probably 99% rumor and speculation.
First and foremost, I can't believe that UF would make an in-person trip to meet with Kelly (and have the University president along) for the purpose of anything other than "signing" a contract. Regarding the reports that it was to "make the UF pitch", well, it was a short pitch since they were only on the ground for a couple of hours. Since they took the "contract" person along as well it seems to make sense that the conversations had progressed to a point of agreement and a contract would have been signed.
Secondly, I can't think of ANY reason you would have Kelly sign a contract with an "out" that allows him to take a job with another school. If he was not ready to fully commit to the UF job you would just wait and tell him to call you when and if he was ready to take the job. Or as some have said you just end the negotiations with him. The report that he had a "window" of time to back out and go elsewhere is probably the most ludicrous story I've hear through this entire process. That makes zero sense based on any kind of sales or negotiating paradigms I've ever heard. I have too much confidence in Stricklin to believe that he would put a conditional contract in front of Kelly.
Lastly, Kelly is reported to be a private guy with a tight inner circle of friends. The leaked reports that assistant coaches had been contacted by him for potential jobs at UCLA is way too much information for a famously secretive coach. Close associates would know that leaking that kind of information would be a death blow to their chances of working for him since he would know exactly who shared that info with the media.
I posted elsewhere that I have a good friend who worked with Stricklin at MSU. He speaks very highly of him and told me as soon as McElwain was fired that Stricklin would make a good hire. All the bashing of him, without any concrete information about what is actually taking place, seems to be premature and unfair.
At this point I am still leaning toward the Kelly-to-UF camp. I will say that this thread and most of the discussions it contains has been thoroughly entertaining.
Happy Thanksgiving and Go Gators!
