UW head coach rumor mill

The news came out yesterday that the University of Washington interviewed Notre Dame offensive coordinator Michael Haywood to replace Ty Willingham. I can't imagine that Haywood is a serious candidate, because 1) Notre Dame's offense stinks and 2) he is not even calling the plays for the shitty Notre Dame offense.

More significantly, I think he's not a big enough name that will appease the fans. The school wants someone who creates buzz and I just don't think the mastermind of the shitty Notre Dame offense is that guy.

The Dice Game and Lady Dice were at dinner with some friends talking about this news when Dice Friend, an individual who happens to be in the know about these things, shocked us. I asked, "Dice Friend, who do you think is going to be the next UW coach?"

"Jim Mora, Jr."

Isn't this the same individual who is under contract to coach the Seahawks next year? The chosen one? Dice Friend said it doesn't matter and that the Seahawks will not hold him to the contract because of the PR disaster it would cause locally if the team prevented him from taking the UW job. Even more surprising was the next name thrown out by Dice Friend.

"Mark Richt."

The Georgia coach? Why would he leave a top flight SEC school with fertile recruiting to come coach at UW? Dice Friend says money. Georgia is apparently not compensating Richt that well and UW is willing to pay to make a big splash. Richt can recruit, but can he coach? Is there a more disappointing team this season in college football than the Georgia Bulldogs? That whole idea seems crazy to me.

One coach that had been mentioned -- Gary Pinkel from Missouri -- seems like he's now off the market for the UW job.

I just share the knowledge. Y'all can discuss.

Early retirement for Holmgren?

This is not the farewell tour that Mike Holmgren had planned. He's not getting rocking chairs or golf clubs in every city and his reputation as a offensive "genius" is taking a hit with every pathetic showing by the Seahawks. There is no shortage of excuses. Hasselbeck is hurt and the team's WRs are banged up. But those injuries don't explain how uninspired the team looks. It doesn't explain how every team except for the St. Louis Rams has been more physical and better prepared than the Seahawks. (Cue: fake punt from Buffalo.)

The only conclusion we can draw is that it is time for Mike to step down. Now. In one of his rare posts, Yuniesky rightfully pointed out how strange the Jim Mora transition plan is and how it actually hurts the team. It's clear that the players are already tuning out Holmgren who will play no role in helping them get a contract extension or even determine their role for next year. The succession plan has effectively removed both the carrot and the stick.

Of course, this will never happen. In the minds of Seattle sports fans, Holmgren ranks right up there with Lou Pinella, another fiery Seattle manager whose regular season success never translated into playoff victories. The situation has gotten so bad that Seattle's elite sports media (we read all media here at SGB) has taken to calling Jim Zorn - the coach who got away. Jim Zorn is probably not the answer and the jury is still out on Jim Mora, but one thing we know for sure is that Mike Holmgren is definitely NOT the answer. Later Mike, see you in two years with the New York Jets.