South Carolina has more competition for Herman, Fuente
Houston coach Tom Herman and Memphis’ Justin Fuente continue to be linked to the growing list of college football openings.
The two battled on the field Saturday, with Houston rallying from 20 points down to a 35-34 win over Memphis.
Add Missouri to the group of schools that reportedly have Herman and Fuente among their possible head coaching options. Gary Pinkel announced last week he would retire at the end of this season.
Herman, Fuente and Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart are believed to be in the lead group to be South Carolina’s next head coach.
ESPN’s Chris Low tweeted that “Mizzou and South Carolina in pursuit” of Herman.
What a comeback by Tom Herman's Houston Cougars. Lot of decisions upcoming for him. Does he leave? Mizzou and South Carolina in pursuit.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) November 15, 2015@8643576679 @gogamecocks Don't think he knows what he's going to do. He may sit pat and see what happens in state of Texas next year.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) November 15, 2015For the Missouri opening, SaturdayDownSouth reported, through sources, that “Houston coach Tom Herman is the front-runner and there’s mutual interest.”
The Kansas City Star reported Herman and Fuente as among six possible replacements for Pinkel, pointing out that current Missouri athletic director Mack Rhoades hired Herman at Houston.
Yahoo! Sports columnist Pat Forde, in a report by The (Columbia) Missourian, listed Herman, Fuente, Temple’s Matt Rhule and Toledo’s Matt Campbell as top Missouri options.
“I think the list absolutely starts with Tom Herman,” Forde said in the Missourian report. “He was Mack’s guy once. It stands to reason he’d be Mack’s guy again.”
Missouri defensive coordinator Barry Odom’s name is on most lists as a possible Pinkel successor.
Illinois, Miami, Central Florida, Southern California, Maryland and Virginia Tech are among the other schools looking for a new head coach.
Scott Roussell, who covers the college football coaching industry for FootballScoop.com, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that “ I don’t think in all honesty that Tom Herman is looking to leave Houston. But he’s got an agent just like everyone has an agent, so if other programs want to call you listen. You’d be crazy not to listen.”
ESPN’s Brett McMurphy also reported Herman and Fuente as among Missouri’s first choices.
Memphis’ Justin Fuente, Houston’s Tom Herman & Temple’s Matt Rhule top candidates for Mizzou, sources told @ESPN
— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) November 13, 2015This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 3:44 PM with the headline "South Carolina has more competition for Herman, Fuente."