On the very day Lane Kiffin was canned as USC’s head coach, Kevin Sumlin was one of a handful of names mentioned as potential replacements. A couple of days later, Sumlin publicly acknowledged and downplayed the speculation while also choosing to see the positive in the rumors connecting him to a job other than his current one.
For those who thought we’d heard the last of the Sumlin-to-USC rumblings, think again.
Citing unnamed sources, the Los Angeles Daily News’ Scott Wolf reported overnight that the Texas A&M head coach “has emerged as the top target” for the same position with the Trojans. Sumlin, Wolf writes, “is an attractive candidate not just because he is successful but is viewed as a charismatic coach.”
Wolf states that Sumlin, who is making just over $3 million annually at A&M, could double his salary at USC, which is a sure sign that the university will spare no expense in turning around the flagship football program.
Of course, emerging as a school’s top target in a report is quite different from actually landing said target in reality. As Wolf correctly points out, Pete Carroll was USC’s fourth choice before the school “settled” on the man who would ultimately send the program roaring back to national prominence.
It seems highly unlikely that Sumlin, who will (again) be coveted and courted by NFL teams in the not-too-distant future, would leave an SEC job for one in an area of the country in which he has little or no experience. While you never say never, we’re guessing USC, after what would be a justifiable and no-brainer pursuit of Sumlin, will be forced to move onto its second or third or whatever option