Even in the midst of a coaching search that will determine your football program’s fortunes for the foreseeable future, you gotta have a little fun.
Late Wednesday, it appeared that Houston was zeroing in on a replacement for Tom Herman, who left to become the head coach at Texas late last month. Thursday morning, it was reported that Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin had been hired by UH.
In response to the reports of a final decision being made, Cougars athletic director Hunter Yurachek offered a little papal levity, replete with non-white smoke indicating no football pope has been hired.pic.twitter.com/rZyCrDhieV
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) December 8, 2016
The Houston Chronicle, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, subsequently reported that “the University of Houston has not made a decision on its next football coach.”
That said, it’s expected that Kiffin is Yurachek’s man, with an announcement coming as early as tonight. University officials will meet later on today to finalize the search and come to a consensus.
In addition to Kiffin, ex-LSU head coach Les Miles and interim Houston coach Todd Orlando and offensive coordinator Major Applewhite have been under consideration. ESPN.com‘s Brett McMurphy writes that "[w]hoever the next coach is, Houston is trying to require an excessive buyout so he can’t leave after a couple of seasons without paying a substantial penalty.”
As a reference point in that aspect of the situation, Herman’s buyout was $2.5 million. Herman spent two seasons with the Cougars before leaving for the Longhorns.