Can't Wait For Saturday | Inquiring minds want to know what's next for Illinois analyst
Feb. 5—Sign up for our daily Illini football newsletter here
Greetings from "Can't Wait For Saturday," your morning morsel of college football, courtesy of longtime Illini beat writer, AP Top 25 voter and Heisman state rep Bob Asmussen. He'll give you his views each day on the game he loves.
***
Reader Paul Russell keeps up with college football in general and Illinois football/sports in particular.
He asks a very good question: Is Illinois analyst and former Wisconsin interim coach Jim Leonhard a candidate for the vacancy at Boston College?
Not on any of the lists I have seen. At least so far.
The strongest candidate appears to be former Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien. That would be a strange move since he just took over as offensive coordinator at Ohio State.
Yes, you would rather be the boss than a coordinator. And guys have left jobs in a shorter amount of time.
I remember Larry Fedora accepting the offensive coordinator position at Illinois in 2005. But he never called a play or ran a practice for Ron Zook.
Oklahoma State offered him more money and Fedora took it. The move worked out well for Zook, who hired Mike Locksley, who he likely wouldn't have gotten if Fedora was on the staff. Three seasons in, Locksley helped Illinois beat No. 1 Ohio State and earn a Rose Bowl berth. And now he is a successful head coach.
All's well that ends well.
As for Leonhard, we haven't heard much in the way of details about his future with the program.
I have not actually met Leonhard since he joined Bret Bielema's staff. And I don't believe any other reporters have either. Well, maybe Loren Tate because he is a legend. But nobody else.
If Boston College doesn't hire a current assistant or pro coach, and goes after an established college leader, it might start another round of movement. Just when we thought every top position was settled.
We know it won't be Jeff Hafley, now the defensive coordinator with the Green Bay Packers.
