WORST COACH: RICH RODRIGUEZ (MICHIGAN)

Leaving West Virginia was the worst decision that Rodriguez could have ever made. His new team, the Michigan Wolverines went 3-9 (2-6 in the Big 10). Is this a typo? Are we talking about Rich Rodriguez? It's true as hard as that is to believe. In 2008, the Wolverines only beat Miami (Ohio), Wisconsin and Minnesota. Former coach Lloyd Carr never had a season this bad and therefore, never should have retired (Michigan went 9-4 in his final season). On the other hand, Rodriguez's successor at West Virginia, Bill Stewart, went 9-4 (6-2 in the Big East) which. So, Rodriguez's spread-option offense, in 2008 at least, was a disaster. In 2008 the Wolverines lost every game except for games against Miami (Ohio) on September 6 (16-6), against ninth-ranked Wisconsin on September 27 (27-25; this was undoubtedly the highlight of an otherwise dismal 2008 season) and at Minnesota on November 8 (29-8). Embarrassing losses include games against Illinois on October 4 (20-45), at Penn State on October 18 (17-46) and the season finale at Ohio State on November 22 (7-42; this must be one of the worst if not the worst loss for Michigan in this bitter rivalry). This means that,for the season, Michigan was outscored by 106 points. When was the last time that happened?

STEVE KRAGTHORPE (LOUISVILLE)

Louisville is going backwards. After finishing 6-6 in 2007 with Brian Brohm, they finished 5-7 in 2008 including only 2 wins in Big East play. The Cardinals had a number of embarrassing losses including the season-opener against Kentucky (2-27; the Wildcats were 7-6) and games at Syracuse (21-28; Syracuse was only 3-9 overall & 1-6 in the Big East), Pittsburgh (7-41; Pittsburgh was 9-4) and Rutgers in the season finale, 14-63; Rutgers was 8-5). The Cardinals' only wins during the 2008 season came against Tennessee Tech (3-9; 51-10), against Kansas State (5-7; 38-29), at Memphis (6-7; 35-28), against Middle Tennessee State (5-7; 42-23) and against Soutyh Florida (8-5; 24-20). It gets worse. Louisville only won one game on the road all season (at Memphis) and did not win in November.Hunter Cantwell had a disastrous year: 16 trouchdowns, 16 interceptions. The bottom line for Kragathorpe is: his honeymoon period from 2007-2008 is over. He has to start winning now.

AL GROH (VIRGINIA)

Virginia went 5-7 (3-5 in the ACC) for the first time since 2001. So why was this season a disaster? Virginia got blown out by Duke (3-31), a team that had only won a few games THIS DECADE. That loss alone made UVA's 2008 season, well, gross. Al Groh must avoid losses like that in 2009 if he wants to keep his job.

TOMMY BOWDEN (CLEMSON)

Bowden resigned from the Clemson football coaching staff after the Clemson Tigers, who were expected to contend for the ACC's Atlantic Division and conference championships, stumbled out of the gate with a 3-3 record. Could he have known that his team finished the season with a flourish (4-1)? And if he could have predicted that would he have stayed?

PHILIP FULMER (TENNESSEE)

Fired after a 5-7 season (3-5 in the SEC), including a 3-13 loss to Wyoming, member of the Mountain West Conference, who went 4-8 (1-7 in the Mountain West).

JEFF JADGOZINSKI (BOSTON COLLEGE)

Jadgozinski messed his team up. OK, Boston College didn't have a bad season (9-5; 5-3 in the ACC), but Jadgozinski left because of greed (i.e. he interviewed for a head coaching job with yet another NFL team without informing the football team first) and was axed. The most important factor in team success is team chemistry. So, Jadgozinski is essentially a traitor.

COACHES WHO SHOULD BE FIRED/WHOSE SEATS ARE WARMING UP OR SHOULD BE

BOBBY BOWDEN (FLORIDA STATE)

Supporters of Bobby Bowden will undoubtedly say 'FSU was 9-4 in 2008 with Bowden in charge'. Basically, Florida State has fallen off a cliff since Chris Weinke's graduation in 2000 and has yet to recover that lofty status (in fact it's doubtful if they ever will). In 2008, the 'Noles went 9-4 (5-3 in the ACC), which is a respectable record for many teams, but this is Florida State, where fans, alumni and boosters are demanding better. And FSU won the majority of their games because of their defense because their offense has simply been inept over the past seven years. Bobby Bowden, however, still doesn't get the message. Christian Ponder, this past season's starter, threw 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, which is very mediocre, for any quarterback, on any team, ever mind at a school with as proud a football tradition as FSU. Yet, Bowden is so stubborn that he will probably stick with him just as he did with inconsistent former quarterbacks Chris Rix (who was suspended for the bowl game after his junior year in 2003 for sleeping through an exam), Drew Weatherford and Xavier Lee (until Lee was dismissed from the team and the university for numerous serious rules violations). Bowden will probably never start a true freshman quarterback, even if that's a 5-star recruit that he recruited himself. Also, offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has been designated 'head coach-in-waiting', so why isn't Bowden retiring? He clearly isn't as good as he once was, having lost to Clemson in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007 and Wake Forest in 2007 and 2008. So, more likely than not, Bowden is holding onto power and is interested in the players who have connections with him or one of his assistants than getting his best players on the field.

JIM TRESSEL (OHIO STATE)

Sure the Buckeyes have beaten Michigan 5 straight times (2004-2008), but when will he win a national title? He hasn't won a major bowl since 2002, his second season with Ohio State.

BOB STOOPS (OKLAHOMA)

While Ohio State have won 5 straight against Michigan, the Sooners have been going in the opposite direction against Texas (head coach Bob Stoops has now los six straight to his arch-rival) and this must change if he wants to stay at Oklahoma. Losing to arch-rival Texas offsets the glow of quarterback Sam Bradford becoming the second sophomore to win the Heisman (the first, of course, was Florida quarterback Tim Tebow)