Truth, Lies, and Rumors

When it comes to head coaching searches, I have absolutely no problem getting down in the mud and the muck digging for details. It's still extremely early in the process, but here are some nuggets I've been able to unearth:

• Mike London remains the odds-on favorite to be UVA's next head coach. (And in case you missed it, please read THIS ARTICLE in order to get the appropriate warm fuzzies about London as a potential candidate.)
• Jim Grobe is also very clearly in the running, according to Chris Wallace and Jamie Oakes over at CavsCorner. The interesting thing about Grobe is that he's available for negotiation right now, as Wake Forest finished 5-7 and isn't playing in the postseason. According to Chris and Jamie, Grobe is being championed by a specific BMD, and isn't necessarily one of the UVA administration's top picks.
• The name that seems to be gaining the most traction right now is that of Air Force's Troy Calhoun. He seems to fit what I like to call the "Tony Bennett / Brian O'Connor / Brian Boland" mold of Littlepage's successful coaching hires -- young, energetic, charismatic, driven, and coming equipped with very specific systems and a very specific plan for success. The only potential problem with Calhoun is his limited experience recruiting the East Coast.
• Go ahead and mark Phil Fulmer and Harvard's Tim Murphy off of the list. Apparently, their "candidacy" for this position was generated by their agents. The UVA athletic department ain't biting.
• The hot name last week was Boise State's Chris Petersen. Jerry Ratcliffe and McMcDonald's journalistic integrity took major hits when Jon Oliver came forward and admitted that he has never actually met Petersen, despite his overt allegiances to Boise State. There's no connection there. And I think that if Petersen leaves Boise, it'll be for a more attractive destination than Virginia can currently offer.
• And what about Tommy Tuberville? It seems like he would be interested in this position... but we haven't heard much of anything about his potential connections to the search process.
• Sadly, it looks like Charlie Strong probably won't be a realistic candidate, either. There's no buzz whatsoever when it comes to the Strong-to-Virginia rumors.
• Chris and Jamie are pushing TCU's Gary Patterson as a potential candidate, but aren't listing Derek Dooley. I have a hunch neither of these guys have much of a chance to end up at UVA. Patterson is aiming higher, and Dooley doesn't have the resumé to beat out London.
• Al Golden apparently has BMD backing like Jim Grobe, so he'll probably be in the mix... unless Maryland swoops in and takes him first, which actually seems pretty likely.
• Bud Foster isn't, won't, and will never be a real candidate for the Virginia head coaching vacancy.
• Looking for the Bennett-esque, out-of-left-field type of hire? Check out Butch Jones.