We are setting up for one of the wildest college football coaching carousels that we have seen in some time. Right now, there are several high-profile openings, including four SEC schools, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, and Florida.
Also in need of a coach are Penn State, Virginia Tech, Oklahoma State, and UCLA, to name a few more. James Franklin, fired by Penn State last month, has been linked to the Virginia Tech opening, but until a deal gets across the finish line, it's just speculation and rumors.
Some ACC coaches have been linked to some of the jobs around college football. Duke's Manny Diaz has been linked to the Virginia Tech opening, while Georgia Tech's Brent Key has been linked to a couple of openings. That's not surprising with the job he has done in Atlanta with the Yellow Jackets. On Thursday, Key attempted to put to rest the rumors surrounding him as his team is in the thick of the ACC race with four weeks left.
Georgia Tech's Brent Key slams coaching rumors
Key is coaching at his alma mater, and getting a coach to pack up and leave that situation is not easy. Especially with the success he is having this fall. He tried to put the rumors to rest with an interesting answer, per Kelly Quiinlan of Rivals/On3.
“Since I came back here, since I was named the head coach here, outside of the time with my family, every waking second of my life has gone towards building this program to get to the point that it is right now,” Key said. “So that in turn, we can continue three years from now, five years from now, 10 years from now, continue to elevate this place… Not to be in there for two or three weeks, but to be a consistent team… Nah, it is just the beginning. Slice me open and see what colors I bleed.”
Some people may read into it as someone who says that tries to deflect the attention away from the rumors, but they end up leaving at some point. You get the feeling that in this situation, Key is going to remain at Georgia Tech unless he is blown away by an offer that he can't refuse. Time will tell.