Devil’s Advocate: What if it isn’t Mel Tucker or Jimbo Fisher?

Just hear me out for a second…

Despite the fact that there is a game on Saturday against ULM, the only hot topic surrounds the head coaching search. While no one really has a gauge on what will transpire, we continue the conversation on potential candidates.

Depending on which outlet you read, you could get a completely different list of guys so we will go through the most likely. Many believe that the hire will be flashy or a big fish. But what if it isn’t one of the two most talked-about guys?

What if LSU strikes out on top candidates?

(Bill Feig/The Advocate via AP)

This is the first major hire as the LSU athletic director for Scott Woodward. That isn’t to downplay bringing in multi-national champion-winning coach Kim Mulkey to run the women’s basketball program. No one is saying that Jay Johnson wasn’t a big hire for the baseball program, especially after he signed the No. 1 rated recruiting class.

When it comes to football it is a completely different animal, especially in the SEC. The LSU football program is one of the top 10 most valuable in the country, so nailing this hire is key. Especially after the Les Miles debacle and what they went through with Ed Orgeron. Sure they won national championships but they have left negative impacts on the culture of the Tigers. Based on the number of dollars it is costing LSU  to get rid of Orgeron, they can’t miss. But what if they don’t get the “big fish.”

Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports recently laid out the top two candidates.

CBS Sports previously reported Michigan State coach Mel Tucker would be interested in LSU. Athletic director Scott Woodward continues to search for a monster hire. His presumed No. 1 target, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher, reiterated his intention to stay with the Aggies on Monday.

Reports have surfaced that Tucker has a long-term deal in hand to stay with Michigan State. Fisher continues to state that he isn’t going anywhere.

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Just spit ballin’ here, but let’s go through some of those other names.