A lot was made about the use of the word “elite” when Kirby Hocutt held his press conference terminating Kliff Kingsbury.

We will be elite at football again.

So I’ve heard a few things, that using that word was intentional by Hocutt, like it was almost a shout-out to a particular donor or something to that effect. I don’t know, I’m still trying to figure that out and as far as Hocutt using that term without trying to infer any sort of meaning, I don’t know what you’d expect him to say because part of his job is to sell the program to an extent and I’d hate for him to be say anything other than the program will be elite. It may have been for a brief period of time, but there’s nothing out there that says that the current state of the program can’t change.

Associate AD Jonathan Botros tweeted the following yesterday:

If anyone has told you we won’t be elite in football . . . just remember – they told you the same thing about baseball in 2013 when Tim Tadlock went 26-30 and finished 8th in the Big 12. They told you the same thing in 2017 about men’s basketball when Chris Beard didn’t make the NCAA tournament. They told you the same thing about track & field in 200 when we hired a Division II coach named Wes Kittley. They told you the same thing in 2009 about women’s tennis when Todd Petty went 10-14 and finished 7th in the conference. They told you the same thinga bout our golf program in 2001 when Greg Sands took over a program that hadn’t seen NCAA postseason play in 25 years.

I think that’s accurate to an extent, there are certain things that happen, like most likely, the bluebloods will only be in the college football playoff, but that doesn’t mean that Texas Tech can’t be a perennial top 25 team. That’s my personal definition of elite, but the mileage may vary on that and you can of course have your own opinion on that.

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Tier 1

So I think that this is starting to settle in as the top tier and Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt has settled in as this being the top tier of coaches (again, in no order).

West Virginia head coach Dana Holgorsen: I think that Holgorsen is still in play until he signs a contract extension with West Virginia. Just for an FYI, Holgorsen’s contract goes through 2021 and signed a contract extension in 2016 (that’s when he had to coach for his job).

Out of work former head coach Bob Stoops: I think I saw a tweet yesterday that Texas Tech had reached out to Stoops, but Stoops will probably have options and I think it would take a lot to get him out of retirement. I think this is a very low possibility, but keeping it here until he says no.

Washington State head coach Mike Leach: There were flights. Supposedly a flight coming in and out of Lubbock to Pullman, Washington. I think that if this was Hocutt that he’d be a lot more discreet and I don’t think that the plane that was identified is the plane that Hocutt usually takes. I do think that we’re in the middle of a situation where the Double Eagle guys (and probably others) are sort of forcing the issue to an extent. My biggest fear in this coaching situation, which is that the donors will promise the world in terms of donations and money and funds to hire Coach X, is that your program could turn into Auburn, which is an athletic department that is completely run by boosters. The other irrational fear that I have is that Leach is definitely a guy that can hold a grudge, do you completely trust Leach considering how long Texas Tech has held out and not paid him the money owed to him? Again, this is totally irrational on my part and I’m sure that you can write things contractually to ensure that something doesn’t happen. Both fears are probably completely irrational, just throwing it out there.

Utah State head coach Matt Wells: I can’t find an actual tweet, but I think that Ryan Hyatt is saying that Wells is a serious candidate, so for grins and giggles, we’ll move him up to the first tier because I do think that Wells is a name that I’m hearing quite a bit.

Oregon defensive coordinator Jim Leavitt: No news, but maybe the fact that he hasn’t been hired at Colorado is news in itself and he’s still an option, so I’m moving him back up to the first tier. I wouldn’t necessarily rule out anyone and since Leavitt hasn’t taken any job, is maybe an indication that he’s still in.

Tier 2

I’m running out of time this morning, but I haven’t heard anything about this second tier of coaches. This doesn’t mean that they are out, but just haven’t heard anything.

Memphis head coach Mike Norvell: No news.

Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin: No news.

Troy head coach Neal Brown: No news.

North Texas head coach Seth Littrell: No news.

Appalachian State head coach Scott Satterfield: No news.

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers: No news.

Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford: No news.

Toledo head coach Jason Candle: No news.

Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson: No news.

Out or Likely Out

Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables: No news.

Out of work former head coach Todd Graham: I haven’t heard Graham’s name at all since the beginning and I’m presuming he’s out.