On The Hot Seat: Preseason

1. Rich Rodriguez--Going 3-9 and 5-7 at Michigan just isn’t going to cut it. Rodriguez is going to need to win at least 7 games this season to save himself —not an easy task when you play in the Big Ten and have possibly the worst defensive backfield in the conference. With Michigan coming under NCAA scrutiny for the first time ever, Rodriguez may be finished even with a reputable record.

2. Dan Hawkins--Hawkins is 16-33 during his tenure at Colorado. With Colorado’s eminent move to the Pac 10 and Cody Hawkins playing as a senior this year, cleaning the slate may be appropriate unless the Buffs have a breakout season.

3. Ron Zook--Zook took the Illini to the Rose Bowl in 2007 season, but every other season he coached at Illini was a losing season 2-9 (2005), 2-10 (2006), 5-7 (2008), 3-9 (2009).

4. Ralph Friedgen--Friedgen is coming off his worst season by far at Maryland, 2-10. Maryland’s AD was quoted as saying The Fridge will need to win at least seven games if he expects to finish out his contract.

5. Mike Locksley--Locksley led the Lobos to a pathetic 1-11 record last year, all the while assaulting his receivers coach. Locksley also sexually harassed his administrative assistant. This guy is bad news for New Mexico. Cut out the cancer before it spreads.

6. Dennis Erickson--Arizona State is looking to be the Pac 10’s blow-up doll in 2010. The offensive line is in disarray and the quarterback situation is shaky. Look for another losing campaign similar to the previous two seasons (5-7 in 2008, 4-8 in 2009), if the Sun Devils are lucky.

7. Paul Wulff--You have got to feel bad for Paul Wulff. This guy loves his alma mater but is in a hopeless situation. With a 3-22 record over 3 seasons, Wulff is undoubtedly on the hot seat, but who wouldn’t be at Wazzu? How do you recruit talent to come play in a podunk in eastern Washington?

8. Tim Brewster--Brewster is 14-24 in three seasons at Minnesota. Brewster has led the Golden Gophers to two Insight Bowls over the past two seasons. Both bowls ended in losses. Keep in mind Mase the Ace (64-57) was fired after blowing a 38-7 lead in the 2006 Insight Bowl.

9. Bob Toledo--Toledo is 9-27 after three seasons with the Green Wave. Without improvement, he will be receiving a pink slip.

10. Mike Price--UTEP’s skipper is 34-38 over six seasons, the last four of which have been below .500. Mike Price is going to need to win more games than he loses and get to a bowl game to quell his critics in El Paso.

Waiting list: Todd Dodge, Ron English, Neil Callaway, Mike Sherman

We will revisit On The Hot Seat after Week 3.