(Coaches search update for December 3rd Is Napier in play? Could it be move over Beamer?)
Much of Thursday’s information, to this point in the late afternoon, is focused on Louisiana coach Billy Napier. We confirmed thru a source close to Napier that he is scheduled to meet with Ray Tanner Saturday. We’re not sure yet where that meeting will take place. Louisiana plays at Appalachian State Friday night and Napier plans to return home with his team after the game. Napier has already talked with Tanner and university president Bob Caslen via Zoom. Last weekend we were told by multiple sources Napier was souring on the USC job because the Gamecocks apparently were not willing to increase the budget to meet his request for expanding the staff infrastructure to include more personnel in the recruiting office and other support areas. At that point, sources were saying Shane Beamer was the strong frontrunner, to the extent that some on the board, we were told, felt the search practically was done. Sill, the plan for Tanner and Caslen was to meet with more candidates this week as outlined in an earlier. Napier was one of those and that in-person interview is set for Saturday. We’ll see where things move from there. Once source this afternoon indicated a great interview by Napier and the scenario possibly shifts his way. We are told by multiple sources Caslen strongly prefers a coach with head coaching experience. The other planned interviews are with Scott Satterfield of Louisville, Steve Sarkisian of Alabama and Brian Johnson of Florida. Tanner has been using jets owned by board members and/or boosters on his trips. A private jet did leave Columbia’s downtown airport for Gainesville, FL around 3:45 this afternoon.
Much of Thursday’s information, to this point in the late afternoon, is focused on Louisiana coach Billy Napier. We confirmed thru a source close to Napier that he is scheduled to meet with Ray Tanner Saturday. We’re not sure yet where that meeting will take place. Louisiana plays at Appalachian State Friday night and Napier plans to return home with his team after the game. Napier has already talked with Tanner and university president Bob Caslen via Zoom. Last weekend we were told by multiple sources Napier was souring on the USC job because the Gamecocks apparently were not willing to increase the budget to meet his request for expanding the staff infrastructure to include more personnel in the recruiting office and other support areas. At that point, sources were saying Shane Beamer was the strong frontrunner, to the extent that some on the board, we were told, felt the search practically was done. Sill, the plan for Tanner and Caslen was to meet with more candidates this week as outlined in an earlier. Napier was one of those and that in-person interview is set for Saturday. We’ll see where things move from there. Once source this afternoon indicated a great interview by Napier and the scenario possibly shifts his way. We are told by multiple sources Caslen strongly prefers a coach with head coaching experience. The other planned interviews are with Scott Satterfield of Louisville, Steve Sarkisian of Alabama and Brian Johnson of Florida. Tanner has been using jets owned by board members and/or boosters on his trips. A private jet did leave Columbia’s downtown airport for Gainesville, FL around 3:45 this afternoon.
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