Do you agree with JCs assessment that he thinks Dykes is the favorite over Napier?
Napier is #1 on our big board, JC would agree with that. However, if we are playing oddsmakers, you'd probably still have Dykes a slightly better favorite simply because he has made it clear he is a YES if offered, and Napier has said no to so many schools before TCU (sometimes, pretty late in the process too).
As of today, I'd probably do something like:
Dykes: +300
Napier: +400
Elliott: +750
Campbell: +1000
Clawson (Formerly mystery candidate): +5000
I think what JC is hearing is what has generally been floating around this week: TCU made a push with Napier over the weekend and into the early week, that didn't go as far as we might have hoped, and now they are pushing with Dykes. As I've said 1000 times before, better to get your #2 when ready if your #1 is stalling, and in this case, they can't wait for Napier and Campbell to engage. If they (Napier & Campbell) really wanted the job, they would step up at this point. They know how the business works.
For me, if Napier's camp doesn't lean in, it's Dykes to lose. I think Elliott would take the job, but TCU doesn't favor him for a few reasons. Campbell and Clawson could be a wildcard if they suddenly decide to engage more actively, but if they don't I wouldn't be surprised to see TCU lock up Sonny and call it a day. He'd be a solid choice, given the realistic options TCU has. Again, you could wait and see what happens with others, but in doing so you might end up with nothing or an Elliott type at best.
We're definitely at the [ Finebaum ] or get off the pot moment of the process.
One other thought that has occurred to me: There is no good time for an SMU coach to go to TCU, that's a bad divorce regardless, and leaving after this weekend's big game at Cincinnati would seem to make sense for Sonny. If he wants to stay for senior day on 11/27, I'd expect he will leave after that game and drive on I-30 straight to the Frogs to get started working, with a press conference on Sunday.
By the way and as an aside, I was told a few days ago that GP likes both Napier and Dykes, but if it was his choice he would go with Dykes. (To be honest, I think he had some other candidates in mind, but it just hasn't worked out)