College Football Coaching Review: Who Needs to Go

The college football season is nearing the halfway point. With several games already played, it is becoming increasingly obvious that some coaches aren't going to work out and just need to go.

Dabo Swinney

Clemson's head coach Dabo Swinney stepped in last season when Tommy Bowden resigned. Dabo finished out the season and bowl game with a 4-3 record, which seemed fairly respectable for the first time head coach.

In the 2009 season, however, Dabo hasn't done as well and the record at this point is 2-3, including a loss against Maryland. That's right, I said Maryland, whose biggest win prior to Clemson was against James Madison, in overtime.

While Swinney is an energetic and likable coach, if his team continues the current trend, he needs to be fired at the end of the season. Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips was right to let Swinney finish out the 2008 season, but made a mistake in hiring Swinney.

Lane Kiffin

If Lane Kiffin were half the coach he thinks he is and if Tennessee was half as good as he touts them to be, they wouldn't be looking at a current 2-3 record with almost no hope of making a bowl game. Kiffin comes from coaching the Oakland Raiders, overall record as head coach was 5-15.

Tennessee fans thought they had hit rock bottom under former head coach Phil Fulmer, but it looks like Lane Kiffin might just sink that football program to an even lower level. Currently, Tennessee's only two wins are against Western Kentucky and Ohio.

Kiffin needs to stay out of the press and focus on coaching up his Vols. Forget about calling the recruits of teams you just lost to, Lane, and focus on why you lost and more importantly, what you can do to salvage the season. Otherwise, let Kiffin go.

Bobby Bowden

Bobby Bowden, head coach of Florida State, is a legend, but the game has passed him by and it's time for him to go. Bowden was a great coach in his day, but a different kind of game is being played now. Hopefully he will step down on his own and not tarnish his legacy by being forced out.

The good news is that the Seminoles have Jimbo Fisher waiting to be named head coach, who will put FSU back at the top.

Butch Davis

Head Coach Butch Davis of the North Carolina Tar Heels has two good seasons under his belt. This season, however, isn't looking too bright. Currently the Tar Heels are 3-2, which alone doesn't sound too bad until you look at why they lost. One of the losses came against Virginia this past weekend, at home, 16-3.

On any given Saturday, any team can lose. We see upsets happen all the time. Davis's problem comes from his blind devotion to quarterback TJ Yates and his tendency to run the same plays over and over, as though they will magically start working.

Davis needs to make changes and soon. Being upset by an inferior team once in a blue moon isn't the worst thing in the world, but when your plays and starters aren't working out for you, you've got to make changes. If Davis can't make the changes necessary to win the games, he needs to go.