https://sports.yahoo.com/college-foo...045047996.html

OLE MISS ? Is athletic director Ross Bjork still around to make the hire? He remained in lockstep with disgraced former coach Hugh Freeze when few sober people outside Oxford, Miss., believed in Freeze?s character. Bjork is one of the few athletic officials in America to not at least view Freeze?s anomalous recruiting success with any shred of skepticism. The revelation of Freeze?s ?pattern of misconduct,? which became public after he called a number tied to an escort on his school phone, is a damaging blow to Bjork?s career. Each of the slow drips about Freeze?s misdeeds in the news cycle is another reminder that Bjork was the only athletic administrator in the country believing in the Tooth Fairy. (And calling reporters, as Houston Nutt?s lawyer reminded us, to insist the Tooth Fairy existed). When you stick with a coach through one of this generation?s most significant NCAA investigations, he?d better not be calling escorts between thumps of his bible.

Whoever is making the hire will have to figure out if they want to keep interim Matt Luke until the NCAA sanctions come down. (That?s expected to be sometime next year). That would at least enable them to attract a coach who knows exactly what he?s getting into. Don?t be surprised if Luke is back for 2018 as the administration sorts itself out after an NCAA ruling universally expected to be a bludgeoning. Luke is well liked in Oxford and was considered a promising young coach before his sudden promotion. Colorado?s Mike MacIntyre is a good long-term name here, as he?s coached there and has had enough administrative struggles at Colorado to dive into the Dumpster fire in Oxford. One factor that can?t be overlooked ? the state of Mississippi can only issue four-year contracts. Administrators will need to get creative, as any sane or successful coach would ask for double that length.