After all the hirings of new head coaches made after the 2007 college football season, I didn't post any thoughts right away. I wanted to wait a few months to think and analyze the hirings. For some, my thoughts didn't change at all. It was either good or bad. For others, I'm glad I waited to post this blog. This is one of the first years that there was not a hire that I completely panned in the end, and like something about each one. When I do my rankings, I go by the fit between the coach and the school, and not by program prestige like many other columnists do. From best to worst, here's my list of the head coaching hirings heading into the 2008 college football season.

1. Houston Nutt- Ole Miss     

As I've said since 2005, Ed Orgeron was not a good hire. That was proved after three years of poor performance. One thing Orgeron did bring to Oxford that was absent for many years was top recruiting classes that ranked among the best in the country. AD Pete Boone knew he had to make a splash after the Orgeron experiment, and he made a great one. Nutt comes in after 10 years at Arkansas. Nutt knows the SEC and even though he only had one really great year, he knows what it takes to win. With prized recruits and what seems to be a an answer at QB in Jevan Snead, Nutt is the perfect fit. The Rebels won't be winning big right away, but will soon be competative and SEC contenders again.

2. June Jones- SMU

What makes this hiring so great is SMU's desire to do anything to rebuild their football program, which has never really healed since the 1987 death penalty, and June Jones's desire to be a part of a football program who will spend any amount of money to win. Hawaii is the program it is because of Jones, and if Hawaii can break into the BCS, there's no reason SMU can't do the same. The Mustangs will be scoring points, which should translate into more wins.

3. Mike Sherman- Texas A&M

This hiring has Aggie fans much more excited now than when it was made. After Dennis Frachione resigned minutes after defeating Texas for the second straight year, Sherman was the only candidate for the job and was quickly hired. Many people were very suspect about it, but after spring practices, Sherman clearly has A&M pointed in the right direction. A brand new pro-style offense, Joe Kines coming in as Assistant Head Coach/ Defensive Coordinator (which probably deserves a space in this blog by itself), and a staff full of experience, A&M should be mentioned with Oklahoma and Texas in a few years.

4. Kevin Sumlin- Houston

I thought Sumlin should have been strongly considered for the A&M job. The Houston job almost went to former Houston Oilers coach Jack Pardee, but hiring Sumlin proves that Houston wanted someone long term who can carry the success Art Briles has established. Unfortunately for the Cougars, if Sumlin proves to be a winner, a BCS school will pick him up soon.

5. Paul Johnson- Georgia Tech

Finally, a BCS school is bringing in Johnson, the option king of college football. Johnson's name has been mentioned for virtually every BCS job that has opened up for the last couple of  years. A guy that's pure football and not the charismatic type like a Pete Carroll or Rick Neuheisel, his counterpart, is exactly what Georgia Tech needs. It will take time to install an option offense, and then Johnson will have to win with it consistantly in a tough ACC. But if he can do it at Navy, why not Georgia Tech?

6. Rick Neuheisel- UCLA

I originally panned UCLA for bringing in Neuheisel, whose history includes a great deal of baggage. But after spring practices, Neheisel already has the program on the rise. If anyone can take on Pete Carroll and USC, it's Neuheisel, whose not at all intimidated by the fact that USC owns all of Los Angeles area except for the UCLA campus. Neuheisel has to prove that he has learned his lesson and can play by the rules.

7. David Cutcliffe- Duke

The Blue Devils have been the doormat of not just the ACC, but of college football for way to long. Cutcliffe is one of the top offensive minds in the game, and knows X's and O's better than anyone. This is one of the toughest jobs in the country, and Cutcliffe isn't known as a rebuilder. But performance on the field will greatly improve, which might be enough to make Duke a bowl contender.

8. Bo Pelini- Nebraska

I personally though new AD Tom Osborne should have hired Buffalo head coach and former Nebreska QB Turner Gill, but this is still a great hire. Nebraska is getting a quality coach who will greatly turn the defense around. Pelini must have QB Joe Ganz at the top of his game and keep the offense consistant for the Cornhuskers to have success.

9. Art Briles- Baylor

After rebuilding Houston and turning it into one of the more elite programs of all non-BCS schools, Briles moves a few hours north and takes over a struggling Baylor program. Like Duke, Baylor is a tough job, primarily due to it being right in the middle of Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma recruiting. But Briles is a Texas guy, unlike his predecessor Guy Morris, and someone who knows the Texas recruiting landscape is a big plus for Baylor.

10. Bobby Petrino- Arkansas

My respect for Petrino went way down after he left the Falcons with still three games remaining in the NFL regular season. But there's no denying his record and his ability to create an offense better than any coach in college football. Petrino was always an SEC type of guy, and this is his chance to try a gain the respect he lost over the off-season. But it remains to be seen if he can bring championships, conference and national, to Fayetteville.

11. Larry Fedora- Southern Miss

Southern Miss shocked the college football world when it forced long time head coach Jeff Bower to resign. But the Golden Eagles were showing signs of slumping, so new blood was brought in when Larry Fedora, a well known offensive guru, was hired. This is a big job for Fedora, even though it's a non-BCS school. Fedora has to first get out of Bower's shadow, which may take one year (if he wins) or many years.

12. Ken Niumatalolo- Navy

There was no question who was going to get this job when Paul Johnson left. Niumatalolo will keep everything the same with the Midshipmen, even the option attack. But it remains to be seen if he can keep Navy winning, because one slump will be directly attributed toward him.

13. Steve Fairchild- Colorado State

The Sonny Lubick era has ended, and Fairchild, Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator and a former assistant under Lubick, is brought in. Fairchild brings college and NFL experience to Fort Collins, and knows the program well. His first task is to try and topple Colorado, which would give the program a huge motivational boast.

14. Greg McMackin- Hawaii

A long time assistant in the college game, McMackin is finally getting his chance to run his own program. Hawaii tried to make this hiring as painless as possible after June Jones left. The only problem is that McMackin is not June Jones and will find it difficult to keep the Run and Shoot attack going strong. McMackin should keep things running smooth for at least one season, but will have to find his own way of continuing success once Jones' players are gone.

15. Jerry Kill- Northern Illinois

Kill comes from the FCS, and playing in the MAC should help his transition into FBS. Kill is a low profile guy who could make a big splash at Northern Illinois. Joe Novak proved that winning games is a possibility at NIU, and Jerry Kill has proved he's a winner. Plus, he stays in state. This should be a good marriage between the two.

16. Paul Wulff- Washington State

Bill Doba did some nice things with the Cougars, but it was time for a change. Wulff has not coached anywhere else but the state of Washington, and now he is taking one of the toughest jobs in the PAC-10. Washington State is in need of a makeover, and hiring a guy like Wulff is a gamble. But the young coach will definitely bring some emotion to the sidelines and get the players hopes up. But recruiting and consistancy will be tough, especially when the PAC-10 is a recruiting kingdom and Wazzu hasn't been on the best side of it.

17. Rich Rodriguez- Michigan

I did not like this hiring at first, and I still don't like it. Coach Rod brings a lot of baggage after a messy departure from West Virginia, his alma mater. He will have to completely change the offense to his spread option, and must win right away, no exceptions. After Lloyd Carr's retirement, the Wolverines should have opted for Brady Hoke, a former Michigan assistant who is doing a great job at Ball State, rather than a West Virginia alum who just blew a shot at playing in the national championship. Rodriguez has proved he can win and took West Virginia to great heights, but Michigan had better options. Had Rodriguez gotten the UCLA or Arkansas job, he would be in the top 3 on my list. But I don't see Rodriguez and Michigan being a good fit together.

18. Bill Stewart- West Virginia

Despite whatever AD Ed Pastilong says, this hiring was spur of the moment. Bill Stewart had an 8-25 record at VMI, which doesn't look good on any resume. Stewart is a lucky guy for getting this job, and has to prove he can carry the success of Rich Rodriguez and go further. Winning the Fiesta Bowl was a great start, but that was one game which all Stewart pretty much had to do was make sure the players show up and keep the Rich Rodriguez system going. Hhas 100% support from his players, but needs 100% from fans, which many are still very much on the limb with the hire.