Reports trickled in Wednesday that the University of Michigan had contacted Duke's David Cutcliffe about their head coaching vacancy.
'Michigan Man' Won't Influence Coaching Search
Cutcliffe isn't a household name, but he's a respected and proven coach who led Ole Miss to five winning seasons from 1999-2003, and he built Duke from the basement of the ACC into a squad that's earned three straight Bowl invitations.
However, not soon after the rumors emerged that the Wolverines had contacted Cutcliffe to gauge his interest, a second tsunami of rumors came sweeping in that indicated Cutcliffe had entirely rebuffed them. Given the very, very wide gap between Michigan and Duke's respective pigskin legacies, that would count as a major blow to UM's rep.
Was told tonight #Michigan officials offered David Cutcliffe their job but the #Duke coach turned it down. Times sure have changed.
— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) December 10, 2014
However, details have since emerged that indicate the initial wave of schadenfreude towards Michigan had probably been misplaced.
Duke spokesman Art Chase: there's been no contact between Michigan and David Cutcliffe or AD Kevin White. That includes third parties, etc. — Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) December 10, 2014
Spoke to Duke’s David Cutcliffe. He hasn’t talked to Michigan nor has Duke AD Kevin White. No job offered to turn down. Content at Duke.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) December 10, 2014
Michigan Reaches Out to Les Miles
Regardless of Cutcliffe's interest in the Wolverines job or lack thereof, it's a good sign for Michigan fans that athletic director Jim Hackett and his search team are seeking candidates outside of just the common groupthink (Jim Harbaugh, Les Miles).
Hackett said that he intends to be thorough in this endeavor, realizing how essential this hire is to reasserting UM's place on the college football landscape. Michigan is about to hire its fourth coach in eight seasons, after having just three in the previous 38.
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