Michigan Football's Next Coach...

So with the news coming yesterday that Rich Rod was fired as the head football coach, Michigan begins yet another period of transition and uncertainty. Will the new coach keep the spread offense? Will players like Big Ten Offensive MVP Denard Robinson, who specifically fit Rodriguez's offense, transfer out of the program? Is the next coach going to be a 'Michigan Man' or another outsider? The clear favorite by everyone, Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, appears to be destined for the NFL, so what other options are being looked at? Here are some of the more popular options being thrown about:

Brady Hoke, current San Diego St. Head Coach: He's a former Michigan assistant, and he himself said that being the coach of Michigan would be his dream job. He's built winners at both Ball St. and San Diego St., but not being a 'big name' and not proving himself at a bigger school has made him an unpopular option to many people wanting a quick turnaround in Ann Arbor.

Gary Patterson, TCU head coach: If Michigan wants to improve their awful (awful, awful, awful, awful...you get the idea) defense, this would be a great hire for Michigan. TCU is just coming off a Rose Bowl victory, and has had one of the best defenses around for the last five years. If this was a year ago, I'd say Michigan would have a better shot. But now that TCU is going to the Big East, Patterson probably is in no rush to leave. He already has a big-time program, and is right in the middle of talent-rich Texas. He also doesn't have very many connections to Michigan, so this is a long-shot.

Les Miles, LSU head coach: Contrary to many beliefs, Miles was interested in the Michigan job the last time Michigan was looking for a new coach, and being a former player at Michigan, he surely still has some degree of fondness for the maize and blue. While LSU fans may go through their up's and down's, he ultimately has proven that he can win and recruit in college football's best conference. Not the most popular option, but I'm sure Michigan fans could live with poaching LSU's head coach.