I really thought it was out of the question, but I'm hearing that Mike Price is a very real possibility to replace Bill Doba. It sounds like it would work like Dick Bennett and Tony Bennett did with the Wazzu basketball program. Price is 62 years old...his son Eric is 39. Mike would take over the program for a few years then hand it off to his kid. The Cougars would then have a long-term solution at head coach.

Here's a quick rundown of what Eric Price brings to the table: He played at Dixie Junior College and Weber State (he graduated in 1990). Price then became at graduate assistant at WSU in 1991. After a few years away from the program (he worked at Hawaii and Miami (Fla.)), he returned to Wazzu as a quarterbacks coach (1998-2000). He moved to the NFL after that and is now the offensive coordinator under his dad at UTEP.

Baylor University hired Houston’s Art Briles. I’m not really sure what that means for Kasey Dunn. He was the assistant head coach for former head coach Guy Morriss (fired after the season) and was in charge of holding the program together (with other assistants) until the “search was complete.” It’s complete.

Tim Lappano (Washington offensive coordinator) told reporters in Seattle that he’s interested in becoming a head coach.

John L. Smith (a scout for the St. Louis Rams; former Michigan State head coach) told the Seattle Times that he’s interested in the WSU job.

There's another name to add to the list of potential candidates...

Kevin Sumlin, 43, Oklahoma Offensive Coordinator: He is not from Washington, but he has some ties to WSU. Sumlin played linebacker under then-head coach Leon Burtnett (Washington State assistant under Doba) at Purdue. He then was a graduate assistant at Wazzu from 1988-90. That's where his Cougar connections end (as a coach at least). Sumlin has never been a head coach, but has plenty of experience (he's spent time at Wyoming, Minnesota, Purdue, Texas A&M, and now Oklahoma).

Another name being tossed around is Mel Tucker. He is an assistant coach for the Cleveland Browns. He has no ties to Washington State. He played at Wisconsin and coached at Miami (Ohio), LSU, and Ohio State before the NFL.

I know I haven’t mentioned Turner Gill (Buffalo head coach), DeWayne Walker (UCLA defensive coordinator), Pat Hill (Fresno State head coach), and other national candidates. They all could be on WSU’s wish list, but Gill is a finalist for the Nebraska job and Walker could take over at UCLA if Karl Dorrell is let go.

As for Hill, he has no connections to Washington State, but has extensive coaching experience at the college and professional levels.

Stay tuned for another update…