Gene Swindoll said:
i still don't want to be some coach's retirement plan job....they seem not to try as hard.
Which is why I think Fulmer would be a bad move (not that you're even considering it). Tommy Bowden would be a risk as well. He's still young enough, but you never know if he's looking for a cush job or if he's looking to prove something. You need a coach that feels like he still has something to prove.
Spurrier at SC is a good example of a coach that doesn't have the same fire he did early in his career.
If you want my honest opinion on who I think you should get if possible, I'd say Mike Leach. I don't know if you can get him, because I think he's holding out for one of the big BCS program jobs, but I'd definitely make him one of the top priorities. He's the type of coach that could build a consistent winner at MSU and would give you the occasional chance to compete with the best in the league.