I agree 100%. I believe the search began in earnest last week, continues now and will be culminated some time around New Year's, with announcements being made no later than the second week of January. I believe rumors will fly fast and furious the week after the bowl games, which is good. Why? Because I want to see as much free publicity as possible in which respected people like Gil Brandt call LSU's job the best in the country, etc. Once the Orange Bowl ends, the next "big thing" to discuss as far as college football concerned will be, "Who's going to get the LSU job?" This kind of positive buzz can only help, not hurt, recruiting. Deciding on a coach by, say, January 12 gives the new coach three weeks to firm up current LSU verbals, at the very least. The new coach will hit the ground running, and can say with total honesty to recruits that (a) LSU is set up for success, now, meaning (b) there's a high probability that the coach who signs you next month will be here for your entire career at LSU. (Winning coaches tend not to get fired, at least not at LSU. Cholly Mac was kinda forced into early retirement, sure, but he's the only case I can think of off the top of my head.) Not many other coaches can say that with a straight face and mean it. BTW, that self-imposed bowl ban does give Tommy Bowden a leg up as far as contacting LSU and such, since he doesn't have a bowl to prepare for right now (I think it's safe to assume LSU is not interested in a current coach who DIDN'T make a bowl game).
Don't count out Butch Davis. He has removed himself from coaching next year. But when he sees the LSU job become available, it will make him think hard and long about coaching this year. We already know he wants to come back to the college ranks. Now that the Florida and Notre Dame jobs are secured, there won't be much left for him to choose from come next year, as far as big time programs go.
