One guy UC Should Not Hire

. . . to replace Luke Fickell

It’s an intriguing thought, no doubt. Deion Sanders, back for a sequel. He was the only guy I’ve ever seen score from 1st base on a sharp single up the middle, and he did it as a Red. He created a term for himself during his four-year, here-today-gone-to-the-NFL tomorrow tenure on the riverfront.

“Household’’ was Deion’s name for Deion. Hard to argue that.

Now, he is being suggested as a possible replacement for Luke Fickell. Only Sanders could excel in one pro sport as a player, have an impact on another as a player and now, be highly sought after as a coach in a third realm. Household indeed.

It’s not without merit. It’s not a gimmick. In 2020, Sanders inherited a Jackson State program that was going nowhere and in two years had it winning a conference championship. Jackson went 11-2 in ‘21 and 11-0 this year. He “metaphorically parted the Red Sea’’ gushed a writer at USA Today.

There is no doubt Mr. Household would entice a few recruits to sign with UC. He’d woo a few big-time transfers as well. (He got nine Power-5 transfers in ‘22.) He has the power to make any program he takes over instantly relevant. But here’s the thing when it comes to Deion and the University of Cincinnati:

UC doesn’t need instant relevance. Its program is beyond that, and has been since Brian Kelly toured frat houses, beseeching the bros to come to Nippert on Saturday afternoons.

A good thing about the success wrought by Kelly, Jones and Fickell is, that rising tide has lifted the whole boat. That means coaches who might be qualified aren’t going to get the job. That list includes Kerry Coombs, whom I love, and Gino Guidugli, who deserves a shot somewhere, and Tom Herman, who had his chance at Texas and would be seen as recycled goods.

And Deion Sanders.

Let’s back up a second.

I have no idea who’s on John Cunningham’s short list. Fans and media are fascinated by coaching searches. I’m bored by them. Wake me for the press conference. Everybody who thinks he knows somethin’ don’t know nothin’, especially when dealing with a guy like Cunningham, who has never met a vest he didn’t keep close.

You have Luke Fickell on your short list six years ago?

Wes Miller, after John Brannen’s ouster?

No one knows if Sanders would even be interested. He’s interested in Colorado, though (and has been offered the job) but UC ain’t Colorado. The Buffaloes stink on toast and they work in a league as secure as the San Andreas Fault.

If Sanders feels like another Red Sea event, he should take the job in Boulder. The UC job is miles better.

Deion might be just unique enough to stay at Jackson. He took that job as “a calling,’’ he said. He declared it was bigger than football. Callings don’t come calling often.

Regardless, I’d suggest Cunningham doesn’t need to win the press conference, the way Whit Babcock did when he hired Tommy Tuberville. Ideally, Cunningham gets an experienced coach from an established D-1 program, who is able to connect with young people and old money. There is no time for growing pains.

No one knows how Sanders will do making the jump from FCS. There is no track record. While his ability to recruit isn’t questioned, his ability to coach at the highest level should be.

So let him make a name at a place like Colorado. If he can move that Boulder, he’ll be able to call his shot the rest of his career. The Buffs have had two winning seasons since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. They were 1-11 this year, after losing at home to Utah on Saturday, 63-21. Let Prime resurrect that.

UC doesn’t need the attention. It’s already relevant. Thank you, Deion, for amazing me routinely as a Red. Good luck wherever you decide to coach. The fit isn’t great here.

Now, then. . .

AMID THE HOT RHETORIC in This Space yesterday, I neglected to mention the pitch-perfect response given an Iranian “journalist’’ by US soccer player Tyler Adams. The guy wanted to know Adams’ views on racism in the US. Adams, who is Black, said this:

"You know, there's discrimination everywhere you go," Adams said. "One thing that I've learned, especially from living abroad in the past few years and having to fit in in different cultures and kind of assimilate into different cultures is that in the U.S., we're continuing to make progress every single day.

"You know, growing up for me, I grew up in a white family with obviously an African American heritage and background as well," Adams said. "So, I had a little bit of different cultures and I was a very, very easily able to assimilate in different cultures. So, you know, not everyone has that, that ease and the ability to do that. And obviously it takes longer to understand and through education, I think it's super important. Like you just educated me now on the pronunciation of your country."

Every blowhard politician and overheated Talking Head should read that and try to imitate it.

I MISSED THE MATCH yesterday. I was kicking ass cleaning golf carts at Hickory Woods when Christian Pulisic scored the winning goal while nearly sterilizing himself in the process. Excuse me. The US star suffered a “pelvic contusion’’ after his momentum carried him into the goal mouth and the body of Iran’s goalie.

I dunno ‘bout you. But a man hath no greater love for his country than when he’s bruising his pelvis to score a must-have goal.

The USA plays the Netherlands Saturday morning at 10 in the knockout round. Can we work up a decent loathing for thIs opponent beween now and then?

We hate chocolate! Tulips are for losers! We drink Belgian beer! How’s the mountain-climbing there? Windmill this, big boy. And get yourself a new pair of wooden sneakers.

AS ALWAYS. . . If you like the questionable humor and overall wisdom and jocularity always evident in This Space, please SHARE. Tell all you know about TML 2.0. And all you don’t. Let’s grow our little virtual sports bar. Thank you.

TUNE O’ THE DAY. . . My pal Jim DeBrosse asked a good question on FB yesterday: Songs That Make You Cry. That was an easy one for the Professional Melancholist that lords over The Morning Line:

1. All I Ask of You, from the Phantom of the Opera

2. In the Garden, Van

3. Father and Daughter, Paul Simon.

4. And this one. While Simon’s lovely tune speaks generally of the love a dad has for his daughter, The Cape runs deeper. Straight to the heart. Jillian’s fearlessness is much of what defines her. The Cape is a tune about striving and courage and hope. So beautiful.

   “He did not know he could not fly. And so he did.’’

Yes.