By CODY WORSHAM | Tiger Rag Editor
The search for LSU’s next head coach remains a closely held secret by Joe Alleva and the small search party he’s leaning on.
But some reports Thursday, if true, indicate Tom Herman has emerged as the favorite.
Gannett Louisiana reporter and Tiger Rag columnist Glenn Guilbeau and Chip Brown of Scout.com both reported earlier today that Herman, currently the head coach at the University of Houston, is the leading candidate for the job.
ESPN reported Thursday night a deal could be done as soon as Saturday.
Alleva denied the reports in a statement. Later, FootballScoop reported Texas reps don’t believe the deal is done.
Here's the statement from Joe Alleva:
"There has been no decision made on who will be the next football coach at #LSU." https://t.co/v1yKXXe8va
— Tiger Rag (@Tiger_Rag) November 25, 2016
Texas has long been thought the landing spot for Herman, a former Longhorn graduate assistant. But Guilbeau cites a source saying LSU officials met with Herman in Houston today.
Meanwhile, Brian Davis of the Austin American Statesman says Texas could retain current head coach Charlie Strong with a big win this weekend.
The Advocate reported last week LSU hoped to make a hire in the coming week.
Herman is in his second year at Houston. Last year, he became the fourth head coach to win 13 games in his first year. He led the Cougars to their first New Year’s Day bowl in 30 years.
Previously, he was the offensive coordinator for Ohio State’s national championship team in 2014, when he won the Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach.
Herman, the college roommate of current LSU defensive coordinator Dave Aranda, is known for his development of quarterbacks and his high-powered passing attack.
Until LSU announces something official, consider all reports as just that — reports.
Great story by j moran