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We're only a few hours into learning that Wisconsin football head coach Gary Andersen is taking his talents to Oregon State. Still, that's been enough to make Pitt head man Paul Chryst the runaway winner for the name most often being mentioned as a potential candidate.
Twitter, as you would expect, is a predictable mess with pockets of Wisconsin fans wanting Chryst as head coach and others saying he's not nearly a big enough candidate. Whichever side you're on, though, Chryst's name is by far the one gaining the most traction as a possible replacement.
FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman was the first big name guy to speculate on Chryst that I saw:
#Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen heading to Oregon State.. Will Paul Chryst try and bolt #Pitt for Madison?
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 10, 2014
SI's Pete Thamel puts Chryst in his pool of Badgers candidates:
Names for Wisconsin: Greg Schiano, Paul Chryst, Dave Clawson (finished 2nd last time), Justin Fuente, Matt Wells, Dave Aranda.
— Pete Thamel (@SIPeteThamel) December 10, 2014
And ... so does ESPN's Joe Schad:
Paul Chryst, Greg Schiano, Frank Solich, Pat Narduzzi all logical names for UW
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 10, 2014
Sean Merriman of the Big Ten Network also says Chryst is a logical candidate:
Wouldn't be surprised if Paul Chryst is a popular name as a potential candidate at Wisconsin. Badgers' offensive coordinator from 2005-2011.
— Sean Merriman (@BTNSean) December 10, 2014
ESPN's Matt Fortuna takes things a step further by saying Wisconsin needs to grab Chryst:
If you're Wisconsin & just had 2 good coaches leave for 2 lower-profile jobs, you've got to zero in on Paul Chryst here. Don't know who else
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) December 10, 2014
Matt Maisel cites Chryst, but asks the question a lot of us are thinking:
Would Wisconsin even want Chryst? I know he's a Badger but one that's been pretty mediocre in 3 yrs at Pitt.
— Matt Maisel (@Matt_Maisel) December 10, 2014
CBS Sports' Tom Lemming is calling his shot with Chryst:
My guess as to who will be the next Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst would be a good choice. Barry Alvarez must be beside himself. Still he's
— Tom Lemming (@LemmingReport) December 10, 2014
So, yeah.
Unlike the Nebraska and Michigan rumors, there seems to be a lot more wind behind the Chryst talk. Keep in mind that these guys are only speculating and not reporting things they're hearing about Wisconsin's interest. The name of Chryst is also a convenient one since he has strong ties to the school. Still, to see so many national media guys on board thinking the same thing gives a little more credibility to the idea that Chryst could, if nothing else, become a candidate.
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