So I was caught a bit off guard yesterday, doing the basketball post game press conference, when I glance at my twitter to see that the football team was apparently hiring a new OC already, and even more to my surprise, it was a recognizable name, Paul Petrino. How did they do it? Exactly the way Loren Tate and Bob Asmussen said they would, a multi-year contract with big money. $475,000 apparently.

What it means for next year's offense? I guess we will have to wait until after the recruiting season to find out completely. We know that Petrino's offenses at Louisville and this year at Arkansas  have based around a QB that can chuck the ball all over the field, its a pro-style single back offense that according to his news conference today, throws the ball to the Tight End quite a bit. His receivers also obviously tend to have big numbers.

I can tell you one thing for sure, the end-read is leaving with Juice Williams, for better or for worse, that is for sure now.The offense, if it looks anything like where Petrino has been else where, is going to rely heavily on the passing skills of his quarterback, and the route running skills of his receivers.

The quarterback question obviously wont be known until the end of camp, but all of the early money has to be on Charest right now. McGee is almost certainly going to be  a starting receiver next year, and that leaves Charest, RSFr Nathan Scheelhaase and TrueFr Chandler Whitmer (knock on wood he doesn't decommit.) We know that for all intents and purposes, this team has to succeed and win games (probably at least 6) in order for the coaches to stick around, so unless Nathan or Chandler come out and absolutely wow in camp, the known factor of Charest wins by default.

Then there is the question of receiver. The players we know we have lost are A.J. Jenkins and Hubie Graham, and word is Cordale Scott is gone is well, that is alot of speed to lose all at once. The aforementioned McGee will step in to WR once again, as he has already proved to be one of the most reliable players to be in position and come down with the ball. Fayson will be back, and he still at least in theory could have some big games in him, Fred Sykes will be back and could improve on his late season play. Then of course the two "wild cards" if you will. Benn and Hawthorne. Petrino has already made his pitch to Arrelious Benn, saying he could lead the nation in catches if he comes back for a senior season, and see his draft stock rise substantially.  Unless Rejus had his heart set on a Biletnikoff coming out of HS, I have my doubts that he will pass on the money he could make by going pro this year. I could be wrong, but I am not getting my hopes up. Then of course the quandary of  the other Army All American HS receiver, Terry Hawthorne. The same Hawthorne that has already proven himself to be possibly the best player in a secondary that was burned all too often at the end of the year. Miami Thomas will make his return hopefully in 2010, so that might give you enough breathing room to justify the move. I haven't decided how I feel about this yet, but it may come down to the Benn decision. If he stays in Champaign, leave Hawthorne on defense, where he is already making a difference. If Benn jumps, you might as well maximize your firepower at receiver while you can, and just hope to out score every opponent.

I've got a feeling there will be plenty more to talk about for the next couple weeks.