Week one of my severance-paid, mandatory vacation is wrapping up and it’s definitely been the oddest vacation I’ve ever had.  There’s no pools, hot tubs, seafood buffets, towels to steal, beach…well, there’s a beach, but only because I live near it.  Anyway, the point is that I’m glad the weekend is almost here because I most likely wouldn’t be working over the weekend as opposed to a normal Friday when I would be working (attention prospective employers; I will absolutely work weekends if necessary). 

Even though I haven’t secured a new job yet, I do feel as if I accomplished something this week.  By filing for unemployment on Monday, I helped the unemployment rate hit a 25 year high at 8.1% (hat tip to sparty)!  Yay for me?  Whew…that some bleak news, but focusing on that takes away from my contrived vacation mentality.  Just yesterday, I tried to steal some towels but instead I just ended up getting in trouble with Mrs. Mizerle06 for putting the wrong towels in the wrong bathroom.  Some buzzkill, huh? 

By the way, speaking of unemployment, do you think the big-time-college and pro coaches file for unemployment when they get let go?  I wouldn’t think so since their severance packages are usually a bit more lucrative than mine was.  If I’m remembering correctly, I think Tennessee was still paying off both Jerry Green’s and Buzz Peterson’s respective “severances” during Bruce Pearl’s first season.  So, along those lines, which college basketball coaches seats are getting hot?

There doesn’t seem to have been a dominant team to emerge throughout the course of this season; and, I think that’s partially due to some parity.  But, there have been some teams that have severely disappointed their fanbases without being able to blame parity and I think their coaches’ seats are getting warm.  Here’s who I’ve come up with:

Billy Gillespie, Kentucky (19-11, 8-7) - It’s been almost two full seasons since Tubby Smith “got resigned” and moved onto Minnesota.  Billy Clyde Gillespie rode in on his white horse to be the bluegrass savior.  And, he brought with him a bad attitude along with prior drinking problems prior drinking problems - strike 1.  Home losses to Gardner-Webb and VMI to open 2007 and 2008, respectively – strike 2.  Last year, the Wildcats were ushered out of the NCAA tournament after playing in just one game for the first time in 21 years.  Now, even with Jodie Meeks, Patrick Patterson, and a very weak SEC, Kentucky is on the verge of the lucrative NIT bid – strike 3(?).

Paul Hewitt, Georgia Tech (11-17, 2-13) – In his 9-year tenure with the Rambling Wreck, he’s only coached one season resulting in a winning conference record, 2003-2004 (9-7).  This season has definitely not been kind either.  Couple those facts with only four NCAA tournament appearances and two of those resulting in first round losses, and the future isn’t looking too promising for Hewitt with the Yellow Jackets.

Gary Williams, Maryland (18-11, 7-8) – I promise, I’m not trying to needle our in-house Terp homer.  I’m just saying that in the 7 years since winning the 2002 national championship, his teams are averaging almost 12 losses a season with only a 52.2% conference winning percentage.  Between 1993 and 2004, Maryland had a great run of 11 NCAA tournament appearances – including five Sweet 16 appearances and two Final Four appearances resulting in one national championship.  But, that championship goodwill can only last so long when considering this season’s worst-case possibility of a losing conference record for the third time in the last 6 years or a best-case possibility of a 0.500 conference record, also for the third time in the last 6 years. 

I should probably mention those coaches who have already received the axe this year – Mark Gottfried, formerly of Bammer, and Dennis Felton, formerly of Georgia - and are clogging the unemployment lines like me.  While I don’t think Gillepsie will be fired after this season, he probably only has one more year to get stuff rolling in Lexington.  As for Hewitt and Williams, well, maybe those two should start clamoring for an expanded tournament field - 128 teams for Williams and 256 teams for Hewitt.

Laid Off Live-Blog - Day 1
Laid Off Live-Blog - Day 2
Laid Off Live-Blog - Day 3
Laid Off Live-Blog – Day 4

Shameless self-promotion:
I’m now a free agent structural engineer in the Jacksonville, FL-area and willing to commute as far away as the Gainesville and Daytona areas.  I have 2 years and 10 months of experience and a MS; and, provided I can find work in a relatively quick time period, I will be eligible this May to apply for, and sit for, the October PE licensing exam.  Also, I’m actively searching for any civil engineering position that my degrees will qualify me for: structural (buildings, bridges, etc.), civil, geotechnical, transportation, etc.  So, if you’ve got a contact or would like to legitimately take a gander at my incredibly awesome resume, give me a shout at mizerle06(at)gmail(dot)com.

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