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Mizzou Links: Craig Kuligowski and the domino effect of coaching hires

Monday links posts are always pretty big, and this one was no exception ... before the Craig Kuligowski rumors began.

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Kul

The Trib (Behind theStripes): Report: Kuligowski offered co-DC job at Illinois
ABC 17: Report: Craig Kuligowski offered Illini job
Post-Dispatch: MU's Kuligowski headed to Illinois?
PowerMizzou: Got some messages out on the Kuligowski report

Well ... we knew this was a possibility when Gary Pinkel hired Barry Odom as his new defensive coordinator. Illinois has offered Craig Kuligowski a co-coordinator position, and now we'll see how much flexibility Gary Pinkel has in terms of giving raises (or new titles) to position coaches. We'll also see how much that matters, I guess.

Odom's hire signified that if Coach Kul wanted to become a coordinator, he'd either have to go elsewhere or wait until Odom gets hired as a head coach, either at Mizzou or elsewhere. Our preference obviously was for these crossroads not to approach for a couple more seasons, but we're here, and now we'll see what means the most to Kuligowski.

Simply judging from what Illinois was paying its assistants last year, the Illini wouldn't be prepared to give Kul a raise Mizzou couldn't match -- again, if Pinkel has the ability to give raises at this point (and I figure he does). But to keep him, Mizzou might need to throw out a co-coordinator position or something similar, and we'll see if that's in the cards.

I don't know if Pinkel has the ability to keep Kul at this point, or if the Odom hire set something unstoppable into motion. I really hope he stays because he's ridiculously good at his job, but we knew the risks no matter how exciting the Odom hire was. Now we'll see what the consequences are. One would assume that, with Tim Beckman facing a pretty warm seat heading into 2015, Kul could find a more stable coordinator position to inherit in the future, but as Gabe Dearmond said in the PowerMizzou link above, this move would basically be Kul "betting on himself." And if you're doing that, you might as well get started down the road.

I loved the Odom hire and still do. But it opened this door as we knew it might.

Kuligowski isn't the lead recruiter on Terry Beckner -- St. Louis is Cornell Ford's territory -- so we don't immediately know if his departure would have any major effect on his (or Nate Howard's, or Tyrell Jacobs', or Marcell Frazier's) recruitment. But it certainly wouldn't help, and it would certainly throw a kink into the #DLineZou momentum we've been seeing. Pinkel has made great hires before, but he might have to make another one soon.

Future Tigers...

Meanwhile, it was a pretty big recruiting weekend, huh?

Brandon Martin
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Tigers pick up pair of pledges from weekend visitors
Post-Dispatch: Mizzou adds pair of football commitments
PowerMizzou: Martin makes it official

Tyrell Jacobs
NOLA.com: Rummel's Tyrell Jacobs now part of the 'Zou,' commits to Missouri
PowerMizzou: Family brings Jacobs to Mizzou

Marcell Frazier
PowerMizzou: Frazier gets a look at Mizzou

Nate Howard
PowerMizzou: Nate Howard sets a decision date

Rankings
The Trib (Behind the Stripes): Missouri Recruiting Rankings Roundup

And some basketball...
ZagsBlog: Thomas Bryant Has No Visits Set, Monitoring Kentucky’s Big Men

...and former Tigers

Golden
Fox Sports MW: Mizzou's Markus Golden making strong impression at Senior Bowl

Ray
ESPN.com: Season's best SEC players: Nos. 1-5

Bud
Chatsports.com: Inside The Mind Of A 2015 Draft Prospect: An Interview with Missouri's Bud Sasser

:-/

The Missourian: Missouri men's basketball's Shamburger coping with the end
The Missourian: Being Ryan Rosburg isn't easy - Columbia Missourian

Wrestling: still undefeated

OSU
MUTIGERS.COM: Tiger Style Claims 22-10 Victory Over Oklahoma State
The Trib: Make it three: Tigers roll Oklahoma State for third win vs. top-10 foe
The Missourian: No. 3 Missouri wrestling picks up big win vs. No. 7 Oklahoma State
Mizzou Network: POSTGAME REPORT: Coach Smith after Mizzou's 22-10 win over Oklahoma State

NIU
MUTIGERS.COM: Wrestling Pushes Record To 17-0 After 32-12 Win Over Northern Illinois
The Missourian: Slow start doesn't stop No. 3 Missouri wrestling in win against NIU
The Missourian: Lavion Mayes, Joey Lavallee prove clinical for Missouri wrestling

#Stubble

The Trib: MU softball team has fewer question marks this season

WHATNOT

Women's Basketball
MUTIGERS.COM: Mizzou's Three-Point Barrage Falls Short vs. No. 14 Kentucky
The Trib: MU women follow similar script in loss to No. 14 Kentucky
The Missourian: Missouri women's basketball can't get shots to fall against No. 14 Kentucky
The Trib: MU women's basketball team finally able to ratchet up practice

Gymnastics
MUTIGERS.COM: Gymnastics Falls to No. 3 LSU on the Road

Track & Field
MUTIGERS.COM: Record Book Marks Fall in Kentucky

Swimming & Diving
MUTIGERS.COM: Swimming and Diving Squads Sweep Drury

RIP

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