The big issue with the article is it makes it sound like an AD doesn't even begin to court a coach until after the season is done.
"#2ndChoice is likely not to begin any conversation until after Friday’s game against Tulane, and perhaps not until Cincy is done with a title game in the American Athletic Conference, which the Bearcats are soon to bolt."
Yeah fucking right. Meanwhile, Moos was meeting with Frost in Philly around Nov 18th of 2017 before their Temple game. USC definitely had some feelers out with Riley and had him primed and ready to board a plane the day after Bedlam last year.
While I get the picture he's trying to paint that there may be some other potentially higher caliber coaches to consider, I disagree with it. I wouldn't put Klieman over Rhule and #2ndChoice. He's second tier, IMO. But #2ndChoice and Rhule are the sort of coaches where if, after vetting several coaches and gauging potential interest, those two check your boxes after communicating with them and there's mutual interest, you lock them up and don't look back.
This article would make more sense if it were written about Campbell or Liepold. Liepold's NU ties and success at KU still being a projection and Campbell's dip the past two seasons show make it sound like they could be contigency plans. Rhule is not a contingency plan.