KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -

The Missouri Tigers are getting ready to learn the lesson Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas, Alabama, USC and, even Kansas State and Kansas have learned: great coaches are almost impossible to replace.

How long has it taken the Huskers to replace Tom Osborne? How many men did Oklahoma go through before finding a coach to replace Barry Switzer? Kansas State's replacement for Bill Snyder was Ron Prince, when that imploded after three seasons, the Cats turned to.... Bill Snyder. 

After firing Mark Mangino, KU's then-athletic director, Lew Perkins, thought he had the perfect replacement in Turner Gill. He was wrong. Then, the Jayhawks turned to Charlie Weis. That was a much, much bigger mistake. Weis dragged KU football into the gutter, making the Hawks a national joke.

KU thinks (hopes) it has the right man in David Beaty. His team is 0-10 this season, but there are signs of life. Kansas hasn't sniffed success since Mangino was run out of town.

The point is this: replacing MU's all-time winningest football coach will be a dicey proposition.

Yes, Missouri is in the SEC. Yes, their facilities are good (and getting better). But, is the job so good that they can attract a true superstar coach?

Gary Pinkel was not the hot coaching prospect when then- athletic director Mike Alden hired him out of Toledo in 2001. He ended up being the perfect guy for the job, but he was not the "biggest name" on the board.

Coach Pinkel has made Mizzou into a very successful program, winning five division titles over his 14 years, but it's important to point out that MU's last conference championship came in 1969.

Unlike SEC rivals like Alabama, LSU, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida, Missouri has not won a football national championship. 

When MU Athletic Director Mack Rhoades was hiring a new head coach at Houston last year, he turned to one of the nation's hottest assistant coaches, Tom Herman, who had just won the national championship as Ohio State offensive coordinator.

Herman's Cougars are one of the last unbeaten teams in college football. Many think that Rhoades will go after Herman again- this time, offering more money and a much bigger stage on which to work.

The problem is that schools like USC, Miami and South Carolina are also searching for a new coach.

Several other names have been mentioned, including Tiger Defensive coordinator Barry Odom, who played at MU, Memphis head coach Justin Fuente, who played quarterback at Oklahoma, and Bowling Green head coach Dino Babers, Babers is an offensive guy, who spent time with Art Briles at Baylor, and was an assistant at SEC rival Texas A&M.

Another name that's attracting some national attention is Georgia Southern Head Coach Willie Fritz. Fritz has local ties to the state of Missouri, having won 97 games at Central Missouri State. Fritz has had great success at both Sam Houston State and at Sun Belt Conference power Georgia Southern.

Former Tiger defensive coordinator Dave Steckel is also picking up national attention. The long-time Pinkel assistant is now coaching Missouri State, where he is suffering through a 1-9 season.

Clearly, Tiger fans believe their program has reached a level where they can attract more than just a guy, they want the guy.

As someone who roots for our local schools, I hope Rhoades follows in Mike Alden's footsteps, catching lightning in a bottle.

Nobody (other than SEC rivals and Kansas fans) wants to see Mizzou go down the same road as Texas (a head coach under fire), USC (a program that is total disarray), Florida (Will Muschamp! Really?) and Nebraska (suddenly, the Independence Bowl looks pretty good to Husker fans).

Will Missouri get a coach who can build on what Gary Pinkel's created? Or will the next man allow MU to fall back into the abyss of losing football.

It is a frightening prospect.

The next month will be huge for Missouri football.

Read more: http://www.kctv5.com/story/30533531/how-good-is-the-missouri-football-coaching-job#ixzz3vxgtBdze