TEMPE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Sonny Dykes of the California Golden Bears looks on during warm ups prior to the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on September 24, 2016 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)

Newly hired head coach now gets eight days to prepare for a bowl game

That's a tough way to get started.

Former California coach Sonny Dykes was reportedly the leading candidate for the SMU job and it appears he's gotten the job officially.

So not only will Dykes end up with another head coaching job less than a year after being fired at California, but he also get the unenviable task of preparing a team for a bowl game in eight days time. He has to get the team ready for the bowl game against Louisiana Tech, but he has to bring in a staff, become familiar with his players and implement whatever system he plans on using all in basically a week.