The following post comes from another site - I think the OP makes a number of good points. It makes sense if you think about it. As fans, we don't like that the process isn't moving at the pace we would like but there are some mitigating factors.
" I believe it is not mis-direction, but rather a quite calculated strategy to get from Point A (Blake and Manny) to Point B (New AD and Mario/Lane/etc). I'm quite confident that the backchannel communications with the top HC candidates have occurred and they know where they stand. The issue has been trying to hire a new AD and HC while minimizing unnecessary buyouts/costs. The key to all of this timing is the Dec 1 change in Manny's buyout. The Admin can't show any indication that they have decided or intend to fire Manny prior to Dec 1 otherwise he has potential legal grounds to sue for the full buyout even if they don't officially fire him until Dec 1 or later. Plus, as a lucky strike extra, they have now saved on any Lashlee buyout and perhaps a couple others if Lashlee hires any of the offensive staff.
Based on the above, I think that very, very likely they have a verbal assurance from one of their top HC choices that he will accept a specific offer when it is presented. They will then announce the hiring of a new AD later this week, who will "evaluate" Manny and make a decision to fire him after Dec 1. They will then owe Manny the reduced buyout with no legal exposure. Then, a few days later, they reach a written agreement to hire the new HC (presumably after Oregon's Pac 12 Championship game if its Mario)."