Talkin' Texas Football: Life After OU, Part 2

by Peter Bean on Oct 15, 2008 9:37 AM CDT in Football Comment 13 comments

Part 1 is here.

PB: Onward: Did you watch Mizzou-Okie State? We knew Gary Pinkel was kind of a goof, but I know I didn't appreciate Mike Gundy as a good football coach until Saturday night. He is.

Billyzane: I was flipping between that game, Florida's prison rape of LSU, and some baseball, but I caught enough to confirm everything I've always thought about Gary Pinkel, which is that the man knows how to do enough to keep his job and nothing more. He's like Tommy Bowd....oh wait. Anyway, I was certainly surprised at how well Mike Gundy did. I always thought he had some potential as a coach, but never thought he could compete seriously in the Big 12. I'm still not convinced because, honestly, all he's done is outcoach Gary Pinkel, but his team is scary. They hold the ball for so long that it makes life hard on teams that rely on outscoring you. It's like what Nebraska did against Texas Tech this weekend except if Nebraska also had a top-5 offense.

PB: What was different to me about Gundy's performance was that he used one set of plays to set up a series of other plays. That's... a step above and beyond what we see from a lot of the coaches in the conference, where the game plan is more like having your 4-5 go-to plays in NCAA Football 2008 and calling them over and over. Gundy showed some sophistication Saturday night. I had no idea.

We've got plenty of time to worry about Gundy's Cowboys, but I'm far from ready to dismiss Chase Daniel and Jeremy Maclin. I feel good about our chances because Missouri's running game looks underdeveloped, but I worry about what happens if they click on all cylinders. Can Texas' offense really, truly keep on keepin' on just with Colt-OG-Ship-Quan? Is that enough?

Billyzane: Why not? OU has the best defense we're going to see all year until perhaps our bowl game and they couldn't do one thing about it. It's not like they didn't know what was coming either. Yeah, we hadn't show that 4 wide in 8 years or whatever, but OU knew who the ball was going to and they couldn't stop it. I think Texas can outscore any team in this conference. Turnovers are the only way this team doesn't score enough points on offense. And as far as I can remember, Texas has 5 turnovers on the year: 2 fumbles by Chiles, and 3 interceptions, 2 of which were the fault of Buckner and Ullman, 2 guys who won't be thrown to too much. I think there's certainly a chance we have a bad game and get beat, but I don't see it happening without serious mistakes being made like turnovers. Plus, I know now after my last "News and Views" column to never doubt Chris Ogbonnaya.

PB: How developed is your infant-attachment syndrome with Will Muschamp? I'm all but sucking my thumb at this point.

Billyzane: I've got a pacifier with Will Muschamp's face on it. Isn't it unbelievable how we can give up 35 points and still have no reservations talking about this guy as the second coming? I don't know what it is about him that endears him to every person he comes in contact with, but he has it.

PB: So true. Ok, Larry King. As we sign off, give me your random thought-that-you-value-but-no-one-else-may from Saturday.

Billyzane: This is hard because I've already written my News and Views for this week and am about to post it as we finish up here. I will say that the video of pigs racing for an Oreo during the broadcast was oddly mesmerizing. Deep fried bacon-wrapped Oreos sound delicious. I'm fairly certain this is all Phil Loadholt has eaten in the last 8 years.

PB: I won't steal your thunder, then, and note only that Brian Orakpo cost Phil Loadholt millions of dollars in the NFL Draft with his felonious assault on the OU tackle.

I feel no pity. And as such can sign off with the only question we haven't covered yet this evening: What time is it, BZ?

Billyzane: Well, where' I'm sitting PB, it's 12:15 in the am.

12:16 AM And OU still sucks.

PB: Attakid.

Amen. Good night and good luck.

Billyzane: Hook 'em.

PB: Hook 'em. 10-4.

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Will Muschamp

can do no wrong as long as we win. OU’s offense is ridiculously talented. NFL caliber players everywhere except for maybe RB at the time. So giving up 35 points to an offense that good is almost somewhat expected. Mizzou is talented on the offensive side of the ball but not nearly as talented as OU so i fully expect us to hold Mizzou below 35.

by Sunkist on Oct 15, 2008 9:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If pigs have an Oreo fetish, what can ostriches do about it?

/Larry King inane observation/question

As for Muschamp:

I don’t know what it is about him that endears him to every person he comes in contact with, but he has it.

Kind of reminds me of Bob Stoops during the ’96 MNC season at Florida. He was the belle of the ball, and no amount of upchucking was going to undo it. We all need to get used to the idea of life without Muschamp. Now the Auburn folks are talking about bringing him back to the Plains.

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
- Thomas Jones

by beast in bama on Oct 15, 2008 10:12 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

SEC koolaid

is a helluva drug. I’ve heard Auburn, Tennessee and even LSU fans (overreaction at its finest) clamoring for Muschamp, and it stepped up in a big way after Saturday.

The real question as far as whether he stays or goes, I believe, is whether the Texas head coaching job is in play (anybody have a copy of Jimbo Fisher’s contract socked away somewhere?). As much as secdome doesn’t want to acknowledge it, the real UT has significant monetary and recruiting advantages over any SEC school.

Also, most of the jobs he’ll be offered, despite being top 25 “programs” will require tremendous culture shifts and talent improvements for him to succeed. Otherwise, he’ll risk the same kneecapping Rich Rod is being threatened with right now. (yes, that is a countdown timer to the expiration of Les Miles contract…even though that’s 4 years away)

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Oct 15, 2008 11:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm curious

Any discussion of a coaching change at LSU at this point is just ludicrous, agreed, but…

Also, most of the jobs he’ll be offered, despite being top 25 "programs" will require tremendous culture shifts and talent improvements for him to succeed.

On what do you base that statement? While it’s certainly true that not everything is rosy at Tennessee and Auburn – hence the coaching change discussion – what kind of culture change is needed at either place? Muschamp is from Georgia; he will be a smooth, round cylinder in a concentric hole. He’s already done two tours as an assistant at Auburn and knows all about Toomer’s Corner, et al.

Or if by culture change you’re referring to changing the attitudes of players and fans – who better than Muschamp? Look what he’s done in Austin in just a few months’ time! He will be worshipped at Auburn, I know. It might take a little longer in Knoxville, but I’m confident he would win them over.

Talent-wise, both teams are lacking playmakers on offense – that’s the source of all the problems. But defensively, both teams are quite good. They’re just getting worn to a frazzle due to lack of offensive production. It’s not going to be a bare cupboard like Rodriguez is facing at UM.

Please believe me. I want Muschamp to remain in Austin until he’s 60. I’m just being realistic. They’re coming for him, and we need to get used to that idea. Whether he stays or goes is up to him.

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
- Thomas Jones

by beast in bama on Oct 15, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I didn't make my point well, because I don't think we disagree much

I’m basing the culture shift comment on the similar change that UCLA, Michigan, and A&M are experiencing right now with their upperclassmen. Each team has underperformed, often dramatically, under quality to high quality coaches. You’re correct that Michigan lacks talent right now, but not to the point of losing to Toledo. When teams are willing to accept losing, that’s more difficult to correct, and a strong argument for Mack’s 10 win benchmark.

Tennessee and Clemson (though the ACC crown jewel) would seem to invite a rough transition for a coach like Muschamp after the Bowden/Fulmer experience. And yes, he has made a big difference here, but UT was nowhere near as down and out as Clemson or Tennessee at the moment. Muschamp can accomplish such a change relatively quickly, but quicker than a guy who brings the locker room cred and program leading experience of Rich Rod or Slick Rick?

As far as talent improvements, I’m speaking more to the offenses of each program that he’s been associated with thus far – Auburn, though loaded defensively has an evident lack of offensive talent. The same could be said for Tennessee (though to a lesser extent). Clemson is an enigma, because they really should be able to acquit themselves better in the ACC.

I fully agree, Muschamp would take to the culture of the fans at an SEC school like a duck to water, perhaps even better than he could to the comparatively stoic Texas fanbase. But given the choice, i.e. the jimbo fisher deal on a time frame he found acceptable, what would be the draw back to the SEC other than “mama calling” (h/t bear bryant)?

Taking over either of the 3rd string programs in the SEC respectively (Auburn or Tenn) is a good way to tarnish your reputation for coaching genius. These programs expect SEC championships now, and they’re a few years away even with a great hire (a la Muschamp). Realistically, it might not be possible to overcome the current advantages LSU and Bama have in a 4 year contract at Auburn. That doesn’t require a culture change, but it does require time that a program willing to fire Tuberville may not be willing to grant.

That is not to say that he won’t take the job, or that it wouldn’t be a good career move (risk/reward wise), merely that I don’t think it’s a foregone conclusion that a big name program will be enough to lure him away, though they’ll certainly try. If there’s the chance of a top 5 program offering him the opportunity to transition to immediate national contention, then that might be more attractive, even if it required more patience.

Of course, that assumes that the rumors regarding Mack’s desire to ride off into a burnt orange sunset are remotely true…

proud to swim home

by learned hand on Oct 15, 2008 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good points

But given the choice, i.e. the jimbo fisher deal on a time frame he found acceptable, what would be the draw back to the SEC other than "mama calling" (h/t bear bryant)?

He’s from Georgia, and his wife’s from Georgia. Auburn is more a Georgia school than an Alabama school. Funny coincidence in the vein of DKR being a Sooner: Vince Dooley was a QB at Auburn. Pat Dye was a lineman at Georgia. Those two schools are linked at the hip: oldest rivalry in the South, Auburn recruits Georgia and Florida more than the state of Alabama. It’s very similar to UT/OU in that regard. If he can’t go back to Georgia, his favorite aunt might be beckoning after the Iron Bowl.

These programs expect SEC championships now, and they’re a few years away even with a great hire (a la Muschamp). Realistically, it might not be possible to overcome the current advantages LSU and Bama have in a 4 year contract at Auburn. That doesn’t require a culture change, but it does require time that a program willing to fire Tuberville may not be willing to grant.

I would have never believed it a year ago, but Saban is very close to winning – or competing in Atlanta for – an SEC title in his second season. And he inherited a team that was just getting back to its full scholarship quota following (years of) NCAA probation.

The part about a program willing to fire Tubberville requires a bit of a history lesson. After Jetgate in 2003, Tubs went 13-0 in 2004 and personally got rid of the university president, athletic director and two members of the board of trustees and acquired for himself a cool $6 million buyout. Those left behind (namely the money man Bobby Lowder) have been waiting for payback ever since. This is the first good excuse they’ve had.

Also, the machines that Little Nicky built in Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa have a lot to do with this – particularly the current model, which is the #1 rival of both Auburn and Tennessee (well, maybe #1A among the yunguns at Tenn.). Both schools want energy and a fresh approach to recruiting – things they aren’t getting with their current long-tenured coaches. The last thing they want is to get dominated by Alabama again.

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
- Thomas Jones

by beast in bama on Oct 15, 2008 1:06 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Auburn's current DC

If we lose Muschamp, we just raid our farm team again. Speaking of which, who is Auburn’s current DC and is he going to be ready to be called up to the big leagues?

by Horncasting on Oct 15, 2008 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

His name is Paul Rhoades, Longhorn fans

He as Wannstadt’s DC at Pitt last season. He’s done a helluva job under very trying circumstances at Auburn this year. He’s not fiery, though. He’s going to have to work on that before he gets the call-up.

Friends may come and go, but enemies accumulate.
- Thomas Jones

by beast in bama on Oct 15, 2008 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Muschamp Crush

Last years team would have given up 65 to this years Oklahoma team. Every week there is a tangible improvement in the defense and his energy is infectious on both sides of the ball.

by burntup on Oct 15, 2008 10:14 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

when and where can i get that muschamp pacifier? nt whills

by jc25 on Oct 15, 2008 10:48 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

No link

But Clemson and Tennessee fans already launched websites specifically wanting BoomChamp to be their head coach.

by goingforthecorner on Oct 15, 2008 11:18 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

OK, gross

Do any of you have kids? Do you know what happens to a pacifier in real life?

That graphic gives me the shivers … in a bad way.

That being said, I’ve got a girl-crush on Muschamp. I just don’t want to spend all of my time picking him up off the floor and rinsing him off. And there’s no way in hell he will fit in my dishwasher.

Watch out, I bite.

by EddieTheAlbinoSquirrel on Oct 15, 2008 1:31 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs