The Alabama Applewhite Theory

by Peter Bean on Jan 16, 2008 4:15 PM CST in Football Comment 21 comments

I've become a mostly docile creature in my (relative) blogging old age. When I encounter a backwards or disagreeable published opinion, I generally just ignore it. Today, though, I read for the umpteenth time an Alabama fan grossly mischaracterize the Major Applewhite story and I can't sit still any longer.

It's particularly bothersome because it comes from author OutsideTheLines of Roll Bama Roll; not only is RBR the finest 'Bama blog I read, but OTL himself has been a deeply insightful commentator throughout the season.

Just not today. You can read the whole piece here, though I'm including a good bit of the relevant portions in my reply below. Writes OTL:

To begin with, to clarify things, it seems that Applewhite left Alabama to be the running backs coach in Austin, and not in any position such as a coordinator. He will not be calling any plays, nor will he be playing a major role in designing the game plans for each week.

This is a half-truth. Texas does not have a coordinator spot open on its staff; it has a Running Backs Coach spot, vacated by Ken Rucker, who's taking the newly created High School Coordinator job for Mack Brown. But Major Applewhite is being hired as the Texas Running Backs Coach in name only; the idea that Applewhite is coming to Austin to do the same job Ken Rucker did previously is utterly silly. The idea, too, that Applewhite would want to come to Texas only to coach Longhorn running backs is equally comical. Had Mack Brown's offer to Applewhite limited his duties to coaching tailbacks, there's no question Applewhite would have asked, "Huh? Seriously?"

Everyone who's anyone with a source in this matter has indicated that Applewhite's involvement in the offense will be extensive.

OTL continues:

It is currently being mentioned in several circles that Saban did not want Applewhite to continue as offensive coordinator; to be sure, he apparently wanted him to continue in some capacity on the staff, but not in his current role.

All of this, in all honesty, should come as no major surprise. When Applewhite was hired twelve months ago, he was hired with a great degree of hesitation on the part of Saban. When Applewhite was at Rice, he had full reins over the offense and implemented a full-blown spread attack. However, it was very obvious from the beginning that Saban was very concerned at the prospect of handing the entire offense over to a 29 year old kid, one with only four years of coaching experience, and only one year as a coordinator. So, the wary Saban decided to do something about it, and this is where Joe Pendry comes in.

So let me get this straight:

Nick Saban wasn't sure he trusted the young Applewhite to be his Offensive Coordinator without any help.

He therefore brought in Joe Pendry to assist.

After one season, he'd seen enough to know Major Applewhite couldn't do the job.

This is certainly plausible, but it's - to put it as nicely as I can - curious, if true. It begs the question: Why would Nick Saban give Applewhite partial control of the offense and then decide - in one season - that Applewhite needed to be demoted? If true, it implicates Saban - not Applewhite - akin to me hiring a talented young co-writer for BON, telling him that all his stories had to be edited heavily by Andrew and I... And then taking each submitted piece and editing them beyond recognition, to the point where the writer was us - not him... And then firing him when the articles were poorly received.

OTL's explanation would be far more plausible if Applewhite had been given full control of the offense and pulled an Akina. As is, Saban pussyfooted about letting Applewhite have control, ultimately hamstringing him with Joe Pendry.

Speaking of Pendry, OTL continues:

Pendry is officially the offensive line coach, but of course the sphere of his influence over the program runs much deeper. With legitimate concerns over Applewhite, Saban largely leaned on Pendry in 2007 to keep the young and inexperienced Applewhite at bay. He was wary of turning the entire offense over to Applewhite, so the offense became not what Applewhite ran at Rice, but instead a collaboration between Pendry, Applewhite and Saban.

At this point, it seems readily apparent that Saban was not pleased, and is not pleased, as to how things worked out. Applewhite was not his first choice, but he was probably the best candidate on the board at the time, and Saban gave it a go. Unfortunately, things didn't really improve all that much. Yes, the offense was better in 2007 than it was in 2006 -- how could it have gotten any worse? -- but the improvement is not what we, and apparently Saban, expected. John Parker Wilson took a major step back, to put it mildly, the running game struggled from the Arkansas game on, and the offense simply sputtered out down the stretch.

From all I can deduce of the situation, Saban reached a point to where he still did not have the confidence to turn the entire offense over to Applewhite, but he was equally unwilling to continue to field an offense that was the by-product of multiple viewpoints with no solid foundational basis to be found in a single person and one single philosophy. As a result, he seemingly decided Applewhite was not going to run the show, but also that the Applewhite / Pendry / Saban collaboration would also not return in 2008.

I believe that is the major reason as to why Applewhite was effectively demoted at Alabama, and that is the major reason why he left. Had Applewhite been able to continue as offensive coordinator and play-caller, he would have certainly never left Alabama to be a mere running backs coach, even at his alma mater. That, however, was unlikely to be the case. I imagine that Saban was going to allow Applewhite to remain the quarterbacks coach, nothing more, and with that in mind he decided to return home.

Again, if anything, this implicates Saban's incompetence, not Applewhite's. If this dubious hypothesis were true, it effectively means that Saban had the horrible idea of hiring Applewhite while simultaneously throwing handcuffs on him, neutering his ability to do what he was hired to do. This strikes me as an odd theory to embrace for an author who concludes his piece with:

With Saban, we have the chairman of the board, and rest assured, as long as he spends his Autumn Saturdays at 100 Bryant Drive, the rest will fall into place.

From where I'm sitting, something doesn't smell right. OTL simultaneously proposes an explanation for Applewhite's decision that, at its logical conclusion, implicates Saban, and wraps up his post by saying that Saban is God's gift to football coaching.

While I understand the desire to hold on to the rosy view of Nick Saban, that view and a more realistic assessment of what happened with Major Applewhite are not mutually exclusive. Saban will likely do just fine finding a suitable replacement. But maintaining one's overall faith in Saban does not require sunshine pumping to the degree of spinning this story as it has been.

Everything I've heard from people with no interest in protecting Saban has centered on Applewhite's dissatisfaction with how Alabama's head coach handled the offense in 2007: that Saban hired Applewhite, was too timid to let Applewhite do what he was hired to do, and tied the anchor that is Joe Pendry around Major's ankle. And that Applewhite hated it. As a Bama fan, you can believe that Saban was acting on Major's incompetence by deciding to demote him... or you might consider that Saban's plan itself was stunningly incompetent.

OTL's hypothesis doesn't add up. Everyone close to the situation in Austin has reported a robust role for Applewhite in the offense and program, both in the near- and long-term. The infinitely more likely explanation for this move involves Applewhite's frustration with Saban and Pendry - not the other way around.

This reminds me of an old friend I had who used to cheat on his girlfriend every chance he had. Right before he told me he was going to propose to her, she found out about his improprieties and kicked him to the curb. And you know what he told me? "I was going to break up with her anyway."

Of course, he wasn't protecting a $4 million a year interest.

--PB--

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Comments

OTL's whole article

rings of a "you can't leave me, I'm leaving you" attitude.
I guess if it makes Alabama fans feel better to think this more power to them, it would not be the first delusion of grandeur to come from that group.

by Wells on Jan 16, 2008 4:33 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Response

Proctor: OutsideTheLines, your rebuttal
OutsideTheLines: I have nothing. That was perfect.

Scott Derry

by joenewby4040 on Jan 16, 2008 4:34 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Aaaaaand there's already a website to fire him

http://sackmajorapplewhite.wordpress...

by IntheHallsofOldUT on Jan 16, 2008 4:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Idiots

These people are dumb or Aggies.

by milevin on Jan 16, 2008 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I also like

how OTL says "Pendry is officially the offensive line coach, but of course the sphere of his influence over the program runs much deeper."

Then he says "To begin with, to clarify things, it seems that Applewhite left Alabama to be the running backs coach in Austin, and not in any position such as a coordinator. He will not be calling any plays, nor will he be playing a major role in designing the game plans for each week."

So he understands that someone can have an "official" position, but have more responsibilities than the official ones, but he can't imagine that this might be the case with Applewhite's position.

by hornbone on Jan 16, 2008 4:39 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Nicely done

Thanks for the clarification, PB. I read OTL's piece about an hour ago, and I was literally stunned by the tone of the piece, not to mention its heavy reliance on a logical fallacy.

Your point is absolute gold. How can 'Bama fans have any opinion of Major's performance when Major was hamstrung by an outspoken and opinionated head coach and assistant? Unless Major was given full reign to control the offense, it is mere speculation and irresponsible for a media type to say that Major did a poor job.

by sosodef76 on Jan 16, 2008 4:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

WTF?

"Oh, wow. A little (upsetting)," said defensive tackle Damion Square of Houston. "I would've loved to have Applewhite. If he wants to win championships, and I know Applewhite does, then he'll stay. You don't win no championships at UT, man. You win championships at UA. But he's got to do what he's got to do."

Looks like Square was hiding under a rock in 2005.

by goingforthecorner on Jan 16, 2008 4:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

What a fucking idiot

Hook 'em Horns

by LonghornWSO on Jan 16, 2008 6:13 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Proposed Special Assignment for Applewhite

Teach Chiles the tricks of the trade...even my wife knows that Chiles is going to run the ball when he comes into the game.

by burntup on Jan 16, 2008 4:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

re:

clicked over on the RBR link, and was totally more intrigued with the Girl Fight post. Sorry.

My adopted kid is pure genius at the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model.

by jc25 on Jan 16, 2008 4:52 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Hmmmm

Should we do a Girl Fight here at BON to keep us occupied as well? In a fine display of one-upsmanship, we could have our girls in the tourney all hail from the great state of Texas...

by Drinking the Orange Kool Aid on Jan 17, 2008 3:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

nice rebuttal

off topic, but i just saw on PTI that the last time VY was on he ripped norm chow. does anyone know what he said exactly?

by buiyahkah on Jan 16, 2008 5:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I had this job

...akin to me hiring a talented young co-writer for BON, telling him that all his stories had to be edited heavily by Andrew and I... And then taking each submitted piece and editing them beyond recognition, to the point where the writer was us - not him... And then firing him when the articles were poorly received.

I had this job. It was the best job in the world. Busting my ass to write compelling copy and watching people rewrite everything I submitted. It really boosted my ego. I made lifelong friends up until the point I was canned.

Good times.

by milevin on Jan 16, 2008 5:29 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

You know

I think Texas could win at least one, if not two national championships before Alabama even comes close to smelling one with Nick Saban.

by texasauteur on Jan 16, 2008 6:20 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Long time reader...first time to post

This is typical for college sports politics. Everyone wants to maintain the illusion that they are in control of their program and the koolaid taste great. It is best to just move on.

'Bama fans need a good rumor on their OC vacancy to get their minds off what they lost.

"Norm Chow to coach Tide's offense" --- OK, they would actually have to open the coin purse, but it sound good.

bwire

by bwire on Jan 16, 2008 6:58 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Maj

It really is disappointing to hear all this backlash from a school that I really like. Even if every part of this 'Bama site piece were true, I would still say who cares! Just off of what Major did at Rice, and the fact that he is MAJOR, I say let the Major era begin! My guess is Major would have paid just to get away from Saban.

by UTeed on Jan 16, 2008 8:00 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Living here in the Heart of Dixie...

I can't say the RTR article is surprising, but I also don't think it reflects what most of the rational Bama fans think ocurred. On the other hand (as a previous poster noted) - even if RTR is 100% right - so what.

Talk radio here (Finebaum, mostly) is of the opinion that Saban is a tough guy to get along with, and that one year was plenty of time for Applewhite to figure it out.

Saban = Mean
Mack = Nice

by blazerhorn on Jan 16, 2008 10:17 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Major crush

Sounds like it's a case of, "You can't quit, we fire you!" Regardless, I'm glad Major's coming back home and I agree with your thought a few posts ago: let the grooming begin! Who better to take over when Mack retires? And who better to rev up Greg Davis' unimaginative offense than Major Applewhite? No matter the reasons, Texas fans everywhere are smiling bigger than we have all season :)

by Katie McBeast on Jan 16, 2008 10:36 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sour grapes

For sure Roll Bama Roll is eating some sour grapes. Most people here feel that Major is being groomed to, eventually, be the head coach here at UT. We know that Major has "it" and are just glad that we did not let him slip away to somebody like the Aggies.

You are right about Pendry: Major told Kirk Bohls that he had to wrestle with Pendry for control of the offense and that the arrangement (sanctioned by Saban) was a major reason that he left Alabama.

It is safe to say that Saban was not happy with the way the offense performed this season (Saban went public several times in his displeasure with Major during the season) and Major was really unhappy working there. Major was not permitted to really run the spread offense that he wanted to run, the power sharing at OC sucked, and Saban is an asshole to work for.

My wild ass guess is that Major told Saban that either he gets full control of the offense or he is gone. Saban did not have enough faith in Major to give him full control of the offense so Major split. There might also have been some philosophical differences (i.e. Major is a spread guy and Saban is probably more pro set oriented).

As far as Major unfairly being the fall guy for offensive problems that are primarily Saban's fault, that is totally believable.

I also would not be surprised that Saban thought he could do better than Major at OC (i.e. somebody who has a proven track record as a successful at a BCS conference school). Major was not Saban's 1st or 2nd or 3rd choice as OC (you will remember the strange period where Saban had hired Major but did not announce his title).

by Kafka on Jan 17, 2008 1:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

An Aggie looks at "The Major"

Starting in the middle of the season(in and around Oct 15) rumors were flowing fairly heavily that Major Applewhite was looking into joining the staff of the next A&M HC as the OC(ala Jason Garrett).

When Mike Sherman showed up the rumors died off but then picked up within the last month again; they subsided when Nolan Cromwell was named the OC but picked up AGAIN when we heard he was willing to be the QB Coach but wouldnt take a pay cut. We werent willing to pay him what he was making at Bama to be a QB Coach(for whatever reason). Well as of 10 days ago we got final word that Major wouldnt take the position if there was a pay cut involved; so we parted ways and went after Scott Loeffler, Tom Rossley, and Jay Norvell.

But from the very beginning(starting in October); we were hearing on our end the following reasons why Major wanted out:

Saban is pain in the ass to work for

Applewhite was a figurehead, Pendry was calling the plays

If he stayed on there would have been a demotion of some kind.

by HMFIC04 on Jan 17, 2008 8:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Alabama icons

"Bear Bryant wore a cool lookin' red checkered hat and won football games. There are few things more loved in Alabama than football and the men who know how to win at it. So when the Bear would come to town we would have a parade." - Patterson Hood taken from The Three Great Alabama Icons.

This is personal to these people. Much like it would be for us if they started pillaging our staff (like anyone is going to come in and swipe Davis or Akina). I can dream. Welcome home Major!

by UTHomeSearch on Jan 17, 2008 3:04 PM CST reply actions 0 recs