Fox tabs Will as #1 coach on the hot seat .. and what if????

[echeese]

http://msn.foxsports.com/college-football/photos/2014/07/01/college-football-coaches-on-hot-seat-2014-season-muschamp-weis-holgorsen-pelini-mullen.html#img_8

Join me in the way back machine as we play coulda/shoulda/woulda and examine that "what if" the 8 Jan 2010 press conference goes more like this after TEXAS returns from Pasadena and the 2009 CFB title game:

"I want to thank Pres Powers, AD Dodds, all the players and staff as well as the fans for 13 of the best years of my life.   I said when I was hired, the goal was to win a National Title and we've done that. . . we gave a great Bama team everything they wanted.   a little over a year ago .. .to keep the best Assistant Coach in the nation .. . we named Will Muschamp. . .Head Coach in Waiting. . . time to turn over the keys and take the "in waiting" off. . . ."


So here we are today .. . . .Fox Sports has just named Coach Boom the #1 HC on the hot seat for 2014 . ..though at Florida.

Had we heard the above press conference in Jan of 2010. . . .who different are things today. . . .

I think Coach Boom eeks out 1 or 2 more wins in 2010 so we likely go bowling but 5-7 just becomes 8-5

Let's keep in mind that around 2009, Mack had turned much of recruiting over to Will and Major. . . . 

How are things different today?

Would we have dumped Will this offseason and hired Coach Strong?   Or would we be sitting where Florida is today?

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Good question.

 

[echeese]

And if it wasn't clear. . . .I doubt that Coach Boom would have done much differently over the past 4 years. . .somewhat better . . .bowling in 2010 .. .likely an extra win each year. . .though Manny D actually was pretty impressive in 2011 .. . 2012 stunk. . . .

But what say you HS readers?

 

[streettopeschel]

my guess is the last four years at texas would have been similar record-wise. Rivals ratings aside, we just haven't had enough talent and the nfl agreed with me this last draft.

muschamp definitely brought some energy and passion to UT and was a net positive. He may grow into a fine head coach, but he's not shown much to this point to assume that to be the case. CS clearly has more skins as a HC so far, so as we sit here today i'd rather have strong. and i suspect a decent number of gator fans would trade straight up right now.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Interesting topic. 

I don't think Muschamp is a bad coach, but I'm not convinced he's ready (even now) for a job like UT. It's so much more than X's & O's when you're the guy in charge. 

I don't think Muschamp was capable of hiring a staff that would've resulted in enough W's to make a difference. With that said, I think UT would be in the same position as UF....with Muschamp a major question mark heading into a season with a roster that isn't much different (recruiting-wise).

 

[Lukus Alderman]

I don't think Muschamp was capable of hiring a staff that would've resulted in enough W's to make a difference.

This is an interesting part of the topic here. I've read (on message boards, so you know it has to be true) that Muschamp did not have complete control over who he hired as assistants at Florida. It's obvious that, at least offensively, the team hasn't been up to par.

If he coached here and was able to keep who he wanted in 2010, I would imagine that we would have stuck with Greg Davis. Moreover, I think our offensive system would have been more conducive to Garrett Gilbert's strengths as a passer in a system that we had employed between 2006-2009 before Mack decided to throw everything off and try to turn our offense into an SEC power running offense.

I think if Will had stayed and Mack had retired, chances are that we would still be a powerhouse.

 

[texasdobbs]

So what your saying is that Coach M leaving was a good thing.... I remember when he left and how I was disappointed because he was the future of Texas.... what a idiot I was?

Although I do believe he is one of the best defense coaches in the country. ... but as a head coach I don't know?

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

I think we maybe win a couple more games a season if Will was HC. But at the end of the day, our issue was lack of stellar QB play.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Muschamp at Florida had same big issue: QB play.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

I think we maybe win a couple more games a season if Will was HC. But at the end of the day, our issue was lack of stellar QB play.

But why was it so lackluster? Gilbert ended up doing well at SMU and was just drafted. The talent was there.

I propose that the main reason for our downfall was the decision by Mack to abandon the offensive system that worked so well for us and instead try to run an SEC style power rushing offense with personnel that didn't fit.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

But why was it so lackluster? Gilbert ended up doing well at SMU and was just drafted. The talent was there.

I propose that the main reason for our downfall was the decision by Mack to abandon the offensive system that worked so well for us and instead try to run an SEC style power rushing offense with personnel that didn't fit.

Good question. You're onto something regarding offensive system. Correct me if I'm wrong: We also didn't have a great running game either when Gilbert was on campus. Gilbert also left for a weaker conference and inferior defenses and a system that pads passing stats.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Good question. You're onto something regarding offensive system. Correct me if I'm wrong: We also didn't have a great running game either when Gilbert was on campus. Gilbert also left for a weaker conference and inferior defenses and a system that pads passing stats.

Exactly my point in regards to our running game. We had none, yet Mack insisted that we go to it instead of the passing system that had worked for us for so many years AND for Gilbert in HS.

While Gilbert may have left for a conference with inferior defenses, the Big 12 hasn't exactly been known as a conf that stops the pass.

 

[SFlonghorngirl]

Exactly my point in regards to our running game. We had none, yet Mack insisted that we go to it instead of the passing system that had worked for us for so many years AND for Gilbert in HS.

While Gilbert may have left for a conference with inferior defenses, the Big 12 hasn't exactly been known as a conf that stops the pass.

And now we have good RBs and no QBs. lol... Nah, I believe in Ash. Need 5o stay healthy.

 

[echeese]

So what your saying is that Coach M leaving was a good thing.... I remember when he left and how I was disappointed because he was the future of Texas.... what a idiot I was?

Although I do believe he is one of the best defense coaches in the country. ... but as a head coach I don't know?

I'm in the same boat. . . always thought Mack should have stuck to plan . .. and that Coach Boom would be the future. . . 

Agree with SFGirl about QB play .. . .Ash would be fine but he can't stay on the field. . . .

which leads to another "what if". . . . 

What if the staff throws it's faith behind GJ Kinne instead of Chiles in '06 or '07 (forget when GJ transferred) .. . .  GJ is our backup vs Bama and GG redshirts. . . . I think we win the Bama game behind GJ's above average play and he's the starter in 2010/11.

Funny how those dominoes fall. . .

 

[bcherry168]

I always thought that the HCIW situation was a big mistake, even leaving Muschamp out of it. I think it caused stress and perhaps dissension among the staff, and maybe even players. I think that is the primary cause of the 2010 season's record, although a fall off in quarterback play had something to do with it.

Mack was the oldest head football coach ever at Texas, and I believe he would have retired at the end of the 2010 season but for the blowup. But....

I really like what Charlie Strong is doing so far. Maybe we dodged a bullet when Mack stayed on and let Muschamp go.

At any rate, it doesn't matter now. Florida has their coach, and we have ours. I wouldn't trade with them.

 

[primal defense]

My what if question is from what I read Charlie Strong was Florida's second choice after Muschamp. I also read Stoops highly recommended Muschamp to Foley.  Stoops and Foley are friends and  they used to work together. It may be a case without Stoops, Charlie Strong might be coaching Florida instead of Texas.

My hope for the next four to five years is that Stoops will be kicking himself for not recommending Charlie Strong for the Florida job.

 

[Topstarr]

Stoops will be sick for the next 10 years..........#LetsRide...Hook'em

 

[MikeV73]

Never understood why Mack changed his offensive mindset. You make the title game, probably would have won without a freak tackle to Colt. If it ain't broke don't fix it! Needed better lineman, but piling up wins with an effective offense was a bad idea? Started Mack's spiral downward and out of his job.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Never understood why Mack changed his offensive mindset. You make the title game, probably would have won without a freak tackle to Colt. If it ain't broke don't fix it! Needed better lineman, but piling up wins with an effective offense was a bad idea? Started Mack's spiral downward and out of his job.

Exactly.