Kliff Kingsbury

[utisdabomb12]

I was talking to a Tech friend of mine and apparently there's some significant blowback on his recent extension from some of the donors. The next few weeks could be interesting. They could very well lose their next three games at Oklahoma State/Kansas State and at home against West Virginia. I think there's a chance Tech will not make a bowl game this year. It should be interesting to see how the early Kingsbury hype plays out.  

 

[Davharjac]

If he gets fired he'll land somewhere as an OC for a few years. He might be able to be an effective head coach one day, but right now he is too impressed with himself and loves the attention he gets from the ladies (who can blame him). 

 

[utisdabomb12]

If he gets fired he'll land somewhere as an OC for a few years. He might be able to be an effective head coach one day, but right now he is too impressed with himself and loves the attention he gets from the ladies (who can blame him). 

Which is why Tech was crazy to give KK a raise after last year. Tech went 8-5 but look at who they beat. 

SMU-Didn't make a bowl

Stephen F Austin-3-9 FCS team

TCU-Didn't make a bowl

Texas State-Didn't make a bowl

Iowa State-Didn't make a bowl 

West Virginia-Didn't make a bowl 

Kansas-Didn't make a bowl 

Arizona State-Went 10-4

They lost to every good team they played except maybe Arizona State (who I certainly don't consider a great team). 

 

[joeywa]

KK won't be fired this year, no matter what his W/L record is. Even Tech isn't that dumb. He gets time to get his own recruits in place.

 

[utisdabomb12]

KK won't be fired this year, no matter what his W/L record is. Even Tech isn't that dumb. He gets time to get his own recruits in place.

I agree with this. If he doesn't make a bowl game though I bet his seat gets hot. There has to be some type of improvement/progression and Tech has taken a significant step backwards in Kingsbury's second year. Granted, it's only 3 games into the season and KK has time to turn it around. That defense is 3 years out until it will even be decent (I will say the last coaching staff left him in a predicament on that side of the ball in terms of the roster). 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

TTU's brass loves the attention he brings. His extension was as much for his publicity as it was for his W/L record. 

While I understand that some donors might get upset, it's gonna take a lot of checkbooks to convince TTU that KK isn't the answer. They needed people to forget Tuberville and Leach and KK has certainly accomplished that.

 

[Lord Vader]

They wont fire him because hes a "hero" to them. 

Now I dont buy the "his players" excuse. Theyve been running that Air Raid for years. They always have the players in place. 

 

[Capn Hook]

I agree with this. If he doesn't make a bowl game though I bet his seat gets hot. There has to be some type of improvement/progression and Tech has taken a significant step backwards in Kingsbury's second year. Granted, it's only 3 games into the season and KK has time to turn it around. That defense is 3 years out until it will even be decent (I will say the last coaching staff left him in a predicament on that side of the ball in terms of the roster). 

I don't think Tech has taken a step back this year.  If you look at their 2013 record the second half of the year was pretty miserable, about like this year to date.  They lost their last five regular season games.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I don't think Tech has taken a step back this year.  If you look at their 2013 record the second half of the year was pretty miserable, about like this year to date.  They lost their last five regular season games.

That's true. I just didn't expect Tech to struggle with the likes of Central Arkansas and UTEP. I knew their defense was going to be miserable. I didn't expect their offense to have struggles. Tech's offense hasn't been horrible but certainly not what I expected it to be. 

 

[Sirhornsalot]

So Tech hires Elvis and decides the wins and losses don't matter?

 

[Capn Hook]

I realize that at my age memory is a tricky thing, but if I remember correctly wasn't Kingsbury a kind of a geeky looking guy when he played for Tech.

 

[joeywa]

A very good friend of mine is a TT grad, season ticket holder, and in his early 50s.  We were discussing this very thing on Tuesday.  They had just lost to Arky. 

We were discussing fan base reactions, and he said, "It's not as crazy as the UT fans right now, but there is a lot of chatter about KK.  The thing is, these people are idiots.  I actually heard folks around us say that KK better fix this now or he'll be gone by the end of the season.  I think that's ridiculous.  We just gave him an extension, he's been putting butts in the seats, and the media loves him.  He will get things going, but he deserves time to do so.  He needs a defense, but hey, we're Tech, what else is new?  Strong at Texas is more under the microscope, but just because Texas is a bigger job.  I've been reading some of the criticism of him, and that is just nuts.  We're not quite there, but we have our share of foolish 'fans' here."

Pretty much spot on, IMO. 

 

[utisdabomb12]

A very good friend of mine is a TT grad, season ticket holder, and in his early 50s.  We were discussing this very thing on Tuesday.  They had just lost to Arky. 

We were discussing fan base reactions, and he said, "It's not as crazy as the UT fans right now, but there is a lot of chatter about KK.  The thing is, these people are idiots.  I actually heard folks around us say that KK better fix this now or he'll be gone by the end of the season.  I think that's ridiculous.  We just gave him an extension, he's been putting butts in the seats, and the media loves him.  He will get things going, but he deserves time to do so.  He needs a defense, but hey, we're Tech, what else is new?  Strong at Texas is more under the microscope, but just because Texas is a bigger job.  I've been reading some of the criticism of him, and that is just nuts.  We're not quite there, but we have our share of foolish 'fans' here."

Pretty much spot on, IMO. 

I agree with that. I don't think there's anyone that would deny that Strong probably has a shorter leash in comparison with KK (regardless of whether that's the right or wrong course of action). 

I will say that from talking with a couple Tech friends there really seems to be a culture of "win now" on campus. I don't know if the hype of KK reinforced that culture, but winning is viewed in a completely different light than it once was in Lubbock. The hype that built up KK could very well be the force behind his destruction. That "offensive genius" label IMO has put additional pressure on him to win now from his own fanbase. 

 

[streettopeschel]

for one of the rare times, tech had one of the cool kids coaching there. i think they got out ahead of themselves especially since we really don't know if he can coach.

 

[bcherry168]

Kliff fired his DC today, a la Mack Brown. Appointed Mike Smith, assistant coach and former Tech linebacker to replace him.

I have met Mike. He is a good young man, very aggressive. Pro experience. He should improve their defense, which obviously is their weakest spot.

 

[utisdabomb12]

I don't know if that defense can be improved that's the problem. They simply don't have the personnel right now.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

In my mind, Kingsbury called Wallerstedt into his office and the conversation went like this.

KK: "Yo, bro....gotta let you go, man."

Wallerstedt: "You can't be serious. You see the players I'm working with."

KK: "For realz, bro."

 

[utisdabomb12]

Wallerstedt: "Can you at least flirt with some moms that have kids on the defensive side of the ball."

KK: "You know I'm too sexy for that right."

I see it going down like this.

 

[Chris Flanagan]

KK won't be fired this year, no matter what his W/L record is. Even Tech isn't that dumb. He gets time to get his own recruits in place.

Yeah they will wait until the ink is dry on Jarrett Stiham's (sp?) LOI before they even discuss it. You need talent. I think they will go 1-2 in the next few games.