HarringtonFishSmeller

Have at it, folks: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/11/03/college-football-assistants-to-head-coaches-openings-vacancies/75070132/

*17-17 after two and a half seasons: 3 of those wins versus Kansas, 2 versus Iowa State, one apiece against Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston State, and Central Arkansas. *Big 12 Conference Record: 8-16...3-16 against Big 12 schools not named Kansas or Iowa State *Won first seven games, but has gone 10-17 since Anyone really believe Tech is getting their money's worth from this hire? Think our AD is stupid? They've got Kliff signed through 2020, I believe. This year, he's scheduled to make $3.1 million.

Those are some reasons why I think we need an OC this time around who has never been a head coach. Seems that a 30ish-40ish OC would be inching to make his mark in the world. You bring on a guy who has already done it, and maybe he looks at this job with an eye towards either: (1) retirement money, if he's older, or (2) if-I-fail-here-who-will-care, if he's a retread I want this, because I think it's our reality - give me what Tulsa and Houston have: guys succeed there, then move on; then other guys realize you can succeed there and want to coach there as well. Being Oklahoma, Texas, or Alabama...that's not going to be us any time soon. But, we can aspire to get to that level where coaches want to come here, win, and move on.

No...32 and already drawn NCAA focus on his recruiting tactics...twice, 2014 and 2015: http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/09/11/baylor-bears-kendal-briles-tate-wallis-suspended-lamar-ncaa-penalty http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/baylor-suspends-kendal-briles-1-game-ncaa-violation His dad's handling of the Boise State DE transferwho had assaulted his girlfriend there then another at Baylor is also a bad example. We can win without drawing the NCAA or any other scrutiny. The Briles appear to willing to stretch the rules. Because he would likely treat this as a stepping stone job, whatever violations he accrued here would be left behind for us to handle while he moves on. That's what those guys do.

The point isn't McNulty versus Smith. Why are some of you bogged down on that? They are both bad. The point is, we need a new coach to bring FBS-type quarterbacks into this program. Quarterbacks - with an s. We need quality and depth at quarterback. We have neither.

No. Smith's long balls sometimes look like live drive-type punts. Also, in response to aztec, UT San Antonio is the only school against which Smith has been a "home run" hitter. He's played in six games, starting three. We need the new coach to bring in FBS QBs. You have to be able to throw the ball. Completing 43.8% of passes doesn't cut it. We need quarterbacks who help us compete in every game they play.

This. Good lord, it's like if we by some miracle win a game against UT - San Antonio, there have been no other games and no other history. Chico, for as nice a guy as he is, and as much as the players like him is 3-5 as a head coach. And, he has been part of the coaching staff who has us in the quarterback predicament that we are in. And, this year after year after year of basically having only one receiver that is able to have a decent season. Do not let one win over a team that is also 1-7 cloud what has really happened here over the past six seasons. The brutal truth is, we've had one winning season in the six that Chico has been OC. I like Chico, for sure. But, reality is reality. Beating an injury-depleted UT-San Antone doesn't change six years of history.

Agree with this sentiment. I think it is a given that if we hire an FBS-level offensive coordinator from somewhere, he will hire experienced assistants. The Dodge bringing on high school coaches is something we will likely never see again. My thought, as always, is that we'll be settling for someone not so splashy/under the radar. As more jobs up the food chain open up, the faster our window to guys like Applewhite close. And, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, coaches are too hyped. Dodge was too hyped. SMU Jesus is too hyped. Coaching is half the battle. The other half is players good enough to do what is being asked. The new coach has got to get in recruits that a serious about what they are doing from Day One they set foot on campus. If not, we'll wash, rinse, and repeat this cycle until our dying day.

Against UT-Antonio. There was no "it" factor against anyone else he's played this season. He might regain the "it" factor against UTEP. "It" factor will mysteriously disappear again against La Tech, Tennessee, and Middle Tennessee. Also, if "it" factor comes down to a QB completing only 50% of his passes, pray that the new coach get someone without "it" factor and replace it, instead, with a quarterback who is able to throw the ball accurately.

Exactly my analysis. He's a terrible passer. This is likely why we were his only offer after his JUCO year. Also correct that if defenses gear up to stop the run, we are in trouble. That was proven in his first two starts, and will be the case for the next three games. UT-San Antonio down to their fourth string quarterback, was one of two teams that might be as bad as us. The other is UTEP. I think this was the pinnacle of what we'll ever see of him as far as passing goes: 11 for 22. He's now "up" to 43.8% completion rate on the season. The other problem with him is the fumbles. The new coach, yes, absolutely must sign two or three FBS-level quarterbacks. If he can get one to be a JUCO, fine. But, there are kids who have the ability to do it as freshmen. Marshall's QB was a freshman. They are out there. What we need is a coach who can identify and sign them...and, do so quickly.

Many passes have gone Marcus Smith's way this season - from any QB that's been in the game. Maybe Marcus Smith is the answer to break UTSA's defense...if DaMarcus can keep from throwing it into the ground or over his head. So, short passes to Marcus, and hoping he can break a few tackles along the way.

So, you played for Chris Thomsen. What is your read on him? Would he be ready/able to take on a program like North Texas?

Tear down the goal posts and shove them down Larry Coker's pie hole? Will there we enough people there to weigh down the goal posts to that extent...if necessary?

True that they are trending down...on offense, due to their fourth string guy being in there (although, he did play the majority of their win versus UTEP). Their defense, however, does not seem to be trending down: Arizona: 42 Kansas State: 30 Oklahoma State: 69 Colorado State: 31 UTEP: 6 La Tech: 34 Southern Miss: 32 Two of the leaders of the division La Tech and Southern Miss scored 34 and 32 against them. Great? No. But, we gave up 49 to Southern Miss and 38 to Rice, another leader in the division. Their defense appears to give up 30-35 to good teams non-P5 schools: Colorado State, La Tech, and Southern Miss, three teams likely to be in bowl games following the season. We are not a good non-P5 school right now. Are we saying that our offense can put up the same numbers CSU, La Tech, and S Miss did against them? Or, are we saying that their fourth string QB has them so hamstrung that there should be no way they can outscore us, even in an ugly, low scoring game? Personally, I think it's a draw due to their better defense and our better special teams. My bet is our punters can keep them pinned far enough back to give us an edge. And, yes...I'm really depressed to have to write that I think the punters might be the difference in the game.

You have to have better athletes than your opponent to have success in the spread offenses, guys. We are not getting top athletes. We do not out-athlete anyone. Whether the next coach runs like Fritz's teams or throw like Dodge's teams, there has to be a serious and immediate upgrade in talent to make either type of offense work. Look at those dopes from Mumme/Leach. None of them have ever won a conference title. Mumme, none. Leach, none. There were always teams in their conferences who had better athletes. They won some games and put up big numbers on offense. But, the name of the game and the goal of a football program (should be) is championships. Texas Tech gets maybe third tier athletes to run what they do. OU blew them the f*ck out last weekend. They are on course for yet another 6 or 7 win season. You have to have better athletes all the way around to make that offense work. Your defense also has to be ready to play the majority of the minutes because one of two things is going to happen: (1) You are going to score quickly, thus putting the defense back on the field quickly, or (2) You are going to three and out quickly, thus putting the defense back on the field quickly. Either way, it's a b*tch if you don't have the athletes to make it work. Right, Kliffy?

This is where I am...shockingly. My biggest shock is Mike Simmonds. I mean, after 2013, the development of Cyril Lemon, it truly looked like we had a real coaching staff and a future. If the coaching staff really is that bad at recruiting and development, what does that say about how much natural talent Lemon had? He turned out to be a beast anyway. It looks more and more like the Seniors on the 2013 team were a bunch of ridiculously good overachievers, who overcame bad coaching through sheer will. Gives me even more respect for those guys from '13. Also, how sold are we that Skladany was really that good? The defense tailed off significantly last year...after Trice, Orr, and so forth graduated. It was all a mirage. A crazy, crazy mirage.

Yeah, okay.

Agree. I'm not on that boat. But, I am on the boat of pointing out that merely recruiting players in Texas doesn't make your team great. One national title out of the state of Texas since 1970; and, it's been a decade now since that one. What I want is a guy that will recruit the best we can get, no matter which state they prep in.

UTEP is 3-4, could still get to bowl eligibility this season. Their remaining schedule: 10/31: @ Southern Miss 11/06: Rice 11/14: @ Old Dominion 11/21: Louisiana Tech 11/28: @ UNT It's not unthinkable that they could beat Old Dominion and us. If they can pick off just one among Southern Miss, Rice,and La Tech, they'd be in a bowl. Unlikely, but....

The Mean Green posted a season-high point total in a 55-28 loss to the Hilltoppers, but took a step back last week. Marshall held UNT to one garbage-time touchdown in a 30-13 loss. We got two garbage time touchdowns against WKU. So....

Texas isn't magic. They beat us with a roster full of guys not from Texas.

In the paper newspaper version, under the headline, it said that we need to make a hire like SMU made...you know, the guy who is already 1-6 on the season? SMU Jesus? No thanks. Please get us a real head coach.

...are we panicked, or accepting of the status quo? If they run us in to the ground a la Portland State, can the interim head coach be fired, or would that just be adding insult to injury on the whole scene?

C-USA went to 14 because it had a great commissioner.

Also, if you get the tune of Minnie The Moocher in your head, you can really run with the Sarkisian bit... Hey, folks, here's a story 'bout Drinkin' Sarkisian. He tried to coach, but his breath was a-stinkin! He had an arm like a moon-bound rocket, But he kept a bottle of hootch in his pocket! Hi-dee, Hi-dee, Hi-dee, Ho! And so on and so on.