Are the Gators rolling the dice with Muschamp?
Even when the regular season is over, it ain’t over. So what did we learn, and what do we still want to know?:
1. Are the Gators rolling the dice with Muschamp? Urban Meyer announced his “retirement” last Wednesday after six years as the head coach at Florida. In the next 48 hours everybody from Bob Stoops, to Jon Gruden (there is that name again), to Chris Peterson, to Dan Mullen to Chip Kelly was considered to be the front runner for one of the top five jobs in college football. Then suddenly, at 8:28 p.m. on Saturday (note the time) Florida announces that it had hired Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp as its next head coach. The press conference will be Tuesday. Some consider it a risk by athletics director Jeremy Foley, who got burned the last time he hired an assistant (Ron Zook). But those who know Muschamp know that he’s been groomed for this since he was a player at Georgia for Ray Goff. Muschamp has worked at LSU (for Nick Saban), at Auburn (for Tommy Tuberville), and Texas (for Mack Brown). He is ready.
2. Florida will win the SEC East in 2011: How ready is Muschamp? Well, here’s the first prediction for the 2011 season: Florida will win the SEC East championship. The problem at Florida last season was not talent. It was a lack of focus and a lack of leadership. The team was not focused because too many leaders had left and there was never a coherent offensive strategy. Muschamp can fix the leadership issue and if he hires a top-flight offensive coordinator the other problem can be fixed as well. Media reports say Muschamp is looking at Major Applewhite, an offensive assistant at Texas. My choice would be Dana Holgerson of Oklahoma State (who is in the running for the head coaching job at Pitt.)
3. I’m disappointed in the timing of Florida’s announcement: This is strictly an opinion, but I wish Florida had waited until after the Heisman Trophy presentation to announce its new coach. The official press release came just minutes before Auburn’s Cameron Newton was handed the hardware in New York. The announcement opens Florida up to charges that it was trying to step on the moment of a player from another SEC school. And with Newton’s background at Florida, which includes concerns that academic information about his time at the school was leaked to the media, it is something that simply should have been avoided. I was informed this morning by Florida officials that they had every intention of waiting until after the Heisman Trophy presentation but that once the news leaked out through the social media the school felt it had no choice but to release the information.
4. What does the hiring of Al Golden tell us about the Miami job? First of all, I think Golden is a great hire. Remember that it wasn’t long ago that Temple considered dropping football. The school basically got booted out of the Big East. Golden took over and he took the Owls to a bowl in 2009 and this season went 8-4 (which included a win over Fiesta Bowl bound UConn). But it also tells you that Miami’s job is not one where the school can go out and command the services of a Tier One proven head coach. Jon Gruden wasn’t coming. Neither was a successful head coach at the BCS level. Miami is a tough job because if you don’t win and win big, the people just don’t come. Again, I think Golden is a super coach. He has been named as a possible replacement for Joe Paterno at Penn State. He will win at Miami. I just think Mike Leach would have been a more inspired hire.
5. If he goes to Vandy, how will Gus Malzahn handle the BCS championship? It looks like Vanderbilt is Gus Malzhan’s job to turn down. So what does the Auburn offensive coordinator do if he accepts, which could happen as early as today (Monday)? I certainly believe he would coach Cameron Newton one last time in the BCS championship game with Oregon on Jan. 10. But I’ve seen other coordinators try to get ready for a BCS title game while attempting to build a staff and organize a program at another place. Mark Richt did it at Florida State after he took the Georgia job in 2000. Richt admits now that it was very difficult. The only person I have seen pull it off really well was Bo Pelini, who was the LSU defensive coordinator for the 2007 BCS championship game while organizing his new program at Nebraska.
Stay tuned.
Please follow me on Twitter:
“Barnhart and Durham:” We will break down all of the coaching news on today’s “Barnhart and Durham Show” on 790 The Zone. Among our guests will be UConn coach (and former Georgia Tech assistant) Randy Edsall, who is headed to the Fiesta Bowl. Pat Dooley of the Gainesville Sun will bring us the latest on Will Muschamp at Florida. Craig Barnes, a former reporter for the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, will bring us reaction to the hiring of Al Golden at Miami. Please join the fun which starts at 10 a.m. www.790thezone.com.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
697 comments Add your comment
ratherBgambling
December 13th, 2010
8:20 am
Mullen was aloof and not a great recruiter at UF and by all reports wasn’t interested. The Muschamp hire is very similar to when Oklahoma hired Stoops.
bull-gator
December 13th, 2010
8:20 am
Would have preferred head coaching experience with offensive credentials. However, a head coach is only as good as his assistants AND players. Would like to see Kerwin Bell the OC. A former All SEC QB at UF and current head coach at JU. Also, for what it’s worth, he coached Brantley in high school. Kirby Smart would be a great steal, but his next stop is probably as a head coach.
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:22 am
Arch Dawg,
Mullen didnt turn down UF. Foley didnt offer him the job-Mistake made!
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:24 am
Alphare,
I see UT or Carolina winning the East next year.Both will return a ton of players with alot of talent.
AJC Reader
December 13th, 2010
8:24 am
Come on Tony. Why would expect the University of Florida to start showing class now? They leaked the academic information to the New York Times and they wanted to upstage the Cam Newton show. They beat their chest every chance they get, even after a 7-5 season in which their coach quits.
Gater Tater
December 13th, 2010
8:25 am
Here is a new year wish..sorry Will but as a dawg fan I hope you turn out to be Florida’s version of Ray Goff.. GOOOOOOOOOO DAAAAAAWGS
Starring Kam Fong as Chin Ho
December 13th, 2010
8:25 am
Fla is not rolling the dice any more than Ga was when they hired Richt. That has worked out pretty well for Ga. The expectations are higher in Gainesville than they were (are?) in Athens though.
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:25 am
bull-gator,
Kerwin back to UF.Bell’s ego wont allow that.He wants to be a head coach not a coordinator.He wanted the Vandy job.
ARdawg
December 13th, 2010
8:26 am
Tony Barnhart is a Gomer
Already with the predictions Barnhart? Florida winning the East in 2011? You really put yourself out there on that one didn’t you? You have about as much insight in the the winner of the East in 2011 as you do 2011 BSC championship game. None
Are we a bit sensitive Tony? Why the comment about the timing of UF’s announcement? Was the NY Athletic Club hindered in it’s presentation to Cam? Just you of your story on the non-story BS. Find where Cecil Newton’s credibility is and that is where you can find yours
Defenderdawg
December 13th, 2010
8:27 am
Sounds like your trying to stand up for a Heisman presentation that will end up back with the Heisman committee anyway when the dust settles. Would rather hear about UF hiring a former Dawg than a NCAA violator getting a trophy! All comes to fruition in the end because the SEC isnt going to risk millions to have him popped now. They will wait til after BCS game, millions are spread thru institutions and then, OH GOODNESS….WE DIDNT KNOW THIS! Bullcrap, SEC is as dirty!
feigned outrage
December 13th, 2010
8:28 am
Out of curiousity, what minority candidate did UF interview for their head coaching job?
Always amuzed at Humpers
December 13th, 2010
8:29 am
I am amazed when UGA fans were hoping that Muschamp would replace Richt and now he isnt ready for a head coaching job. One more thing he going back to Athens, he lived in Gainesville twice as long as he did in Athens. He aint goin home, he is already home.
voice of reason
December 13th, 2010
8:29 am
I don’t buy this Muschamp was our only target and the only one we offered the job too business that Foley is trying to sell. Really? You didn’t do your due diligence and call to see Harbaugh’s interst in the job? The man who took Stanford to a 13-1 season, orange bowl berth, and currently has the 6th ranked recruiting class. Even the legendary Bill Walsh couldn’t work that kind of magic at Stanford. And were supposed to believe that Foley didn’t call Harbaugh to gauge his interest?
I think Foley called several high profile coaches and was rebuffed and Muschamp was the backup plan if all else failed. If he didn’t call Harbaugh then he is an idiot. Gator fans are in denial if they believe that Muschamp was the #1 target. I’m not buying that BS.
Like some others have said Muschamp may turn out to be a pretty good head coach but at the moment he scares me a lot less than a proven guy like Harbaugh, Peterson, or even Petrino. Florida brags that he can really recruit, but what Florida coach hasn’t been able to recruit? Ron Zook was the best recruiter they probably ever had down there in Gainesville.
Arch Dawg
December 13th, 2010
8:30 am
What I heard was Foley asked Mullen if they could talk and Mullen said he’d have to run it by the folks at State first. Foley got offended and moved on. Whatever their loss our gain.
ARdawg
December 13th, 2010
8:31 am
Let’s all just stop the world and let Tony and his Heisman show wrap up aboard. How dare UF for making an announcement while they are assembled to give out an award. Give me a fuggin break
Wyltk
December 13th, 2010
8:31 am
Now that Randy Shannon has been hired at Texas to replace Muschamp, it should be interesting to see the improvement it that defense that was loaded with talent but leaked like a sieve under Muschamp. Hiring coordinators is always a risk but Muschamp was ready for a high profile job. Certainly a hot commodity but Florida is a top 3 type job where they should be able to avoid any such risks and hire one of the top proven head coaches. Certainly interesting to see that little group of close friends of Muschamp, Smart, Bobo, D Dooley and Jimbo Fisher all rising to prominent positions in the CFB world and particularly the SEC. What is even funnier is it’s rumored that Muschamp and Jimbo share in the ownership of a Florida beach vacation house.
AuTigerAtl
December 13th, 2010
8:31 am
War Cam Eagle! Another well deserved Heisman for Auburn University. It’s great to be an Auburn Tiger!!
Sanctions ain’t gonna happen. You’ll all be disappointed, yet again.
SC will win the East again next year.
Cheer up ladies, the Muschamp hire means a Bulldog of some description will win every year in JAX.
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:32 am
Always amuzed,
This is one Dawg fan that never said bring Muschamp or Smart to Athens.Florida will see that he isnt ready.If they give him 3-4 years he will be a good one though.
That didn’t take long. | Get The Picture
December 13th, 2010
8:32 am
[...] Tony Barnhart’s already picking Florida to win the SEC East next season, even though Muschamp hasn’t even assembled a staff yet. … The problem at Florida last season was not talent. It was a lack of focus and a lack of leadership. The team was not focused because too many leaders had left and there was never a coherent offensive strategy. Muschamp can fix the leadership issue… [...]
ARdawg
December 13th, 2010
8:34 am
voice of reason
It would appear to me that the Muschamp deal was done or near done before Meyer even made his announcement. 4 days isn’t a long time for Foley to shop around AND sign a new guy. One or the other, not both
Always amuzed at Humpers
December 13th, 2010
8:34 am
voice of reason
So glad you are on the inside of all the strategy. Harbaugh wants one of two jobs:Michigan or NFL and Foley would have been an idiot to have even offered a job for 2 seasons at most. You are like most other UGA fans, you are in denial. The search dragged on for weeks after Spurrier left and Foley openly courted several including Shanahan. I have a close friend who works in the AD office and he told me yesterday that Muschamp has been his target since the FSU game because Foley expected then for Urban to step away.
Gary
December 13th, 2010
8:34 am
I would like to congratulate the 108 voters who left Cam off their ballots entirely. They stood on principle. Shame you could not do the same. You know the NCAA decision was wrong.
I think the timing was brilliant
December 13th, 2010
8:35 am
Newton was a cancer to the UF program, and he has not earned trust nor respect from the university.
Making this announcement to trump his tainted heisman win is a nice gambit in this ncaa recruiting and PR game…
and for the record I despise UF and AU
Ted Striker
December 13th, 2010
8:35 am
There were some who said that the timing of Urban Meyer’s announcement was an attempt to upstage the Heisman trophy award too.
Anyone who is upset over the timing of UF’s announcement — and I’m a UGA guy — is looking for something to complain about. Get over it.
Comeontony Think
December 13th, 2010
8:37 am
THINK my friend…you are just trying to stir up trouble with your insinuations. One of the few truths Cam said in the beginning is Meyer helped him relocate (discreetly to protect him) and he was grateful…he lied about his reasons for the transfer after he and his lawyer had a year to make up a new story. Do you really think Meyer let the cat out of the bag? Mullen was his QB coach at Fla when all of this transpired, knew the whole story and had more reason after Cam disappointed him. Is it possible the coach that Mullen took with him from UF, who talked w/Cam, broke the news. After all, Newton rejected Miss St when they didn’t pay and it was one of the coaches that stated Cam said the money was too much at Auburn.
I don’t approve of a lot of things Meyer did such as play favorites which added to the dissension
on the team, but he would not reveal what he knew and go against rules himself especially if it would hurt a kid.
Incidentally, the whole team knew the story at the time as Newton flapped his mouth then, and it’s possible one of his own ex-teammates leaked the story when they got got fed up with Newton’s new fairy tales.
SEC_Analyst
December 13th, 2010
8:37 am
Florida certainly should have been able to hire a proven Head Coach. Something about this hire smells a little fishy. Last year, this might have made sense, but after the poor showing of the Longhorn defense this season, I figured that Muschamp might be in jeopardy of losing his job at Texas.
RomeDawg
December 13th, 2010
8:37 am
Although I am a Dawg at heart, I am proud of the fellow Roman for landing the job at Florida. Muschamp is intense and I think to be successful he needs to surround himself with great coordinators.
Why would ANYONE take the Vandy job?
Nick Fairley
December 13th, 2010
8:37 am
I think the timing was done very un fairly. I it was up to me I would hit the Florida AD at the knees and late.
Tony Smith
December 13th, 2010
8:40 am
I’m a Gator fan, and I say that Florida cannot steal Cam’s moment. It was tacky, but Cam is the greatest. We should have kept him. Brantley is terrible.
Alphare
December 13th, 2010
8:42 am
MURPHY,
agree with you about UT or SC. SC is a couple of more good recruits away from a great team.
Tony Smith
December 13th, 2010
8:42 am
I’m not an Auburn fan — but I play one on TV.
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:44 am
Alphare,
I do believe Carolina will get them in the class that is headed to Columbia this year. Spurrier is stock-piling the talent for future runs at the SEC Crown
SEC_Analyst
December 13th, 2010
8:45 am
I wonder how long SOS will stay at SC? I suspect that if next year’s squad has a drop off, he will begin to consider stepping down. He might well have reached his high-water mark at SC.
Dr. Phil
December 13th, 2010
8:46 am
It is very interesting that former Georgia players don’t return to Georgia to coach, except for Bobo, who never really left.
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:46 am
Tony,
Dont worry Brantley wont start next year over Reed
Jerry
December 13th, 2010
8:47 am
Muschamp had a weak schedule.
Only wins were against teams like Rice, Wyoming, it’s really a joke of a schedule.
And the dude still went 5-7.
gt
December 13th, 2010
8:49 am
Muschamp has strong inroads to recruiting in Georgia. Look for more leakage in the state ranks going out of state. And Muschamp is a leader, Zook was an after thought in an offensive minded Spurrier’s coaching staff. Once you have played under the thumb of a Spurrier how does a player respect anybody else particularly a defensive coach from the old staff. They have seen the best and Spurrier could take or leave defense back in those days.
Cam Newton in on the field. Gus Malzahn couldn’t mess this game up if the mob paid him to do so. This guy put Malzahn on the map, he was a high school coach and many wondered why he was coaching in college up until this year. I personally think he is exactly what Vandy needs ,just like, only not as good as Paul Johnson. Malzahn will have more of a June Jones type impact , which put SMU back in the real world after being gone so long. Anybody that would take the Vandy job has to be slightly touched in the head, or knows his meal ticket is leaving for the pros next year.
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
December 13th, 2010
8:50 am
MURPHY, Reed will move back to TE and Brantley will compete with incoming freshman Jeff Driskell who many call T2.
Greg
December 13th, 2010
8:50 am
Florida will finish #4 in SEC East.
#1 Georgia
#2 South Carolina
#3 Kentucky
#4 florida (Tenn could surprise Florida)
yesUF
December 13th, 2010
8:51 am
lets call Harbaugh and let him coach us one year and run off to the NFL.And I’m sure he knows the sec inside and out???? The more opposing fans whine about the MusCHAMP hiRING,Well,it just tells me the Gators got it right.Will it happen in one yr like Mr.College Football says? Probably not,more than likely we will have a few pains.I absolutely think the Gators got it right,But it will take a little time.
MURPHY
December 13th, 2010
8:53 am
Reader,
Saw Driskell play 2 weeks ago. Man what a talented kid! Scary good!
Wally Butts' Designated Stumbler
December 13th, 2010
8:53 am
If Muschamp coaches the Gators for a total of 6 years, how many times will he lose to the dawgs?
(a) 0
(b) 1
(c) in your dreams, mutts!
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
December 13th, 2010
8:53 am
Greg, the order will be reversed and with Malzahn going to Vandy, UGA will lose to Vandy once again. Isnt it a bit early for a Humper to already be predicting a Natl CHampionship in Humpville Greg?
gatordowneast
December 13th, 2010
8:55 am
Our “poodle” will continue the recent Gator tradition of lifting our leg on your “poodle”.
NoGaGator
December 13th, 2010
8:55 am
One has to give Foley credit, instead of going the ’safe” route and getting an established big-time HC, he took the risk on bringing in one of the, if not the best, of the up-and-comers. It is a testament to the political capital he’s earned over his years of successful hires at UF.
The most seamless choice, especially for the short term, would have been Mullen. Mullen, however, faced more than a little criticism for his play-calling during his years at UF and was considered somewhat aloof.
Foley had been giving clues to his hire from the get-go when he said he was looking for not just a good coach but also a good fit for the community. He also said the hire didn’t necessarily need to be a current HC. With Musschamp growing up in Gainesville, Foley was almost telling us his first choice.
For those comparing this to Zook’s hire, it isn’t even close. Zook had been demoted by Spurrier and hadn’t distinguished himself with the Saints. A less-experienced Foley at that time went for the short-term solution with a guy who knew UF and was a good recruiter.
Musschamp is young and relentless. He’s one of the best D coaches and recruiters going. His D’s have consistently been at the top of the rankings – even ths past year when they ranked 7th. Even better, he can assimilate and recruit immediately since UT isn’t in a bowl. Hopefully, he won’t have the health issues that Meyer unfortunately has.
Even though this announcement surprised many of us, the more I think about it the more I like it. There may be some short-term growing pains as he adapts to being a HC, but this will be a great long-term solution.
Congrats to Foley for being ahead of everyone on this.
jim
December 13th, 2010
8:55 am
Well, Bulldog fans know that hiring a great coordinator does not make you a great head coach. Everyone will have to wait and see what happens with Muschamp in Florida. There were certainly other names available out there.
NashDawg
December 13th, 2010
8:56 am
Once again. Who cares!!!
Reader of Morons and quite a few idiots
December 13th, 2010
8:56 am
MURPHY, you are correct. I saw him earlier in the season and he played against a team with about 80% black kids and ran past them like they were on crutches. Much faster than Tebow with a better arm. He is the real deal, took a poor team to the second round of the playoffs.
JB
December 13th, 2010
8:56 am
Quote from Mark Richt in the Athens Banner Herald ( look it up) the Monday after the Tech Game. ” We couldn’t stop Tech and we had no one to put in on defense to help”………That’s where we are folks…no depth and little SEC talent on that side of the ball. If you don’t agree, you have your head in the sand……Unless we bring in a couple of stud JC players and a freshman or two who are game changers, we better hope Jarvis Jones is the real deal, or 5 or 6 defeats next year due to not being able to stop anybody. Take Muschamp off the list.
gatordowneast
December 13th, 2010
8:58 am
On Vandy, best job on that campus is “Dean of Students”. Not too many kids get sent to the principals office in Nashville.
The football coach is part of the “intramural” program. What could Malzahn be thinking? Career suicide.