Long Term Solution For Tennessee Football
While I am currently living in the Knoxville area, you might expect I have heard my fair share on the recent struggles of the University of Tennesse football program and the forced resignation of head coach staple Phillip Fulmer.
Even though I need not think it was necessarily time to fire the head coach since he is one year removed from a SEC East title and was putting together a class that had numerous four-star rated prospects, Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton made the decision and must find the right man for the job. Hamilton’s task will not be an easy one.
Going against the names Urban Meyer, Mark Richt, Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban, Les Miles, and Bobby Petrino poses a challenge to the new coach in the ever-tough Southeastern Conference, but Hamilton needs to go with his gut feeling with the hire, much like he did when he hit a grand slam with head basketball coach Bruce Pearl.
Well, Tennessee football, I have the solution for you!
He is wearing a different shade of orange and coordinating a defense that is competing for a Big 12 championship. He even already has the UT part down.
His name is Will Muschamp. Even though his defense is probably not playing to the level he would like, this man can flatout coach.
He is a Nick Saban disciple, and if you don’t mind, take a look at what Nick is doing at Alabama. Muschamp would also inject enthusiasm into a program that desperately needs it (based on their recent lackluster performances).
He has coached in the NFL, ran dominating defenses at LSU and Auburn, and knows the conference well. As a player at Georgia, Muschamp overachieved. He has been successful at every place he has coached.
It would be nice to see the style and tempo he would implement in the schemes. Blitzes from all angles and defenders flying to the football would wow the big orange nation. I’m also sure Muschamp would bring in a sound offensive coordinator who would attempt to spread things out a little and recruit more speed to Knoxville.
Muschamp at practice with the Auburn Tigers in 2007. (AP: Todd J. Van Emst)
Just look at the YouTube videos of a mad-man running around the Auburn and Texas sidelines getting everyone fired up and trashtalking opponets. His players seem to play extra hard for him; they take and embrace his fearless personality. (The man was also rumored to cut himself in a team meeting to get his defense fired up).
This is what Knoxville needs: a demanding personality from a demanding coach. Even though he has no prior head coaching experience, he has worked with Saban and Mack Brown. Both of which are two pretty good ones with national championship experience. Plus, both are tremendous recruiters.
Mike Hamilton, make the people of Knoxville happy and hire Muschamp. Then do everything in your power to keep him there while he has tremendous success.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:47 am
[...] Long Term Solution? With Fulmer’s firing, AD Mike Hamilton now has the task of finding a suitable replacement. How about this guy for a possible long term solution: (Long Term Solution For Tennessee Football: Will Muschamp | The Blue Workhorse) [...]
November 14th, 2008 at 10:16 am
If he is so good, why did Texas defense allow an average of 30 points a game against their 5 best opponents this year? Texas has allowed 20.7 ppg this season. These stats do not make Muschamp a defensive guru!
November 14th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Anytime you install a new defensive system, it takes time. I metioned in the article that his defense has indeed struggled this year, but I am going on track record. He coordinated great defenses at Auburn and LSU. If Muschamp decided to stay at Texas, I will almost gurantee that the defense will be better. Anytime you make a switch, there is an adjustment period, and Texas is going through that adjustment period right now. I still like his intensity and motivation on the sidelines though…
November 14th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
I agree, Muschamp can coach and he will be a great head man somewhere soon. I think he would love to do it in the conference where he has spent most of his career, the SEC. I wish he had been the DC at Georgia since the time we lost Van Gorder.
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November 14th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
Sportsdawg I wouldn’t mind seeing Muschamp just move on over from Texas and take the same position at Georgia.
November 15th, 2008 at 6:48 am
The only problem with that is that he wouldn’t be there very long. He is destined to occupy that head spot soon. But he would be a great fit with his old college team!
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November 15th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
I agree, I think Muschamps next step is becoming a head coach, even though I’m sure Richt would love to have him with the recent struggles of Willy Martinez and the Georgia defense…
November 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Seems like Mack Brown and the Texas athletic department have the same respect for Muschamp as I do…