Random musings from the Nov. 5 Big 12 coaches’ conference call:
HERE’S something to ponder: according to Iowa State coach Gene Chizik, whose start in Ames is mirroring the start Colorado coach Dan Hawkins jumped off to in Boulder, this is natural. “You take your lumps, so to speak, in your first year and hopefully you see progress in your second year,” he said. Which made us think – what does that say for Ron Prince? I’d be curious to hear your feedback on this, and I’m not trying to pile on or start anything here. I’m serious. I think everyone agrees this year’s team is vastly better than last year’s, but the record might not necessarily reflect that progress. Prince alluded to that Monday: “I think it’s where we are in the development of our program. I expected us to win more games than a year ago.” But he also said he knew it would be the most challenging year of their development. What do you think?
TODD Reesing reminds Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy of former Boston College quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie, which makes me want to throw up. Disclaimer: it’s a BC/BU thing.
BASED solely on the pitch of their voices, I’d say Baylor coach Guy Morriss is bummed, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is pumped and Nebraska coach Bill Callahan is sorely out of touch with reality.
MIKE Leach’s arm aches. But the Texas Tech coach isn’t about to give up riding his bicycle, which is how he broke his arm in the first place. See the type of things that are discussed during a coaches’ conference call?
APPARENTLY, there isn’t much difference between Paul Coffman, former K-State tight end, and his son Chase, current Missouri tight end. Oh, other than the fact that Chase told “The Man” no and went to Mizzou. That’s the word according to Texas A&M coach Dennis Franchione, who coached at K-State just as Coffman was leaving. “He’s a lot like his dad,” Fran said.
BY running more north-south instead of always looking to break the big run, Texas coach Mack Brown said Jamaal Charles has become one of the nation’s best running backs again, and it’s hard to argue with the numbers. He’s averaging 119.2 yards per game, which is 15th in the country, and ripping off 6.2 yards per carry.
DAN Hawkins, who was fired up Monday, said Missouri is a “very, very, very good team. Very good.” He says the Tigers are on par with anybody the Buffs have played, which includes Arizona State and, obviously, Oklahoma.
AND, finally, Callahan was asked how he has “handled” the constant barrage of questions about his future with relative dignity. “I just think you have an inner strength,” he said. “… You trust the Lord and move forward.” Please, let it end. Soon.
14 Comments
Prince is who he is. He could easily have had an 8 win team last year had he scheduled like Mangina, but instead he chose to play No. 5 Louisville. This year, KSU could easily already be a 7 win team had they not chosen to go to No. 18 Auburn and into Fresno for the Final game of the year, again, not scheduling like Mangina. Frankly, I think KSU fans, while they loved the wins, were tired of the disrespect, we are beyond that now, want to play some of the big boys and earn our stripes back. That is Prince. Obviously KSU could be bowling this year if they had a different approach, and frankly they still have an excellent shot to go to a bowl, but if they don’t, look no further than the schedule. This is a good KSU team, it is not a great team, we knew that coming in, the great teams are going to be playing in Manhattan in 2008-2009, that is when expectations will be high.
What makes you so hopeful about 2008?
First let me say I support HCRP and think he will eventually have greater success.
I think he missed a great opportunity to motivate the team when he chose to downplay bowl eligibility and six wins. This makes two games in a row the team has come out flat, appeared unmotivated and underperformed.
He also needs to re-evaluate situational play calling. Several times in the second half while we were driving, in control and the offense was clicking – he called high risk plays that lost yardage. The score, down/distance and time remaining didn’t support those risks. I enjoy the creativity on offense but it has to be tempered.
Finally, I don’t see the consistancy in Josh Freeman I hoped to by this time in his career. He has a lot of physical tools but is he ever going to develop the mentality it takes to be a consistant winner? Does HCRP have the clear mindset it takes to make a change at that position if someone lower on the depth chart exhibits an all round better game? That’s one thing I think boygino did at kwho this year that’s allowed them to have the season they’re having. When he sat meyer (and established starter)in favor of shorty that made all the difference for them.
who is going to come in for Freeman, the job is his for the next 2 years.
The problem with Prince is no consistancy. ON the positive, when we don’t make mistakes, we are comptetive with much more talented teams. However, we are not good enough to overcome mistakes against lesser talent.
The problems that we have seen this year are a result of a lack of talent at certain spots.
It remains to be seen if RP can recruit the type of talent that he will need to take the next step and become a more consistant team that will pull out wins against the OSU’s KU’s and ISU’s.
Why does Flutie make you sick? Did he play hockey, because last I checked, BU doesn’t have a football team.
That last comment on Callahan, “let it end soon”, haha.
On the critism of Josh being inconsistent, c’mon he is a sophmore, cut the guy some slack. What did Ell do as a sophmore? Imagine what Bishop would have been like a sophmore. Give him time, he’s made good progress from last year and thats what is positive. He continues to progress, which could mean next year and year after could be really special.
Ummm, aren’t KU and Mu’s QB’s both sophmores? Don’t get me wrong I want Freeman to succeed more than anything but his mental makeup is nowhere near Reesing or Daniel.
Coaching?
Chase Daniel is a junior. But carry on…
Oops. Thanks Jmart for the correction and since I’m a fan I will carry on.
Ron just needs to figure out the defense, and quick. 36 points a game should be and is enough. It’s the defense that is consistently letting this team down since 2003. Go look at the DL recruiting since 2002, it’s flat out terrible and I’m not talking about stars, just production. What doesn’t help Ron is that the defense has switched philosophies after practically 2 recruiting classes.
Hey zacker, I would never try to argue the point that our D isn’t what it should be or that our personnel doesn’t need upgraged. But the offense has been very incosistant – coach just confirmed that on the radio show. I was trying to address HCRP’s performance, game planning, decision making and adjustments.
BTW, while I agree the D isn’t what it should be – don’t discount all the short fields they’ve had to defend (see Johnson’s kick return fumble to start the ISU game and the long kick return following the go ahead 2 pt conversion during the OSU game). Then you have to add in the INT return for TD by ISU to give them their only TD of the second half.
They should have THAT many short fields. We do have one the best punters in the NCAA.
Reesing is not the norm. Played like 5 minutes last year, and to come in and do what he has done this year is not common. Plus, though Reesing has been steady and consistent, meaning not turning over the ball, his stats are inflated due to the non-con and NU. Plus, he has a better line then Freeman has, better running game, and at this point, a better coach. I can’t fault Freeman too much, he’s still learning…as is his coach.
I can imagine Callahan going home after Monday conference calls and playing “it puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again” with his Josh Freeman and Harrison Beck dolls.
The guy has lost it.