News of the day, 1/4
MUSCHAMP OUT (@5:02 p.m.) He has accepted the job at Texas, ending a two-year run as the Tigers' defensive coordinator. Here's my mini story:AU's Muschamp leaves for Texas
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Hey everyone.
I have to start by saying HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my mom, who turns 39 again today. She reads the HABOTN and mixes up every fact I report because she's a Big 12 gal. She's great anyway.
Thanks for taking an average of 1 minute, 2 seconds to peep the Auburn blog on the 'net.
Today's story from the Advertiser:
Muschamp interviews at Texas
Well, that's a wrap. Will Muschamp has elected to accept the same job at Texas. I don't know all the reasons behind a decision. I'm not one of these people who believe it's a "lateral" move -- Texas, like it or not, has a higher national profile in many eyes -- and he clearly saw move career value being with the Longhorns. It wasn't about money because he was on the verge of making a $425,000-per-year salary at Auburn. That's a ton of cash. He also had as much autonomy as he wanted at Auburn. There won't be a search for his replacement. I'm certain Tommy Tuberville already has someone ready to go. I have no idea at this stage who that man might be, but I'm certain that person heard from Tuberville not long after he gave permission for Muschamp to talk with Texas. That's how he rolls.
**Here are the quotes from Muschamp's official Auburn release:
"First, I want to thank (Tuberville) for giving me the opportunity to coach at a special place like Auburn. He was a great coach to work for and the I had a chance to work with an outstanding staff. I want to thank the players for the effort they gave over the last two seasons. Auburn has a great fan base and great support for its football program. It’s been a tough day and a tough decision. However, I feel that this is a decision that’s best for my family.”
**Here are the quotes from Muschamp's official Texas release:
"I’m really excited about the opportunity to work for Mack Brown and The University of Texas. Having followed the Longhorns as a player, coach and fan of college football, I always had a lot of respect for the program, but after visiting the campus, I’m even more impressed. When you think about Texas, you see all of the championships, the great coaches like Darrell Royal and great players like Earl Campbell and Tommy Nobis. Having an opportunity to work at a place like that with such a proud tradition and history excites a young coach like me.”
For the record, I love the Tommy Nobis reference.
LATE UPDATE (@9:15 p.m.): I just spoke with Tuberville for a few minutes. He said he has "four or five" guys in mind to fill the vacancy. He'll meet with several at the AFCA convention this weekend and early next week in Anaheim. "I'll talk to a lot of people," Tuberville said. ``There are a lot of good coaches, defensive coaches, out there who want to coach here. I've already had people calling wanting me to know about this guy or that guy. It's about finding the guy who is the right fit for all of us."
Here are some early updates for the HOTTIES just in from work or whatever ...
UPDATE (@ 11:55 a.m.): Muschamp will return from Texas around 2:45 p.m. today. The fact that he's coming back without already proclaiming love for Texas could mean he's staying. Can he come back and leave again?
SECOND UPDATE: (@2:15 p.m.): Muschamp's arrival has been delayed slightly. Also, the Houston Chronicle, a reputable newspaper, has reported that Muschamp flew out of Austin without making a decision.
THIRD UPDATE (@3:25 p.m.): Muschamp arrived in a U. Texas plane at 3:05. He traveled with his wife. Muschamp said he hadn't made a decision and was planning to make one after talking with coach Tommy Tuberville later today.
I'm surprised that the peeps at orangebloods.com, a Rivals site, had this story up for such a long time. If I wasn't a professional reporter, I'd laugh. I'm 100% sure there wasn't a decision made last night when that "story" first "broke."
I'll be working the phones all day and will provide updates as necessary.
posted by Jay G. Tate at
10:30 AM
53 Comments:
Hey Jay….thanks again for this blog and the updates you provide us "non-insiders"….we appreciate it...
Jay, those are great points you bring up in regards to Will getting even more of a boost in the HC space for end of 2008. I can't even call that spin. It makes too much sense. I also didn't know the figure, approx 425K. That's outstanding. The guy's 34 years old.
Yes, we love the info. Glad to hear the positive news as well. Please let us know when you know more, like I know you will. Hope he stays at least one more year, could be something pretty spectacular if he does. Never liked breaking in 2 coordinators the same year anyway.
P. Marshal seems pretty convinced he is going to take the job. That must mean it is true.
bharris, Phil isn't always right. Ask him. He's playing it safe because he's been proven wrong a couple times lately based on what he's said in his blog.
If Muschamp did leave, what kind of impact would it have on Tristan Davis?
Tristan Davis? What kind of impact would it have on John Timmons? John is a sophmore chemisty major. You can sometimes find him at Mamma Goldberg's after tough exams.
Phillip Marshall is a legend, a living legend, and his opinion matters.
I can see a situation where Muschamp leaves. He's not betrothed to Auburn or anything. The HABOTN is a mix of fact and opinion, and it's my opinion that he'll stay at Auburn unless Texas makes some dramatic, innovative offer.
What is it with you all and 9time2shine?? Tristan ought to take out a restraining order on you all.
Muschamp inbound from Texas, arriving at 2:45. Can't wait to see this scene.
Jay are you heading out there....if so I expect you to get on your Blackberry and give us constant updates. Ha!
Jay,
I think you're dead on the money. Why fly back to Auburn to announce that you're leaving for Austin? No. You make the announcement in front of all the mikes at UT if you're coming there, right?
Austin is great if your a Democrat, a drunk, gay, or into grunge bands. I think most of us would prefer to live in Auburn, and WM strikes me as that kind of fellow, too.
I don't have a Blackberry. I still use a flip phone and will continue to do so until Blackberry equipment/service comes at a more reasonable rate.
I also agree that, in general, coaches don't come back to then announce that they're leaving.
I will be at the airport. You'll have to wait until I get back to my computer ... just like we did it way back in 2005.
29.99 a month for balcberry service and Phone cost $49 with new service agreement.....whats the beef??
You kidding. Jay works for Gannett. I'm surprised they're footing his mileage to the airport. Oh wait, they probably pay 27 cents per mile, so they'll take care of that one.
Jay, you could have a phone line with a live audio report. Back in the mid-90s, while working at a newspaper in the Carolinas, we would put the top NASCAR qualifiers for the weekend race on the phone line. One would rattle the top 20 off, while the others would try to break his concentration by making car noises in the background.
good fun
Our paper, unlike large Alabama papers, does not subsidize Blackberry-type phones for reporters. They provide a $25/month stipend for phone service. I'm already WAY over that each month, and I'm sooooo not going to make that bill richer just so I can check scores on ESPN every five minutes.
You don't miss what you don't have.
wow Jay....when I worked for Gannett they only gave us $15.00 for the mandatory cell phone...nice to see them "pony up"
the plane has left the airport. so maybe he is staying or not making a decision.
I'm sure the plane left. They were re-fueling when I left the airport and already had filed a flight plan to get out of Dodge ASAP.
Jay...still think he is staying?
phil says he is gone
sad news
http://blog.al.com/trackingtigers/2008/01/will_muschamp_resigned_today_a.html
Well according to Phillip Marshall, CWM is officially gone. Had a meeting with Tubs to inform him that he is accepting the job offer. He just became enemy number 1 for me and Texas just passed LSU as my most hated team.
I'm working on that right now. I can't just write stuff like that without on-the-record sourcing.
You all know how it works here...
Bye Muschamp...we will miss ya. Hello Tenuta!
Tuberville already has someone ready to take over. As in: This minute. Or two minutes ago.
You can take that one to the bank.
Tenuta maybe? That would be great....THis guys is always wide open.
Is he related to Britney Spears? Why in the world would he go to the big 12 (aka the big joke). He is in the best football conference in America. Money can only buy so much.
A whore can make 2K a night, but she's still a whore.
As for reasons why Muschamp would leave ...
I don't have an answer for that just yet. Will is a very career-minded guy and, for reasons that I hope to learn soon, he considered the Texas situation a more direct shot at a head-coach job.
As I said yesterday, I'm shocked, stunned, surprised -- all that.
Wow! You were way off base!!!!
"Hindsight mirrored and known in the present is the knowledge of the gods"....sorry jay, mr. anonymous proposes you arent a god.....i was so hopefull
I'd like to quote Roger Murdoch (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) from Airplane!: "Tell your old man to drag Walton and Lanier up and down the court for 48 minutes."
Things happen.
Did somebody say something about Judy Tenuta?
Any idea on his new salary at Texas?
400ish.
So a slight pay cut. Thanks Jacobs.
I don't think Will was dissastified. I think he just had the itch to move on. Texas will be his fifth organization since 2000.
Tuberville, by comparison, is with his fourth organization since 1986.
Some guys move along and some don't.
"Clean" answer, Jay.
I'll expound on this more as we move along here, but consider this.
Muschamp has a vision of how a department should run. We've talked about this before. He is a guy who takes on every challenge directly and feels directly accountable to the people who depend on him.
Auburn doesn't always run like that. Coaches deal with that in different ways. Some brush off obstacles and some almost take offense to them.
Will is in the latter category.
Will still has much to learn. Tubs was good for him.
Without Muschamp or a good substitute, Tuberville will lose 4 more next year. I was optimisitic with Franklin but we would have lost 6 games if not for Muschamp. Tuberville should have gave Muschamp his $30,000 rolex at least. Tuberville just doesnt have it....
If he loses to West Virginia, I will all over that con artist in 2008. Full page ads, and lots of noise and beating JUST Bama wont save him. HE wont get a job at Wal Mart when I am done with him if he loses 4 more next year.
Sick of that Department
Truth is ... we don't really know how good Muschamp was. Yes he was quite spunky and yes, we all loved it. But was he soley responsible for Auburn's defensive success, or did it have something to do with the super-athletic, ultra-talented guys on the playing field. I am sure that Tubs has an equal or better replacement in mind. I am also pretty sure that He didn't just come up with his name today. Tommy has a running wish list. He also seems to have a knack for recruiting talent, including football players.
One thing that has appeared to go unoticed was the class and intergrity shown by Muschamp in the manner in which he quit. He flew all the way back to auburn to meet with his boss and do it in person. In the day and age of cell phones and email, that goes along way in showing charecter. Yea, he probably would have had to come back anyway to collect family and belongings but you NEVER see things done like that in college coaching. I applaud him! Great coach, questionable decision but PETRINO, SABAN and TUBBERVILLE ALL should take notice. If your going to leave, thats how you do it.
JG,
My question is, if CWM thought for whatever reason that Texas was a clearer path to a big-time head coaching job, then why didn't he just take the Southern Miss job? They've had mediocre seasons the last few years, and if he won a conference championship or two he would be a pretty hot coach in the next couple of years. Plus, that would give him some head coaching experience at a relatively early age. Face it, most big-time programs aren't going to hire someone without head coaching experience, save Mike Shula (never mind, I forgot I was talking about big-time programs). Anyway, I guess I just find it curious.
Southern Miss wasn't willing to spend the money to get Will the caliber of assistants he wanted. Period.
I agree completely that Muschamp showed a ton of class by coming back to tell Tuberville himself rather than jet immediately as most coaches do.
ALSO: Will is an outstanding coach, a good guy and someone whose career I'll monitor for the rest of my life. I think he's going to be a great one.
ALSO, II: I think it's entirely reasonable to think Tuberville can get someone in here who can do a good job like Muschamp. Good defensive coordinators are in decent supply. Auburn's defense has been good for a long time now -- under Lovett, Chizik, Gibbs and Muschamp.
Good offensive coordinators are harder to come by ...
A couple of thoughts occur to me re: Coach WM going to Texas...
1 - He handled his departure, as noted by several poster, with class. You have to appreciate that.
2 - Maybe we'll have a chance against Georgia now.
On another topic - thanks for the blog, Jay - enjoy it -
First off, let me start by respectfully saying "hush" to Auburn Football Stuff. You want to think about taking "football" out of your monicker.
Think about this, guys. David Gibbs, our worst and most tentative DC since before Pat Day came around, pretty much guided a dominating defense in '05 that set a record or two. Don't forget about "Honk If You Sacked Brodie". Gibbs basically said "screw it" that game and let the dogs run. It's just not that hard with the beasts we have on our D line, which of course is even more talented now.
The defense will be great, if not better than '07...especially is Sims stays. I really like Will and I've enjoyed his time here. I, too, will always be a Muschamp fan unlike my feelings for a mondane Gene C. Will's got balls. Not many do anymore. His former boss up in Off Season National Championship town needs to take a few lessons.
Rememer what a certain Ga Tech DC did to Carnell and Nallsminger in '03? The fabled "slant"? What about what they did in '05? That's a guy I certainly don't mind having around.
As a Kentucky native, a husband to a gal from Crestwood, Ky., and a fan of thoroughbred racing, lemme say that the Pat Day reference was satisfying.
Crestwood is where Day comes from, too.
I'm totally with you on the idea that Auburn's defense will survive. Will's defenses were only incrementally better than those of his AU predecessors. They all were good.
Auburn has been an outstanding defensive team for a long time. They emphasize DL in recruiting and Dunn/Price clearly know how to develop kids both for college and the next level.
just a thought, brown has pretty much accomplished everything he can at texas and, much like the situation at that school in tuscaloosa, he will always be in the shadow of a revered former coach (coach royal, in this instance). maybe he enticed cwm with the possibility of taking over there in a couple of years...
That's an interesting idea, though I'm not sure that was part of the decision.
I think someone was confused with the Pat Day reference - he was obviously talking about an Auburn coach, but which one? Pat Dye, who is similar to Pat Day in name, or Terry Bowden, who is similar in stature?
Let me tell you something about Pat Day you elephant jockeys...
That's one tough SOB.
Random thoughts about the Muschamp departure:
You gotta believe there are some people at Troy State University who are taking a bit of pleasure at this.
We were not married to Will Muschamp, and we shouldn't think of it as betrayal -although I poured a strong vodka/tonic when I heard the news.
As folks in Alabama might say; "It's Biness" (sp)
Will Muschamp may come this way again...after a couple of years at UT, a successful record as a head coach at a mid-major college, and Tommy Tuberville deciding to hang up his cleats and spend more time at Lake Martin (If it ever re-fills).
Will wouldn't be an old man, and probably would be at the top of AU's list when and if that occasion arises..Hell! I'd take him back in a heart beat!
Even if they move on, Tommy seems to hire skilled coaches, and I trust him to do it again....unless he lost his senses and called Orgeron!
A factor that occurs to me with Coach Muschamp; ego.
If may be hard to share the stage when you have enjoyed being the star. What with a new coach coming in and stealing some of the spotlight (Almost all of it in Atlanta last week!) - it may cause you to think the grass is greener elsewhere.
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