As most know if anyone pays any attention to my sorry ass, I've been pretty bearish on this season. I predicted a 3-9, 4-8 type of season with a coaching change at season's end and it's looking like we aren't too far from that. It's not what I wanted, but it is what it is. I wanted to Kliff to work out, but it's appearing that it just isn't going to work out. Letting this coaching staff have another year can be really detrimental to the long term outcome of the program. Don't get it twisted: Tech is in the cellar right now with KU. We aren't recruiting well enough to show me that there is help on the way. Just isn't. And I've lost almost all faith in the staff to really progress the current roster to the point of Big 12 contention.
So, I don't know who the next coach will be but just some random thoughts on Tech message board on what I'd prefer to see:
- Drop the "culture" bullshit: Quit hiring within and thinking nobody outside of Loop 289 can't work out in Lubbock. That's a chicken shit thought process and cripples Lubbock as a whole. I want someone with some fresh ideas who can shake things up. Tech can't get out of its own way sometimes, so maybe someone that doesn't have the "west texas way of thinking" drilled into their brains may have some better ideas. Lubbock is, and always will be, a little behind the times. Now is the time to be forward thinking and go after someone that can shake the branches. We showed we can do it when they hired a weird coach with a funky offense in Leach. Go find a new version of that hire. Tech MUST think outside of the box with this hire as I don't believe we've got the funds to really pursue a true homerun guy.
- Ditch the Air Raid: Leach had a competitive advantage as nobody aired it out like Tech did in his early years. Now, the entire league is throwing 40+ times a game. I'd like to see a run or run/option based spread offense. Something similar to Baylor did with Briles or what Chad Morris is doing at SMU. The air raid doesn't work if your defense sucks and lacks depth. Shorten the games and give your defense a breather. I want Tech to be a run first offense. I don't care if that's from the gun or pistol, don't care. Just need to stop having to throw the ball 55 times to hope for a win. Wanna know why we can't close out games? Typically it's because our defense is gassed. If you can't recruit depth, and the starters are shaky to start with, quit hanging them out to dry! It's not as "easy" as that, but that's what I'd like for them to start building them towards.
- Head Coach needs to be a dick and needs to bring in a staff with experience: I believe your team takes on the persona of their leader and Kliff IMO is just too nice. You HAVE to light a fire under someone for messing up. The cool and calm Tony Dungy worked because it was the NFL. I think that is his shortcoming when motivating players. I appreciate and applaud his hard line in the sand for players (ie kicking kids off, benching them, etc). That's what makes them better men. But........he's paid to win games. You have to be both. I honestly believe as a college coach if you can A) find kids that can be taught, and B) motivate 18-22 year old kids you'll be competitive. That's it. Recruiting and schematic advantages will take you to the next level. ISU and KSU are perfect examples. These teams are NOT athletically superior to you. But, they don't turn the ball over and they don't commit penalties. Tech will be in contention for 75% of the games they play by just playing clean.
- Tech needs to open checkbook: Tech F'd over Kliff to start with IMO. He was set up to fail. They hired a guy with zero experience as a HC and limited experience as a coach period with VERY limited contacts. To boot, they gave him one of the lowest payrolls in the Big 12 to assemble a staff. That's the ADMIN's fault, not Kliff. Can't fault a guy for building a shitty house with shit materials and a short handed crew. Whoever they hire, we need to match or beat the top 1/3 of coaching salaries in the Big 12. You want those results? Gotta pay to play.
- Lastly, kinda weird, mimic everything Gibbs did in recruiting: I've been a doubter in him since day one but the one thing I cannot deny him is that he does a great job of finding the short comings and finds and targets athletes that can play. He was Kliff's version of Neal Brown. Say what you will, but Brown recruited Washington, LaRaven, Marquez, Amaro, etc. That's more NFL talent that this team has seen since, maybe ever. This was the first time in about a decade we had a defense that physically looked like a Big 12 defense. I'm sure whoever comes in will have a plan but I've been very impressed with the transition that Gibbs has done personnel wise. He added size and speed. Two things we haven't had in a looooong time.
I truly have no idea who the next hire will be. I know we can't land the big fish. Just like in recruiting, we can't pay enough. Some have said this may set back the program years, but in reality, the current coach is setting the program back years. It can't get much worse........
Kliff was worth a shot and I truly believe he's given his best efforts. He just isn't getting the job done.
Oh well. Football sad.
Go Astros.
So, I don't know who the next coach will be but just some random thoughts on Tech message board on what I'd prefer to see:
- Drop the "culture" bullshit: Quit hiring within and thinking nobody outside of Loop 289 can't work out in Lubbock. That's a chicken shit thought process and cripples Lubbock as a whole. I want someone with some fresh ideas who can shake things up. Tech can't get out of its own way sometimes, so maybe someone that doesn't have the "west texas way of thinking" drilled into their brains may have some better ideas. Lubbock is, and always will be, a little behind the times. Now is the time to be forward thinking and go after someone that can shake the branches. We showed we can do it when they hired a weird coach with a funky offense in Leach. Go find a new version of that hire. Tech MUST think outside of the box with this hire as I don't believe we've got the funds to really pursue a true homerun guy.
- Ditch the Air Raid: Leach had a competitive advantage as nobody aired it out like Tech did in his early years. Now, the entire league is throwing 40+ times a game. I'd like to see a run or run/option based spread offense. Something similar to Baylor did with Briles or what Chad Morris is doing at SMU. The air raid doesn't work if your defense sucks and lacks depth. Shorten the games and give your defense a breather. I want Tech to be a run first offense. I don't care if that's from the gun or pistol, don't care. Just need to stop having to throw the ball 55 times to hope for a win. Wanna know why we can't close out games? Typically it's because our defense is gassed. If you can't recruit depth, and the starters are shaky to start with, quit hanging them out to dry! It's not as "easy" as that, but that's what I'd like for them to start building them towards.
- Head Coach needs to be a dick and needs to bring in a staff with experience: I believe your team takes on the persona of their leader and Kliff IMO is just too nice. You HAVE to light a fire under someone for messing up. The cool and calm Tony Dungy worked because it was the NFL. I think that is his shortcoming when motivating players. I appreciate and applaud his hard line in the sand for players (ie kicking kids off, benching them, etc). That's what makes them better men. But........he's paid to win games. You have to be both. I honestly believe as a college coach if you can A) find kids that can be taught, and B) motivate 18-22 year old kids you'll be competitive. That's it. Recruiting and schematic advantages will take you to the next level. ISU and KSU are perfect examples. These teams are NOT athletically superior to you. But, they don't turn the ball over and they don't commit penalties. Tech will be in contention for 75% of the games they play by just playing clean.
- Tech needs to open checkbook: Tech F'd over Kliff to start with IMO. He was set up to fail. They hired a guy with zero experience as a HC and limited experience as a coach period with VERY limited contacts. To boot, they gave him one of the lowest payrolls in the Big 12 to assemble a staff. That's the ADMIN's fault, not Kliff. Can't fault a guy for building a shitty house with shit materials and a short handed crew. Whoever they hire, we need to match or beat the top 1/3 of coaching salaries in the Big 12. You want those results? Gotta pay to play.
- Lastly, kinda weird, mimic everything Gibbs did in recruiting: I've been a doubter in him since day one but the one thing I cannot deny him is that he does a great job of finding the short comings and finds and targets athletes that can play. He was Kliff's version of Neal Brown. Say what you will, but Brown recruited Washington, LaRaven, Marquez, Amaro, etc. That's more NFL talent that this team has seen since, maybe ever. This was the first time in about a decade we had a defense that physically looked like a Big 12 defense. I'm sure whoever comes in will have a plan but I've been very impressed with the transition that Gibbs has done personnel wise. He added size and speed. Two things we haven't had in a looooong time.
I truly have no idea who the next hire will be. I know we can't land the big fish. Just like in recruiting, we can't pay enough. Some have said this may set back the program years, but in reality, the current coach is setting the program back years. It can't get much worse........
Kliff was worth a shot and I truly believe he's given his best efforts. He just isn't getting the job done.
Oh well. Football sad.
Go Astros.
