Major Applewhite accepts UT job

[Alanbama27]

Re: CMA Thread

The issue with more control and problems between Applewhite and Pendry have been known for some time. It was speculated that Pendry may leave but there have also been those in the fold that thought Major would leave...the deciding vote was CNS's as it was also known that talks between Applewhite and CNS had already happened a while ago (shortly after the Auburn game) and Major had requested more control. I guess we can surmise that CNS decided NOT to give CMA the control he wanted by his interviewing for a lesser job at UT.

 

[P. C. Pachyderm]

Re: CMA Thread

Still no revelation on what happened to the original thread? I had some brilliant posts on there ... sorry to see it go. :biggrin:

Maybe some Texas forum decided it was a great thread and hired it away.

 

[BamaFlum]

Re: CMA Thread

Okay, I got a question for ya'll. Who was controlling the offense during our 6-2 run and who was controlling it during the 1-4 run, if it changed during the season at all? Was CMA given more control while we were thumping opponents or when we started to slide? Was it the same through out the season?

 

[GrayTide]

Re: CMA Thread

The issue with more control and problems between Applewhite and Pendry have been known for some time. It was speculated that Pendry may leave but there have also been those in the fold that thought Major would leave...the deciding vote was CNS's as it was also known that talks between Applewhite and CNS had already happened a while ago (shortly after the Auburn game) and Major had requested more control. I guess we can surmise that CNS decided NOT to give CMA the control he wanted by his interviewing for a lesser job at UT.

Good points Alan. Mal Moore and the BOT have placed the success of this football program in the hands of one man and he makes the decisions right or wrong as to the direction of his program. I regret losing CMA but we do not know and may never know the entire story but CNS knows and apparently he feels whatever happens will be best for the team. CMA is truly a feel good story and I am sure he has a great deal of respect and admiration for the Alabama program but that is not necessarily enough. I appreciate what he has done for the University of Alabama and hopefully he will cross paths with the Alabama football program again at some point in his career and things will turn out differently.

 

[bamar]

Re: CMA Thread

well, to make him take a lower level position at any university, tells me he was not happy. i believe having two offensive coordinators is the kiss of death. it happened before with calloway and stubbs at alabama. i sure hope we dont go to the old warhorse pendry from the nfl. we have the perfect fit coming in with star jackson, and great receivers, and we may be going back to pro style more run plays.

 

[AllTide]

Re: CMA Thread

Okay, I got a question for ya'll. Who was controlling the offense during our 6-2 run and who was controlling it during the 1-4 run, if it changed during the season at all? Was CMA given more control while we were thumping opponents or when we started to slide? Was it the same through out the season?

Excellent question. I will be interested in the responses.

 

[banjeaux]

Re: CMA Thread

Still no revelation on what happened to the original thread? I had some brilliant posts on there ... sorry to see it go. :biggrin:

Maybe some Texas forum decided it was a great thread and hired it away.

Pachy, I appreciate your humor. Also, I appreciate your use of Texas to refer to the Longhorns. To me, UT refers to the Vols. UTx or UTX is a good abbreviation for the Longhorns, IMO.

 

[stlimprov]

Re: CMA Thread

It doesn't seem like the most insane thing in the world for MA to consider a step down rather than face being evaluated on an offense over which he didn't really feel like he had control. The question, I suspect, came down to whether he would be given authority to run the offense. If he really didn't think it would happen, then it makes sense to consider a step backward. The long term negatives could well be less than becoming identified with an offense that isn't really yours. Never mind that it's something of a recipe for becoming a scapegoat.

 

[Crimson Cat]

Re: CMA Thread

IMO, this is a mutual parting of the ways. I wish Major and his family good luck in Texas. Wish it could have worked out better, but understandably sometimes change is inevitable if things aren't working the way you'd like. Roll Tide, Major and good luck with the Longhorns!:BigA:

 

[Tide Tales]

Re: CMA Thread

Okay, I got a question for ya'll. Who was controlling the offense during our 6-2 run and who was controlling it during the 1-4 run, if it changed during the season at all? Was CMA given more control while we were thumping opponents or when we started to slide? Was it the same through out the season?

And I would think any "answers" would be of the "IMO", "spectulative" type...'course, CNS could lurk around and post "facts".....I know what I think, but then I've also been wrong b/4.....just not recently!

 

[Crimson Surfer]

Re: CMA Thread

Source: Applewhite to accept UT post

AUSTIN – Major Applewhite, Texas' all-time leading passer and the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, could be announced as the Longhorns' new running backs coach as early as this evening, sources said.

Applewhite and his wife, Julie, had dinner Tuesday night with Mack Brown and Brown's wife, Sally, at Brown's residence in Austin, where Applewhite was expected to be offered the job by Brown, according to a source close to the Texas program.

A source close to Applewhite said he expects the ex-UT quarterback to accept the job. Applewhite is scheduled to fly back to Tuscaloosa today and meet with Alabama coach Nick Saban, who has been reluctant to give total control of the offense to Applewhite.

 

[BamaFanInTally]

Re: CMA Thread

This whole situation with the co-offensive coordinator duties between him and Pendry was fraught with problems from the beginning, and it had nothing to do with either man's personality. If you have someone in charge of offense, let him run it. Just like Coach Saban is the HC and if he wants to make a change at a coaching position, he's the one responsible for the team. Not saying that is what happened here, just that you give someone a job and let them run with it.

 

[KrAzY3]

Re: CMA Thread

It doesn't seem like the most insane thing in the world for MA to consider a step down rather than face being evaluated on an offense over which he didn't really feel like he had control. The question, I suspect, came down to whether he would be given authority to run the offense. If he really didn't think it would happen, then it makes sense to consider a step backward. The long term negatives could well be less than becoming identified with an offense that isn't really yours. Never mind that it's something of a recipe for becoming a scapegoat.

If he was dying to leave because his creativity was crushed or something, professionally he should have waited for a major OC position to open up (or even a HC job, wasn't his name coming up on some of those?). Either he got pushed out or he couldn't stand the pressure and made a immature move. There's no other valid explanation for demoting yourself and going back to more familiar surroundings.

 

[Tide Tales]

Re: CMA Thread

If he was dying to leave because his creativity was crushed or something, professionally he should have waited for a major OC position to open up (or even a HC job, wasn't his name coming up on some of those?). Either he got pushed out or he couldn't stand the pressure and made a immature move. There's no other valid explanation for demoting yourself and going back to more familiar surroundings.

Then again, one might believe so firmly in their knowledge/expertize of a given area, one would be willing to "demote" oneself rather than give up on principle core beliefs.....regardless of the determining factor(s) that contributed to the decision to act.

 

[Crimson Cat]

Re: CMA Thread

This whole situation with the co-offensive coordinator duties between him and Pendry was fraught with problems from the beginning, and it had nothing to do with either man's personality. If you have someone in charge of offense, let him run it. Just like Coach Saban is the HC and if he wants to make a change at a coaching position, he's the one responsible for the team. Not saying that is what happened here, just that you give someone a job and let them run with it.

While I agree with this, I also wonder if the short time that Coach Saban had in assembling his staff last January had something to do with this. I'm wondering if CNS was willing to give CMA a chance to test the waters, because his (CNS) choices at OC was limited at that time; but after a season to review didn't feel he was ready for full responsibility in regards to the progression of the offense and the QB's, namely JPW, even with the shared responsibilities with Pendry. It seems to me in looking at what has developed over the past couple of weeks or so (possibly longer), that MA wanted more control, but CNS was reluctant with both MA and Pendry, and was looking to make a more prolific change in the OC position. IMO, the shared OC thing was born more out of necessity than anything. Coach Saban talked a lot about offensive identity or the lack of it, during the season and at the end of the season, & those issues are still there. He can't be pleased with that. I know most fans aren't. I'm sure there were probably other issues as well on differing offensive philosphies, which could be why CNS was reluctant to turn over the reigns to either guy. JMHO.

 

[CHATTBRIT]

Re: CMA Thread

well, to make him take a lower level position at any university, tells me he was not happy. i believe having two offensive coordinators is the kiss of death. it happened before with calloway and stubbs at alabama. i sure hope we dont go to the old warhorse pendry from the nfl. we have the perfect fit coming in with star jackson, and great receivers, and we may be going back to pro style more run plays.

Basically having two coordinators means, in effect, you have none -- better one man for the job with clearly delineated parameters with the same for those under him.

 

[rolltideas]

Re: CMA Thread

If he was dying to leave because his creativity was crushed or something, professionally he should have waited for a major OC position to open up (or even a HC job, wasn't his name coming up on some of those?). Either he got pushed out or he couldn't stand the pressure and made a immature move. There's no other valid explanation for demoting yourself and going back to more familiar surroundings.

Or maybe he thought the co-decision-making process was stifling the offense to the point of unproductive. If he is considered the OC and his team's aren't scoring that would look really bad in terms of his future resume. Schools aren't looking for a coach who can't produce. Just a thought.

 

[KrAzY3]

Re: CMA Thread

Then again, one might believe so firmly in their knowledge/expertize of a given area, one would be willing to "demote" oneself rather than give up on principle core beliefs.....regardless of the determining factor(s) that contributed to the decision to act.

Like I said, if he did that it was immature. A professional acts like a professional. You can't make it more than a year in that situation? That's lack of mental fortitude not worrying about beliefs. This isn't a religion it's big time football. Then again he might have been pushed out and that has nothing to do with beliefs or immaturity.

If he took his toys and went home he wasn't acting like a mature professional that can handle the heat and do his job. If he is a prodigy his true vision should have shined through if he toughed it out. Now he'll be back to trying to climb the ladder (let's just hope he has complete control over what ever he's doing, wouldn't want someone else telling those running backs what to do)...

That's what I think people who are defending the move (under the assumption it was his choice) are missing. Being in control of running backs is in no way a position for him to impress other people. He's now back to waiting in line to get a shot at being a OC on any team, there is no way to pretend he somehow preserved his career by coaching running backs. If he got out on his own he got out because he lacked the mental fortitude to hang on long enough to either improve his situation or find a better one.

 

[Tide-one-on]

Re: CMA Thread

Basically having 2 OC's is like having the Dubose years all over again....:eek2:

 

[bayoutider]

Re: CMA Thread

Maybe it's time to weigh in on this. First of all Saban had the opportunity to make Pendry the OC from the start but he didn't. It was obvious the OL which Pendry took over needed the most attention. With the time Pendry would need to try and fix what was wrong with the OL Saban went after a play caller. Nick struck out on his first couple of choices then grabbed Applewhite.
Pendry has always wanted as much control over the offense as he could grab and I believe the major reason Applewhite is leaving is because Pendry is winning the battle. Pendry could coach any number of positions on offense so Nick wouldn't necessarily need to look for a QB coach. I only think if Nick was comfortable with Pendry calling plays he would not have hired Applewhite in the first place so I don't know what Nick has up his sleeve. I do have some knowledge that Applewhite did ask for more control of the offense and I believe Nick said no causing this split. The thing is Applewhite may be running into the same situation at Texas unless some shuffling is done with the coaching staff there.

I am not a fan of co-anything but some places it works. For me it's simply an easy position to place some blame. I don't think it's immaturity on Applewhite's part but him removing himself from an unworkable situation he became a part of.