MARK Z - A REAL QUESTION

Ok so this Mark Z guy (if you read my comments you know who he is) finally decided to bring something to the blog other than attacks. For this, I will reward him with a response. Here is his question:

I know I bag about your blog, but I actually have a serious question for you: Do you believe that hiring aging, once great coaches like Spurrier and Holtz to rebuild a struggling team is the answer? Many Cock fans believe this is the right course of action but it obviously has not shown results yet and correct me if I'm wrong, but you don't seem entirely behind Spurrier just yet. Why not try something different? For example, when Saban took over LSU, he was a young, upbeat, and passionate coach who could recruit exceptionally well, which worked out great since Louisiana has so much football talent living inside of it. Saban's defenses were great and his offenses were effective, so long as he had the right talent for both, which he didn't have at Michigan State. After recruiting so well in a talent rich region, his career took off as now he could apply his schemes effectively. Don't get me wrong, I can't stand Saban; he's a money-grubbing liar who snubbed both LSU and the Dolphins and will eventually snub Bama, especially if the LSU job opens up for some unknown reason (where he wanted to go in the first place). However, he's an excellent example for what a team like South Carolina needs: a fresh face with new ideas who can appeal to recruits. LSU was not much better than South Carolina when Saban took over, but they exploded after a year or two under his guidance. What are your thoughts?

Mark Z,

Thank you for the question. #1.) I wouldn’t wish Saban on Clemson and I am sure you agree since you addressed that in the question. #2.) You have to look at the whole Spurrier/Holtz in the bigger picture.

When Holtz was hired, the program was in shambles. It was destroyed from the inside out by a coach who will not be named. I don’t think hiring a newcomer at that time would have been the way to go. We needed an experienced coach who could relay the foundation and rebuild.

I personally never got on the Holtz wagon as a gameday coach but for the attention he brought the program, I was absolutely behind him. He put a foundation in place quietly. Like it or not, he took a program that was at the lowest of the low and made it mediocre. He was then instrumental in bring Spurrier along.

I am on the Spurrier train but it too has to make a stop at some point. Spurrier took the work that Holtz put in and went further. The team he inherited was mediocre and hopefully by the end of his tenure he will have turned it in to a contender. However, he needs to do it this year or next or his seat will warm up.

I will say that the next coach we bring in (after Spurrier) needs to be young and fresh (maybe like Steve Spurrier Jr.) in order for the progression to continue. Then we will really see if hiring Holtz and Spurrier was a good thing or not.

As far as Spurrier as a coach, the jury is still out. He still has about two years to make an impression.

I await your reply.

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