Possible OC Candidates for the Gators

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

If I had my choice to choose I would say it would be a tie between:

Kerwin Bell- former Florida QB that has done well with JU and established a lethal offensive scheme. Pros- he's young, proven, and its his alma mater. Cons-cant think of any personally.

Norm Chow- proven coordinator with UCLA and also had some great years at USC. However, he plays in a weaker conference in the PAC 10 and hasnt been relevant as of late. Pros- he's experienced and had a few great years. He has coached some good guys in Phillip Rivers, Steve Young, Robbie Bosco, and Ty Detmer. Cons- he's old and the Gators need long term coaches.

Garrick McGee- Arkansas has thrived the past 4 to 5 years with Darren McFadden/Felix Jones and Mitch Mustain/Ryan Mallet. Hard to believe he would leave a rival SEC school just for Florida but hey anything can happen for the right price. Pros- he's proven and he's black, enough said. Cons- he works for the rival.

Paul Petrino- Has thrived in each of his stops that he's made and wanted so desperately to escape his brothers shadow (Bobby Petrino. Pros- his offense has excelled and he isnt that old of a coach. Also he has familiarity with the SEC and its competition and could provide a great rival battle with the brother at Arkansas. Cons- he could become shell shocked if he loses early so it wouldnt make for a good fit for someone to fold under pressure on a big stage.

*article source is from gatorbait.net (rivals)

COACHING HOT BOARD

Steve Addazio

Currently: Offensive Coordinator at the University of Florida

Why: Though he may not be spoken highly of by many of those in the Gator Nation who would judge him solely on his time as Florida's offensive coordinator, Addazio is very highly thought of in coaching circles. There's a reason he basically took over for Urban Meyer over the spring and summer. He is one of the better assistant coaches in the SEC, which is why his name has been thrown around for several head coach openings in the recent past. That doesn't happen by accident. Plus, he is perhaps the best recruiter on the staff.

Why Not: To be frank, the fan base would be in an immediate uproar and most of the good will that Muschamp has felt thus far would quickly go down the drain if Addazio was named the offensive coordinator. That's a shame, because much like John Brantley, he was a square peg asked to fit into a round hole. Before being hired by Meyer, he didn't have a background in the spread option offense. In his lone season as a coordinator, he ran a more traditional offense at Indiana.

The Bottom Line: Muschamp said he is going to use the bowl preparation to evaluate UF's current assistant coaches to see if their style matches his. Addazio is one coach that is sure to catch his attention. Well liked and respected by the team, he has a fiery, 'loud' type of approach to coaching. Looking at his bio, if not for what happened this past season, viewing his total body of work, he would be someone the fans would be excited to land. However, there's almost no chance of it happening, at least not as a coordinator.

Kerwin Bell

Currently: Head football coach of the Jacksonville University Dolphins

Why: It doesn't really need to be explained why Bell is included in the list of candidates. He fits the bill as far as having pro experience - he was the offensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts before taking over at Trinity Catholic and then JU. At his last two stops, his offenses have set records not likely to be broken any time soon. He turned the non-scholarship JU program into a national playoff contender and though he is thought of as 'toss the ball around' type of coach, he actually runs a balanced offense. It's hard to tell how he would be received along the recruiting trail, but he definitely has a good relationship with the state's high school coaches who are always happy (and a little jealous) to see one of their own make it.

Why Not: There really aren't very many negatives to hiring Bell, other than he is still relatively young and the way Muschamp made it sound, he is looking for an older coach with more pro experience.

The Bottom Line: Without Muschamp handing out very many particulars, it really is an open question as to who may be on the board. Basing the choice strictly off of a resume, Bell would have to be in the top couple of candidates.

Al Borges

Currently: Offensive Coordinator of the San Diego State Aztecs

Why: Of all the coaches on this list, he is the one that Muschamp is most personally familiar with, so it wouldn't be a huge jump to assume he is the one he is most comfortable with. Borges has been a college coordinator since the mid-eighties at one place or another, including being on the Auburn staff with Muschamp from 2004 to 2007.

Why Not: Yes he is an experienced pro-style coordinator with a play calling background, but he has never worked on the pro level. Also, after he was unceremoniously dumped by Auburn, the offense has never looked better under the direction of Gus Malzahn (with a big assist from Cameron Newton). This isn't a hire that would excite anyone in the Gator Nation.

The Bottom Line: Honestly, he didn't look the part enough at his last stop in the SEC to suddenly be ready to once again be given the reigns of an SEC offense. Not because he isn't capable, but when you get knocked down as badly as he did, you don't just return to the top of the mountain just like that. Based on his bio, he wouldn't be included on this list if not for his ties to Muschamp and it's doubtful those ties are enough to bind, or earn him the UF coordinator position.

Norm Chow

Currently: Offensive Coordinator UCLA

Why: As far as Offensive Coordinators at the collegiate level are concerned, he is in the top half dozen or so. As Muschamp was reading off the qualifications as to what he was looking for in the position, he might as well of been reading Chow's bio. He has coordinator experience at both the college and professional level running a pro-style offense.

Why Not: There aren't many reasons to list here. If there's any at all, it might be because UF isn't known to open their pocketbooks to the extent that it might take to lure a big name such as Chow. Then again, with the increase in football ticket prices combined with the difference in salary between what Meyer was paid and what Muschamp will earn, UF should be sitting on an extra 4 to 5 million. Will they spend some of it on assistant coaches?

The Bottom Line: Unless Muschamp has someone in mind that he is absolutely head-over-heels smitten with, it's hard to believe that Chow or someone close to him won't get at least a phone call to inquire as to his availability.

Paul Chryst

Currently: Offensive Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin

Why: Here's a guy who is on the radar because he so closely fits what coach Muschamp described as seeking in an Offensive Coordinator. He actually started out in the NFL as a coach for the San Diego Chargers and has headed up the Badger offense for the past several seasons.

Why Not: He's never held a job in the south, really recruited the south, and therefore has no ties to what is supposed to be the Gators bread-and-butter recruiting grounds.

The Bottom Line: Yes, UF is considered a better overall football program (and then there's the matter of the weather), but truthfully it's hard to come up with a reason why he would leave Madison for Gainesville.

Scot Loeffler

Currently: Quarterbacks Coach at the University of Florida

Why: For a younger guy, he is building an impressive resume with stops at NCAA powers such as Michigan and Florida as well as a brief stint in the NFL. Though he wasn't actually his position coach (he was a grad assistant), he also gets semi-credit for working with the Patriots Tom Brady. He's been at UF for two years now and has earned the respect and admiration of the current roster. He is known as a solid recruiter who current commits Jeff Driskel and A.C. Leonard speak very highly of.

Why Not: Before this year's draft, the mechanics of his star pupil (Tim Tebow) were widely panned. Then this past year, for the most part Brantley has looked anything but well coached for much of the season. Then again, he spent part of practice teaching them how to handle the option pitch and the other nuances that goes with being an option offense rather than a more traditional pro-style setting like he is accustomed to. Though he has worked in the NFL, he has never held the title of offensive coordinator at any of his stops and has never been burdened with being the man responsible for calling the offensive plays.

The Bottom Line: It is much more likely that he would be asked to remain as a quarterback coach in a pro-style offense rather than as the Offensive Coordinator.

Garrick McGee

Currently: Offensive Coordinator for the Arkansas Razorbacks

Why: After the season Arkansas had, he is understandably one of the hot young up-and-coming names on the offensive side of the ball. He has been an offensive coordinator at both Arkansas and Northwestern as well as a position coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. That's a pretty strong bio for a coach his age. Plus, though we like to think we live in a colorblind society, it never hurts to have an African American as a coordinator when you are visiting high schools and prospects.

Why Not: There aren't many reasons. If you are looking for one, Muschamp wants to be more balanced while McGee's offenses have been tended to be more pass heavy. That's not much, but then again, there's not much not to like about McGee as an offensive coordinator.

The Bottom Line: You would have to think he would be somewhere near the top of any board. Could UF lure him away from a fellow SEC program when they aren't exactly known as being big spenders when it comes to assistant coaches is the question?

Paul Petrino

Currently: Offensive Coordinator Illinois

Why: In 2009, under his direction Arkansas was 8th in the NCAA in scoring (a total higher than a Tebow led UF team) and 20th in total offense. During his four years at Louisville, his offenses averaged 41.0 points per game. He has extensive college coordinator experience and one year of NFL experience, working with the Atlanta Falcons as their receivers coach. Because of his stints with the Razorbacks and the Cardinals, he is familiar with the southeast and the recruiting wars that take place down here.Why Not: Many almost consider him a product of the system - believing that for much of his coaching career, he rode on the coat tails of his brother Bobby Petrino.

The Bottom Line: He was finally able to get out from under his brother's shadow and did well for himself. Last year the Illini were 8th in the Big Ten in scoring, this year under his direction they moved to 4th in scoring. He has proven to be a top tier offensive coordinator who may be ready for the bigger stage which is Gainesville.

Alex Van Pelt

Currently: Quarterbacks Coach Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Why: Though he is still a relatively young guy he has experience on the NFL level as both a quarterbacks coach and as an offensive coordinator calling plays (Tampa and Buffalo). The NFL background (10 years in the league) and name recognition should help him along the recruiting trail.

Why Not: He doesn't have a strong resume as a play caller and though he should have decent name recognition, working only briefly at the University of Buffalo, he doesn't have much experience on the college level and hasn't been through the recruiting wars at all.

The Bottom Line: If Muschamp is looking for a young up-and-coming name on the offensive side of the ball, he could do a lot worse than Van Pelt. His lack of college experience though has to be seen as a drawback.

OTHER POSSIBILITIES: Noah Brindise (Currently out of football, former UF QB, QB coach Washington Redskins & OC UNLV Rebels) Jeff Jagodzinski (Former BC Head coach, currently Head Coach of the Omaha Nighthawks of the UFL), Mark Whipple (Former Miami Hurricane Offensive Coordinator, NFL background) & Brian White (Extensive college background as an Offensive Coordinator, current UF TE Coach)

Muschamp To Coach "Old" Champs

by Brandon "BKP" Plowden

The University of Florida is once again faced with embracing the idea of welcoming yet another new head football coach to their program, after Urban Meyer walked away from coaching the team that he once led to 2 national titles in six years. Newly hired coach Will Muschamp, former Texas Defensive Coordinator, will become the 23rd coach in the history of the Florida football program and the 3rd in 10 years post Spurrier. Muschamp who is known for his tenacious defensive units as we all as his relentless recruiting edge, is facing a huge challenge to succeed at arguably one of the nations premier programs with no prior head coaching experience. Many will ask:

• Did athletic director Jeremy Foley make the right choice?
• Did he pull the trigger too quickly?
• Does this hire give Florida the competitive edge it once had 2 years ago?
• And finally, will this hire help keep Florida’s recruiting class in tact?

Here’s the untold perspective in my opinion:

First when news broke that Urban Meyer was stepping down for the second time in 12 months to retire from coaching, athletic director (AD) stated that he wanted to hit the ground immediately and bring a new coach before Christmas. He also stated that the pre-requisite of prior head coaching experience was not a qualification, and that he wanted someone that could:

“fit within the Gainesville and Florida comunity”
“knows the SEC (southeastern conference)”
“a good recruiter as well as a disciplinarian”

"someone who is an up and coming leader, aka a hot commodity, in the coaching ranks"

Foley found all of what he was searching for and more with Muschamp. After thorough research it appears that the new Gator coach comes with a fairly impressive resume of leading a defensive units that have been in the top 10 in each of the years he served as the defensive coordinator at Texas.

Muschamp, a Univ. of Georgia graduate, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Auburn in 1995 and later stops at Univ. of West Georgia, Eastern Kentucky and Valdosta State, where he later returned to the SEC in 2001 when former LSU coach Nick Saban hired him as linebackers coach. He was promoted to DC in 2002 and helped Saban lead the LSU Tigers to the national championship in 2003. Ironically current Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher was on the same staff as an offensive coordinator which causes ground for “familiarity” on behalf of the Gators. Muschamp will not only have Fishers offensive tendencies in his back pocket but he also renews the Florida/FSU rivalry with the same fire it once had during the 90’s. Saban brought Muschamp with him to the NFL to coach the Dolphins in 2005 and later left to become the DC Auburn in 2006, and Texas 2007-2010.

Many Gator fans remember the lone loss suffered in 2006 against Auburn thaat stopped Chris Leak and Tim Tebow from creating any offense- guess who was behind that masterpiece defensive unit of Auburn: you guessed it, Will Muschamp.

The Southeastern conference is as complex, difficult, and competitive as they come and Muschamp has his work cut out for him. However, the greatest part about this challenge is that he now gets a chance to coach against his former colleages in Saban (Alabama), Fisher (FSU), and Derek Dooley (Univ. of Tennessee). Many Gator fans are a little indifferent on their feelings about a former Georgia Bulldog leading the ranks of Florida but Im sure Jeremy Foley took his coaching credentials into play over the institution listed on Muschamp's degree.

Now did Foley pull the trigger too quickly and not give enough consideration to the likes of Boise State’s Chris Petersen, TCU Gary Patterson, Houston’s Kevin Sumlin, Stanford’s Jim Harbaugh, Utah’s Kyle Whittingham, and Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops all of whom were rumored to be in the running to consideration? I will personally say no. Foley stated that he wanted to get a coach in the doors quickly and he has already faced this position once before when Meyer attempted to walk away during the last bowl season. I personally believe that Foley did his due diligence the first time around and came up with a plan in the event Meyer resigned again. If you are a decision maker in any line of work and you face a threat of a resignation from one of your top employees then you would be unprepared and shell shocked if you failed to do your homework on potential replacements (key words) “in the event” you become short handed. I believe Foley created a a list of prospects last January when the Urban Meyer news first broke. I believe he had certain targets and also wanted to go after the individual who could keep the competitive edge flowing. Also for critics that are throwing the move out the window must not know the history of Florida football. What do I mean you ask? I’ll share it briefly:

• Charlie Strong, former Florida defensive coordinator, was hired as the head coach of Louisville in 2009. He had no prior head coaching experience after coaching for 20 years and was finally granted his first shot where he led his squad to a 6-6 record in the Big East, while also being named coach of the year in his conference. Sounds impressive yet? If not I have another former coach that’ll knock your socks off
• Bob Stoops, a Steve Spurrier assistant for 3 years from 1995-1998, was the defensive coordinator for Florida with no prior head coaching experience. He was hired to Spurriers staff out of Kansas State in 1995 after the Gators gave up 62 points to Nebraska in the 1995 national championship game. A year later he gained immediate spotlight for his obliteration of the Florida State Seminoles in the 1996 Sugar Bowl national championship game holding them to only 20 points. He was later hired as the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners in 1999 where he has a .805 winning percentage. Now tell me after “learning” and getting your history lesson from me if you still think its not a reputable hire?! Now its Muschamp's turn!

With the hiring of Muschamp it gives Florida the competitive edge it needed for its recruits. Without a quick hire it would have given fellow SEC opponents and rivals a chance to steal the attention of recruits which could've destroyed the momentum that Florida once had before the Meyer news broke.

Now the pressure lies on the staff that he will bring in most namely the offensive coordinator. The OC will be key for the determination of how quarterback commit Jeff Driskel will be used as well as the effect it will have on the current offensive roster. As we all witnessed, the Gators offense struggled badly this year and many blamed Steve Adazzio for the downfall. I personally believe it was Adazzio along with Meyer's weak offensive scheme of which showed signs of struggling even when Tebow was taking the snaps. If I were Muschamp I’d keep Adazzio and make him in charge of a different position because along with a few other assistants he was personally responsible for signing top recruiting classes year after year. I would take the risk to keep him on the staff and use his fiery motivating tactics. Why not have the best recruiters on your staff? He’d be worth keeping, but Im anxious to see who will be on staff soon.

The great Muhammed Ali once said, “Its not bragging if you back it up”, and right now Muschamp has been charged with leading the nations premier team in the toughest conference in the land. If he succeeds then Gator nation can continue to brag, but if he fails, which I doubt, he will be ousted quicker than Ron Zook in a pit full of blood thirsty Gators. The verdict is still out but I personally like the pick for now. Remember if you're not a Gator, then you're GATOR BAIT!