A Few Thoughts On Staff Changes
by outsidethesidelines on Jan 15, 2009 2:31 PM CST
Email
PrintNow that the news has broken on Lance Thompson's pending departure for Tennessee, I think the time has come to have a few comments on the staff changes that are taking place.
First and foremost, we all know the changes. Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele left to take the defensive coordinator job at Clemson, while outside linebackers coach Lance Thompson has left to be an unnamed assistant coach at Tennessee.
With Steele, the change comes as no surprise, and if anything was widely expected. He received a promotion-in-title last year, and everyone knew that he was likely doing his last season at Alabama. Steele, a former head coach, wants to get back to being a head coach at a BCS school somewhere, and everyone knows it. Furthermore, that was going to be a bit difficult to do at Alabama since it is really Nick Saban running the defense, regardless of the titles that may exist, but at Clemson under an offensive coach he can have that entire side of the ball to himself. It puts him in a better position to land a head coaching job in the near future, which is his ultimate goal. Again, his move comes as no surprise.
Lance Thompson, on the other hand, is another story. No one really expected him to leave, but obviously he is now gone. Personally I do not understand exactly why he left just yet, but I imagine it has something to do with the fact that he will likely receive a lot more money at Tennessee for a lot less work. Fair enough.
What really irks about Thompson's departure is the manner in which he left, and the interesting circumstances that he leaves behind. Make no mistake about it, Thompson was an integral part of our recruiting machine. He covered the Mobile area and also much of the Florida panhandle, so he had a lot of important responsibilities. He was in charge of players like D.J. Fluker, Trent Richardson, A.J. McCarron, and others. And making matters worse, him leaving three weeks before National Signing Day, he knows exactly what all of our recruiting boards and plans are.
And then there is Richardson. The long-time Alabama commit has not even had Tennessee on his radar screen during his entire recruiting process, but a mere nine days ago he suddenly schedules an official visit to Knoxville. And now we find out that the coach who was recruiting him is headed to Tennessee. I'm not going to make any accusations, mind you, and I fully expect Richardson to stick with Alabama, but you can certainly file that one under the category of, "Things That Make You Go 'Huh.'"
With the Alabama athletic department, I imagine -- despite what official word may later say -- there are plenty of upset people over this. This is actually Thompson's second tour of duty at Alabama, with the first one coming under head coach Mike Dubose, and he has always spoken very highly about our program. In fact, he went on the record several times while he was at LSU and with the Miami Dolphins saying that Alabama was, bar none, the best program in the country. However, after this, the bridges have been burned. Thompson is still a young coach and a great recruiter, but after this episode you can probably forget ever seeing him on an Alabama sideline again. With Thompson, it's not so much that he left that annoys, it is how he left. I don't say this lightly, but it is perhaps the least graceful exit that we have had since Dennis Franchione stepped on the plane bound for College Station.
Moving forward, Steele's departure will be handled seamlessly. Kirby Smart will likely step up and assume the title of defensive coordinator, and then we will bring in another coach somewhere to replace him, all the while Nick Saban still runs the show defensively. And largely the same thing goes for Thompson as an on-field coach. Lost in all of the hoopla about Thompson's recruiting ability is the fact that he was never a particularly good position coach. He was an outright liability on Dubose's staff, and frankly he was mediocre-at-best this time around. If you don't believe me, answer this question, how good was our defensive line in 2000, and how good were our outside linebackers the past two years?
Furthermore, in terms of recruiting, replacing Steele will not have an impact for one simple reason: he did not recruit this season. Simple enough.You don't have to replace what wasn't there to begin with.
Replacing Thompson's recruiting ability, however, will be another story. He is a great recruiter, no doubt about it, and he played a pretty big role in helping us regain our stranglehold on the greater Mobile area. We will have to get a very good recruiter to replace him. In terms of recruiting abilities, Tennessee landed a very good one, no doubt about it.
However, with that said, the world is not exactly coming to an end, despite what some may like to tell you. All of the players that Thompson reeled in this season are already committed, and it's highly unlikely that any of them renege towards Tennessee, regardless of what some of their fans may think, and regardless of what they might try. If this were a head coaching change it would be a major loss, but it's not. Players ultimately commit to a head coach and a program, not a position coach or their area recruiter. Moreover, only one current commitment, Jonathon Atchison, was likely to be actually coached by Thompson at the next level, which is another positive.
Hold me to this if I'm wrong, but I do not expect Alabama to lose any current commitments as a result of Thompson's departure. Moreover, none of the other remaining targets on our board were being actively recruited by Thompson, so there should be no impact there either.
Moving beyond this year, we will need a good recruiter who will do well in the Mobile area, but I'm sure we will get that. Travis Jones' name has been thrown around a bit, and he would be a great hire. Either way, don't look for Alabama to have any problems on the recruiting trails, this year, next year, or beyond. Saban is a prolific recruiter, even going back to his days at Michigan State, and nothing about that is going to change with or without Lance Thompson. If anything, Saban will just replace him with another great recruiter, and his well-oiled recruiting machine will keep humming right along.
48 comments
|
3 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Great Read OTS
I certainly feel much better getting over the initial shock. We will be fine, and you are usually pretty accurate (or at least close) in issues like these. Thanks for the write up.
What Would Don Draper Do?
Well said.
The sky is not falling. Just to make my point one more time. Undefeated (regular season) teams are going to lose staff.
Agree with pretty much all you said
Particularly on your assessment of Thompson’s on-field ability. Only one minor correction, Coach Smart aleady is the DC, Steele was the Defensive Head Coach or something similar. If we can get Travis Jones I think it would actually be an upgrade to the staff.
I have thought about this but not looked it up...
Moreover, only one current commitment, Jonathon Atchison, was likely to be actually coached by Thompson at the next level, which is another positive.
It would make no sense, especially with players like Richardson, to follow the one who recruited you just because of that fact alone. Once you strap the pads on, you’re likely no never see him again if he doesn’t even coach on your side of the ball, much less your position. I’ve haven’t been worried about Richardson because of this, but the visit is intriguing to say the least. But about that, you think Thompson told Richardson he was leaving a week before it was official and expect a 17-18 year old kid to keep his mouth shut about it? I really just think it’s coincidince. Could be wrong, it’s happened once before…
"There's a lot of blood, sweat, and guts between dreams and success" - Coach Bryant
Thanks for the analysis.
I just don’t see this changing anything. Now if Richardson goes to UT I’ll be hacked, but it will be his loss not ours. To me the real problem is the timing. Thompson is not going to land a new recruit to UT at this late date unless it is someone he has already recruited to Alabama.
However this should be a warning to any recruit this year and years to come. Don’t commit to any assistant coach, he is likely to be gone before your 4 years are up.
I think in the long run we will get a new coach better than Thompson and UT will be left holding the bag paying a position coach what a DC makes.
Not just Richardson...
I just don’t think I see anyone leaving. Thompson recruited Richardson pretty hard, but it’s also pretty clear that the appeal of Alabama to Richardson has little, if anything, to do with Thompson. He wants to play for a guy like Saban, and frankly our offensive system is really what he is looking for. And besides, at this point for Richardson, Thompson isn’t much of a factor. He wouldn’t even be an assistant coach on his side of the ball at Alabama, so it’s not really a big deal on that front.
As for the rest of the guys, I just don’t see any issues. Again, they’ve all committed to the program and Nick Saban. Furthermore, it’s not like we don’t have any other good recruiters. Hell our entire staff is loaded with good recruiters.
Specifically, I don’t think it will be an issue with any one player. D.J. Fluker has canceled his LSU visit, and he’s firm as can be. A.J. McCarron is going to take a couple of visits — at the coaching staff’s request — but he has made it clear that he’s just doing it for fun, and the only thing that could keep him away from Alabama would possibly be Saban leaving. Furthermore, Nico Johnson has already said that Thompson’s departure would have no impact on him — and hell, he’s a linebacker — just to add a bit more.
Furthermore, from here on out Thompson really isn’t responsible for any of the guys left. Ed Stinson and Tana Patrick, both of which should play outside linebacker, were actually being recruited by Bobby Williams. Brandon Moore is / was being recruited by Kirby Smart, and hell his mind is made up already. Moreover, Pat Patterson is being recruited by Bo Davis, and the Gadsden kids (Kirkpatrick and Kelly) are being recruited by Bobby Williams as well.
The only one that really concerns me is Darren Myles, and even that’s not a major concern. Thompson was recruiting Myles, but after his official visit this past weekend, all he talked about was talking with Kirby Smart and Coach Saban. Furthermore, as a safety, he would be coached by Smart, and he would have nothing to do with Thompson in an on-field manner. It will be a neck-and-neck battle between us and LSU for his services all the way down to the end — and apparently we’ve moved into a slight lead, according to Andrew Bone, among others — and Thompson’s departure should make no impact on his ultimate decision either way.
by outsidethesidelines on Jan 15, 2009 4:21 PM CST up reply actions
worst since Fran?
What makes this departure the worst since Fran? I just don’t see the parallel. Could you elaborate on that please?
I'm in no condition to drive...wait! I shouldn't listen to myself, I'm drunk.
by That Other Dave on Jan 15, 2009 3:20 PM CST reply actions
Maybe...
…because he’s one of the few to leave on his own since Fran. The Mike Price departure was classy.
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jan 15, 2009 3:31 PM CST up reply actions
I think he means....
….the way it happened, i.e. it was a bad time to do it and it was completely unexpected and no one knew about it until the deal was done.
Also
he was a douche.
What? Just sayin…
What Would Don Draper Do?
by BamaReturns07 on Jan 15, 2009 3:41 PM CST up reply actions
LOL
remember Kim’s Corner?
Neal McCready used to do a good impression of ole Fran back in the day… oh man good times… er not.
Thirty-Six to Nothing
speaking of Douche
Neal was one too.
I'm in no condition to drive...wait! I shouldn't listen to myself, I'm drunk.
by That Other Dave on Jan 15, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions
Thompson
What has two thumbs and hates Todd Packer Tennessee?
First off, Thompson and Saban have a lot of history together so it probably has to do with a better job. I will say this about Lance Thompson as a coach on the field, he was cool. Ellis Johnson was cool and Jackie Shipp was cool as long as you didn’t piss him off or pass rush like a girl, but Thompson liked to have a good time. He probably didn’t know that much, which, if I remember correctly, was why Coach W.B. DuBose spent a disproportionate amount of time down near the far corner of the practice fields to watch (he also wanted to look at me, to see what greatness looked like…sike!)
It is only fair to say that in 2000 we didn’t have the same caliber of players at defensive tackle as we’d had in 1999. Not only was no progress made by the returning defensive linemen, but some of them seemed to regress. We were small inside and some of the 1997 signees flat out failed to live up to their hype, so we were stuck with some guys playing out of position. All of that probably falls more on DuBose than on Thompson, but still, it was his position. I wish he hadn’t gone to Tennessee. I also wish he’d pushed harder for me in 1999, but that’s a personal story I don’t want to get into.
This news is a bunch of bullshizzle. Thompson has joined our nemesis. Perhaps he did so to piss me off. Or maybe Tennessaw is trying to piss me off again. I mean, God, Lane Kiffin represents everything I hate about the football world. Ed Orgeron is a reprehensible brute, too. To think Coach Thompson has joined them makes me want to drink a Red Bull and Vodka and take my mini dachshund for a walk.
To hell with Lane Kiffin and Tennessee. They’re a bunch of prosthetic vaginas in my book.
So
off the record, was DuBose really as much of a dumb, incompetent buffoon as we all think he was? Off the record of course…
Thirty-Six to Nothing
Bamagrad
Great insight, very much appreciated.
I am already taking the maxim, and looking on to better things. I really like the idea of Travis Jones, as he was recruiting coordinator previously under Saban. Another name still to mention is Geoff Collins of GT.
Great insight...
Great insight as always, BG.
And in all fairness you are right, Dubose deserves some of the blame for 2000 with the defensive line, but also as you said Thompson does as well because it was his position. At the end of the day, I never felt at the time that he was particularly adept at getting the most out of our players, and much of the criticism at the time focused on the fact that he was a young and inexperienced coach.
Again, I think he’s been better the second time around, but frankly he has always been a guy who has made his living as a recruiter. He’s not an outright liability as a position coach anymore, but if he weren’t such a good recruiter, he wouldn’t be getting jobs at places like Alabama and Tennessee, that’s for sure.
by outsidethesidelines on Jan 15, 2009 4:10 PM CST up reply actions
He worked
very hard. I can remember being in his office at 7 a.m. after a 5:30 workout and catching him on the phone with his wife, talking really flirtatiously. He was a really cool guy and a good people person, which would explain why he could recruit well.
The thing that kind of ruined things for me started in the summer of 1999 when I was not invited as one of the 105 for summer practice, which basically meant that although I could start practice about nine days later and dress for games, I would have no serious shot of ever stepping onto the field in the 1999 season. It really bothered me because Thompson was a new coach at Bama, having just started in the spring of 1999, but I was a veteran player and really had put in a lot of work to warrant the invitation/opportunity for a look. There were a few new walk-ons who were invited in my place—given the opportunity I thought I’d earned in the previous years—and I was really, really hurt by that. Even though I hadn’t worked with him for a while, I felt that my efforts from the previous years had been overlooked. I mean, in our final defensive line meeting of spring practice in 1999 he told me that I was the best walk-on we had in his opinion and that the other coaches had said my effort was beyond outstanding. I felt that they didn’t invite me to two-a-days that year because they saw me as an expendable player who would bring his best every day without being given any perks or pats on the back. They were right, but I was really upset.
Perhaps I should have not been as bitter, but I think things seem more dramatic when you’re 21-22 years old and don’t have the necessary guidance in your life. Anyway, this precipitated my decision to leave the team before the end of my eligibility in 2000.
I guess it’s my fault for having unreasonable expectations for my football ability, but I never stepped onto the practice fields at Alabama without expecting to someday dominate. Again, it wasn’t reasonable, but sue me. I wanted to make the Tide win and I gave it everything I had while I was out there. That’s that.
Prosthetic Vaginas
FTW! LOL
GAWD I love BamaGrad!
What Would Don Draper Do?
by BamaReturns07 on Jan 15, 2009 8:34 PM CST up reply actions
According to my phone conversation with Nico Johnson this afternoon:
“Tom Glavine called with the news of Lance Thompson’s departure. Yeah, it was a shock. I was like, damn at first, but when I heard he went to Tennessee I was like f*** that *, Roll Tide!”
I'm
not necessarily concerned with our guys this year decommitting, I’m more worried about the future. I live in the Mobile/Baldwin area and there are some fantastic high school coaches/programs in this area. There is no shortage of top prospects in this area and that isn’t going to change any time soon. One thing you can say for Saban is he doesn’t let guys in his home state get away. Hopefully we won’t miss a beat.
Thirty-Six to Nothing
Who is Tom Glavine?
Surely not the pitcher lol.
What Would Don Draper Do?
by BamaReturns07 on Jan 16, 2009 7:14 AM CST up reply actions
From al.com
Nico Johnson told BamaOnline.com that, “This doesn’t change anything for me. I’m still going to Alabama.”
Thirty-Six to Nothing
Get Over A Coach Leaving
I mean, sure. He left and has now ended up at a hated rival, but why don’t you guys just appreciate what he did for you while he was at Alabama rather than dwell on the past. I mean, it’s not like you guys owned him or anything. He’s his own person and can do what he likes. You’re just jealous that Tennessee has a better program and can get coaches you guys aren’t good enough to keep.
Richard Pittman
by Richard Pittman on Jan 16, 2009 5:41 AM CST reply actions
People...
…are getting over it. You are reading instant actions from people over a coach leaving. Come February 4th no one will be talking about Coach Thompson leaving. I think if anything it points to the importance that people felt Thompson played in this coaching staff.
As far as the idea that Tennessee is a better program, I am assuming that is a joke. Give them credit though, they are able to get coaches by doubling their salary. I still would rather have a competent coach who has control over their program, than a young inexperienced coach, or a buffoon for a head coach.
Look at this guy again
What is with you guys? You can’t beat us so you continue to live vicariously through other progams. Look, I know you probably didn’t read through, but most of the comments weren’t mad that he left, but angry at the dirty way in which he and the vols staff did it. I mean, kinda like the way ya’ll treated Tubby. Hypocrite. Quit trying to flame.
36-0. See, we don’t have to live through other programs cause we MURDERED you guys. ’nuff said.
What Would Don Draper Do?
by BamaReturns07 on Jan 16, 2009 7:16 AM CST up reply actions
Richard...
…is an LSU fan, and he was being a smart ass. The comment:
You’re just jealous that Tennessee has a better program and can get coaches you guys aren’t good enough to keep
was probably an allusion to what Alabama fans said to LSU fans when LSU fans freeked out over Saban going to Alabama, after he left Miami.
Tennessee has a better program than us?
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA funny. If they have a better program than us, it must mean they are LIGHT years away from you guys, considering we are leaps and bounds ahead of the barn.
12 NCs. should say it all.
What Would Don Draper Do?
by BamaReturns07 on Jan 16, 2009 7:18 AM CST up reply actions
props
for the devilishly clever tongue in cheek sarcasm. any man who can poke fun at himself aint all that bad…
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jan 19, 2009 12:01 PM CST up reply actions
Take another hit of that purple haze RP.......
If you truly think that, and I’m sure you don’t. My question for you is why would the tiggers hire a UcheaT castoff like Chavis?
Better than us, haha, I just about spit my coffee all over the screen from laughter!!!!
Well, are you gonna pull them pistols, or whistle dixie?
Tennessee
I will give credit to Tennessee for putting together a great recruiting staff, but I wonder what the consequences will be for their program. I do not fault them for paying their assistants more money, as if anything is about time that assistant coaches started seeing more money; however, we know that more money will mean more expectations. You combine this with an inexperienced coach who I believe will have a difficult time controlling the program, and I think there is a potential for disaster. As an Alabama fan I know this all to well.
At the end of the day, I still cannot see Tennessee being overly successful. I cannot think of anytime when a coach who not particulary good, surrounded himself with great assistants, and was able to be consistently successful. The fact is if these coaches on Kiffin’s staff are good, it will be just as difficult for him to keep them as it would be for Alabama.
the phrase
“too many cooks spoils the soup” comes to mind. that, and so does the 2007 and 2008 oakland raiders…. it’s going to be one nasty, hastily strewn together, soup like food item…
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jan 19, 2009 12:04 PM CST up reply actions
wow.
so i only bit jtcrimson’s style by about 72 hours…. if i put a new base line over it and call it a mash up, could i still take credit?
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jan 19, 2009 12:05 PM CST up reply actions
I also wonder.....
how will all these egos survive in one place? There is an awful lot of coaching knowledge and power all in complex, and that can tend to have a strain on coaching relationships. Too many chiefs and not enough indians, too many chef in kitchen spoil the soup, etc. etc.
Well, are you gonna pull them pistols, or whistle dixie?
Sorta
reminds me of what they’re doing at FSU, all these big name assisants and former HC’s in one place, hasn’t really panned out as you can see.
Thirty-Six to Nothing
West Virginia
WVU also tried this same thing last year when they hired an inexperienced head coach, and tried to surround him with good assistants. The result is now, no Pat White and no Rich Rod.
kiffin
is a pretty face with nothing much to back it up. Has a big mouth, too, with not much of a filter between brain and tongue. I’ll bet ya $20 he doesn’t make it 2 years.
I remember that gay football site wanted him to be Bama’s coach during the big search. Sure am glad that didn’t happen.
marycontrary
Lame Kiffin
= Pig Virus, the fifth rider of the Apocalypse, Pol Pot, Lee Harvey Oswald, Osame Bin Laden, Richard Simmons’ rapist, and Phil Fulmer’s detached hemorrhoid all rolled into one. Yes, he is that vile.
I mean, come on, guys, not even the affable Al Davis liked him. Kiffin thinks he can hire his dad and that Orangutan Goon of a D-Line coach to beat Bama, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee? This man clearly deserves to fail. If his last name were Rosenberg he’d be coaching a winless junior varsity team in some funding-deprived northern California cesspool. If his last name were Hardman he’d be fluffing gay porn actors in West Hollywood for the daily rate (plus a percentage of DVD sales) and most of us would only know him as the mustached face of the guy on the movie poster we accidentally saw while cruising down the wrong end of Santa Monica Ave. one afternoon (Where is Barney’s Beanery, again?). Quote me on that.
Hey, Kiffin, meet me in the parking lot, you suckass (yeah, I’m quoting Vince Vaughn from Rudy on that one, FTW!!!). BTW, Lame Kiffin, you bring that diminutive-brained ogre of a man with you, I bring my homies. Those are the rules, you jive ass whitebread motha-sucka. Tennessee must have thought it was whiteboy day when they hired Lane Kiffin.
whiteboy day?
thats hilarious, besides being a backup not invited to summer practice in 1999, you are also a comedian
my money’s on Coach O vs a guy basking in past practice squad glory
do you daydream about those days in tuscaloser every ten or every fifteen minutes?
yaw yaw yaw brent schaeffer
Funny thing is...
You didn’t defend your coach…just the guy who expressed his opinion…so either you are a complete douche who knows nothing about football or a complete douche who agrees with the poster….the awesome thing is…either way you are a complete douche…
When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.
You know what we got here? Motha-f'ing Charlie Bronson! Mr. Majestyk!
do you daydream about those days in tuscaloser every ten or every fifteen minutes?
Not nearly as often as I daydream about you, guilded.
froshman year
was my last season. in high school. what does that mean? nothing. i will kick your ass regardless of if i never played or if i still do. i will be in oxford for this years game vs ol misses. since you’ll have nothing better to do (it’s not like ut will field a decent team for at least 2 more years), you should drop by the grooves, have some bourbon, take in the sights, and get your shit talkin mouth smashed in.
welcome to the SEC kiffykins...
by tempebamafan on Jan 19, 2009 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
