McElwain Interviewed for San Jose State?

by Todd on Dec 11, 2009 8:14 PM CST Comment 22 comments

According to reports from the Bay Area, OC Jim McElwain has interviewed for the head coach position at San Jose State (along with Stanford OC David Shaw). McElwain is no stranger to the area, having come to Alabama by way of Fresno State, and his move to head coach is likely more a question of "when" than "will."

As for how this affects the team? Personally, you have to be happy for a guy getting the jump to the big office, and you know that when your team is successful assistants are going to be looking to advance after every season. But I still hate hearing it since it's a distraction that we can do without heading into the national title game.

In other assistant coach/coaching carousel news, it looks like both Kirby Smart and Sal Sunseri, both rumored candidates for the DC position at Florida State, will be sticking around with the hiring of Mark Stoops.

h/t al.com

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Movin' on up

I still hate hearing it since it’s a distraction that we can do without heading into the national title game.

True dat.

Lee Corso: How would you describe tailgating at Alabama?
Kirk Herbstreit: Barbecue and Ralph Lauren

by animalcracker on Dec 11, 2009 8:26 PM CST reply actions

So when am I supposed to light my hair on fire?

Offense sells tickets. Defense wins games. - Paul W. "Bear" Bryant

by TheRedTideConsumes on Dec 11, 2009 8:37 PM CST reply actions

Just stay focused

on Texas…then go to San Jose.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Dec 11, 2009 8:45 PM CST reply actions

+1

I wish the best for all but this is beginning to be too darn many distractions.

Rex E Mathis

by rmathis on Dec 11, 2009 8:57 PM CST up reply actions

Yes

I do like all of the awards and attention, but I do worry about there being sooooo many distractions.

Fumbles. It was always Fumbles

by DocFumbles on Dec 11, 2009 9:03 PM CST up reply actions

The timing of coach searches

is really unfortunate. I understand SJS and others want to avoid waiting until all the good candidates are gone, but damn – it sure doesn’t help us any

by billycthulhu on Dec 11, 2009 9:30 PM CST up reply actions

Play Calling

If coach Mac jumps ship prior to the NC game , who would likely be responsible for offensive plan and play calling (other than CNS’s role) ? I suppose the question really is, would CNS call plays from the sideline or have someone in the booth to replace coach Mac ?

by MtnBama on Dec 11, 2009 8:55 PM CST reply actions

Good point.

I’m guessing Burns would call from the booth. I really hope JM doesn’t leave until Jan. 8, it could really hurt us big time.

I’m not thinking Saban would call the plays as he has been a defensive coach.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Dec 11, 2009 9:10 PM CST up reply actions

My Guess...

…would be that McElwain would stay on as offensive coordinator till after the national championship game, for better or worse.

by Kenny483 on Dec 12, 2009 8:19 AM CST up reply actions

By the way

San Jose St. stadium looks like a high school game.

I hate the NCAA more than UT & AU combined. At least with UT & AU you got a fighting chance.

by 5026 on Dec 11, 2009 9:12 PM CST reply actions

Haven't been

but I remember visiting SIU Carbondale thinking about their masters program and I’m pretty sure their football “stadium” was smaller than my high school’s

by billycthulhu on Dec 11, 2009 9:27 PM CST up reply actions

I have to shake my head in wonder at this.

San Jose State? With all the offensive firepower we have returning next year, I’m CERTAIN that McElwain could stick around for at least 1 more year and get a much better job offer.

What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.

-Hank Hill

by Zoltar on Dec 11, 2009 9:55 PM CST reply actions

maybe he was in the area recruiting, and this is just a rumor.

What you're seeing is team spirit. It's like the Holy Spirit, but more powerful.

-Hank Hill

by Zoltar on Dec 11, 2009 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

well, there a lot of factors that go into something like this we just don't know about

but one thing i am 100% sure of, if he goes you can pick the barner messageboard of your choice and get an earful of out saban is chasing all his coaches off because he’s such a evil bastard.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Dec 11, 2009 9:57 PM CST up reply actions

heh

Auburn and Tennessee fans are a lot like Slinkys...neither are worth much but you do get a sense of satisfaction from pushing them down a flight of stairs

by bamachine on Dec 11, 2009 11:19 PM CST up reply actions

Well at least he would still coach one more game in Tuscaloosa...

Seeing as how San Jose State is making the trip to Bryant-Denny to open the season next year.

How often does a coordinator take a head coaching job somewhere new and face the team he just left in his very first game?

by ud2 on Dec 11, 2009 11:31 PM CST reply actions

It was in reference to the Brian Kelly hire...

..but one of my friend’s facebook status was something to the effect of:

With all of the restrictions on NCAA athletes about who they can talk to and when, the same should apply to coaches

There are dates restricted for trades in pro sports for players. There should be some sort of similar ban in college sports with coaches regarding the post-season. If someone’s fired, that’s one thing, but all of this “coach poaching” between the regular season and bowl season is driving me nuts. Texas’ staff looks firmly in place and there’s rumors-o-plenty with ours.

Players have to sit out a year to transfer schools. I’m not saying there should be a similar restriction on coaches, but there ought to be some sort of penalty for moving while the season isn’t over….and not some nominal fine. Make the team receiving the coach ineligible for a bowl in their first year. That’d make all of this crap cease.

RollBamaRoll.com

by Nico2.0 on Dec 12, 2009 7:44 AM CST reply actions

I agree.

There’s just too much of this going on and in some cases, it really hurts some teams’ chances in their bowls. ie Cinci

by dsz002 on Dec 12, 2009 1:54 PM CST up reply actions

All i can say is...

shit..

"The goal is to be a champion," Saban said. "I didn’t say to win a championship. I just said be a champion. That’s our goal here. That’s what we want to do."- Nick Saban

by bammer on Dec 12, 2009 8:07 AM CST reply actions

Meh...

…it’s all part of the process…if anyone’s players are ready to be mature enough to understand how this business works, it’s ours…it’s only a distraction if you let it be one….

"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban

by NiceLittleSaturday on Dec 12, 2009 12:58 PM CST reply actions

exactly - trust the process...

in as much as recruiting players is the backbone of a successful college program, then recruiting coaches is the heart and soul of developing that talent once it makes it to campus. to think saban would focus one one and completely overlook another is ludicrous.

as i understand the organization, saban sets the offensive philosophy and it’s the OC’s job to implement it. as much as i wanted to pull my hair out over the offensive playcalling during specific games this year, the fact is mcelwain did a solid job if you back up and look at the whole season. and i’ve gotta believe that saban already has a list of possible replacements in hand when mcelwain leaves.

think of it this way. we have to run the gamut of anticipation with a new roster every season and the truth is the situation is the same with the coaches. i think this is another point of similarity between bryant and saban – neither were interested in bringing in the biggest name available to bolster the coaching staff. instead their approach was to look for upcoming talent, bring them in to their system and then watch them move on to higher profile slots.

Roll 'Bama Roll: The Champagne of 'Bama Blogs.

by kleph on Dec 12, 2009 3:09 PM CST up reply actions