Evaluating the four PAC 12 teams with new HC’s
Today I start a series of articles analyzing Arizona, Arizona State, UCLA and Washington State – the four PAC 12 schools with new head coaches in 2012.
However, I will not limit the focus of the articles to these new coaches alone. I think it’s more about what each of the 4 teams that dumped their old HC’s and hired new ones is up against — what it all really boils down to.
Tags ArizonaArizona StateJim MoraMike LeachTodd GrahamUCLAWashington State
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3 thoughts on “Evaluating the four PAC 12 teams with new HC’s”
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MAXIMIZE YOUR EDGE
I’ll take a shot here and say it will be Rich Rodriguez. Rich Rod never was truly given a chance at Michigan. Ever since he arrived it seemed the Michigan alumni was looking for ways to push him out the door. They just never seen him as the guy that “fit” the mold as a Michigan Wolverine head coach. I think if they had left him alone and quit busting his balls, he might have had Michigan contending for a Big Ten title this season. But, that is all history now.
Now, we flash ahead to Arizona. Let’s face it, Mike Stoops is a good assistant coach, but he didn’t have much of a clue about leading an entire program. Rich Rod has more than a clue, plus he moves into a program where the talent has not been left bare. Looking at the talent left and the schemes that will be run, I think Rich Rod could probably see some immediate success. They will have to learn quick, but I see at least 7 wins on their schedule which would send them bowling at the end of the season. I don’t think the other three newcoming HCs will get that done with their programs.
Conan, good to see you here. I’ve admired your work at the RX for years. I am looking forward to your picks this season without having to deal with all the jumbled mess of the forum.
I am also thinking Rich Rod is your choice as the best new coach in the conference.
Keep up the good work.
To all that have commented on the twitter feed….
If you read what I said closely, you’d realize that I was talking more about the team than Todd Graham. My commentary was more about the culture that has developed at ASU than about Graham’s persona who probably doesn’t have a clue what he’s in for…. It’s a huge task Graham has before him and there are not many that could handle it.
I also stand by the fact that there has been a cultural problem with ASU football going back perhaps decades. Any died in the wool ASU fan will admit that what I am saying has been true for a long time. You know what’s coming, and you know it will be harsh. You know it almost instinctively.
What’s not to understand that if it takes putting the flame of reality under every a** sitting on the ASU bench to stir things up then so be it. It’s never going to happen if all you want to do is discuss all the platitudes and admiration you can conjure instead of facing the truth that something is dreadfully wrong that needs serious attention. You won’t accomplish a thing by going on a diet of pablum and placebos. Confronting poor attitude and lack of discipline is the only thing that can lead to change, so confront it! Move on it one step at a time. One week after the next. If you are lucky, you will find some leadership on the team and it needs to be the right kind of leadership, now that you know what the wrong kind looks like.
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As I said, there are some damn good coaches in WSU’s path in the Northern Division that won’t give it up to WSU too easily. So make no mistake about it, Mike Leach has an uphill climb ahead of him and considering the competition, it’s not going to be an easy one. But I still think he will have his share of winning years and perhaps even wind up ranked with Oregon, Stanford and Washington in the North. We’ll see by 2014 – 2015 what Mike Leach can accomplish.