re: Oh No-----------tell me it ain't so.......Athlon's SEC coaching thoughts...

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quote: Since then at USC and LSU he is 12-4 overall and 10-3 in conference play It's amazing how many people consider 8 games of not choosing the staff, not running the offense,and not running the defense as running a program. How much of a coach's fingerprints are on a program when he goes from position coach to head coach?

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Valid points.

But, as I see it, the worth of a HC is determined by:
1) Chief executive officer CEO. Hiring subordinates (Replacing Cameron with Ensminger and Ensminger with Canada, plus DC retention bodes well), setting goals and training schedules, setting goals in game planning, and making coaching "suggestions" for adjustments and play calling during games.
2) Recruiting. Setting up a recruiting structure, strategy, goals, and targets. Plus, having enough personality too close the "hard" ones.
3) Motivation. Keeping your staff motivated, productive, and on target more properly falls under a HC's CEO role, but motivating the players is critical. Players are little more than boys. But the kids have to bring 3 things to win a game: talent (recruiting), training (coaching), and emotional commitment (motivation). Superiority in 2 out of 3 usually equals victory, and 3out of 3 almost guarantees it.

So far! In his limited role! Coach O looks very good as CEO. Pun not intended, but noted!

For LSU to recruit well, they have to lock down 90% of state talent, successfully raid Texas and Mississippi, and cherry pick from the other 47 states and lately Australia. In my opinion, Coach O has the chops for recruiting and did very well in 1st year as CEO.

Motivation? This is probably his strongest suit!

So I'm optimistic, and if I wrote for Athion or coached, I'd put O in the top 4 or 5. Certainly not number 1 or 13!