CUSA News: Major Applewhite to Alabama?

[ponydawg]

Well that didn't take long......

"I have been contacted, and I do have some interest, but I have not been offered the job," Applewhite said. "I'll sit down with my wife, Julie, and we'll make a decision this week.

"Right now, I'm still committed to Rice and the recruiting class we have coming here."

In his first and only season at Rice, Applewhite, 28, enhanced his reputation as a coaching wunderkind, directing a spread attack that scored the most points (350) and amassed the third-most yards (4,486) in school history.

Under Applewhite, the Owls produced a 1,000-yard passer (Chase Clement), a 1,000-yard rusher (Quinton Smith) and a 1,000-yard receiver (Jarett Dillard) for the first time en route to earning a spot in the New Orleans Bowl.

FYI: Applewhite does not have coaching ties to Saban or anyone on his staff, but Applewhite's father, Larry, is a past president of the Alabama Alumni Association.

Here is the full story:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4453170.html

[mrydel]

If he has not been offered the job, what do you suppose he and Julie are deciding this week?

[PonyPride]

I suddenly feel very old. I interviewed Applewhite when he was in high school. I know it wasn't really that long ago, but still -- feels that way.

[BRStang]

Applewhite's been in BR for the last 3 days supposedly interviewing for the OC spot at LSU, too. He is also grew up in BR and played for Catholic High here.

Supposedly, his dad is a big Bama supporter, and he grew up dreaming of playing for Bama, but they never recruited him. Hopefully, he remembers that and gives Saban the finger. Then again, LSU didn't recruit him either.

[Scoops]

Say you're a recruit who was recruited to Rice by Applewhite.

You read that he's been contacted by Bama, and has interest.
Then you read that he's been in Baton Rouge talking to LSU.
Then his boss bolts Rice for Tulsa.

Would ANY player in that situation maintain his commitment to the Owls?

Honestly, I hope some do. They had gone 40-plus years without a bowl game, and had perhaps the longest stretch of absolute mediocrity in the country before this past season, so while I was pissed that they beat us, I was happy for them .... sort of. Rice obviously is a sensational academic school, and there are some kids who want that Rice degree. Good for them -- go get it. But for the students and fans of Rice, this whole scenario is just awful. Applewhite, I can understand. Grew up in SEC country, young guy getting started, etc. Graham clearly knows as much about loyalty as most of us know about the inner workings of the Pentagon.

[SMU_is_bowling]

Would anybody on this board want to play for Todd Graham right now? One year at a program, help them achieve something that has not happened in a long time there, get an offer from a similar school (I know Tulsa has had more recent football success, but it is still Tulsa, not an SEC school or even Pac-10), and say "see ya!" If I was a Soph at Tulsa, I would wonder if Todd would be around for my Sr year! Lack of loyalty is unreal!!!

[J.T.supporta]

The Major will have 3 options:

1. OC at LSU
2. OC at Bama
3. HC at Rice

Im sure hell bolt that school down there in Houston for a better known football school.

[ponydawg]

Would anybody on this board want to play for Todd Graham right now? One year at a program, help them achieve something that has not happened in a long time there, get an offer from a similar school (I know Tulsa has had more recent football success, but it is still Tulsa, not an SEC school or even Pac-10), and say "see ya!" If I was a Soph at Tulsa, I would wonder if Todd would be around for my Sr year! Lack of loyalty is unreal!!!

At the same time, he knows all of the players on the Tulsa team except for last years freshman class. I bet he can sell it to the upperclassmen that he wanted to be with them and then the freshman will buy in to it.

[J.T.supporta]

Yes, I am sure Grahm took that job because thats where he got his big start. He built up that Tulsa team that won CUSA last year. That was all his work basically under Krag.

Dont blame him for leaving. Those are his roots.

I dont recall him ever saying, "Im not taking any other job. Rice is the place for me and i'll be here a long time."

[SMU_is_bowling]

You guys are probably right, he never committed to staying at Rice . . . oh wait . . . damn that extension he signed!! But then again, who honors those things!!

He does know the players, that is where he got his start all positives . . . but I just am thinking how I would feel if I was at Rice. And now at Tulsa, if he has continued success, when a big school comes calling, does his loyalty to Tulsa run deep?? I don't know, just smacks of the pride/self-absorption of recent coaching moves. I know you have to look out for you family and yourself, but you also sold some of those recruits at Rice on your wanting to build a tradition . . . not have a good year and leave when your old school comes calling... 1 7-7 year!?

[Stallion]

Don't know if its true but on the Rice board someone said the extension was for $600,000. Tulsa offered a cool 1.1 million. Graham told Rice officials he would stay if they matched. He's gone. Don't blame Graham a bit under that scenario. If you want to play the game you got to pay the price. 1.1 million-looks like Tulsa is serious.

[SMU_is_bowling]

just curious . . . what was Krag making??

[ponydawg]

Oh man, now Major is gone.....gotta feel for the 143 rice faithful.

"In addition, an NCAA official confirmed that Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite will be named quarterbacks coach at Alabama under new coach Nick Saban."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4465710.html

[JesuitPony]

just curious . . . what was Krag making??

I thought I read somewhere that he was making in the $500,000 range.

[mrydel]

Does any of this mean Dillard will not be able to catch anymore. That is all that would matter to me.