DMN's Kevin Sherrington: Says Hire Applewhite

[RGV Pony]

How the hell does Applewhite grow up & attend HS in Baton Rouge and 1) grow up an Alabama fan and 2) turn down LSU for Alabama? I guess 1 explains 2, but man. Odd.

[tristatecoog]

I'm not sure that he was offered the OC job at LSU but maybe just QB coach. It seemed very fluid when Graham bolted. Rice wanted to play conservative and go with a lower division HC. If you're AD, it's a lot safer choice. Major flew to BR to meet with them a couple times and also to Bama. I think he knew Saban or had some other connections there. LSU ended up hiring Gary Crowton as Offensive Coordinator -- former HC at BYU and OC at the Bears. That seems like a better pick than a first year OC from Rice and a QB coach from Syracuse where the Orange really sucked.

Major should relish the opportunity at SMU. It's definitely not a step down. You have to take on the challenge head-on. Otherwise, he needs to wait it out a while as Bama's OC and then get a good gig at a school like Tulane?

http://www.decaturdaily.com/decaturdail ... hite.shtml

Applewhite grew up an Alabama fan. His father, Larry, who never attended Alabama, was a member of the school's alumni association in Baton Rouge, La., where Major grew up.

Dad is a t-shirt fan but a very supportive one. I suppose Dad grew up in Alabama??

[JesuitPony]

His dad was an Alabama fan and Major wanted to attend Bama, but was not offered a scholarship.

There is a sense of satisfaction for Applewhite in going to Tuscaloosa. His parents named him for former Crimson Tide All-American running back Major Ogilvie, and Applewhite grew up an Alabama fan. However, a decade ago, coach Mike DuBose decided not to offer Applewhite a scholarship.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=2902665