Today I will preview the second candidate that is looking to replace Guy Morriss as Head Coach. Now, I want to make something known to everyone. I have said this before, this is not a hard news blog. It contains hard news, but it is mainly opinions of both fans and alums. The news on here that is hard are scores, reports from campus and stuff like that, but mainly this is a debate and discuss blog. For example, I will report the stats on a football game, like the final score, and stuff you would find in a boxscore, but I am going to want to dig deeper on that, such as going to into the thoughts of the players (Why did he run out of bounds two yards short of the end zone?) coaches (why did we throw on 3rd and inches?) So there were comments that this was a guessing game. It sort of is at this point. If you have a rumor, post it so long as you can substantiate it to some point. But if you are looking for nothing but hard news, the KETR.org or Lionathletics.com is your place, this is for discussion and opinions, none of which you will find there. I just wanted to clear that up.
Now part 2 of coaching Candidates-
Cary Fowler
Current Position: Head Football Coach at Tarleton State
Alma Mater: Murray State University (Kentucky)
Previous Schools: Murray State (Player), Austin Peay College (Player) Midwestern State (Defensive Coordinator), Tarleton State (Current)
Thoughts: This is a tad bit strange, but we have two candidates who are either coordiantors for very good LSC programs or head coaches for LSC programs. Commerce has an allure and that is good. I would have never thought that, but traditions speaks for itself. A coach is going to want to come to a program where winning has been the tradition and where alums come to games and expect to win. Also, despite Commerce being a small market, most of these Coaches I am thinking have this though in their mind “Dallas less than an hour away, I am in the middle of rural North Texas, and I am not too far from East Texas, and those two areas are filthy loaded in talent. Plus I have a decent media market.” The other schools in our conference do not have a Dallas or an entire region at their backdoor. Anyway back to Fowler.
Reading up on Fowler, he turns programs around. He has been around College Football at this level his entire professional life and he knows what it takes to win at this level. He is defensive minded, but his offense is potent and pass based but with a strong running component. The way he has turned Tarleton back around and made them solid bodes well for him, but if you look at his bio from Tarleton Athletics, it will show that he has a wealth of experience. With Fowler being relatively young also, I think this what this group needs. A young, engergetic guy. As much as our defense needs improvement, we have had years where our Defense was the best in the conference and we were still a 5-5, 6-5 team at best because we couldn’t score.
Finally, Fowler is a guy that gets involved in EVERY community he has been a part of. We need that. If you refer to my previous post on the Qualifications for a New AD, I think that getting not just the Community involved, but getting other surrounding communities involved would go a long way in helping us.
Candidate 3 tommorrow
Go Lions…….
Brian
He turned Tarleton around? I think you’ve got it all wrong. He inherited a really good program, and made them average/below average, at best. Go back and look at the records during the Sam McElroy and Todd Whitten days. They were constantly winning big, UNTIL Fowler took over. Now they’re lucky to be above .500!!!
Bad hire in my opinion. He’s probably trying to get this job before he gets fired at Tarleton…
It’s Hal Mumme to Commerce. Put it in the bank…
I sure hope so. He’s who I am rooting for I am doing his write up tommorrow. Hal has won at every small school he has been at. I want Air Raid sirens wailing in Commerce so loud you can hear them in Dallas.
Go Lions….
Brian
I know that TSU was awesome back in the early part of the Century, but I was under the impression after McElroy left for Texas Tech that had dropped somewhat. We beat them once when I was in school and we were an average team back then. All of our games with Tarleton, except the one this year, has been close. Oh well thanks for the info and welcome to PLN.
Go Lions……..
Brian
Hal Mumme better not come anywhere near Commerce. It would be Morris 2.0. Why all the love for coaches who are moving backward in their career?
Disagree. Morriss watered down the offense and the reason our defense gave up so many points was by being on the field for 2/3 of the game typically. Morriss tried run plays and options out of the spread and that is not what is designed for. Mumme throws the ball and wants to score at all times. He usually buries teams and is great QB teacher. Ever heard of Tim Couch? Jared Lorenzen? Those guys put up huge numbers at Kentucky when Mumme was the HC and their offense made UK a solid team in the SEC. Mumme is a better smaller school coach, but he has at least won consistently, Morriss, as much as I like him, can’t say the same.
Go Lions….
Brian
Not sure how Hal Mumme would be a good hire. Turning program around would take at least 3 years. Wouldn’t he be about 65 by that time? I would think you’d want to hire one of these younger guys, that has the energy necessary to build it and the energy necessary to sustain the success if/when it happens. Plus, what has Hal Mumme done at Mcmurray that is so special? Don’t get fooled by the shine of the car, look under the good. I’d think y’all would be much better off with fowler or carthel, if those are the options.
McMurry was a below average team before Mumme and in two years they were a 9 win NCAA D-III quarterfinalist team that beat a Division I school that same year. You are right, Hal is getting up there in age for a Coach, but I completely respect and revere what the man has done for College Football. I would agree that a younger hire would not hurt.
He was an awesome coach at Iowa Weslyan and Valdosta State. They both had very good teams when he was there.
He did about as good of a job as anyone could at New Mexico State, perhaps the worst Division I school in the entire country in any Conference.
He also turned Southeastern Louisiana around after two years then went to NMSU.
Go Lions….
Brian
All good points. Personally, I just think age is a critical factor. Someone nearing retirement doesn’t seem like the ideal fit for the job. I know Guy Morris and Hal are different people, but also have similarities due to them coming from the same background. Just think a complete break from old staff and a new outlook and approach are what’s needed.
I’d rank as follows
Carthel
Fowler
Mumme
Williams
Maybe there is a better candidate that has interviewed that brings more to the table than these four?
From an objective viewpoint I would agree with your rankings. I think Carthel would be best for the long term future of the program.
Go Lions…..
Brian
Just throwing this out there, and no one seems to be talking about him, but what about Atterberry? He’s looking for a job and did a decent job in Kingsville, despite what Javelina fans will tell you. But they are the equivalent of Ohio State fans anyway. Might be a good fit, and I’d rank him higher than both Mumme and Williams.
TAMUK is still in fits over us beating them this year and getting Chennault Cup back. Ohio State fans is about right.
Atterberry is a good coach. I wouldn’t mind him either. We have quality applicants. The only one I would strike is Brian Williams, but, again its a “guilt by association with the last coaching staff” type deal.
Go Lions…..
Brian