[Tuck4Bama]

Applewhite: A Hot Commodity on the Hot Seat

By Bill Frisbie
Lead Writer
Posted Jul 4, 2007

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA -- To say that former Texas QB Major Applewhite's career is on the fast-track would be an understatement. Just three years removed from his Graduate Assistant days with the Longhorns, the new University of Alabama offensive coordinator admits that even he is surprised by the accelerated pace of his rise through the ranks.

(Part I of a Two-Part series)
"I'm a little bit surprised at it," Major Applewhite told Inside Texas, "but you have to anticipate it with the industry. You have to anticipate the moves and all that kind of stuff."
Applewhite's ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Shortly after Texas' Rose Bowl win over Michigan, Applewhite followed former Co-Defensive Coordinator Greg Robinson to Syracuse in 2005 to groom quarterbacks and help facilitate the Orangemen's difficult transition to the West Coast Offense. Last year, Applewhite was given the reigns to Rice's offense. As one of the youngest coordinators in college football, he orchestrated the shift from the Owls' traditional (yet one-dimensional) triple-option ground game to a more multi-faceted spread offense. Within a year, Applewhite and his wife Julie were packing again. This time, passage was booked to one of college football's most storied programs that also became the epicenter of 2006's most high-profile coaching change.
When Alabama lured Nick Saban from the Miami Dolphins with the fattest contract in NCAA history, the head coach of the 2003 BCS National Champions LSU Tigers had his pick of virtual any offensive coordinator in the country. He choose the 28 year-old Applewhite.
"I don't know if I'm the youngest offensive coordinator (in Alabama history)," smiled Apllewhite, who celebrates a birthday later this month, "but probably."
It represents a bit of a homecoming for the Louisana native. Applewhite's parents were "huge" Alabama fans, given his father's friendship with former Crimson Tide QB Terry Davis. In fact, Applewhite's family was so closely enamored with the Tuscaloosa program that he was named for former Tide All-American RB Major Ogilve. Applewhite finally met his namesake during the 2001 Alabama-Auburn game, just a few weeks before his record-setting, final game in which he led Texas to an historic comeback against Washington in the Holiday Bowl. One year later, Applewhite was on opposite sidelines from his current boss when Texas beat LSU in the 2003 Cotton Bowl.
Prior to his hire, Applewhite was barely acquainted with Saban. He established the relationship through highly-regarded offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher (the former LSU assistant was mentioned for the coordinator's job at Alabama but accepted a similar position at Florida State).
"I didn't know Coach Saban well, but I talked to Jimbo a lot about going to be a GA at LSU," Applewhite said. "I thought because I had played at Texas, it might be better to go be a GA elsewhere and learn in a different environment and learn a different way of doing things. I thought it might be good to work for two different head coaches before getting my first full-time job instead of having a seven-year experience at Texas and that being your only perception of what college football is. Now, I'm going to work for my third head coach as opposed to sitting in a room and saying, 'That's not the way Mack (Brown) would do it.' You know, there's a lot of ways to skin that cat."
It's been reported that the Rice head coach opening was Applewhite's for the taking, but he deemed the Alabama coordinator's position as a more advantageous career move. As has become his custom, Applewhite consulted with Longhorn Offensive Coordinator Greg Davis before making his final decision.
"I call Greg on every one of my business decisions, or even about life decisions, in general," Applewhite noted. "He's my coach. And that coach-player bond doesn't ever leave. As you get older, there's different things you're dealing with, as opposed to 'I don't want to go to class.' Now, it's, 'How do I handle this way of life? How do I handle this industry?' The situation changes, but your bond never changes."
One of the more widely-reported stories of an Applewhite-Davis long distance counseling session occurred the night before Texas' national championship date with USC. Both now offer tongue-in-cheek, albeit different perspectives, of the conversation. As Davis recalls, Applewhite contacted him asking his opinion on whether he should leave Syracuse to accept the coordinator's position at Rice. As the conversation wore on, Davis stating, "You know, Major, that I have other things going on tonight."
Applewhite's take on the story, however, is along these lines. "I called Greg the afternoon before (the national championship game). He said, 'Call me back tonight.' I said, 'Coach Davis, I understand. I know the national championship game is tomorrow. I'm not going to call you tonight.' He said, 'Major, don't worry about it. Call me.' I kept trying to get him off of the phone because I felt like I was intruding. But he was giving me every bit and piece, every nugget that I could possibly use."
Now, of course, Applewhite occupies a coordinators' chair that is every bit as high-pressured and highly scrutinized as is Davis'. As such, is there any fear and trembling given the stratospheric expectations of the Bama fan base and magnitude of the office? "One one hand: yes," concludes Applewhite. "But, at the same time, you've got so much stuff to do. You've got so much work to do that you don't really have time to dwell on the magnitude of it as much as you do, 'Hey, just let me do my job. Let me do what I've got to do" on a continual basis that I'm not in constant reflection on what's happening. I'm really caught up in what I've got to do to make this thing successful." Next Installment (available Friday morning): Applewhite discusses the Chris Simms' QB controversy at Texas.

[Stoney]

I want to see what he does with Alabama's offense.

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Stoney

I want to see what he does with Alabama's offense.

Should be fun to watch

[Stoney]

Originally Posted by Tuck4Bama

Should be fun to watch

Let's hope it is like my X-Box Game Alabama averages 39pts per game.

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Stoney

Let's hope it is like my X-Box Game Alabama averages 39pts per game.

For once we have an experienced QB and Experiemced recivers

[Stoney]

But we need a complimentary running game to be effective.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Stoney

But we need a complimentary running game to be effective.

How is the running game looking for you guys, Stoney? Who's projected to start?

[Tuck4Bama]

RB Terry Grant -- With the departure of starter Ken Darby, the tailback spot is crowded with contenders. The Tide's leading returning rusher, Jimmy Johns, missed some of the spring working on his academics, while Grant, a redshirt freshman, emerged as a back who will get a serious look in the preseason.

[Gotham Dark Knight]

How is their recruiting class for 2008 going?

[Tuck4Bama]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

How is their recruiting class for 2008 going?

PosNat'l
RankNat'l
RatingName
School, Hometown VideoHT/ WT/ 40 Commit DateSigned LOI?Commit School


K NR Corey Smith (Musselman HS) Bunker Hill, WV 6-0/190 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

S NR Wesley Neighbors (Huntsville HS) Huntsville, AL 6-1/190 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

DE NR Michael Williams (Pickens County HS) Reform, AL 6-6/240/4.70 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

DE NR Undra Billingsley (Woodlawn High School-Magnet) Birmingham, AL 6-3/265 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

DE NR Brandon Lewis (Pleasant Grove HS) Pleasant Grove, AL 6-3/260 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

RB NR Ivan Matchett (St. Pauls Episcopal School) Mobile, AL 5-10/205/4.60 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

RB NR Jermaine Preyear (W P Davidson HS) Mobile, AL 5-11/195 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

OG NR John Michael Boswell (Tuscaloosa County HS) Northport, AL 6-6/300 Verbal Yes Committed to Alabama

WR NR Brad Smelley(American Christian Academy) Tuscaloosa, AL 6-3/215 05/06/2007 Alabama

DE NR Courtney Upshaw (Eufaula HS) Eufaula, AL 6-2.5/225 06/07/2007 Alabama

For a full list of 2008 prospects click here
Scout.com: Football Recruiting

[Stoney]

According to the "Experts" it is at worst top ten. But more likely top five.