Fresno State considering Alabama offensive coordinator McElwain and Oakland RB coach Skipper
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 10, 2011 3:25 PM PST
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PrintThere are two finalists in Fresno State's scramble for a new head coach. Per an article in the Fresno Bee, the Bulldogs are considering former Fresno State OC and current Alabama OC Jim McElwain, and former Fresno State RB and assistant Kelly Skipper, who is now Oakland's RB coach. At least one of Fresno State's boosters has spoken positively about him. In 2009 he was reportedly asked by Fresno State boosters if he would like to coach at Fresno State. He replied, "Yes. Just let me know when Pat Hill leaves or retires." He was being considered for the Memphis HC job but pulled out of contention Wednesday, adding some weight to thoughts that he might be hired.
via media.al.com
McElwain was at Fresno State as OC in 2007. That year the Bulldogs averaged nearly 33 points per game and over 400 yards of offense, nearly beat Texas A&M in triple OT, and ended the year with a win over Georgia Tech in the Humanitarian Bowl. Alabama is currently 16th in the nation at 36 points per game - in the SEC. He will inherit no shortage of offensive talent; Derek Carr, Robbie Rouse and Jalen Saunders all return. The defense is the question; ravaged by injuries, it gave up 48 points to perennial WAC bottom-dweller New Mexico State in a loss this year. Leaving is Logan Harrell, the team's best DT and a decent NFL prospect who had 10.5 sacks just a year ago.
As a Fresno State fan, I certainly wouldn't be averse to him being here, considering 2007 was our last bowl victory and it was over a BCS team. He might bring the recruiting push that Pat Hill seemed to lack.Incidentally, his QB that year, Tom Brandstater, may start for the Rams this week against Seattle.
Skipper, meanwhile, heads an Oakland Raiders RB corps that is still managing 140+ yards per game with it's #1 and #3 RBs down. Either of these sounds like a fair choice, although personally I'd prefer McElwain.
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Wow, this could work
Its important that the Bulldogs recover quickly from the firing of Pat Hill. This may be just the ticket.
Yeah.
Me likey. ‘Specially cuz he’s from the SEC, and he has that big-name draw going.
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 9, 2011 12:57 PM PST up reply actions
They gotta do it quick, though. They had to put off a bunch of recruit visits this weekend.
And they don’t wanna lose their only commit.
Something I do wonder is
whether Fresno State will lose the Special Teams edge they always had under Pat Hill. They lead the NCAA in blocked kicks since 2002 and blocked at least 9 this season.
I loved Pat Hill
but I have to agree that either of these two could be winners. I think Alabama OC Jim McElwain could be just the medicine Fresno needs to hit the fast track.
Teamwork is what the Green Bay Packers were all about. They didn't do it for individual glory. They did it because they loved one another.---Vince Lombardi
Pat Hill was more along the lines of Paterno.
Less X’s and O’s knowledge and more of a motivator. If he lucked out and had a good team he’d get them to play their hearts out and make a good run. If not; stuff like this year would happen.
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 10, 2011 8:05 PM PST up reply actions
*Paterno late in his career.
Less X’s and O’s INVOLVEMENT.
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 10, 2011 8:06 PM PST up reply actions
Now I'm seen a tweet that McElwain has pulled out.
Not enough to confirm that yet tho.
If he has I’d wonder if they’ll go after Michigan’s offensive coordinator Al Borges; a local news station tweeted he submitted his resume.
Interesting
Being a Michigan Alum I paid a lot of attention to how Borges did with Robinson and RichRod’s recruits. What I saw was a very open mind with a constantly evolving offense that wasn’t beholden to a single system, complete opposit of RichRod. But the local Ann Arbor paper (can get link thru Mlive.com) just mentioned that Hoke expects his staff to stay in tact… But only mentioned Borges being linked to other OC jobs… Might change if we’re talking about a HC job.
Noticed.
He gave some bullshit about revenue problems. Those were directly attributable to ticket sale declines which in turn were obviously influenced by declining fan support for Pat Hill.
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 12, 2011 2:56 PM PST up reply actions
Must have thought CSU had a better future
Probably comes down to him feeling CSU has a better foundation in terms of current players, recruits, and support from the administration…. CSU just hired a new AD in order to execute a big vision, while Fresno is stuck in the California budget morass.
Yeah. But a fanbase like Fresno State's is hard to alienate. Hill managed to do that.
Smart guy like McElwain wouldn’t.
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 12, 2011 3:22 PM PST up reply actions
They always interview the coach on radio post-game.
And fans were just absolutely trashing Hill near the end.
by ROFLCOPTER16 on Dec 12, 2011 3:27 PM PST up reply actions
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