Five Questions | New Athletic Director and First Scrimmage Thoughts

Chad G had just a bit more passion……wow. This is not contrived IMHO.

First order of business is to get rid of Nancy and any and all realated icons. Need to burn that jersey, not retire it. Second order of business is to hire Billy G as our new basketball coach. Then, I want a new scoreboard, and don’t take down the Double T.

Seth, that is a good catch about YPC. It’s a scrimmage. But I like that in a 125 play scrimmage that the QB’s combined through for over 500 yards. Doege was picked a long time ago. No accident he was the captain in waiting. I am a giant Brewer fan, and I don’t think Tubby through out those positive vibes about MB by accident. We may be looking at our first four year starter after Doege graduates.

I think we are not going to anymore on the defense until we start busting pads in the fall. Too many recruits to fill the voids. But, I do like Russian Coffee’s passion on the defensive side. I am sure that the Wizard of Oz gave him a brain. So I already feel better about the D.

We need more speed, but I am okay with Receiver by committee. I have always felt that this worked better in our offesne. I think we are okay here. I think its more the scheme. Just make sure that we fire up the tennis ball catcher over the summer. Also feel that Doege will find a go to guy anyway.

No question, Russian Coffee was the highlight.

Can’t wait for the fall.

1> The first thing Kirby should do is get someone to do a sweet paint-job on his parking spot http://www.thewizofodds.com/.a/6a00e553e551d188340120a59a9a0c970c-500wi but the most important thing he’s got to do is to build for the future in programs that might have been getting short-shrift lately (ahem) but at the same time make sure he’s not mortgaging off anything that’s been achieved already in exchange. So obviously that’s going to include making a splash hire for men’s basketball, but also holding Tuberville and co. accountable to the previous administration’s high standards of player graduation, discipline, and overall accountability.

2> Doege seems to be separating himself and that’s good. Everything is as it should be here except that Karam fumbled the ball twice according to the scrimmage stat sheet, he needs to be careful about turning into the one step forward/two steps back option on the depth chart, because there’s enough upside between Brewer and Young alone to bury him.

3> Not really. With our anchors at LB and DT gone I’d be concerned as hell if the new kids weren’t doing their best to step up and show something in practice. Honestly our defense was so terrible last year that I wouldn’t be surprised if Glasgow went ahead and reenacted the Alec Baldwin scene from Glengarry Glen Ross in the meeting room and basically let everyone know that this D doesn’t have any starters yet. Coffee is for closers.

4> Yeah I don’t know. I don’t think we’re going to see a breakout year from anyone who played a lot last year with the possible exceptions of Corndog and Darrin Moore. I think Sean Corker, if he can get on the field, has the possibility to turn into a Lyle Leong-style money man in the red zone, but I haven’t seen any tape on the new guys that everyone’s so excited about and basically if your name’s not Crabtree I’m not 100% sold on your ability to just walk on to the field here and be the guy.

5> Whoever puts these films together still hasn’t quite decided on how to spell Neal Brown’s name.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR? Roundball Coach, Beer at the Jones, Free parking for DTN members

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE? Doege has a leg up.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS? I believe Coach Glasgow is pushing everybody hard and seperating the men from the boys. This bodes well for the team.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE? Corn Dog is making a name for himself. And yes, I believe they will be receiver by commitee.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS? Defense stepping up in a big way. I didn’t see that coming in this short of a time span.

Fact – Chad Glasgow likes Jack in the Box. (credit RdrPwr for this)

Who doesn’t?

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?

The obvious is find a basketball coach. I think he should also make some effort reunite the Tech fanbase by talking about the future of Tech athletics and what he envisions. I like this guy already and think he’ll bring a young vibe to what is now a somewhat complacent AD office.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?

Doege seems to be the next QB and I’m fine with that if he’s demonstrating the most experience and talent. I was hoping that it was hoping to be Young or Brewer because I wanted to see a 3-4 year starter but that’s not likely. The good thing is we have depth for now or at least until one of these guys transfers.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?

Not at all surprised. Glasgow probably watched the film and saw our secondary had no talent what so ever. The younger guys will have plenty of opportunity and rightly so. I’m very happy LB’s and secondary guys are getting more competition. I expect we’ll see a lot of new players on defense next season. Our pass coverage was horrible last season and I think that and not being able to tackle will finally get addressed. This new DC will make an immediate impact and is an upgrade to our coaching staff.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE?

Yes. Plenty of talent to spread out among several players. Torres will be a constant because of his consistency. I expect lots of new faces making big plays. My bigger concern is the play calling and OC Brown’s ability to run this offense. I’m hopeful he has learned from last season.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS?

Much better coaching. The defense has a swagger that they haven’t had for a long time. I think some players got lazy last season and I doubt that happens with the new coach eyeing practice for the weak links. So far so good and I’m hoping injuries are minimized and players play up to the maximum potential.

I love that Coach G won’t just skim over mistakes that killed us last year! He is gonna get that D rolling. Ronnie Daniels really impressed me also.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR? Fundraising, Expansion.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?
 Will be in good hands with Doege.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?
Not suprised at all. These freshman, walk-ons and JC transfers have a lot to prove and are competing for spots and scholarships. They generally work harder. Especially knowing that all spots are up for grabs on defense.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE? I think you’ll see the same production from last years starters.
I have a feeling that we will see alot of tweeks to the offense and alot more passes to running backs. Which it think is a good idea.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS? Intensity on defense.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR? Study what we have, what traditions are sacred, what our reasonable potentials are, then make a 1, 3, 5 and 10-yr plan to increase fundraising, improve facilities, improve our PR regionally and nationally, and make us a desirable member of any of the top conferences.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?
 Doege has promise if he stays healthy. But how mobile is he? It leaves the door open for several to see playing time this year. I hope none transfers away.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?
Not surprised since we lost Will Ford. I think the new class will make a dent, I expect a few to play as true frosh. I like Durham. Don’t be surprised if a few “athletes” end up in the rotation next fall. Will be hard for the walk-ons to compete with the speed the new guys will bring.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE? Yes, but we need a true deep threat and tall “jump-ball” endzone receiver like Leong.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS? The Scott. He needs to be intense but not try too hard. he will burn out or burn up the players. He will probably settle but better to set a high bar and forgive a bit later. We can’t afford to run guys off but we can’t have what we had last year and win alot of games. I think Scotty will be a good one, just like Muschamp, Bud Foster, etc. They yell but their players know there is love too.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR? Find a MBB coach. It seems to me that hiring the right coaches is the key to his position. If he does that, fundraising, facilities, PR, national exposure fall into place.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE? Based on the stats only, seems like all of them are about where they should be in terms of the development process.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS? With the injuries and transfer … no.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE? Yes and that’s a good thing if Brown believes in Leach’s philosophy in getting the ball into as many play makers hands as possible.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS? haven’t seen enough of them to weigh in.

I hope that Brown has learned his lessons from last year and will grow into his position. To me, he is the key to the whole deal. Tech has had the most success when the offense kept the opposing defenses on their heals because of execution and distribution.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?
I hate to take away focus from the football program, but seriously. Get rid of little kuniggit.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?
I like how Doege is carrying himself. To listen to him, he sounds like Potts did after a lot of growing up under pressure, only better and more mature. I love SYoung and his dimensions and arm strength. But if Brewer is sounds very mature but is obviously very much behing the others. Im wondering if a redshirt may not put him in a position to overtake everyone and take over for good as a Sophomore. This may put him head to head with scotty young, but so be it. For now, the job is Doege’s to lose.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?
YES, very. Porter, Davis, Phillips. I thought these guys maturing in our system may bode well in the long term. The surgence of ALL these new names makes me VERY nervous. To think we may have another season like we did last season in the secondary makes my stomach queezy.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE?
I sure hope not. For two years we waited for the emergence of Swindall and Lewis. What we got was less than spectacular. If Crabtree was a 100, we expected for those two to be two 90’s at worst to 95’s at best. We did have the emergence of Leong and Torres two years ago. Torres lost season to injury was a big blow. This made the absence of Swindall and Lewis much more painful. Think of the season we could of had is ALL FOUR performed like we know they could have. The receiver corps is, therefore, wide open. SOMEONE, has to step up like no one has stepped up in the last two seasons.
5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS? The maturity of the players.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?
First job: spend three days making skid-greasing phone calls to the Pac-10 power brokers for futurre reference…most important job, get a basketball coach who can actually coach basketball.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?
From all indications it’s not a race for anything more than the backup…looks like Doege is pretty far ahead.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?
A little surpised, but a lot of it is pleasant. I like open competition…may the best man win, not the most well knows.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE?
I doubt it. Someone will eventually step up to be the comfort zone and go-to player for the QB. Happens with every QB at every level.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS?
Didn’t realize how intense things are this early in the process for the players.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?

Short Term:

- Fire PK. It’s over. The Knights. Myers all of it. Time to turn the page.
- Define and communicate strategy. We’ve never seen that. It would be refreshing.
- Keep Nevada on the schedule

Long Term:

- Keep us in a BCS conference. Get us into the Pac-10 and either leverage it to improve Tech’s position in the Big 12, or move on to the Pac 10.
- Fund Raising
- Whatever else it is that an AD does
- Establish independence from the Chancellor’s office. Chancellors only seem to run the football program at Tech. They don’t at UT, ATM or anywhere else.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?

Doege and then everyone else.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?

Didn’t look that closely. But if Tech’s offense generated x number of yards, that means the defense surrendered the same x number of yards. Defenses are normally ahead of offenses in spring training. Obviously not the case here. Reason to be concerned.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE?

Yes, and I think that’s fine.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS?

Not too much. I think the team’s strength will be the O-line this year and the following year.

What did Hocutt do at Miami that should impress anyone? Seems to me the football program went into the tank, baseball team has been MIA, and basketball program kind of remained the same.

Looks like y’all still have a lot of issues defensively. Did not see enough speed on the field during your Cotton Bowl practices to make me think the TCU version of the 4-2-5 will work for y’all. We will see.

I still think y’all are going to be a majority run team.

White helmets do not look good. Black helmets, black pants, and red shirt. That is one of the better looking uniforms in the country and should help with recruiting. Why change it?

Is our offense that good, or or defense just that terrible?

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?
His very first action must be to determine the state in which our 17 competitive sports pressently reside, especially basketball. While we all tend to want Junior gone, it is the new AD’s responsibility to make that determination and act as necessary.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?
It is still early, but I have always fealt that Seth Doege was very capable. He is now showing that, with no signs of problems from his previous injuries. The rest still need time to understand what is going on. I think Karem and Young are not far behind and, given their immense talent, could push Doege some by the time the new season arrives. I feel Brewer being new to it all will warrent his spending some red-shirt time to catch up to the rest of the gang. The really interesting competition will begin in the Fall, but it is very important that the “back-ups” now keep working to get better so we can have the best possible QB by then.
3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?
There were a couple of surprises, but I expected some surprises given the talent level we have attained. I like that the tackles, pass breakups, interceptions and sacks were pretty well spread among a bunch of players. Those figures will get better, but they are going up whgainst what may be one of the top offenses in the country, so we should not expect complete domination by the defense now, maybe never.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE?
Yes. Of course, I fel there will be four who will wind up with the major work. Who? We’ll just have to wait and see, as we have some of the best talent available catching the ball.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS?
How well the new guys played with it being their first real game-type situation in college. That goes for the “O” and the “D”. More will become visable as the smoke clears, but the team appears to be well stocked at every position, with none being very weak. Again, we will see where it all sits by season start, but for now, I am excited that we have so much talent and that talent is really showing up well.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?
It’s time to improve the Tech message. Communicate the way ahead. Find a way to get every Alum who pays taxes to ante up and rebuild the war chest. Take a page out of the UT AD’s book and get the best coaches we can afford. Keep our skirts clean academically, no violations or rouge behavior tolerated.

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE?

Agree with cweber7377 or somebody – it’s not so much a race as it is the leader who emerges, who can make everyone else on the team/unit/squad better. My bet is on Doege but Karam could surprise. Or put another way I don’t think we would be disappointed in him if he was called on as the back up to go in and pull out a game. Just a hunch here.
3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS?
Not so much. The defensive line was mediocre last year, the secondary riddled with untimely injuries and we had B. Duncan playing out of position for coach who seemed a bit befuddled by the speed of the game. In this scenario with a new Def coordinator I bet the kids feel it’s a wide open event just go and give it your best shot.
4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE?

Gonna go out on limb here and say I’d don’t see how it will be anything but a "starter" by committee. That’s not necessarily a bad thing in that it mitigates the drop off . I don’t see a monster performer at wide out catching 100 plus passes; not Corcker, not Mays and not Ward. They could surprise us all but we have had very few consensus all American wide outs out on the South plains. The average receiver at Tech is very likely going to catch 4 – 5 per game get 55 – 80 yards and score once or not at all. If they all and I mean the 2 deep here do something like this every outing its easy math 350 – 401 yard in the air every time isn’t that what we all want ? An unstoppable assault wearing out the opposing formation 2 deep secondary? That and a few 20 yard romps by the Running backs and I’m happy. Go committee..
5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS?

Based on where the coaching staff was going I guess the uptick in defense is a surprise. Really hated being below 50th in the nation this year just made watching painful. I just want to see Jeff Fuller and that ass jacker Wide out from OU on their asses 5 or 6 times a game. Chase Ryan Tannehill, G. Gilbert and Laundry Jones around so much their shoe laces explode. From friction. More seriously with head coach who is a defensive guy and a character like Coach Glasgow we shouldn’t be too surprised that that side of the ball goes form ugly to downright active / good / dare we say respectable? The formula should be bit more coherent for one aspect in particular – assistant coaches knowing the speed of the game. It seemed like at key stretches throughout the 2010 season someone would get surprised by the down and distance versus the package. I don’t think we see half of that in 2011 again a hunch.

1. WHAT IS NEW AD KIRBY HOCUTT’S FIRST JOB AND MOST IMPORTANT JOB AS ATHLETIC DIRECTOR?

Water at home games. Tortilla give aways with tickets. Men who ride as the Red Raiders with reins in teeth and two guns up—real black powder colts revolvers…and a suite for me including travel, lodging, and meals (with reservations)

2. WHAT ARE YOUR EARLY IMPRESSIONS OF THE QUARTERBACK RACE? Win, win, win situation.

3. ARE YOU SURPRISED ABOUT THE NOT SO KNOWN NAMES SHOWING UP IN THE SECONDARY AND ARE THERE ANY OTHER SURPRISES FROM LOOKING AT THE DEFENSIVE STATISTICS? Football players are where you find them.

4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE 2011 RECEIVING CORPS WILL BE RECEIVER BY COMMITTEE? Balance across the skill players is more important than a Heisman for getting wins.

5. WHAT SURPRISES YOU MOST FROM THE HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS WEEKEND’S HIGHLIGHTS? Dunno, spending a lot of time with my woman.

It might be the video angles or just that it was so close to the field, but everything looked a little slow. The QB’s passes didn’t appear crisp or lacked some zip. I’m not knocking anyone I know we have great athletes. I just think the video was a little disappointing. But, any video is better than no video. Still a long ways away from fall football…

Have I missed something about him being injured or something? Just curious as to why he didn’t show up in the box score.