The Dark Horses

[T_Won]

Clint Conque

http://www.ucasports.com/sport.asp?s...bio&staffid=17

Strengths:
- Head Coaching experience
- Built a program from the ground up
- Consistently wins
- Former Tech recruiting coordinator
- Public Relations
- Might stay for a long time

Weakness:
- Still runs Crowton's offense (screen-heavy). Would it work at this level? They scored 7 on us in Ruston in 2007.

Year
Record
Pct.
2000 3-8
2001 9-3
2002 8-3
2003 5-6
2004 8-3
2005 11-3
2006 8-3
2007 6-5
2008 10-2

Totals
68-36
.654


Matt Viator (McNeese HC)

http://mcneesesports.cstv.com/sports...or_matt00.html

Strengths:
- Head coaching experience
- Knows the state and has lots of recruiting contacts
- Might stay at Tech for a long time

Weakness:
- The Bobby Keasler expirement at NLU


He is one of the top offensive minds in 1-AA football. While serving as offensive coordinator, the Cowboys ranked among the national leaders in offense for five of the past seven years and the university has also produced the Southland Conference's top offensive performer two of the last four seasons. His offenses have led the league in scoring three times.
Prior to joining the Cowboys he was one of the top prep coaches in the state, producing an 81-37 won-lost record, winning one state crown and five league titles.

Southland Conference Coach of the year for 2006 and was also named the Louisiana collegiate coach of the year by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association; state coach of year '92, '98

[johnnylightnin]

Conque is not returning to Ruston...too much baggage (allegedly).

We better do better than Viator or we'll soon be playing McNeese in conference.

[glm47]

Conque is not returning to Ruston...too much baggage (allegedly).

We better do better than Viator or we'll soon be playing McNeese in conference.

I like Conque but you are correct about the baggage. Plus either of those would be a PR disaster, in my opinion. They will not excite the fans, players or recruits.

[faninmonroe]

I'll pass on anyone with recent UL-mon connections.

[T_Won]

I was impressed with UCA in 2007.

Viator is a proven winner at two different levels of competition.

Just throwing it out there. Both are more proven than Dooley was. But these guys are very long shots. They might wow in an interview though.

[dadawgula]

We could do worse than Conque.

[Ktulu7]

We could do worse than Conque.

Do you think our fanbase likes the Conque?

I wonder what the alleged baggage is...?

[T_Won]

We could do worse than Conque.

I think so too.

[johnnylightnin]

I wonder what the alleged baggage is...?

I don't know, but it seems as if there's very little likelihood he ever returns to Tech.

My dark-horses are:

Jeff Bower
Terry Bowden (Tommy is less of a dark horse)
Major Applewhite (because of his age mainly)

Maybe Stockstill (The Boro would love that wouldn't he?)

[hookdown]

I wonder what the alleged baggage is...?

Ask some of the old timers, but I think he burned a few bridges when he left.

[dadawgula]

Do you think our fanbase likes the Conque?

I wonder what the alleged baggage is...?

Probably not since many of our fans are delusional but he has proven himself as a coach. By the way, he was one of our best recruiters while at Tech. Baggage is burning some bridges when he left. I am sure he has matured with nearly a decade as a head coach but I am not sure we have matured enough to forget.

[T_Won]

Ask some of the old timers, but I think he burned a few bridges when he left.

I remember him being very pissed that Bicknell got the job. He took a bunch of our subs to UCA with him. Looking back, we apparently made the wrong choice between he and Bicknell. Who knows though... Bicknell didn't have the resources that Dooley got and the results on the field were about the same. (but that's another conversation).

[Reckless Abandon]

Conque's got no love for Tech. There were bridges burned in both directions.

[rockdog]

What about...

Mark Hudspeth
http://www.mstateathletics.com/ViewA...&Q_SEASON=2010

His name was brought up a lot during our first search...

[Ktulu7]

What about...

Mark Hudspeth
http://www.mstateathletics.com/ViewA...&Q_SEASON=2010

His name was brought up a lot during our first search...

Hey, not bad at all, actually!