So...you're the son of a famous coach...when can you start?

[AG_jr]

As I sat here this morning, wondering how next season will turn out, I came to an important realization. I was one of the first to criticize the committee for going after yet another son of a famous coach. But the more I have reflected on the last 6 years of Bulldog Football, hiring sons of famous coaches has actually turned out pretty well for our program. While Dooley may not have been that great at the X's and O's, he did a great job as AD in securing facility improvements, thus helping make our program more attractive to recruits. Dykes arguably did more for our actual football team than any other coach in the last 20 years in garnering national recognition and getting us into the top 25, and made great strides in recruiting. And neither of these had any head coaching experience! I was quick to call Skip a proven loser, but that was out of frustration. I am now excited about the idea, because he has 10+ years of head coaching experience! He had great success at ECU, and while he didn't fare so well at USF, there is no telling what kind of issues he ran into. On top of all that, being the son of a famous coach means you have access to mentors that know how to win. Who better to get advice from? (Other than DFM, of course).

All of this to say, Skip may not have been on anybody's list, but this formula has worked so far, and I'm looking forward to Coach Holtz leading the Dawgs to consecutive winning seasons/conference championships/bowl games, and into the BIG XII!!!

GO DAWGS!!!

[ChuckK3]

What a lot of people want to criticize about "son of a famous coach" is so ridiculous. When DADDY is successful, it's almost a given that SON wants to be equally or more successful.

I think some of y'all criticize SUNSHINE and 72-degrees because it's too bright, not cold enough for a jacket, not hot enough to go swimmin' --- sheesh.

[70TECHGRAD]

What a lot of people want to criticize about "son of a famous coach" is so ridiculous. When DADDY is successful, it's almost a given that SON wants to be equally or more successful.

I think some of y'all criticize SUNSHINE and 72-degrees because it's too bright, not cold enough for a jacket, not hot enough to go swimmin' --- sheesh.

Well, that is what we do on bb&b. We critize, gripe, discuss, cuss, etc. And...we leave no dead horse unbeaten!

[champion110]

As I sat here this morning, wondering how next season will turn out, I came to an important realization. I was one of the first to criticize the committee for going after yet another son of a famous coach. But the more I have reflected on the last 6 years of Bulldog Football, hiring sons of famous coaches has actually turned out pretty well for our program. While Dooley may not have been that great at the X's and O's, he did a great job as AD in securing facility improvements, thus helping make our program more attractive to recruits. Dykes arguably did more for our actual football team than any other coach in the last 20 years in garnering national recognition and getting us into the top 25, and made great strides in recruiting. And neither of these had any head coaching experience! I was quick to call Skip a proven loser, but that was out of frustration. I am now excited about the idea, because he has 10+ years of head coaching experience! He had great success at ECU, and while he didn't fare so well at USF, there is no telling what kind of issues he ran into. On top of all that, being the son of a famous coach means you have access to mentors that know how to win. Who better to get advice from? (Other than DFM, of course).

All of this to say, Skip may not have been on anybody's list, but this formula has worked so far, and I'm looking forward to Coach Holtz leading the Dawgs to consecutive winning seasons/conference championships/bowl games, and into the BIG XII!!!

GO DAWGS!!!

Good post! Time for everyone to get on the bandwagon and support our new coach and the team! I am already ready for September!

[EJ]

But we also show up when needed...

[Woof!]

What a lot of people want to criticize about "son of a famous coach" is so ridiculous. When DADDY is successful, it's almost a given that SON wants to be equally or more successful.

Since we are talking "pedigree".....sometimes when daddy is successful, it's almost a given that DAUGHTER wants to be equally or more successful.

[ChuckK3]

Well, that is what we do on bb&b. We critize, gripe, discuss, cuss, etc. And...we leave no dead horse unbeaten!

After 15 years of posting here, I'm getting rather weary of that. The events of the last 4 weeks has frustrated ME too...but I will NOT turn my back on OUR University. EVER. I will support the BLUE AND RED until I'm graveyard DEAD.

...Then they can bury me in a Blue casket, with Red velvet interior.

[DarboneDon]

CK3, Great post...I am with you! GO DAWGS!!!

[Gooddawg]

I'd say it has worked out very well for us in the past and I think Holtz has shown he can get the job done too so I am excited about this hire. Some of the other guys we were looking at were college coaches for a grand total of 3 years. What kind of recruiting and coaching contacts could you have with that little time in the business? Can't wait to see what kind of staff he puts together and so glad he'll have some time to recruit and put together a great class in Feb.

[StrayDawg]

It is a little strange that we have hired 4 consecutive coaches who were also the sons of former D-1A coaches, but I'm okay with it as long as we keep moving forward.

Not only is Coach Holtz a good hire, but he is the first coach that we have hired in years who has previous head coaching experience. In 1983, we hired AL Williams to replace Billy Brewer, who left to be the coach at Ole Miss. Coach Williams was a Tech alum who had been coaching at Northwestern for several years and had a record of 38-46. Coach Brewer had no head coaching experience when he became our head coach.

Coach Brewer replaced Larry Beightol who had no prior head coaching experience and was fired after one season. Actually, our baseball coach, Gravy Patterson, coached the last game because Beightol had already been fired.

Beightol replaced Maxie Lambright, who is one of the best coaches in our program's history with a record of 95-36-2 and 3 D-1AA National Championships. But, when he became our head coach, he had no prior head coaching experience.

Coach Lambright replaced a young man named Joe Aillet. Coach Aillet is in the college football hall of fame, but he also had no head coaching experience when he became our head coach. There were a lot of coaches before him, but you get the point.

Prior head coaching records at time of hiring at Louisiana Tech:

Skip Holtz: 88-71
Sonny Dykes: 0-0
Derek Dooley: 0-0
Jack Bicknell: 0-0
Gary Crowton: 0-0
Joe Raymond Peace: 0-0
Carl Torbush: 0-0
A.L. Williams: 38-46
Larry Beightol: 0-0
Billy Brewer: 0-0
Maxie Lambright: 0-0
Joe Aillet: 0-0

Obviously you don't need head coaching experience to be successful, but this is the first time in three decades that our program is getting a head coach that alredy knows how to be a head coach. This is a good hire for our program.

[DONW]

Hiring Beightol was just one of many F J Taylor screw ups. Beightol was a 3 yards and a cloud of dust guy. Our previous success had been throwing the ball.

[BhadDawg]

Hiring Beightol was just one of many F J Taylor screw ups. Beightol was a 3 yards and a cloud of dust guy. Our previous success had been throwing the ball.

We have always done better with our talent when we throw the ball, that apparently is just what we will always do best, so let's stick with it.

[BuzDawg73]

I want balance in our offense that takes advantage of all our strengths, and doesn't make us too predictable. At least we have a coach that isn't going to arrive a week before signing day. My gut says we are going to be just fine.

[TJDAWG]

The Holtz hire will also help with national publicity. It never a bad thing when your Dad can talk about you on national television

[Dogsince65]

not me-- I want to be cremated as sprinkled over the Joe

After 15 years of posting here, I'm getting rather weary of that. The events of the last 4 weeks has frustrated ME too...but I will NOT turn my back on OUR University. EVER. I will support the BLUE AND RED until I'm graveyard DEAD.

...Then they can bury me in a Blue casket, with Red velvet interior.