Texas Tech Interviewing Tommy Tuberville To Replace Mike Leach

Things are staying interesting for Tech football, even after the dismissal of the Pirate.

It's now being reported that Tech will predictably interview Tommy Tuberville for the Red Raiders' head coaching vacancy.  Art Briles' buyout figure of $4 million looks prohibitive, and interim coach Ruffin McNeil is the only other candidate that has been interviewed as yet. 

I was really proud of the job Ruff did in winning the Alamo Bowl, and I think it was a pretty good indication that he has some potential as a quality head coach.  No one can say for sure, because he's never held that title before. 

Now, I'm not sure what's going to happen here, but I'll be surprised if our administration has the balls to stick with McNeil. 

That's not meant to be an indictment against what Ruff has accomplished here, but more a testament to what Tuberville's resume is going to look like when he slides it across the table tomorrow and points to SEC titles, a decade of top 15 recruiting, and a perfect season at a school that is arguably facing similar competitive disadvantages to Texas Tech. 

I'm not pulling for Tuberville because I'm 100% confident that he is the right choice.  I'm pulling for Tuberville because we'll still have the opportunity to hire Art Briles or Ruffin McNeil in two years, which might not be the case with what is probably the best bargain on the free agent coaching market right now.

Now, I'm going to post a link to an article from 2007 and I want all Tech fans to read it. 

Because if our next move is wrong, and Mike Sherman ends up getting fired at A&M, Tommy Tuberville will probably be the guy wearing the headset in College Station for the next decade.  The shit will get real when Ruffin McNeil and Lincoln Riley are in a chess match with a guy who mentored the next head coach at the University of Texas. 

Yet, somehow, Tech fans feel he may not be good enough for us.  Let me ask you a question: When Will Muschamp rolls to Lubbock next fall with a salty defense, who do you think is going to come in more handy for a young Air Raid protégé to rely on in preparation? 

That's what I thought.

Tommy Tuberville is pimping himself out for the Tech job because he's a smart and calculating man.  Any good coach can look at our 2009 game tape and returning roster, and realize this is the sure-thing job to win 10 games.  It's not going to get any easier at South Bend, Lawrence, or Columbia. 

Tuberville wouldn't be interested here if he didn't feel this were a great situation.  He's been working as a college football analyst and is fully aware of what Steven Sheffield and Baron Batch can do. 

He knows Ruff has been stocking improved defensive talent.  He knows how to recruit in the state of Texas, and knows there is enough talent to field four or five competitive defenses in the Big 12. 

He's scoured over our current commit list and is fully aware that keeping it intact will be priority No. 1.  I would imagine he even finds a place on staff for Ruffin McNeil and Lincoln Riley to ensure that will happen.

The extended life of the Air Raid seems to be the major concern for most Tech fans with a Tuberville hire, but I'll promise you that your best option to win a Big 12 title is not the Air Raid if Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown are your running backs.

Tuberville sounds willing to keep the system in place, and his past history with the running game could coexist in harmony with Lincoln Riley's balance of playcalling from the Alamo Bowl.  Having a schematic defensive wizard on staff could go a long way in offering knowledge of the intricacies of soft spots in Cover 2. 

If Ruffin McNeil is our next head coach, then I will support him unless he fails, just like every other good Tech fan. 

I know there is also some concern about Tuberville using this as a springboard job.  Were that scenario to play out, I would imagine we'll feel a lot like Baylor might if we steal Art Briles after Tuberville won us enough games to get the job at Georgia, something Leach never could do.  Plus, the price is $1 million cheaper next year. 

As I step back from the emotional high of the Alamo Bowl, and look at the candidates on paper, maybe it wouldn't be such a bad idea for Ruff to get a season or two of experience under Tuberville; it'll make him more qualified. 

We can certainly make another run at Ruff at that point, but a coach like Tuberville is not going to be sitting around forever.  

With Ruff, we'll be rolling the dice on a guy with fewer skins on the wall than any football coach we've hired in the history of our program.  That sounds like a significant risk, given the progress we've made to date under Leach's tutelage. 

And, I'm really not sure Mike Leach is the best example to mentor under with regards to being a future head coach.  We can all make this work, but I'll save the best reason for last.

He turned down the Texas A&M Aggies, and now they are possibly facing the embarrassment of their wet dream coach landing on the sidelines of a division rival.  Not just any division rival—Texas Tech. 

So anyone that wants to make a hire simply based on what would fuck with the Aggies more, then Tuberville is your guy.  That's never a mistake, IMHO.  I can't say that about the other candidates and, if we pass on him, then prepare yourself for the possibility of facing him in College Station.

This was written by dedfischer at The Tortilla Retort .