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Notes, Quotes and Slants
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Pirate
Notebook No. 163
Friday, December 19, 2003
By Denny O'Brien
Staff Writer and Columnist |
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J.T. should look to program's
past
©2003 Bonesville.net
At this rate of attrition, East Carolina coach John Thompson
may have to replace much of his core staff before spring practice.
At last count, both offensive line coach J.B. Grimes and
offensive coordinator Rick Stockstill had abandoned ship, taking with them
decades of experience and an encyclopedia of recruiting contacts.
Defensive line coach Art Kaufman also has been linked to
openings, meaning Thompson could have a trio of vacancies before Santa
arrives.
Not exactly my definition of holiday cheer.
 Turnover
is normal in the coaching profession, but not at such
an alarming pace in the higher-profile
assistantships. When this type of erosion strikes, it can be
a major warning sign of unhealthy turbulence behind the scenes.
On the other hand, it could signify that Thompson is
cleaning house in an attempt to show he is addressing some weaknesses.
However, that would contradict his statements following a season-ending loss
to Southern Miss that no changes would be made during the off-season.
For Grimes, the move to Mississippi State somewhat makes
sense given that it was an opportunity to return to a BCS conference. The
SEC is the nation's premiere league, and that may be enough to offset the
NCAA investigations the Bulldogs are facing.
In Stockstill's case, it isn't that simple.
Stockstill fled the Palmetto State last year with
aspirations of becoming a head coach. The first step in that odyssey, he
said at the time, was to become an offensive coordinator, a position from
which he was previously removed at Clemson.
One year later, Stockstill finds himself at rival South
Carolina with a demotion in rank.
Bottom line: Thompson again is in a position of trying to
fill key assistant coaching positions during the stretch run of the
recruiting season.
Hiring assistants in football is more difficult than in any
other sport. With so many coaches on the payroll, it is nearly impossible to
ensure new hires will mesh well with the current staff, understand the
fabric of the program, and buy into the systems that are in place.
Judging by the number of barricades Thompson faced in
assembling his original supporting cast, finding top-drawer replacements for
the defections will be no easy task.
The first calls likely will go to coaches with whom Thompson
already has a relationship, the normal protocol for almost any skipper when
situations like this occur.
A potential complication in that approach is that suddenly,
for the first time in many years, many prospects to fill the vacant coaching
positions may view East Carolina as a stepping stone to greener pastures. As
a result, luring coaches with no intimate knowledge of the program — or
direct ties to the area — could backfire down the road.
More than anything, Thompson needs to re-establish some
continuity and a sense of stability in the ranks, perhaps by stealing a page
or two from the program's less precarious days.
Former offensive line coach Steve Shankweiler, whose son
Kort is a member of the ECU football team, should be an obvious candidate to
replace Grimes. His track record as an architect of dominant offensive
fronts speaks for itself, and his ability to assimilate himself within a
system is proven.
While at East Carolina, Coach 'Shank' often was credited as
a catalyst for a balanced offense that, in 2001, was one of only a handful
in the nation to average more than 200 yards rushing and passing. The move
from ECU to Cincinnati was relatively smooth, as the Bearcats averaged 165
yards rushing despite the loss of an all-league back and other key
personnel.
With Shankweiler, Thompson would also get an assistant with
an understanding of the challenges East Carolina faces in recruiting and a
superior eye for spotting talented, overlooked linemen.
As an added bonus, if Shank can be drawn back to Greenville,
it probably wouldn't be with the intention of hopping quickly to a parallel
position elsewhere. That in itself is a rarity in a profession filled with
temps.
Finding an offensive coordinator could be a monumental task
considering last year's epic search. East Carolina's 1-11 record and the
immediacy with which the new hire will be expected to produce could increase
the challenge of landing an offensive Einstein.
Given the circumstances, intangibles could be as important
as money in attracting the best possible candidate. Perhaps no intangible is
more important than close ties to the community.
With that in mind, my first call would go to Doug Martin.
Where former Pirates coach Steve Logan developed the
blueprint for the school's most successful gridiron stretch since joining
Division I-A, Martin was the foreman who oversaw the day-to-day application
of its most important element — the offense. His quick-strike mentality was
so innovative that coaches from high-profile programs adopted the system.
Martin also can be credited with the development of the
school's most prolific passer and its two best receivers. After a season in
which both positions struggled, his expertise would be a major shot in the
arm.
That is, if he would come. Martin already was snubbed once
by Thompson and he's already having success elsewhere, so you could hardly
blame him if he declined an offer.
But it still is worth a call.
Convincing Shankweiler and Martin to return won't guarantee
a quick turnaround, but it may buy Thompson some time. Following the most
tumultuous season in school history — one in which the program's aura and
fabric suffered major stress — it definitely would be a positive step
forward.
It also would rebuild some bridges that were severed last
December.
Different problem, similar fix
News that
ECU's strength and conditioning staff will be
reorganized and expanded creates another strategic position
that has to be filled quickly with someone who must produce results without
a learning curve.
Jim Whitten will continue to be in charge of the S&C
program, according to a Thursday statement from interim AD Nick Floyd, but
will relinquish his focus on the football team to a yet-to-be-hired staff
member.
This move might derail a plan said to have been under
serious consideration to entice Jeff Connors to return to Greenville. The
current North Carolina and former Pirates strength coach has a hefty price
tag and probably is unwilling to be second in command.
Using the same line of reasoning that concludes Shankweiler
and Martin would be solid choices for the vacancies on Thompson's staff,
here's my affordable solution for solving the new S&C equation: There should
be enough in the piggy bank to bring Jeff Kerr back home.
Kerr, a former Pirates linebacker and team captain, now is
an assistant strength coach under Connors in Chapel Hill. While at East
Carolina, he embraced the blue collar work ethic instilled by Connors and
now has transformed it into a career.
"Strength and conditioning is more where I want to be," Kerr
said last fall. "You're with the kids all the time. As a football coach,
you're with them through spring practice, then you're with them from fall
camp until the end of the season.
"I get more satisfaction out of my job and I think I can do
a better job with the players if I'm around them more."
Sign him up.
Changing Townes
The return of Art Brown next season presents an interesting
dilemma for East Carolina. His presence, along with Marvin Townes, gives the
Pirates two 1,000-yard rushers.
Considering that neither is physically capable of a move to
fullback, including both in the backfield isn't a likely option. So, either
the two will share carries next season, or one could be moved to receiver.
Because of Brown's low center of gravity and stocky stature,
Townes would be the more likely candidate for a switch.
"I haven't considered a position change, but I will tell you
this like I told Coach (Thompson)," Townes said several weeks ago. "I told
coach that if Art can come in and he can hold the load... I wouldn't mind
going out to receiver and playing.
"I'm not a selfish person. If he can pull that load, hey,
put me out at receiver."
Townes was the Pirates' third leading receiver this past
season with 23 catches for 176 yards. His two touchdown receptions tied
record-breaking receiver Terrance Copper for top honors.
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02/23/2007 01:51:47 AM |
