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A lot of times I have thoughts but don't make a new thread about them, but I'm finding myself extraordinarily bored and craving off-season football discussion the last few days, so...
I was thinking a lot about Ted Roof. The resurrected "Is ROOF the problem?" thread made those thoughts jump to the front of the line.
My first reaction to the Roof hire was "Oh God". But, after that initial emotional, unresearched response, I started warming up to the idea. Reasons being...
1. He's a Tech man, so he's here for all of the right reasons.
2. He's a big recruiting asset.
3. He did well at PSU.
4. He actually did have a good defense here after the terrible '99 season.
5. He improved the really bad defenses at Duke and Minnesota significantly from one year to the next.
But, the main reason I've found a lot of long term hope in him over the last few days is thinking about how his former colleagues feel about him. George O'leary was his former boss here. HE WANTED ROOF to be his DC. Bill O'brien was his former colleague as the OC while Roof was the DC here. He could've probably gotten most anybody he wanted at a place like PSU with their tradition and history of great defense and lots of money, and HE WANTED ROOF to be his DC. To me that speaks volumes. These guys have worked with lots of other defensive coaches and have connections all over the profession at all levels. If you've worked with the guy and seen what kind of man he is and what kind of job he does and you want that guy to be your guy, there can be no greater compliment than that.
Does that mean Roof is going to be successful here? No, but I think it does mean that my initial reaction was complete ignorance and that it's likely that our success will not be hindered by something lacking in his ability/work ethic/etc. It probably also means that we got a steal in the coaching profession because this is his home. I'm feeling good about it.
I was thinking a lot about Ted Roof. The resurrected "Is ROOF the problem?" thread made those thoughts jump to the front of the line.
My first reaction to the Roof hire was "Oh God". But, after that initial emotional, unresearched response, I started warming up to the idea. Reasons being...
1. He's a Tech man, so he's here for all of the right reasons.
2. He's a big recruiting asset.
3. He did well at PSU.
4. He actually did have a good defense here after the terrible '99 season.
5. He improved the really bad defenses at Duke and Minnesota significantly from one year to the next.
But, the main reason I've found a lot of long term hope in him over the last few days is thinking about how his former colleagues feel about him. George O'leary was his former boss here. HE WANTED ROOF to be his DC. Bill O'brien was his former colleague as the OC while Roof was the DC here. He could've probably gotten most anybody he wanted at a place like PSU with their tradition and history of great defense and lots of money, and HE WANTED ROOF to be his DC. To me that speaks volumes. These guys have worked with lots of other defensive coaches and have connections all over the profession at all levels. If you've worked with the guy and seen what kind of man he is and what kind of job he does and you want that guy to be your guy, there can be no greater compliment than that.
Does that mean Roof is going to be successful here? No, but I think it does mean that my initial reaction was complete ignorance and that it's likely that our success will not be hindered by something lacking in his ability/work ethic/etc. It probably also means that we got a steal in the coaching profession because this is his home. I'm feeling good about it.
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