🏈 LB Coach Lance Thompson leaves UA (to UT) (merged threads)

[Guest]

So I can't question his ways?

Sure, but it just seems the only thing I ever read is doom and gloom. Losing two assistants and a running back is not the end of the world. I just think some rationality is in order.

Hmmmm, guess you weren't around when I said Alabama could come back from 21 down to Utah this year and 21 down to AU back in '05.

We're also losing an All-American O-lineman. Actually we're losing 2 to graduation and a QB to boot. No, it's not all doom and gloom but it certainly isn't cause for celebration.

 

[Guest]

I don't understand why everybody is so concerned. As Terry said before, his position into the staff is not so critical, he's just an outside linebacker coach. Ok, he's done a wonderful job recruiting (specially bringing back the Mobile area) but Terry said it, nobody gave a damn about him when Saban built this coaching staff back at 2007. Well, I'm grafetul for his amazing job to help turning this program around but in my opinion, he's perfectly replaceable... At least his position into the coaching staff, and I think as a recruiter for next season.

RTR,

Looks like to Trent he was pretty critical.

http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2009/01/trent_richardson_on_lance_thom.html

I certainly didn't think this would change a running back's opinion. I can't go down that road right now - too much.

 

[Guest]

I think the product on the field was a result of the coaches shopping before the game, IMHO. The defensive coaches had plenty of difficulties in the last two games. Looks to me like they were working extremely hard, just not on coaching the players.

 

[moreno_iv]

So I can't question his ways?

Sure, but it just seems the only thing I ever read is doom and gloom. Losing two assistants and a running back is not the end of the world. I just think some rationality is in order.

Hmmmm, guess you weren't around when I said Alabama could come back from 21 down to Utah this year and 21 down to AU back in '05.

We're also losing an All-American O-lineman. Actually we're losing 2 to graduation and a QB to boot. No, it's not all doom and gloom but it certainly isn't cause for celebration.

As for the recruitment, maybe he will, maybe he won't. However, it is ludicrous to assume that we will always hold the keys to every recruit in the state of Alabama. The University and its boosters pay CNS whatever good money every year to figure out how to keep other schools from stealing our homegrown talent. If one or two of our assistants were such a big key to recruiting that we should all be weeping and gnashing our teeth about them going elsewhere, hiring CNS was a mistake in the first place. However, I don't think that and I don't think you do either.

I wasn't on the board during either of those games because I don't get on the board during games. So yes, I missed your optimism both times. ROLL TIDE.

From one of your earlier posts, it seemed that you were insinuating CNS's methods drove Coffee and Andre to the NFL. If you weren't insinuating that, then I apologize for mentioning it.

However....

Yes, we are losing Andre, but apparently his family (and he, from what I gather) cared enough about the money and the lure of the NFL, no one would have stopped him from declaring for the draft no matter how good of a coach they are or how few or how many hours they work. He's been a starter in the SEC for 3 years and is a projected #2 pick in the NFL Draft. Who could blame him for leaving?

Coffee? Who could blame him for leaving? He has a history of injuries and probably doesn't want to risk another season of free football when he could become an instant millionaire and take care of his family for years to come. That makes the decision easier as does the fact that there is such a talented stable coming up behind him. It's not like he's leaving us high and dry.

But, the others were going anyway because, like you said, they are seniors! Without some magic NCAA wand, there's not a coach on Earth that could have stopped them from leaving the program.

Sure, Tebow is staying at UF, but I think he realizes the NFL isn't for him. Even if the NFL is in his future, he has such a big heart, he would've stayed for any coach. But what about Matt Sanchez at USC? Is Pete Carroll's "demanding" process driving him to the NFL with only one season as a starter under his belt? I hardly think so.

All I'm saying is take a pill and understand that this minor turnover is a natural thing. There has been some major upheaval in the Southern coaching ranks this year and some cherry-picking was to be expected. We probably won't go 14-0 next year and we'll probably lose some recruits to other schools, but I would rather have CNS at the helm than ANY of the other coaches that are out there.

 

[Guest]

I don't understand why everybody is so concerned. As Terry said before, his position into the staff is not so critical, he's just an outside linebacker coach. Ok, he's done a wonderful job recruiting (specially bringing back the Mobile area) but Terry said it, nobody gave a damn about him when Saban built this coaching staff back at 2007. Well, I'm grafetul for his amazing job to help turning this program around but in my opinion, he's perfectly replaceable... At least his position into the coaching staff, and I think as a recruiter for next season.

RTR,

Looks like to Trent he was pretty critical.

http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2009/01/trent_richardson_on_lance_thom.html

I certainly didn't think this would change a running back's opinion. I can't go down that road right now - too much.

EDIT -- Boy, putting the quotes in the right place seems to be important after all. Sorry.

"Critical" is your assumption Delta. Not to say that it does not apply, but can not be assumed/proven form these few words.

All he said was he was closer to Thompson than to Burton, which can be said of all recruits when comparing their individual recruiter to the position coach whom they have not played for. One can not say that he does not also like Burton, and Saban, and the rest of the staff, and the team, and the other commits....

As for his follow-on comments about what he is doing from here on, these words could be expected in light of how new the news is. Heck, he even said Saban was still surprised. He basically said that we planned to do nothing more than what he already planned to do (i.e. take the UT visit previously scheduled, talk to his parents and coaches, etc.)

What is key to note is that he did not say that he was withdrawing his commitment. If you want to focus on an angle, consider this; Bama has a commitment and three week with which strengthen it. Either one has faith that this works in Bama's favor, or one has little faith in Bama.

 

[Teague13]

Didnt every body get up in arms when Applewhite left.Then we went undefeated almost and almost won the National Title and the SEC.Call me crazy but i trust this guy.I think everything that we do is his philosiphy on both sides and special teams and recruiting.I think losing these guys dont hurt as much as you think, i think these coaches know it too,like they dont matter while they are there.And they might not really.All of them always say hey it his way.Until some of these guys put up better numbers i trust this guy.Roll Tide,go Coach Saban

 

[Guest]

I'd love to know how getting your salary almost doubled is a lateral move.

Even the use of the term right now is only applicable if he was hired as their outside linebackers coach. If he's assigned the LB'ing corps, which I'm sure he will be, that's a step up.

By far, and I mean BY FAR, Thompson and Steele aren't our two best assistants. And, neither has made a move that is lateral by any stretch of the imagination.

Never even made it to salary, so I guess my bad on that one. You know it wouldn't be about money for me, but that's another topic.

I'll give you the "if" on the title as well. We'll see.

I'll trust you on the best two assistants as well. You know far more than I do. Unfortunately I won't doubt the fact that Thompson was our best recruiters. Tough to let that part go to Tennessee.

I'm not taking a thing away from him as a recruiter. He's a good one.

But, if you look at last years class and who he brought in you see most of them reside in the Mobile area. I don't have any problem saying what he accomplished down there was spectacular, but wasn't something that another coach couldn't have accomplished as well.

What amuses me is if we look back before he arrived with Saban, Thompson's name wasn't highly regarded. I'd almost go as far to say as his name was "mud" around Central Florida. They didn't think he could coach and weren't that impressed with his recruiting as well.

As a coach, in his last term here, he was solid. Not spectacular as a DL coach, but solid.

Just wait and see...we'll get someone in just as good on the recruiting trail and have a very, very good chance to get someone better as an on the field coach.

Jeremy Pruitt, who we've mentioned here a few times, is likely to be on the road filling the need we have for coaches on the road. He's not a "known" guy in terms of him being talked about on message forums, but I'm comfortable with him holding the reigns.

Tell me I am not alone in thinking "Major Applewhite, act deux."

It just happens that the dude got a heck of a raise in the process.

 

[firestorm]

Well, let's see how Saban handles this departure but I really don't think he didn't see this coming. In that case, I'll blame Thompson for not to value the UT offer with coach Saban before take the job in the way that Major Applewhite did one time when Texas came on the scene.

RTR,

 

[TerryP]

I don't understand why everybody is so concerned. As Terry said before, his position into the staff is not so critical, he's just an outside linebacker coach. Ok, he's done a wonderful job recruiting (specially bringing back the Mobile area) but Terry said it, nobody gave a damn about him when Saban built this coaching staff back at 2007. Well, I'm grafetul for his amazing job to help turning this program around but in my opinion, he's perfectly replaceable... At least his position into the coaching staff, and I think as a recruiter for next season.

RTR,

Looks like to Trent he was pretty critical.

http://blog.al.com/rapsheet/2009/01/trent_richardson_on_lance_thom.html

I certainly didn't think this would change a running back's opinion. I can't go down that road right now - too much.

I'm a little disappointed you would judge Trent and his thoughts based on what Ian puts up on his blog. I can assure you he's taking bits and pieces of Trent's quotes, taking sentences that will create controversy and using them -vs- taking the quote in its entirety and using it.

It's very evident in this case because Ian doesn't mention a thing about Trent's conversation with Saban, what they discussed, etc.

Sandra, it's one thing to be disappointed in this news. It's quite the opposite end of the spectrum to allow someone jerk your feelings around because they want to...

 

[Guest]

Turn over in college is normal(they love to pluck the Saban stable just like Belichek in the pro's). I am sure Saban will fill the slot with someone more than able to handle the job. These kids are not just coming to school because of one person recruiting him. If they are...wow, what a mistake they are making.
The thing I find hard to swallow is why do they let him go to a divisional rival or anyone in the SEC?

 

[TerryP]

Turn over in college is normal(they love to pluck the Saban stable just like Belichek in the pro's). I am sure Saban will fill the slot with someone more than able to handle the job. These kids are not just coming to school because of one person recruiting him. If they are...wow, what a mistake they are making.
The thing I find hard to swallow is why do they let him go to a divisional rival or anyone in the SEC?

A couple of thoughts...

A lot of kids won't come to a school because of one person recruiting them, but on the other side of that coin a lot of kids will dismiss a school because of the person recruiting them. We had one of our players last year dismiss two Florida schools very early on because he didn't like the approach one of their Assistants had early on in his recruitment. (that's applicable with one of the guys we are after this year as well...his home state school didn't get off on the right foot)

"...let him go to a divisional rival or anyone else in the SEC?"

Interesting thought...what do you suggest? Non-compete clauses in contracts?

 

[Guest]

Turn over in college is normal(they love to pluck the Saban stable just like Belichek in the pro's). I am sure Saban will fill the slot with someone more than able to handle the job. These kids are not just coming to school because of one person recruiting him. If they are...wow, what a mistake they are making.
The thing I find hard to swallow is why do they let him go to a divisional rival or anyone in the SEC?

A couple of thoughts...

A lot of kids won't come to a school because of one person recruiting them, but on the other side of that coin a lot of kids will dismiss a school because of the person recruiting them. We had one of our players last year dismiss two Florida schools very early on because he didn't like the approach one of their Assistants had early on in his recruitment. (that's applicable with one of the guys we are after this year as well...his home state school didn't get off on the right foot)

"...let him go to a divisional rival or anyone else in the SEC?"

Interesting thought...what do you suggest? Non-compete clauses in contracts?

In the NFL I know the usually have clauses in contract preventing some coaches and players going to a certain team in divisions etc(Brett Favre?). Sometimes it is just handled under the table, but that is in the pro's.

Dunno why it bothers me about him going to an sec school...maybe it is just because it is UT. /shrug

 

[Guest]

Not a big fan of the No Compete Clause.

Would we have Saban if these clauses were in head coaches contracts. I might be off base here, please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Guest]

Not a big fan of the No Compete Clause.

Would we have Saban if these clauses were in head coaches contracts. I might be off base here, please correct me if I'm wrong.

I was just pondering that same thought. As competitive as Saban is and as much as he wants his players and coaches succeed I doubt he would allow it or want it.

 

[TerryP]

Not a big fan of the No Compete Clause.

Would we have Saban if these clauses were in head coaches contracts. I might be off base here, please correct me if I'm wrong.

Neither am I.

I've dealt with one, one time in my life. When I left and went to a competitor and it was brought up I told him, "take me to court."

Never did...granted, it wasn't in the state of AL but there was a big question mark in SC if it was actually legally binding.

All that said, and I'm about to move on from this subject b/c it's been "talked about to death" in my opinion...

I don't like the timing or manner he left. But, I can understand the circumstances. There's a huge difference in where Thompson stands and what shoes he fills vs where we do as fans, alumni, program supporters, etc.

 

[Guest]

From one of your earlier posts, it seemed that you were insinuating CNS's methods drove Coffee and Andre to the NFL. If you weren't insinuating that, then I apologize for mentioning it.

Nope, don't know why/where you got that.

It's obvious why they left. Just strange that OU and Florida players aren't leaving (Harvin the exception). I think the championship level comes into play for both those teams though. OU wants one and FL wants another.

 

[UAgrad93]

Terry I believe as you do in that we will be ok and that Thompson and Steele will both be replaced and we won't miss a beat. It does sting a little to see Thompson go to UT but as people say, money talks and YOU ALL KNOW WHAT WALKS!!! I'm sure Saban will hire someone more than able to keep us entrenched in the Mobile area.

 

[Guest]

I'd love to know how getting your salary almost doubled is a lateral move.

Even the use of the term right now is only applicable if he was hired as their outside linebackers coach. If he's assigned the LB'ing corps, which I'm sure he will be, that's a step up.

By far, and I mean BY FAR, Thompson and Steele aren't our two best assistants. And, neither has made a move that is lateral by any stretch of the imagination.

Never even made it to salary, so I guess my bad on that one. You know it wouldn't be about money for me, but that's another topic.

I'll give you the "if" on the title as well. We'll see.

I'll trust you on the best two assistants as well. You know far more than I do. Unfortunately I won't doubt the fact that Thompson was our best recruiters. Tough to let that part go to Tennessee.

I'm not taking a thing away from him as a recruiter. He's a good one.

But, if you look at last years class and who he brought in you see most of them reside in the Mobile area. I don't have any problem saying what he accomplished down there was spectacular, but wasn't something that another coach couldn't have accomplished as well.

What amuses me is if we look back before he arrived with Saban, Thompson's name wasn't highly regarded. I'd almost go as far to say as his name was "mud" around Central Florida. They didn't think he could coach and weren't that impressed with his recruiting as well.

As a coach, in his last term here, he was solid. Not spectacular as a DL coach, but solid.

Just wait and see...we'll get someone in just as good on the recruiting trail and have a very, very good chance to get someone better as an on the field coach.

Jeremy Pruitt, who we've mentioned here a few times, is likely to be on the road filling the need we have for coaches on the road. He's not a "known" guy in terms of him being talked about on message forums, but I'm comfortable with him holding the reigns.

Tell me I am not alone in thinking "Major Applewhite, act deux."

It just happens that the dude got a heck of a raise in the process.

Correct on the $. When I first read of him leaving money wasn't known. Now it is. Yes, double the salary is huge. I still can't fathom that kind of money for assts., but I think UT is making it known that they're tired of bowing down to UGA and FL every year.

To me Lance is/was much more important than Major. Lance has been around much longer, has been at Alabama before and is the recruiter that Major wasn't due to those factors.

I hope all of you are right, and that we won't skip a beat. I might be thinking too negatively, but I think some of you are thinking too Kool-aid-ish. I just don't know that you plug a possible unknown into LT's spot, and we don't miss a beat on the recruiting trail (at least not in the short run).

I guess we'll just have to wait to see who takes over that responsibility. I have no idea what the Mobile area holds for the next couple of years, so maybe it won't be a huge deal in the short term anyway.

 

[Guest]

I'm a little disappointed you would judge Trent and his thoughts based on what Ian puts up on his blog. I can assure you he's taking bits and pieces of Trent's quotes, taking sentences that will create controversy and using them -vs- taking the quote in its entirety and using it.

It's very evident in this case because Ian doesn't mention a thing about Trent's conversation with Saban, what they discussed, etc.

Sandra, it's one thing to be disappointed in this news. It's quite the opposite end of the spectrum to allow someone jerk your feelings around because they want to...

What else am I to use, Terry? That's all that what out there last night. Am I supposed to read it then toss it aside as nothing? I don't know one writer from the other except for what you guys say on here. I know not to pay attention to Paul Finebaum, but I didn't realize Ian was on the non-credible list. I'm not trying to be a sarcastic. I'm serious.

I know he sounds like an idiot at times, but I guess I'm giving him way too much credit otherwise. I didn't know I had to think of it the way you're stating. I guess creating drama is more interesting than real journalism, but something tells me real journalism may be tough to find in the sporting world.

So in the future Ian=nothing?

 

[Guest]

Well, let's see how Saban handles this departure but I really don't think he didn't see this coming.

It looks like no one saw this coming.

I don't know that there is a perfect way to handle this, but LT's way sure wasn't it. :shock:

http://blog.al.com/bamabeat/2009/01/ua_commitments_react_to_lance.html