Brian Kelly loses his cool in one game and everyone here throws him under the bus. He changes his sideline demeanor and moves on. Will Muschamp screams like a raving lunatic and uses foul language (not the first time.....or apparently the last) and gets a pass here. No comments. Well, Florida folks, it looks from this article that you are going to be dealing with his tantrums for a while. Enjoy. Muschamp Does Not Intend to Change His Sideline Behavior
I guess it boils down to perception by the media. Certain coaches are always going to be followed more closely than others. Muschcamp is certainaly an emotional coach. The media use to follow Woody Hayes all day lone with his triads, throwing down his baseball cap and charging the officials. My point is maybe its better to be noticed, than unnoticed?
No offense to our Gator members, but I've always thought Muschamp was a bit of a punk. His sideline antics while he was at Texas were stupid, and it appears nothing has changed...
I think Brian Kelly was humbled by the media reaction to his sideline behavior and has made an effort to change that perception. As has been pointed out he's not the only "firey" coach out there, Muschamp is one, Steve Spurrier used to be pretty animated on the sidelines in his day at UF spiking his visor and everything. Mike Stoops was a hot head at AZ, and as Don pointed out Woody was also very animated on the sidelines and for Woody it seemed to get worse over time and he got a lot of media attention for it and of course utlitmately it cost him his job. I don't want Kelly to lose his passion, just tone it down a tad, which to me he has done. Funny thing is that he's no different than what he was at UC when ESPN was giving him all those props as the next guy to make a move to a major program, they were pretty consistent in singing his praises without any mention of his sideline demeanor. Once he took the ND job though he stepped into another world in terms of media scrutiny.
At the risk of repeating myself, I have no problem with a fiery demeanor (think Gene Keady) if the behavior does not detract from the performance of the team and does not reflect poorly on the university. Haven't seen Mushchamp in action. I'm glad he is trying to clean up his language. Keady was a representative of our university that we are proud of, and I have no doubt that Kelly will be the same type of representative for you.
If he's giving it to inept/corrupt SEC refs I'm all for it 100%. If he's giving it to his players I'm against it.
I don't know but it seems to me that "firey" behavior is more the norm for basketball coaches. CoachK is no shy violet on the sidelines and neither are Pat Summit and Geno Auriema. Rick Barnes of Texas is somewhat passive as is Mike Brey of ND....many think that is not a good thing.
If I'm coaching a major program and my high paying job depends on the performance of my team, I'm going to be more than a little pissed if my players turn the ball over 10 times in 2 games. The exact same people who vilify a player on a message board expect his coach to smile and pat his ass when he once again pulls a bonehead play.
I have "no pony in this race" but the difference to me was that Kelly was able to turn fifty shades of red every time the camera seemed to be pointing in his direction and the average viewer was in fear his head was going to pop off and achieve orbit during the USF game. Muschamp is just a wannabe compared to Kelly or Spurrier for that matter, not even close in his anger efficiency...
What came first? The chicken or the egg? In the USF game, Kelly was practically screaming coming out of the tunnel and kept it up the entire game. And his ire was directed almost exclusively toward his own players. I will always believe that he was the biggest reason for that loss. He has improved 100% since and so has his team.
What Muschamp basically said was the he needed to clean up his language but that he was going to be himself. I agree with him and don't see the big deal with him or with Kelly. Some coaches are fire brands and some are mild, both ways will work when the person is being themselves and honest. The call that brought about Muschamps reaction was a non call for interference with our punt receiver receiving the punt. The announcers thought the refs blew it and it changed the whole complexion of the game. I didn't blame our coach for being angry. No matter, I believe Muschamp is a keeper and far from a punk.
In all my years as an athlete and a coach, I used to love to play or coach against emotional coaches. While they are busy with their theatrics, I was busy thinking two or three plays ahead. And as a player I played for both types. When you yell all the time, you become cartoonish to your players. You amuse them more than anything else. Give me a coach who can make his point with a stare anyday.
I think Muschamp yells at the refs.....but stares at his players who screw up. Good strategy either way. Ron Zook used to do neither and it didn't get him very far and in fact he took the greatest hosing from the refs in general of any UF coach in my 45 years of watching Gator football. How important is it to keep the refs in check? Urban Meyer....in stark contrast to the sideline complacent Zook....in his first Tenn game which was played in September of 2005 basically turned the game for Florida personally.....by his actions in a dispute with a call on the field. The Vols had "completed" a pass down at the UF one late in the first half of a tight ball game and had a chance to snatch the halftime momentum and lead away from the Gators. They lined up hurriedly in an effort to get into the endzone because the "completion" was suspect and in fact it happened right in front of my section and everyone could see it was a bogus catch. Before Tenn could get the play off Meyer came running out on the field down toward the players pointing up to the replay booth for a review. The refs had to stop the clock.....and let the play get reviewed and subsequently correctly overturned. Game set match Florida.......thanks to the intensity and willingness to step up by Urban Meyer.....the new Gator coach. Ron Zook never would have done that....and he would have lost that game IMHO.
[quote[George Krebs" said:In all my years as an athlete and a coach, I used to love to play or coach against emotional coaches. While they are busy with their theatrics, I was busy thinking two or three plays ahead. And as a player I played for both types. When you yell all the time, you become cartoonish to your players. You amuse them more than anything else. Give me a coach who can make his point with a stare anyday.[/quote] Interesting George, however I think I would rather have Muschamp as my coach that you, no offense. Spurrier was emotional and very successful and I am sure I could name others. However I will stand with what I said before, and that is that it's not only one type personality that can win but many. There are a lot of other intangibles that makes a person a success. To early to say for sure, but in my opinion Muschamp is going to be very successful.
It really gets down to winning, both Kelly and Muschamp have been called on their sideline behavior and have said that they need to tone some things down. Kelly was called on it early in the season, and responded by changing and admitting that he needed to recognize that in his current position the camera is squarely on him much more than in the past and he has to recognize that. Muschamp has been called on it now and has said he's going to tone some tihings down. Also as has been noted Mike Stoops was known to get crazy on the sidelines and he got fired but it was for losing not going bat sh&t on the sidelines. Skippy looked like he was on prozac on the sidelines last night and he'll get fired for losing. My favorite coach of all time for their overall demeanor was Ara, he was firey on the sidelines but he was under control, and his dealings with the press were always good. Of course a couple of NC's and a great record helps!