Read the opposing arguments from Sports Geek and Loyal Homer.
There is no doubt that Will Muschamp will become a successful head coach in the college football ranks. The real questions are “When?” and “For whom?”
His resume speaks for itself, as success follows him wherever he goes.
Over the last decade Muschamp has been defensive coordinator for some of the most dominant defenses in the nation. He signed on at LSU under Nick Saban in 2001, and in 2003 his top-ranked defense led the Tigers to a national championship.
Two years later, after a short stint in the NFL where he followed Nick Saban to the Miami Dolphins, Muschamp returned to college football as the defensive coordinator for the Auburn Tigers. In two seasons with Tommy Tuberville, Muschamp quickly proved that his success at LSU was no accident. In 2006 and 2007 his defenses were ranked seventh and sixth in the nation, respectively, in points per game, and in 2007 his defense ranked sixth in the nation in yards per game.
Then, early in 2008, Muschamp was brought into the Texas Longhorns football program as their defensive coordinator. Since then he has not skipped a beat, as his defenses continue to be ranked among the best in the country.
And while his sustained success with three different major programs speak volumes about his coaching ability, it is his reputation as one of the nation’s top recruiters that really sets him apart from his peers.
In recognition for his proven success, as well has his high potential for the future, Texas saw fit to name Muschamp the “Head Coach in Waiting.”
There is only one problem – Texas’ current head coach Mack Brown does not appear ready to leave his post anytime soon, which places a heavy emphasis on the word “waiting.” That fact was magnified earlier this year when DeLoss Dodds, the Athletic Director for the Longhorns, signed a contract extension with the school.
The understood progression of events was that Dodds would soon be retiring, and Brown would assume the role of AD, creating the vacancy at the position of head coach that Muschamp would then slip into. With those events now delayed, it could seriously change the way Muschamp thinks about his current situation.
For all the expectation and promise that Will Muschamp has to look forward to, there is no timetable to set a realistic expectation for when he will actually receive his opportunity, and THAT is where the rest of the programs around the country have an opportunity to pounce.
As exciting as it may be to know that with a little patience the keys to arguably the top football program in the country will be handed over, there can also be frustration from the uncertainty of not knowing when that day will come. Especially for a guy like Muschamp who really is ready to run his own program. Today.
Tennessee has already made a play to woo Muschamp out of Austin, but his response at the time was that he was happy waiting it out with the Longhorns. That was before Dodds signed his extension, though, and with the laundry list of high profile programs whose coaches sit precariously on a very hot seat this season, the atmosphere in Austin could be very different when December rolls around.
There will be no shortage of suitors for Muschamp as the 2010 college football season plays out. Now it is just a matter of seeing how much he can resist before finally succumbing to the temptation that will be out there.
One thing is for sure. Will Muschamp absolutely deserves to be a head coach somewhere in the NCAA by this time next season.
Posted by Bleacher Fan 
