Taking bets

[McPeachy]

I'm really hoping they at least try to get Chad Morris. He could instantly help with transfers and I think stabilize more than just the o if pbj would let him. A seasoned staff member that could be a hc running the O. I think his philosophy would translate well to the high plains.

He would be a major upgrade, no doubt. Sawful would likely feel threatened though, so likely won't happen. Morris has the experience and certainly the TX connections!

Eustace HS (TX)

Elysian Fields HS (TX)

Bay City HS (TX)

Stephenville HS (TX)

Lake Travis HS (TX)

Tulsa (AHC/OC/QB)

Clemson (OC/QB)

SMU

Arkansas

Auburn (OC/QB)

Allen HS (TX)

South Florida (off. analyst)

Clemson (off. analyst)

Texas State (WR/PGC)

 

[BigHorn]

Good post. IMO, the QB coach needs to go - and we need upgrades on OC and QB coaches. Put Jovon back as WR coach, and maybe assistant HC.

The QB coach has already been let go, that was Johnson. So we will have a new QB coach, whomever that might be.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

My three biggest wish list items:

• New OC. No brainer. Bring in a proven, experienced guy (proven being the main word here. No more Jay Johnsons). Bonus if he brings a QB with him.
• Get rid of Tripoldi and hire a good OL coach.
• Hire a special teams coach. That phase of the team was damn near worse than the offense this year, and that's saying something.

This all sounds great….

But why would any proven, experienced OC agree to come to this mess? They would have to know that Sawful is likely only a short timer once the buyout becomes more manageable. Any decent OC candidate would have to want to go somewhere with more stability and a better cupboard of offensive players.

 

[Bryoming]

This all sounds great….

But why would any proven, experienced OC agree to come to this mess? They would have to know that Sawful is likely only a short timer once the buyout becomes more manageable. Any decent OC candidate would have to want to go somewhere with more stability and a better cupboard of offensive players.

If an OC comes in and turns around this offense they would have job security here or be able to use it as a launchpad to another job. This would be a great way to prove they are ready for a head job or a higher profile job. It would very much be a bet on themselves.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

If an OC comes in and turns around this offense they would have job security here or be able to use it as a launchpad to another job. This would be a great way to prove they are ready for a head job or a higher profile job. It would very much be a bet on themselves.

If that's our selling point...come to Wyoming, you have a lottery shot of advancing your career.

 

[McPeachy]

The QB coach has already been let go, that was Johnson. So we will have a new QB coach, whomever that might be.

I was under the impression that Bryce Missey was the QB coach, specifically, even before Johnson left, or whatever happened there. Bryce may be a helluva a guy, but bringing that DIII Pacific Lutheran University, DIII Bethel, and DIII Whitworth experience to Wyoming (to coach QB's ????) looks like an epic failure to me.

 

[BigHorn]

I was under the impression that Bryce Missey was the QB coach, specifically, even before Johnson left, or whatever happened there. Bryce may be a helluva a guy, but bringing that DIII Pacific Lutheran University, DIII Bethel, and DIII Whitworth experience to Wyoming (to coach QB's ????) looks like an epic failure to me.

He was on the staff and was helping out on the offensive side of the ball as a junior assistant coach, he was not the assigned QB coach, that was Johnson. Bryce was moved into helping with the QB position after Johnson lost the OC position. Sawvel promoted him in the presser as having past experience, he had to do that to just attempt to give some legitimacy to all of the decisions he had made.

 

[McPeachy]

He was on the staff and was helping out on the offensive side of the ball as a junior assistant coach, he was not the assigned QB coach, that was Johnson. Bryce was moved into helping with the QB position after Johnson lost the OC position. Sawvel promoted him in the presser as having past experience, he had to do that to just attempt to give some legitimacy to all of the decisions he had made.

Damn, what a disaster.

 

[ragtimejoe1]

This all sounds great….

But why would any proven, experienced OC agree to come to this mess? They would have to know that Sawful is likely only a short timer once the buyout becomes more manageable. Any decent OC candidate would have to want to go somewhere with more stability and a better cupboard of offensive players.

I'd say our best candidate pool is experienced OC in latter part of career that have found themselves without a home for the upcoming season. Not a huge pool, but there should be some possibilities especially if we decide to invest a little. pbj needs more experienced people around him. I remember Saban saying the key to building a coaching staff is get people who could be head coaches elsewhere for your key coaching positions. We obviously lack that on the dc side (I'll leave it there) but if pbj has a half a brain, he'll fight like hell to be able to pay someone who fits Saban's description. The right OC who also has deep recruiting/transfer networks might be the only thing that could save pbj's job.

 

[TheRealUW]

I'd say our best candidate pool is experienced OC in latter part of career that have found themselves without a home for the upcoming season. Not a huge pool, but there should be some possibilities especially if we decide to invest a little. pbj needs more experienced people around him. I remember Saban saying the key to building a coaching staff is get people who could be head coaches elsewhere for your key coaching positions. We obviously lack that on the dc side (I'll leave it there) but if pbj has a half a brain, he'll fight like hell to be able to pay someone who fits Saban's description. The right OC who also has deep recruiting/transfer networks might be the only thing that could save pbj's job.

I think Jay Johnson was making around $400k this year. We would have to at least double what we are paying to have any chance at getting an OC worth anything.

The only way I really see this coming to fruition is if Sawvel offers up part of his salary to cover the increased pay for the OC. I doubt UW is going to want to pay much more than the $400k they already have budgeted.

 

[Vapoke]

Polasek took a paycut to come to Wyoming as the OC. He was the OL coach at Iowa previously, but he used Wyoming OC and landed himself a good job at NDSU.

 

[Vapoke]

Chad Morris is only making $120k at Texas State

 

[ragtimejoe1]

Chad Morris is only making $120k at Texas State

I think he took this year off to watch his son play his last year of college ball. I'm not sure if TX State is offering him again?

If we paid him 600, we might have a chance. If there was a way to eventually work him into hc, I'd take it. He might be a connection to develop TX kids for the portal. If we're winning, I'd take it.

 

[TheRealUW]

Chad Morris is only making $120k at Texas State

The more I look at it, the more I think we would have a shot at landing Morris.

He wanted to take this year off to watch his son's senior season at Virginia - mission accomplished. When he announced he was leaving coaching for the year, he sure made it sound like he wanted to get back into coaching for the 2026 season. If he was willing to be a position coach for $120k, I would think he might be interested in an OC position for pay in the range of $400-500k.

Hopefully Sawvel/Burman have already made the call to him. If they haven't, they should.

 

[OrediggerPoke]

I think Jay Johnson was making around $400k this year. We would have to at least double what we are paying to have any chance at getting an OC worth anything.

The only way I really see this coming to fruition is if Sawvel offers up part of his salary to cover the increased pay for the OC. I doubt UW is going to want to pay much more than the $400k they already have budgeted.

We are much better off saving our money and using it for a new HC and staff after next season IMO. I am not a fan of throwing good money at bad.

As you allude to, Tell Sawvel - you get the same amount of money for a staff that you had before. You were the one who chose to hire Johnson because he was your buddy despite all of the red flags with the hire. If you want, we can renegotiate your contract to lower your pay and you can use that for staff (we already know Sawvel will decline).