Cowboy fans, my name is Gabe DeArmond and I'm the publisher of PowerMizzou.com, the Missouri site on the Rivals network. I've covered the Tigers for the last five seasons and was asked via email by a couple of people to share some thoughts on Dave Christensen, who it appears is going to be your next head coach. Here's a little bit:
Christensen has overseen one of the nation's best offenses for three years running now. You can't argue with that. At the same time, three years ago, people wanted him run out of town on a rail. Nearly without exception. The 2004 Tigers had Brad Smith, who was the first 8000/4000 quarterback in NCAA history, and finished 5-6. So, my point is this: Dave Christensen is going to have to prove he's not a product of Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, Jeremy Maclin, Will Franklin and Martin Rucker. That's five guys that will be NFL draft picks on his three big-time offenses. Now, good coaches recruit good players and Christensen can recruit. But my point is that nobody really knows how good he'll be without players like that, which I'm going to assume he won't have at Wyoming.
On the flip side, this offense is a good fit for the MWC. It's wide open football and it's fun to watch.
The one frustration I have watching a Christensen coached team is that the run game is abandoned too early on a consistent basis. You get down two scores, prepare to see 55 passes. THat's just how it is. But like I said, you can't argue with his success.
There is really only one question I have: To be a head coach, you have to be a guy that's willing to stand up there and take the bullets. Take the blame for things that aren't your fault. Coach C doesn't go off on the media or anything, but at the same time, I don't know if he's the "fall on the sword" type of guy as I think Gary Pinkel is. I think it will be interesting to watch.
Summation: Christensen has always treated me well and he's had phenomenal offenses in the last three years. I think Wyoming is a good fit and I think you would like watching the style he would bring. He can recruit. Missouri built this program by finding guys in Texas and Oklahoma that the bigger boys didn't want. They turned that into getting a few of the blue chippers and now they're a top 20 team two years running.
Hope that answers some questions.
Christensen has overseen one of the nation's best offenses for three years running now. You can't argue with that. At the same time, three years ago, people wanted him run out of town on a rail. Nearly without exception. The 2004 Tigers had Brad Smith, who was the first 8000/4000 quarterback in NCAA history, and finished 5-6. So, my point is this: Dave Christensen is going to have to prove he's not a product of Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman, Jeremy Maclin, Will Franklin and Martin Rucker. That's five guys that will be NFL draft picks on his three big-time offenses. Now, good coaches recruit good players and Christensen can recruit. But my point is that nobody really knows how good he'll be without players like that, which I'm going to assume he won't have at Wyoming.
On the flip side, this offense is a good fit for the MWC. It's wide open football and it's fun to watch.
The one frustration I have watching a Christensen coached team is that the run game is abandoned too early on a consistent basis. You get down two scores, prepare to see 55 passes. THat's just how it is. But like I said, you can't argue with his success.
There is really only one question I have: To be a head coach, you have to be a guy that's willing to stand up there and take the bullets. Take the blame for things that aren't your fault. Coach C doesn't go off on the media or anything, but at the same time, I don't know if he's the "fall on the sword" type of guy as I think Gary Pinkel is. I think it will be interesting to watch.
Summation: Christensen has always treated me well and he's had phenomenal offenses in the last three years. I think Wyoming is a good fit and I think you would like watching the style he would bring. He can recruit. Missouri built this program by finding guys in Texas and Oklahoma that the bigger boys didn't want. They turned that into getting a few of the blue chippers and now they're a top 20 team two years running.
Hope that answers some questions.
