A Kink in the Clawfense?

Apparently, Jim McElwain is a thief.

That’s right, Bammers, I said it, and I meant it. Your new offensive coordinator has several spies in the Knoxville area, it’s evident. They may even be disguised as “Tennessee trainers” on Jim Haslam Field during Vols practices. They may be buying Volunteer State newspapers in bulk, hanging on the every word of new UT OC Dave Clawson.

This image and all the others are credited to Govolsxtra.com

Yup, apparently, McElwain’s theory of offense is eerily similar to Clawson’s: Get the ball to the playmakers. When I heard that, I immediately became angry. HOW DARE BAMA STEAL OUR IDEAS!! HOW DARE THEY TAKE A DIRECT QUOTE FROM CLAWSON AND APPLY IT TO THEIR OWN OFFENSE!!! Don’t you know that if you do indeed get the ball to your playmakers now, that EVERY SINGLE TENNESSEE FAN will know that the Tide and Nick Saban — deep down inside — are really just Tennessee wannabes?

Now, you’ve handcuffed yourself, McElwain. You’d better keep the ball in John Parker Wilson’s hands the entire season because there is no way in Hell that guy can be considered a “playmaker.” You’d just better. If not … well, Hell hath no fury like a Richmond Spider scorned …

(Getting the ball to your playmakers …. gosh. How DARE they …)

Anyway, all coachspeak aside, there is certainly more than a little trepidation in Big Orange Country this week. It would be ridiculous to lose any sleep over a spring scrimmage performance, for goodness sake, but Jonathan Crompton’s three-interception performance at Neyland Stadium on Saturday made UT fans cringe at the possibility that there may be Saturdays that matter where he does the same. Vols coach Phillip Fulmer was visibly irritated by the poor execution and the inability of Crompton to — wait for it, wait for it — get the ball to his playmakers.

What’s next for Bill Self

ESPN linked the box score for the game with the tag “Memphis doomed by missed FTs.“  It’s the same line every writer in the country has scribbled across his notebook and then scratched out as Memphis ignored the fact that they can’t shoot from the charity stripe by simply beating everyone everywhere else.  Maybe it finally caught up to them.  Or maybe Bill Self actually deserves some credit finally.

That’s not Bill Self.  Self is behind the Mangino.  In his car.

At least Oklahoma State appreciates him.  Or T. Boone Pickens U, if he received proper credit for what he’s done for the Cowboys.  Pickens is the very caricature of what a booster is supposed to be, not caring that the Oklahoma State’s of the world have their “place” in the pecking order of major conference players.  He’s willing to spend the money necessary to make OSU not just a threat but a champ.  And in basketball, that might start with Bill Self.

It has been rumored ever since Sean Sutton stepped down a few weeks ago that Bill Self was targets A-Z to replace him.  It took less than a second for the first “Why would he leave Kansas?” remark to be made.  That would be crazy, right?  Leaving a major program with a rich basketball history and opportunity to win championships every season just doesn’t make sense.  It doesn’t matter that Oklahoma State is his alma mater.  There’s OSU and then there’s Kansas.  He’s at the pinnacle, right?

Sorry, but it makes more sense for him to go.  How many times every day does someone leave a mega-successful corporation to work for a smaller, less recognized company?  It happens all the time.  As fans, we get wrapped up in the excitement of it all, we believe the coaches when they say that they live and breath the sport.  We disregard the fact that they too have 401Ks and health plans and bosses who sometimes come into their office when they aren’t wanted.  Basically, they may love their job, but it’s still their job.  And just like the rest of us, the brand on the business card isn’t as important as being where you are comfortable, where you are wanted, and where you like the people you work with.  He might have that at Kansas.  But when the word he used to describe reaching the Final Four is “relief”, you at least suspect there is some unnecessary pressure around the ol’ office.

Oklahoma State will pay him as much or more than Kansas.  Pickens will see to that.  The fans will love him as much or more than Kansas.  Kansas already saw to that.  He’ll be given the same opportunities to do his job in Stillwater as he did in Lawrence.  Only thing that changes is the logo on the letterhead and his comfort level with the job he’s doing.  It shouldn’t be a shock if he leaves Kansas and the Jayhawks shouldn’t take it as a slight.  Though they might want to consider hiring one of their own next time.  What’s Danny Manning up to these days?