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How did new coaches rate in Week 1?

by Randy Hill

Veteran columnist Randy Hill is a frequent contributor to FOXSports.com.

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Updated: September 4, 2008, 2:44 PM EDT
Unless you're dealing with Frank Caliendo, first impressions can be unreliable.

When reviewing brand-new college football coaching employees, initial-judgment traps are easy to identify. For example, a Week 1 triumph that suggests a coaching upgrade has transpired may be little more than the result of uninspired scheduling.

A Week 1 defeat that suggests a questionable hire could be credited to a deficiency in talent or attitude (or both) attached to the past regime. There's a reason why college football's 16 new top-level coaches were hired; with an exception or two, things weren't exactly ducky at that location last season.

So, with potential disclaimers barging in from all corners of the pigskin universe, let's attempt to use this tiny sample size and rate our first glimpses at the Sweating 16. We'll be dividing these new employees into three categories: So Far, So Good; Not So Hot; and More Evidence Required.

SO FAR, SO GOOD

  • Rick Neuheisel, UCLA: The obvious first pick in this division knocked off 18th-ranked Tennessee at the Rose Bowl because he's a vigorous recruiter. The biggest name on his opening salvo is offensive coordinator Norm Chow, but the huge "get" was defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker, who stayed on in Westwood after losing to Neuheisel in the derby to replace Karl Dorrell.

    It was Walker's swift and aggressive defensive unit that kept the Bruins alive against Tennessee while junior-college transfer Kevin Craft was lobbing four picks in the opening half.

    After suffering like someone waiting on a download with a dial-up modem, Neuheisel — in coercion with Chow — made some QB-soothing adjustments at intermission and the mighty Vols sabotaged a small portion of Southeastern Conference ego by losing in overtime.

    We'll see how much smart money is on Neuheisel when the Bruins play at BYU on Sept. 13.

  • Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech: The former Navy coach's first Tech defense limited former high school superstar QB Ryan Perrilloux to just 136 passing yards. Fortunately for Johnson, Perrilloux no longer plays for LSU, having transferred to Jacksonville State after getting bounced by the national champs. Paul's new team took advantage of this fine scheduling and began with a 41-14 victory.

    Johnson's expertly schemed ground attack produced four ball-carriers with 50 or more yards. His next test will occur this weekend at Boston College.

  • Ken Niumatalolo, Navy: Johnson's successor didn't change tactics, presiding over a rushing game that produced (we're not kidding) 558 yards in a 41-13 drubbing of Towson. Shun White had 348 of those, including an 87-yard gallop among his three touchdowns.

    Next up is MAC West power Ball State.

  • Kevin Sumlin, Houston: Sumlin, a former co-offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, directed a passing attack that generated almost 500 yards in a 55-3 rout of Southern.

    Sophomore Case Keenum accounted for 392 yards while pitching five touchdowns. Sumlin's status as a hot coaching commodity will be put to the test Saturday at Oklahoma State.

  • Jerry Kill, Northern Illinois: Yeah, the newcomer from Southern Illinois lost his debut with the Huskies, but losing by four to BCS-league member Minnesota is a pretty fair start. (It should be noted that predecessor Joe Novak had some great moments against bigger-league teams while building the program in DeKalb.)

    The school that produced Michael Turner and Garrett Wolfe is taking a new approach, having racked up 298 passing yards against the Gophers.

    NOT SO HOT

    Rich Rodriguez's debut at Michigan was less-than-impressive. (Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

  • Rich Rodriguez, Michigan: Sure, we're aware that Rodriguez doesn't have ideal spread-attack personnel at Michigan, but most of us expected him to come up with a way to accumulate more than 203 yards against a non-BCS team.

    With no disrespect intended toward a really good Utah squad, Rich — coaching in what was supposed to have been a jazzed-up opener at the Big House — should have prevailed with superior talent.

  • Bobby Petrino, Arkansas: The guy who ditched the Atlanta Falcons (a lousy move that somehow doesn't seem that bad when you say it out loud) won his first game with the Razorbacks.

    But a four-point victory over Western Illinois makes him a deserving member of this division.

  • Greg McMackin, Hawaii: His 46-point loss at Florida demonstrates that — much like predecessor June Jones — Greg has what it takes to be crushed by a really good SEC team.

  • June Jones, SMU: June's sophisticated approach to offensive football produced 27 points in the opener with Rice. Unfortunately, his approach to defense allowed the Owls to put 56 on the Mustangs.

  • Mike Sherman, Texas A&M: An 18-14 loss to Arkansas State in his first game at College Station didn't exactly make Mike seem as tough as he seemed during that nationally televised shouting match with Warren Sapp.

  • Paul Wulff, Washington State: A 39-19 home loss to Oklahoma State did little for Pac-10 bragging rights, but at least Paul lost to a team coached by a man who's 41 years old.

  • Art Briles, Baylor: Briles, who was good enough at Houston to move on and provide a gig for Sumlin, absorbed a 41-13 beat-down from a pretty fair Wake Forest team.

    While Briles attempts to upgrade the talent level in Waco, Bears fans really can look forward to the basketball recruiting season (can John Wall play QB?)

  • Steve Fairchild, Colorado State: After playing for CSU and coaching under Fort Collins legend Sonny Lubick, Fairchild opened with a 19-point loss to rival Colorado.

    MORE EVIDENCE REQUIRED

  • Bo Pelini, Nebraska: In his first date as a head coach, the defensive-minded Pelini unleashed QB Joe Ganz, who responded with 345 passing yards and four touchdowns.

    But the Huskers were beating up (47-24) on Western Michigan, a 5-7 team expected to finish no higher than third in the MAC West. Nebraska's next foes are San Jose State and New Mexico State, so Bo may have to stay in this division until the Huskers take on Virginia Tech.

  • Houston Nutt, Mississippi: Nutt's Rebels scorched Memphis for 41 points, but Texas transfer quarterback Jevan Sneed must do better than 10 for 22 when Nutt lines up Ole Miss against his SEC cronies.

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    Where's the Week 2 version of this article? I want to see what Randy has to say about Nutt.

    dougnebdougneb
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    UClan, that was Tenn's game to lose and they did just that. Craft through 4 interceptions and had a DECENT second half yet everyone praises him as if he were Leinart in his Senior year. Chow is a legendary coordinator and im regretful we couldnt retain him. The Bruins had a competent D coordinator as well, he kept them in the game. Neuhisel though, more remains to be seen. Will he leave UCLA holding the bag in two years, or will he actually make them a respectable team again? Regardless, i look forward to SC running a 30+ margin on the baby bears.


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    Randy: If you aren't 40 yet, you better not mess with Coach Gundy. He's a man when he was only 21. Have you ever played DI Football?? From your sarcastic comment, I don't believe you have.

    take2ngotake2ngo
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    I love Rick N.! UCLA win on national TV and he's on every sports talk show you can think of! Talk about recruiting!!! I love it. Thanks Tenn for helping us out. What do you think about this? Chat with me - a big boobs girl from "B l a c k W h i t e K i s s . c o m" -- for men to find real beauties, both black and white, and try inter-racial kiss and more...


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    The writer obviously didn't listen to the Razorbacks game. The hogs played over 20 freshman and the only thing that one the game was great coaching down the stretch and a quarterback that could get it done. There is no question, the hogs are weak this year. But the coaching job was exceptional last Saturday. And...you've got to give Houston Nutt a lot of credit at Ole Miss. He inherited some pretty good experienced players, but he got a lot out of them this past weekend as well.

    levelheadedlevelheaded
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    we handed the game to the vols. and they blew it . 4 int, and they couldnt, do anything with it. our D did a great job! we can only get better from here. IF we go to a bowl game . i CANT wait til next year. GO UCLA!

    BiGjOeUcLaBiGjOeUcLa
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    SROregon said:<br />9/4/2008<br />9:36 PM (report inappropriate content)<br /><br />Honestly folks...<br /><br />Did Neuheisel win the game by sheer play calling excellence? Or did the Vols choke?<br />==============================<br /><br />Choke? Are you serious? This is the dumbest comment I havw heard in a long time. Did you even watch the game? <br /><br />It was UCLA's defense that kept the offense in the game. Tennessee was being manhalded by UCLA's defense which means Tennessee was hardly choking. They were being thrashed and so was their QB. <br /><br />My gosh, wake up you Kluck fan. You are the one that has luck and choke on your side. You were lucky to face a hobbling USC team at your house and barely won! Then when you lose one player, your whole team turns to dust. WHICH MEANS YOUR ENTIRE TEAM CHOKED AND CRIED TO MAMA.

    BungalowBillBungalowBill
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    it's going to be a much longer season than it seems for RICH ROD.things aren't right in Ann Arbor.the rest of these guy will mostly win more than they lose.as long as they all beat the South Benders if given a chance

    ailemsailems
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    I've been a DIE HARD Husker fan from day 1. The defense was better but they still have a long ways to go. But in time they will be better. I'm just like every Husker fan and wants a no loss season, but its not going to happen this year or the next. Give it 2-3 good years and Bo and Co. will have the Blackshirts back on track hopefully like the 90's when people didn't want to go against the Blackshirt D.

    CORNHUSKER4LIFECORNHUSKER4LIFE
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    Honestly folks...<br /><br />Did Neuheisel win the game by sheer play calling excellence? Or did the Vols choke?<br /><br />Seriously...<br /><br />The Vols' Crompton couldn't hit a barn and can't run!<br />The O-line couldn't block!<br />Which translates to Arian Foster and Monterio Hardesty... hardly the fearsome twosome that tore up the SEC last year.<br /><br />The only two offensive drives that Ucla engineered were at the end of the game. <br /><br />That said, the Vols had several more chance to push through a FG or TD to win and failed...<br /><br />No my friends, this is NOT a case of Neuheisel being good... this is a case of the Vols being that bad.<br /><br />Rick...<br />You are right. This is a 6-6 team that will once again be a drag on the PAC-10 conference by season's end.<br /><br /><br />Lastly, I don't recall a single play that Neuheisel actually called... do you?<br /><br />Norm Chow? ... Norm Chow? ... Hello? ... Anyone? ... Beuhler?

    SROregonSROregon
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    Agreed: Coach Stewart should be on this list. He is starting to remind me of Don Nehlen. The game was a little scary at first and we didn't look so good, but then Pat White got going. Still--giving up so many yards to Villanova? Our pass rush and our especially secondary looked very vulnerable. Stew and the gang need to toughen those guys up if we want to be in the discussion for a national championship.

    sbeallvlnsbeallvln
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    I take it you don't consider West Virginia's Bill Stewart a new head coach. You didn't list him.


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    Yes Uclan. You guys should be good by then and we owe you a little pay back from the last time we faced each other!<br /><br /><br />OLB,<br /><br />Thanks! Good luck tonight!


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    go bruinsssssss

    1DODGERFAN9091DODGERFAN909
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    hook'em--like the new look.... texas is looking good

    OLB83OLB83
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    No mention of the WVU's coach? Hmmm...

    longrange1234longrange1234
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    Umm... Larry Fedora at Southern Miss? 633 yards in a new spread offense? And not so much as a mention? Thanks...

    GIBUBBAGIBUBBA
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    I t was Villanova!!!!!!! He was left with talent. He is just maintaining the ship.


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    Where is WVU's coach Stew?

    pugz2000pugz2000
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