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Coker launching UTSA football

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Late last week, Larry Coker met with high school coaches through the Dallas area, selling a Texas-San Antonio startup program that won't field a team until 2011. "Every place I've been before," Coker said, "we've had helmets and a dressing room." As much as Coker loves talking UTSA, his Miami experience remains inescapable. He won a national title, nearly won another and was out of a job by 2006. Coker's end at Miami was symbolized by an ugly brawl against Florida International. Coker became the handy fall guy, dubbed too nice as the program slipped. He says he couldn't overcome the media attention on the brawl and the Miami image. "You change hats and you change shirts," Coker said. "In my mind, Miami was such a great experience to me. They've moved on, and I'm moving on. "Now I've got such a great opportunity here. I don't think about it much anymore, about the jets flying over and the championships and those things."

Dallas Morning News

Larry Coker, Getty Images Larry Coker, Getty Images
May 11, 2009  08:13 AM ET

Should be interesting. SA has some talent in the area and in that part of the town in particular. Add to that Houston, Austin and surrounding areas and he could do well with time. Just gotta sell it.

Now didnt he win the NC in his 1st year with someone elses players? Seem to recall the team slipping each year while he was there.

May 11, 2009  09:18 AM ET

maybe if he could control his players he'd still be at Miami. the fight was a black eye on the ACC as well.

May 11, 2009  09:33 AM ET
QUOTE(#2):

maybe if he could control his players he'd still be at Miami. the fight was a black eye on the ACC as well.

Whats your thoughts on Bobby Bowden?

May 11, 2009  10:05 AM ET

I wonder if you 'Canes fans would take a little less discipline and a few more wins? Coker went 60-15 and so far your man Shannon is 12-13. I know, you have to take a step back sometimes to move forward, but you, the Michigan fans and soon to be Tennessee fans took a giant leap back and have a long way to go to get back to just the level you started. I agree that "the fight" was inexcuseable, but Shannon was the D coach at that time....he gets a pass? It seems like class acts like Carr, Fulmer and Coker are being replaced by arrogant arses like Kiffin and RichieRod (Shannon, not so much) and the program suffers in many ways. I wish Coker well at UTSA and am saddened by this is the only football HC gig he could get while guys like Shannon, Charlie Weis, RichieRod and (soon to be) Kiffin produce embarrassing results.

May 11, 2009  10:27 AM ET

Is UTSA going to be a Division II or III school? Or whatever the names du jour are for these divisions?

May 11, 2009  10:28 AM ET

San Antonio has always been a "one team town".....it's the Spurs and then.....the Spurs. It will be interesting to see if the San Antonio media get behind the UTSA effort in a big and positive way.

The Dallas media practically ignores the college team in their city (SMU). Fort Worth media does the same with TCU. UTSA can't afford for the San Antonio media to follow these examples.

UTSA will play their games in the Alamo Dome. Lack of media attention could result in some embarrassing turnouts in a high profile local venue. Not good for recruiting.

May 11, 2009  12:24 PM ET
QUOTE(#6):

San Antonio has always been a "one team town".....it's the Spurs and then.....the Spurs. It will be interesting to see if the San Antonio media get behind the UTSA effort in a big and positive way.The Dallas media practically ignores the college team in their city (SMU). Fort Worth media does the same with TCU. UTSA can't afford for the San Antonio media to follow these examples.UTSA will play their games in the Alamo Dome. Lack of media attention could result in some embarrassing turnouts in a high profile local venue. Not good for recruiting.

TCU's not getting any local media attention? I know they didn't when I lived in the Metroplex (three, four hundred years ago), but at the time they were winning only a couple of games a year. They've been a top 10 team two of the last three years, I think maybe three of the last four. Shame on the Ft Worth media for ignoring them.

How can a brand new football program fill the Alamo Dome? In a town where many fans don't yet know that tackling the guy with the ball is NOT a flagrant foul, he won't get any free throws? And that the RB won't get called for traveling if he doesn't dribble the football?

May 11, 2009  12:31 PM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Is UTSA going to be a Division II or III school? Or whatever the names du jour are for these divisions?

I'd like to know in what division UTSA plans to debut. As an aside, I'd like it if Coker were able to build a competitive program there.

May 11, 2009  12:39 PM ET
QUOTE(#7):

TCU's not getting any local media attention? I know they didn't when I lived in the Metroplex (three, four hundred years ago), but at the time they were winning only a couple of games a year. They've been a top 10 team two of the last three years, I think maybe three of the last four. Shame on the Ft Worth media for ignoring them.How can a brand new football program fill the Alamo Dome? In a town where many fans don't yet know that tackling the guy with the ball is NOT a flagrant foul, he won't get any free throws? And that the RB won't get called for traveling if he doesn't dribble the football?

Our beloved Longhorns get more media attention in the DFW area than TCU and SMU.

May 11, 2009  12:50 PM ET
QUOTE(#8):

I'd like to know in what division UTSA plans to debut. As an aside, I'd like it if Coker were able to build a competitive program there.

They're in the Southland Conference and it's listed as Div. I. Others in the conference are:

McNeese State, Nicholls State, Lamar Univ., Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, UTA, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State, Central Arkansas, aTm Corpus Christi,

May 11, 2009  12:57 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

Our beloved Longhorns get more media attention in the DFW area than TCU and SMU.

SMU used to get local coverage, and they earned their banishment into oblivion. But treating TCU like that isn't fair. I'm a 'Horn fan, as rabid as any, but it's still not fair for local media to overlook their home teams, especially considering what TCU has accomplished.

Now that I've said that, please don't let it turn out that their winning ways are the result of shenanigans similar to what SMU was doing to win.

May 11, 2009  01:27 PM ET
QUOTE(#5):

Is UTSA going to be a Division II or III school? Or whatever the names du jour are for these divisions?

Stick with these names for my sake, please.

May 11, 2009  01:34 PM ET
QUOTE(#4):

I wonder if you 'Canes fans would take a little less discipline and a few more wins? Coker went 60-15 and so far your man Shannon is 12-13. I know, you have to take a step back sometimes to move forward, but you, the Michigan fans and soon to be Tennessee fans took a giant leap back and have a long way to go to get back to just the level you started. I agree that "the fight" was inexcuseable, but Shannon was the D coach at that time....he gets a pass? It seems like class acts like Carr, Fulmer and Coker are being replaced by arrogant arses like Kiffin and RichieRod (Shannon, not so much) and the program suffers in many ways. I wish Coker well at UTSA and am saddened by this is the only football HC gig he could get while guys like Shannon, Charlie Weis, RichieRod and (soon to be) Kiffin produce embarrassing results.

You obviously don't follow the U cause if you did then you would realize that Coker's problem was not so much the fight or him being too nice it was the fact that the guy could not recruit and did not set up his staff properly to recruit... this is evident in this years draft.
Yes Shannon was part of that staff but he was not the head coach. The HC gives direction recruiting wise and this is where Coker's greatest issue was... you can be the greatest coach but if you dont bring the players you will eventually fall off the map, as is seen at the U.
BTW Shannon being part of the staff and the DC found a way to find the players, that is why in cokers last couple of years through even last year we still had roud 1 draft picks and most if not all were defensive players not offensive where Coker had control.
And Cokers inability to get a job with that 60-15 record is telling. Most big time programs know he cant handle that kind of pressure that comes with a big program.
Bottom line Coker is a decent coach but he was in over his head at Miami, he should do well at UTSA.

May 11, 2009  01:35 PM ET
QUOTE(#9):

Our beloved Longhorns get more media attention in the DFW area than TCU and SMU.

Is anyone else convinced this guy may be Nosferatu?

May 11, 2009  01:38 PM ET

To its credit, San Antonio desperately wants to be a two-sport town. The Saints probably still have the stink of San Antonio love on them from 2005.

Agreed that UTSA football could have a decent following if it's promoted enough. Coker getting out and talking to the high school coaches won't hurt.

May 11, 2009  02:56 PM ET
QUOTE(#10):

They're in the Southland Conference and it's listed as Div. I. Others in the conference are:McNeese State, Nicholls State, Lamar Univ., Sam Houston State, Stephen F. Austin, UTA, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas State, Central Arkansas, aTm Corpus Christi,

McNeese State is FCS. Larry's kicking off in the championship subdivision.

May 12, 2009  02:30 AM ET

I read something where Dennis Erickson said how tough it was to coach at Miami as well; he said it wasn't enjoyable to coach there despite having a NC on his resume. Interesting that both of these ex-head coaches won all the marbles and then had to start over, Erickson going to Idaho I believe.

May 12, 2009  11:24 AM ET
QUOTE(#6):

San Antonio has always been a "one team town".....it's the Spurs and then.....the Spurs. It will be interesting to see if the San Antonio media get behind the UTSA effort in a big and positive way.The Dallas media practically ignores the college team in their city (SMU). Fort Worth media does the same with TCU. UTSA can't afford for the San Antonio media to follow these examples.UTSA will play their games in the Alamo Dome. Lack of media attention could result in some embarrassing turnouts in a high profile local venue. Not good for recruiting.

High school football is bigger than college football in most of Texas.

Anyway about Coker, he's one of the nicest people period, let alone in football. He will do a good job for UTSA.

May 12, 2009  11:29 AM ET
QUOTE(#14):

You obviously don't follow the U cause if you did then you would realize that Coker's problem was not so much the fight or him being too nice it was the fact that the guy could not recruit and did not set up his staff properly to recruit... this is evident in this years draft.Yes Shannon was part of that staff but he was not the head coach. The HC gives direction recruiting wise and this is where Coker's greatest issue was... you can be the greatest coach but if you dont bring the players you will eventually fall off the map, as is seen at the U.BTW Shannon being part of the staff and the DC found a way to find the players, that is why in cokers last couple of years through even last year we still had roud 1 draft picks and most if not all were defensive players not offensive where Coker had control.And Cokers inability to get a job with that 60-15 record is telling. Most big time programs know he cant handle that kind of pressure that comes with a big program.Bottom line Coker is a decent coach but he was in over his head at Miami, he should do well at UTSA.

FYI, most HC are not the main recruiting coordinators. Shannon deserves as much blame as Coker for lack of talent but I'm not sure that was really the issue as much as another wave of thuggish ruggish types which seems to have plagued UM since they became a very strong program under Howard Schnellenberger. Absolute worst was when Jimmy J was there cause he ran a very loose ship.

 
May 12, 2009  11:38 AM ET

I went to Texas State, the football in the Southland conference is competitive, FBS schools though.

That said, there is enough talent in this conference for them to play there a season or two in order to gain some reputation and players before moving to Division 1.

I just wish my school would be willing to put that ind of investment in their athletics (or academics for that matter.)

UTSA will be the 4th favorite team in San Antonio behind the Spurs, Longhorns, and Cowboys

San Antonio does love a winner though so if they have success the fans will sure be there. But considering UT is a more popular football team at Tx State than the school's team, I think the same problem will emerge at UTSA. Particularly because most of the students going there were rejected by UT and a large portion of them are still trying to transfer there from UTSA

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