TCU’s Assistant Coaches May Be on the Move
TCU’s co-offensive coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie could be on the move and TCU head coach Gary Patterson should be worried.
Meacham and Cumbie played a huge part in TCU’s rise to power in the Big 12, and if they left at the same time as star players Trevone Boykin and Josh Doctson, then TCU’s offense is in serious trouble.
First, Meacham was a finalist for the North Texas head coaching position and was at one point expected to be named the next head coach of the Mean Green. But now he has apparently pulled his name out of the running.
Second, Cumbie is reportedly the main target of Texas head coach Charlie Strong, who is seeking a new offensive coordinator when the season ends for the Longhorns. Cumbie is expected to meet with Strong next week about the possibility of becoming their new play-caller.
As soon as news broke that Meacham was a finalist for the UNT job, the thought was that if he took that job, Patterson would then promote Cumbie to lone OC and play-caller.
But, with Meacham possibly staying, that throws a wrench in that plan. Now, Cumbie has incentive to leave since he could become the play-caller at Texas, which is what Meacham is in charge of at TCU.
It’s almost a virtual guarantee that TCU and Patterson would not let both of them leave. So, out of the three other possibilities, being Meacham staying; Cumbie staying; or both staying, Meacham staying and Cumbie leaving is the worst scenario. Here’s why:
1. Even though Meacham had a hand in it, Cumbie gets most of the credit for turning Trevone Boykin into a Heisman finalist and one of the best QBs in the nation. With the QB position in question next season, having Cumbie, not Meacham, would maximize the possibility of the next QB, most likely Kenny Hill, being able to slide into the offense without issue.
2. Meacham is 50 years old, which gives him incentive to find a head coaching position as soon as possible. Cumbie on the other hand is 34 years old, which gives him more time to get a better job. So, if Cumbie left, it would be very likely that Meacham would soon leave as well, probably within the next year or two. If Cumbie stayed and got promoted, then he would be more likely to stay for a longer period of time.
Now, you can question whether or not Cumbie could replicate the success in calling plays that Meacham had, but I think it would be worth the risk.
To me, it’s an obvious choice on who you would rather have stay if one had to leave, and that would be Cumbie.
Will that happen? Who knows, but if I were Garry Patterson, I would be a bit worried.
