Monday 10:30 p.m. update - Everyone is wearing out their F5 key waiting for an answer, but I'm hearing tonight that Cumbie is still mulling over his options. It looks like things will carry over into Tuesday.
As mentioned in our post this afternoon, we're hearing Texas is offering a three-year guaranteed deal that would pay Cumbie around $1 million annually. Thought specific details aren't available, TCU has reportedly offered a significant raise from what Cumbie was currently making.
A lot of folks have assumed this would be a slam dunk if Texas went after him, largely due to money, but we've maintained from the jump that Cumbie will make his decision on much more than dollar amounts. Having full control of the Texas offense is certainly weighing in UT's favor, but one person told me this afternoon that the recent spotlight in which Cumbie has found himself may not completely fit his personality, so he'll have to consider if he wants to live in that environment 365 days a year if he's leading the offense at the University of Texas.
Undoubtedly and understandably, there's lots going through Cumbie's mind and it looks like a decision won't come until Tuesday, at the earliest. (Suchomel)
Monday 2:30 p.m. update - This OC search continues to move quickly, so let's jump right in with what we're hearing after talking to a couple Texas sources today ...
--- The visit with Sonny Cumbie in Austin has gone very well. I believe the visit ended earlier this afternoon but can’t confirm that with 100 percent certainty. But from everything I've heard, it was another very productive meeting, following the first meeting on Sunday night.
--- I do not believe any final decisions have been made by Cumbie. There's a chance that could go down by the end of the night though after he has some time to think things over and presumably talk with his family. Again, this thing is going to move quickly one direction or another.
--- The number we've been reporting for more than a month is that Texas would have no problem going up to $1 million per year in order to make the right offensive coordinator hire, and that's the same figure we heard was discussed in today's meeting. Cumbie has apparently been offered a three-year guaranteed contract.
--- We've heard TCU is not making the decision easy, and the Horned Frogs have apparently offered Cumbie a significant raise. I'd be shocked if it was on par with what Texas is offering, but TCU has tried to sweeten the pot to keep Cumbie in Fort Worth.
--- As we reported this weekend, if Cumbie takes the Texas job, look for current Arizona State offensive line coach Chris Thomsen to be part of the Texas staff as well. Thomsen and Cumbie worked together at Texas Tech in 2012. (Suchomel)
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TCU co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie is currently on the University of Texas campus with football coach Charlie Strong, and the Longhorns are seemingly moving closer to hiring a new offensive coordinator.
Strong met with Cumbie last night in Fort Worth to discuss the possibility of the co-offensive coordinator joining the UT staff. Cumbie is the top candidate to become Texas’ new offensive coordinator, and Strong traveled to Fort Worth with Jeff Traylor, the Longhorns’ tight ends coach/special team coordinator. After a great initial meeting, Strong invited Cumbie to visit the University of Texas today.
Orangebloods.com visually confirmed Cumbie and Strong exiting a car driven by Texas' head coach at the football facility within the past half hour. The two men then entered the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletics Center together. A second source has confirmed later it was indeed Cumbie who exited the car and entered the football facilities.
From what I have been told, Strong is very interested in hiring Cumbie because of his reputation as one of the best developers of quarterbacks in the nation. Texas currently has quarterbacks Tyrone Swoopes, Jerrod Heard, Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick on scholarship, while incoming freshman Shane Buechele is expected to arrive on campus in January. Cumbie is viewed as a coach who can mold one of those players into the next Trevone Boykin, who has excelled at TCU the past two seasons.
However, Tulsa co-offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert is also a strong candidate, according to sources. One source said Gilbert could be a "better fit" because he has called plays before. Cumbie has never called plays at TCU. If Cumbie and Strong decide not to work together, Gilbert will be the next coach to receive a call.
From what sources have told me, if Cumbie’s second interview goes well on Monday, he will move one step closer to becoming the Longhorns’ new offensive coordinator. If not, Strong will shift his focus to Gilbert.
As mentioned in our post this afternoon, we're hearing Texas is offering a three-year guaranteed deal that would pay Cumbie around $1 million annually. Thought specific details aren't available, TCU has reportedly offered a significant raise from what Cumbie was currently making.
A lot of folks have assumed this would be a slam dunk if Texas went after him, largely due to money, but we've maintained from the jump that Cumbie will make his decision on much more than dollar amounts. Having full control of the Texas offense is certainly weighing in UT's favor, but one person told me this afternoon that the recent spotlight in which Cumbie has found himself may not completely fit his personality, so he'll have to consider if he wants to live in that environment 365 days a year if he's leading the offense at the University of Texas.
Undoubtedly and understandably, there's lots going through Cumbie's mind and it looks like a decision won't come until Tuesday, at the earliest. (Suchomel)
Monday 2:30 p.m. update - This OC search continues to move quickly, so let's jump right in with what we're hearing after talking to a couple Texas sources today ...
--- The visit with Sonny Cumbie in Austin has gone very well. I believe the visit ended earlier this afternoon but can’t confirm that with 100 percent certainty. But from everything I've heard, it was another very productive meeting, following the first meeting on Sunday night.
--- I do not believe any final decisions have been made by Cumbie. There's a chance that could go down by the end of the night though after he has some time to think things over and presumably talk with his family. Again, this thing is going to move quickly one direction or another.
--- The number we've been reporting for more than a month is that Texas would have no problem going up to $1 million per year in order to make the right offensive coordinator hire, and that's the same figure we heard was discussed in today's meeting. Cumbie has apparently been offered a three-year guaranteed contract.
--- We've heard TCU is not making the decision easy, and the Horned Frogs have apparently offered Cumbie a significant raise. I'd be shocked if it was on par with what Texas is offering, but TCU has tried to sweeten the pot to keep Cumbie in Fort Worth.
--- As we reported this weekend, if Cumbie takes the Texas job, look for current Arizona State offensive line coach Chris Thomsen to be part of the Texas staff as well. Thomsen and Cumbie worked together at Texas Tech in 2012. (Suchomel)
******
TCU co-offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie is currently on the University of Texas campus with football coach Charlie Strong, and the Longhorns are seemingly moving closer to hiring a new offensive coordinator.
Strong met with Cumbie last night in Fort Worth to discuss the possibility of the co-offensive coordinator joining the UT staff. Cumbie is the top candidate to become Texas’ new offensive coordinator, and Strong traveled to Fort Worth with Jeff Traylor, the Longhorns’ tight ends coach/special team coordinator. After a great initial meeting, Strong invited Cumbie to visit the University of Texas today.
Orangebloods.com visually confirmed Cumbie and Strong exiting a car driven by Texas' head coach at the football facility within the past half hour. The two men then entered the Moncrief-Neuhaus Athletics Center together. A second source has confirmed later it was indeed Cumbie who exited the car and entered the football facilities.
From what I have been told, Strong is very interested in hiring Cumbie because of his reputation as one of the best developers of quarterbacks in the nation. Texas currently has quarterbacks Tyrone Swoopes, Jerrod Heard, Kai Locksley and Matthew Merrick on scholarship, while incoming freshman Shane Buechele is expected to arrive on campus in January. Cumbie is viewed as a coach who can mold one of those players into the next Trevone Boykin, who has excelled at TCU the past two seasons.
However, Tulsa co-offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert is also a strong candidate, according to sources. One source said Gilbert could be a "better fit" because he has called plays before. Cumbie has never called plays at TCU. If Cumbie and Strong decide not to work together, Gilbert will be the next coach to receive a call.
From what sources have told me, if Cumbie’s second interview goes well on Monday, he will move one step closer to becoming the Longhorns’ new offensive coordinator. If not, Strong will shift his focus to Gilbert.
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