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Fresno's McElwain named offensive coordinator at Alabama
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama coach Nick Saban hired Fresno State's Jim McElwain as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Wednesday.
McElwain helped guide the Bulldogs to a 9-4 record in his lone season after they went 4-8 the previous year. He spent the 2006 season as quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders.
"Jim is a phenomenal coach and we are thrilled to have him on board," Saban said. "He did an outstanding job last year at Fresno State. Their improvement on offense, especially in the play of their quarterback, was tremendous. They had an impressive showing offensively against a very good Georgia Tech defense in their bowl win."
McElwain replaces Major Applewhite, who left Alabama to become running backs coach at his alma mater, Texas.
Fresno State averaged 419.5 yards and 32.9 points per game last season, after averaging just 338 yards and 23 points in 2006.
The offense was even more impressive in the Humanitarian Bowl. The Bulldogs racked up 571 yards in a 40-28 win over Georgia Tech.
Fresno State quarterback Tom Brandstater ranked 23rd nationally in pass efficiency.
"I'm excited as heck about the opportunity to join the staff at the University of Alabama," McElwain said. "I'm looking forward to the challenge and I'm ready to hit the ground running as soon as I arrive in Tuscaloosa. Coach Saban and his staff have the Alabama football program on the rise and I want to do my part to continue that momentum."
McElwain was Michigan State's assistant head coach, receivers coach and special teams coach from 2003-05. The receivers set school records with 312 catches and 3,510 yards on the 2003 team that reached the Alamo Bowl. In 2005, five Spartan receivers had at least 28 receptions and the group combined to set another school record with 24 touchdown catches.
"Jim is a great coach and I think he's going to be an outstanding head coach one day," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. "Jim did a great job for us and we wish him and his family all the best."
McElwain has also had stints as an assistant at Louisville, Montana State and Eastern Washington. He played quarterback at Eastern Washington from 1980-83.
© 2008, The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.
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Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 30, 2008 at 1:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Said McElwain, "I seen Joe Dirt 10 times and Dukes of Hazzard fower, so I jiss up and went to Bama!"
Posted by bullfrog07 on January 30, 2008 at 1:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Excited as heck - is this guy some kind of kin-folk to Fulmer. I sure hope so b/c if he is than he won't gamble a lick and will throw a hitch on 3rd and 9.
Posted by BigOrangeJeff on January 30, 2008 at 1:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What does it say about Saban and/or Bama that their OC would leave to become a position coach at another school, irrespective of the fact that he went to his alma mater?
Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 30, 2008 at 1:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It might say that Saban is hard to work for. LSU fan insiders here say Saban family is very unhappy in Tuscaloosa.
Posted by sjt18 on January 30, 2008 at 1:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This guy was probably a better hire than Applewhite. Time will only tell if he can tolerate Saban.
Posted by Pullingguard on January 30, 2008 at 2:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Saban will be extremely successful at Bama provided he gets a staff who wants to work hard as Saban.. No doubt the guy has name familiarity, success stories, a hard worker dedicated to perfection and anything short of that in staff or players will get the rough treatment... I just wish he would decide the big 10 or some other conference was his place to be and move on.. The Bama game will be a tough matchup each year for the Vols and will not be anything like the past few years.
Posted by BigMikeUT on January 30, 2008 at 2:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yup...if going 7-6 and losing 4 of your last 5 including a loss at home against UL-Monroe is "on the rise", then I hope Alabama does continue its momentum.
Posted by GreerVol22 on January 30, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
orangeblood..even been to Tuscaloosa?? I understand why they are unhappy.
Posted by TommyJack on January 30, 2008 at 4:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Coach McElwain: Some advice. Rent, don't buy.
Posted by pdhuff on January 30, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
welcome to the SEC, coach M. Was one of your interview questions "Do you mind wearing a mullet"?
Posted by NickS4117 on January 30, 2008 at 6:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Orangebloodgmc:
Outsiders and insider alike say you are a moron.
Posted by NickS4117 on January 30, 2008 at 6:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
TommyJack:
Some advice- Bama 41, Vols 17. Add to that a top recruiting class and your laugable 50+ class.
Prepare for some lean years, turd.
Posted by HilltopperVolPhi608 on January 30, 2008 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WHO CARES? This is a VOLUNTEER site, not a bama site!
Posted by TommyJack on January 30, 2008 at 7:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NickS: That mullet scratchin your crimson neck?
Posted by BigOrangeVol on January 30, 2008 at 7:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason that Major and Ron Middleton left the staff WAS because Satan is too demanding. There is a good chance that Kevin Steele, Curt Cignetti and Joe Pendry will be gone this time next year as well, if not sooner.
Let's not kid ourselves, Jim McElwain is scary good! He runs a very wild and unpredictable Offense that is extreamly balanced. Hopefully he is on a fast track to get a head coaching position very soon, just not at our expense.
NickS4117...41-14 in '95, just in case you forgot and 93-86 last night!
Posted by Indianavol on January 30, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NickS4117 (aka; Bammer Moron);
No one gives a rat's @ss about the Crimson Turd. Go back to your Bammer sites and talk about how Nick Satan walks on water with that 7-5 record!
BUCK FAMA!
Posted by AE2001 on January 30, 2008 at 10:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I reside in Birmingham and the response down here is very mixed... All the talk on sports radio was about will Saban let him have reign of the offense or will he hold him back like he did Applewhite... Also the fans feel Saban settled for what he could get(cause no one wants to work with him!!), this guy (like Clawson,Fulmer's 6th choice) wasnt Saban's first choice. But let it be known all the Tide fans think he is a mastermind just because of his one year at Fresno, these Tide fans are so wacked out down here!!!! Go Vols
Posted by utchris2003 on January 30, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There is nothing to prove that Clawson was the 6th choice. Just because Fulmer interviewed several people, it does not mean that he offered all of them.
Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 31, 2008 at 3:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)
10 bucks says our offense is leap years ahead of bama next year. Oh yeah... the loss this year will be pure vengeance in K-town now that we have taken back Neyland.
Enjoy the thrashin' punk.
Posted by orangebloodgmc on January 31, 2008 at 8:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I hear Bama pushed big piles of cash towards LSU's OC Crowton, but he basically said, "no amount of money could bring me there."
Bama fans calling me a moron. That made my day.
Posted by nicksjuzunk on January 31, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I believe it was 20th century poets / philosophers ZZ Top who once said "Jesus done left Chicago, and He's bound for New Orleans."
I bet He took the long way around bama!
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