MULESHOE GOES TO THE HORSESHOE

An interesting game within the game this coming Saturday night, will be the match-up of coaches.  

ON THE OHIO STATE SIDELINE - 53-year old head coach - URBAN MEYER. 

Urban, an Ohio native, is considered by Buckeye fans to be the second coming of Woody Hayes, only better looking and a lot less likely to punch an opposing player.  

Dublin, Ohio, the city in which Meyer resides, recognized Meyer leading of the Buckeyes to the 2014 National Championship, by renaming a street in his honor.  

In 2016, Dos Equis wanted to make Meyer the feature in their ‘Most Interesting Man in the World’ ad campaign, but Meyer declined, citing a lack of interest and a need to spend more time with his family.  Okay, I may have made that one up.

 Meyer’s trophy case has more hardware then isle 6 thru 9 at Home Depot – Multiple Conference Coach of the Year Awards, 2x National Coach of the Year.  The Sporting News and Sports Illustrated thought he was so good that they both named him the College Coach of the Decade…yes, decade.

But most impressive, is the fact that Meyer has been a winner everywhere he’s been.  As a head coach, Meyer resurrected a miserable Bowling Green program.  He led Utah to their first undefeated season in 74-years. In his six seasons at Florida, he guided the Gators to two National Championships, and since taking over at Ohio State in 2012, Meyer has guided the Buckeyes to a record of 62-7, and a National Title in 2014.

ON THE OTHER SIDELINE – 34-year old head coach – LINCOLN RILEY. 

Born in 1983, Lincoln is the youngest head-coach in the FBS…which means he isn’t old enough to remember Woody Harrelson being on Cheers, much less Woody Hayes being on the sideline in Columbus. 

Second coming? Maybe, but for now, more like second choice. Look, that’s not a slap at Lincoln, in fact, personally, I’m thrilled to have him and think he’ll do well. I’m even on the record as saying that a young fearless Lincoln might have its advantages over the veteran Stoops.  But when your programs all-time winningest coach, who has accumulated more conference championships than he has home losses, suddenly retires … it’s a tough thing to spin as being positive.  Bob Stoops had a few flaws, but at 57, he was far from being past his prime or simply holding on too long like Bobby Bowden, Joe Paterno or Lee Corso.  Like I said, I’m thrilled to have Lincoln, but I also wasn’t ready to lose Stoops yet … or at least that particular Stoops.

Town where Lincoln grew up: Muleshoe, Texas, population of 5,124.  Stadium where Lincoln will coach his first road game: Ohio Stadium, known as The Horseshoe, population 109,000

Despite leading the Muleshoe Mules to the Class 3A State Semi-final game in 2000, Muleshoe has yet to rename a city street in Lincolns honor. Could have something to do with the fact there is only one – and it’s called Main St. 

Dos Equis spokesperson? I think Lincoln would settle for not being confused with Texas Tech's coach Bro'.  Besides - Lincoln doesn’t always drink beer, but when he does, he is asked for his I.D.

Trophies? Well, in 2015, Lincoln won the Broyles Award, an annual award given to honor the best assistant coach in college football.  The trophy looks like something that might’ve fallen off one of Meyer’s College Coach of the Decade trophies when the movers were getting it out of the truck.  

Saturday night will be the second time Lincoln has ever been the head coach of anything, and the first time he’s ever done it outside Cleveland County, Oklahoma.  But hey, he has never lost yet – and not even the great Urban Meyer can say that. 

Just the Opinion of One Mildly Interested Guy -

Boomer Sooner

The Overweight Armchair Sooner

Buddy Putty