Muschamp brings intensity, impressive resume to Texas' defense

AUSTIN, Texas -- Will Muschamp didn't get his wish. He got hundreds of thousands of hits on YouTube, but he didn't get his wish.

Muschamp joins Texas as the highest-paid Big 12 assistant, but his resume backs up the big bucks. (US Presswire)

The desire of Auburn's defensive coordinator in the video was to, "Shut these mother------ out." The mofos being Arkansas during a 9-7 Tigers' victory. The embarrassment being Muschamp's when the TV clip of his fired-up sideline rant went viral. Suddenly, www stood for Worldwide Will.

"It's amazing because of the YouTube situation how many Baptist preachers I've had to answer to," said Muschamp, sitting in his new office that overlooks the Royal-Memorial Stadium field.

"The year before (Arkansas) had rushed 270 yards and at that point in the game they had about 28, so I was kind of happy."

If that was Muschamp being happy, then you don't want to see him mad. Texas, of course, bought into Will's World when it hired the 36-year-old wonder coach away from Auburn in January. Money is no object for Texas, which treats the loss of defensive coordinators like Zsa-Zsa when she loses a diamond earring.

Oh well, just have to go buy a new one.

Muschamp came for $425,000 per, reportedly making him the highest-paid Big 12 assistant. That's eyebrow-raising even in these heady times for assistant coaches. The coach won't engage you in salary talk but he might show you his national championship ring (LSU, 2003), his NFL resume (2005 with the Dolphins) and a broken dry erase board or two.

Entire stories have been written about Muschamp smashing things. Gallagher, though, he is not. The coach has drawn blood (his own) by pounding a board while trying to make a point.

"There's a difference between his excitement and being mad," Auburn defensive tackle Josh Thompson said last year. "The Arkansas thing was excitement. It would have been more explicit content if he was mad."

So we have that to look forward to if Muschamp doesn't turn around Texas' defense. But the guy hasn't failed much lately. Neither has Texas with its hires. Three Texas defensive assistants have gone on to head coaching jobs since 2005 -– Greg Robinson (Syracuse), Dick Tomey (San Jose State) and Gene Chizik (Iowa State). Co-coordinator Larry Mac Duff resigned January 2. The guy who called the plays last season, Duane Akina, remains on staff as an assistant head coach.

"If you wanted to be a head coach it's been kind of a place to come through," Mack Brown said.

Four of Muschamp's six defenses at LSU and Auburn have finished among the top 10 nationally. Sure, he has had players but the evidence suggests that Muschamp who, by scheme alone, can improve a defense.

It should be entertaining either way. Texas won at least 10 games for the seventh consecutive season last year, but the defense gave up the seventh-worst season in Longhorn history.