Mackovic's mission: control

Sporting News, The, April 28, 2003 by Tom Dienhart

Arizona coach John Mackovic likes to be in control. His is a world of schedules, date books and planners. Hey, a coach can't be in control if he isn't organized. Mackovic leaves no detail unchecked, from the distance of the guard-tackle sprit to the part in his hair.

That's why last year was so difficult for Mackovic, when order gave way to disorder during a late-season players revolt that brought the program to its knees. The offseason has featured big doses of introspection and fence-mending.

History hasn't been kind to coaches who have suffered similar conflicts. After South Carolina started 0-5 in 1992, some players called for coach Sparky Woods to be fired. Also that season, Memphis coach Chuck Stobart nearly was overthrown after a 0-3 beginning, and a meeting between Oklahoma coach Gary Gibbs and disgruntled players pre-empted a practice after a 15-15 tie with a bad Oklahoma State squad.

Woods was gone after that season. Gibbs and Stobart followed in 1994. How much more time does Mackovic have? Though he deserves more, probably he's down to one more year. But you're not going to see him sweat that year out. Coaches under control don't sweat.

"Every coach is on the hot seat" he says. "Some just don't know it."

Mackovic knows it. He also knows his coaching methods don't need changing. Wondering if he did something wrong during his 4-8 debut in Tucson, he looked for answers from his peers. Their advice: You've had a great career and shouldn't try to be somebody you aren't. That's good advice--Mackovic's resume is as impressive as anyone's in the business. He has won in the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12 and NFL. Nonetheless, Mackovic decided to change, or at least make himself more available to his players.

"I tried to stay close and talk to guys," he says. "I've tried to interact with them. If you didn't know anything else, you wouldn't think that anything had occurred last year. I have cleared the air with them. I don't think we're at the point where we need to grind up anything over again."

Besides, Mackovic is too busy to hold anyone's hand through a 12-step program. First, he has to blend in five new assistant coaches. Chief among the departed was coordinator Larry Mac Duff, mastermind of Arizona's famed Double Eagle Flex defense, which gained fame in the early 1990s as "Desert Swarm." To replace Mac Duff, now an assistant for the San Francisco 49ers, Mackovic tabbed Mike Hankwitz, who is implementing a 3-4 similar to the one he ran at Texas A&M.

The change is a good one. The Double Eagle Flex has become limited against many current offensive sets that use four and five receivers. Specifically, it is restricted in its ability to make easy adjustments with regular personnel.

Mackovic also must improve the Wildcats' ground game, which was battered by a series of injuries at tailback and an offensive line in flux last season. Arizona ran for 526 yards, an average of 43.8 yards per game, last in the nation. By comparison, Penn State's Larry Johnson ran for 606 yards in his last two regular-season games.

Then there's the matter of finding a quarterback. The battle between sophomore Nic Costa, a sawed-off waterbug, and redshirt freshman Ryan O'Hara, a rangy flame thrower, figures to continue into the fall. Even if those issues get settled, Mackovic will have to contend with the toughest schedule in the Pac-10. The nonconference schedule includes visits from LSU and TCU and a trip to Purdue. After opening at home against UTEP, Arizona doesn't figure to be favored in any game. But Mackovic is thinking positively--something he has no trouble controlling.

"It's going to work out," he says. "It's going to be a great story to follow."

Wondering who's taking over for last season's departed stars? Tom Dienhart knows, and he's running down the toughest players to replace for every team in every BCS conference at www.sportingnews.com/ cfootball/voices/tom-dienhart.

SPEED READ

* QB John David Booty made a smart decision to graduate from high school a year early and enroll at Southern California. He already was considered the nation's top high school passer, so how much better would he get from another year at that level? Also, the Trojans' quarterback situation remains muddled after spring drills, which offers Booty a chance to score the gig.

INSIDE DISH

A schedule quirk could squash Minnesota's dreams of being a Big Ten sleeper. October home games with Michigan and Michigan State could become and dates if the Twins end up with home playoff games on either day. Both Michigan schools say they won't play a Friday game at Minnesota, which has has been the custom during previous Metrodome conflicts.... Look for N.C. State to get a huge boost from newcomers. WRs Richard Washington and Tramain Hall were spring stars. Both were on campus last year, but were ineligible. And two true freshmen, OT Derek Morris and DE Mario Williams, could start. Morris signed with Ohio State out of high school but never enrolled. Williams graduated from high school early to take part in spring drills.... A broken thumb will sideline QB Waye Terry, a junior college transfer, the rest of the spring, but Iowa State coach Dan McCarney says he still could replace Seneca Wallace, beating out Cris Love and Austin Flynn.... Moving WR Matt Jackson to cornerback went so well at Florida that he has claimed a starting spot.... Indiana will miss G Anthony Oakley, who was booted for failing a conditioning drill. Oakley has 30 career starts.... Damarius Bilbo has the edge over A.J. Suggs for Georgia Tech's QB job. Coach Chan Gailey says the battle will continue in two-a-days.... Northwestern RB Jeff Backes is moving to cornerback. Coach Randy Walker thinks he's too good an athlete to rot behind Jason Wright.... Mississippi State coach Jackie Sherrill says QB Kevin Fant missed most of spring drills because of injury and academic issues but will be back in the fall. However, there are rumblings Fant had a falling out with the coach after the first scrimmage.