Kerwin Bell joins Charlie's staff at USF

Charlie Strong was a graduate assistant at UF when Kerwin Bell went from a walk-on to starting QB in 1984 when they went 9-1-1 and were considered national champions by some services.

Frankly, 10 years ago I woulda said that Charlie would have likely BEEN our Coach by now--ESPECIALLY if I were somehow tipped off to the actual choices that ensuing time and circumstance actually BROUGHT, and their concommittent results...and given HIS subsequent path, that Kerwin would likely be on his staff by now, too!
7What has in fact taken place just goes to show you that the whole idea of that ol' Ray Bradbury/Sound of Thunder/"Butterfly Effect" is very real, very strange, far-ranging and (like so MANY things in life) dramatically unpredictable.
I mean, for these reasons and many more, the implications inherent in imagining the various potential "realities" implied by "actual events", within the context of quantum theory and the so-called "multiverse", make even general discussion on the matter, let alone following alternate lines of thought and possibility towards some ultimately coherent working theory as to "what HAS" and/or "what will or MIGHT" happen if this or that action were to be taken, and so on, is "difficult to envision" AT BEST, let alone quantify and apply in any accurate, PRACTICAL way.
And who knows? Personally, I sense that the interplay of personalities, individual paths and goals and subsequent personal experiences out there with and among people and places that continue to shape, mold and CHANGE everyone involved, their dreams and values, who they are and what they want, that as usual, the one and ONLY thing we can be reasonably sure of is that "who we'll be" and/or "what will happen" WILL be hugely different from anything we might guess at or envision for ourselves (or ANYONE/ANYTHING ELSE) NOW.
For the RECORD though, I certainly am HAPPY and content that things have turned out as they did—with DAN MULLEN as our Head Coach here and now! I’d love to be able to claim I had it in mind all along, called our shot on this one—but no: Been blundering along, reacting to events and hoping for the best in terms of results every step of the way just like everyone else...So at THIS point, I’m settling back here in my seat in the nosebleed section, determined to remember to be joyfully thankful when it all finally pays off in Championships in the not so distant days now JUST over the horizon, I think...

I wish nothing but the best for Kerwin Bell. I hope his offense takes over the AAC, and that they win every game except the ones against Florida.

Fun fact: Kerwin's QB at Valdosta State, Rogan Wells, is the grandson of former Gator head coach Doug Dickey! Wells accounted for more than 3,800 total yards and 50 touchdowns (rushing and passing) under one year of Kerwin's modified Spurrier Fun n' Gun/ Infante pro style. They averaged 50 points per game! Compare that to Oklahoma's 48 points per game or Clemson's 42.

Escambia94 said:

I wish nothing but the best for Kerwin Bell. I hope his offense takes over the AAC, and that they win every game except the ones against Florida.

Fun fact: Kerwin's QB at Valdosta State, Rogan Wells, is the grandson of former Gator head coach Doug Dickey! Wells accounted for more than 3,800 total yards and 50 touchdowns (rushing and passing) under one year of Kerwin's modified Spurrier Fun n' Gun/ Infante pro style. They averaged 50 points per game! Compare that to Oklahoma's 48 points per game or Clemson's 42.

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I hope you're right though I think the biggest problem for USF was the Defense, probably still is. Blake Bartnett was Good but not great at QB though probably take him over Franks.

Leakfan12 said:

I hope you're right though I think the biggest problem for USF was the Defense, probably still is. Blake Bartnett was Good but not great at QB though probably take him over Franks.

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It's a puzzling situation, too: We ALL "know" Charlie's D was Urban's "rock" in '06, upon which he was given the room to have his OC (and their QBs) gamble at key moments in key games against the toughest opponents--and UPON which the conditions producing a potential (but not-quite-to-BE) "Dynasty" were subsequently built.
So DEFENSE now the seeming "weak spot" in his program seems counter-intuitive, to say the least. But things happen: certain things--players AND circumstances--don't work out somehow, and a Coach is left scrambling...IF he is given the time to react/recover, it might still work out--but in this case, the "window of opportunity", themselves the result of various problems and failings at the "Big Three" programs who normally dominate recruiting in talent-rich Fla, appear to be closing--Mullen & staff already have UF building a head of steam in that direction--enough in and of itself now to "cramp their style" at USF AND UCF. FSU don't seem to have really gotten their feet under themselves yet in that regard, and we just don't KNOW what Manny and the group he is gathering around himself at "da Euww" will eventually manage to accomplish--but no matter how good a face they try to put on things instate, in the meantime at least I think NO ONE is counting on "Mullen MIS-steps" to tilt things in any way but Gator-ascendancy for now.
Much as possible, though, our best hope is as much stability in our coaching ranks as greater "quality". We all see how "inevitable turnover" may have cost/is costing Saban and The Tide.
It is perhaps fortunate that for us there are still some potential "upgrades" in the event of "inevitable" attrition with coming success next season or two--but that can (and in my view probably SHOULD) be viewed as a "necessary evil" in reacting to unavoidable reality. We have a deep-thinking, practical Coach who considers and exploits all options as OPPORTUNITIES: We can count on him to have been anticipating and weighing possibilities and options all along, ready to "make the most of the situation" as required--and a change that may or NOT be a net "gain" no matter WHO the replacement(s) may be.
I get the impression here that this is an example of a subtle but fundamental difference between Mullen and Saban (one of many): Saban thinks in terms of service, finding highly talented up'n'comers to "plug in" on his "supporting staff", as needed--whereas MULLEN has a more organic/intuitive standard/attraction TO TEAM-building...His STAFF is a "team" too, one a part of but also one APART AND WITHIN the TEAM AT LARGE that in turn all are a part of--part heart, part "parts of the brain" that animates the BODY of that "team at large", and so on (I'll let y'all follow that metaphor out to its logical conclusions as you see fit).
My point here though is pretty simple:
Whatever mistakes Mullen might make as a Coach, a man and a human being, they WON'T be the same as Saban's. The same goes for all the positives along his road to SUCCESS: Mullen will do this/IS "doing this" HIS OWN WAY.
MORE and more, I am coming to accept and TRUST his choices'--and recognize that at the very least he has consciously considered and chosen from specific options, and that a coherent set of values, ethics, plans (sporting and generally strategic) and philosophies underlie the thinking from which he draws those "options"--and hence the resulting moves and decisions.
Aside from Saban himself, I am not at all sure how many college-level Head Coaches ARE that thoroughly thoughtful and organized in their thinking. It ISN'T the only way to approach the job, after all. But if you have the brain power--not to mention the honor, ethics, insight and ideals (not to mention THE BALLS)--to see, consider and APPLY "all that and MORE" in the enormous and far-ranging project that building and maintaining an eventual Championship-level major college football program truly is, count ME among those who believe that though talent and luck are necessary components you try to maximize (but are least able to count on, BTW), year in/year out all the REST will put you in the best position to aquire, maintain and sustain it all along the way.