What Coaches Embrace

Originally Published: Apr 5, 2011 9:44 PM CDT

All new coaches are embracing something. On Monday Lon Kruger downplayed the whole "rebuilding" effort at OU. He prefers to embrace tradition, and he was more than adequate in delivering his initial message to the Sooner faithful.

On Tuesday Frank Haith was introduced at Missouri. His hiring away from Miami wasn't exactly considered a smash hit, so he's got more work to do to win over Tiger supporters than Kruger does in Norman. But Haith has to tackle something, and HIS message was all about embracing the negativity surrounding his hiring. He says he's happy to take that on as a challenge.

Think about it- embracing negativity. What a positive way to say "I know most of you think I cant coach a lick and that's ok Ill stick it back in your black-and-gold faces with a smile. Then well all celebrate a nice run to at least the sweet 16 in the NCAAs next season. If not, well I've got one-point-five million reasons to tell you I'm ready to embrace the negativity. Gotta go recruit now."

I think Frank Haith is a good coach. I think Lon Kruger is a better coach.

Now its time to embrace the off-season, and wonder just what Mark Gottfried is embracing at Alabama.