The Professor - The Coaching Career of James Xavier

[djp73]

[Captain Canada]

COLANDREA! nice upset bro. Good luck against Clemson!

My boy was steady as she goes, made the easy plays and leaned on our run game. Glad we snuck that one out.

At least someone believes!

A lot of 3-point wins/losses going around in these chises

Yeah, my blood pressure has to have gone up during this chise just a smidge

[Captain Canada]

UMass left high and dry after Coach Brown leaves, angling towards Xavier reunion?

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA -- When the UMass Minutemen lost their star offensive coordinator James Xavier to the coaching cycle, with him opting to leave a tumultuous situation to become the head coach at Virginia, the immediate thought was regression. Yes, they were playing in the MAC with their All-American running back C.J. Hester and promising young quarterback Ahmad Haston, but without his savvy know-how and crisp playcalling, expectations were low in Amherst.

The Minutemen would go on to shock the world, finishing 10-2 as the 15th best team in the nation before falling to Oregon State in the Myrtle Beach Bowl. Haston didn't even end up starting, as they brought in senior quarterback Ethan Vasko as a transfer in from Coastal Carolina. He would throw 2,907 passing yards and 27 touchdowns to just 7 interceptions - a far cry from Haston's 18 picks a year prior under Xavier. Haston is expected to hop into the portal after this season ends. The offense no doubt took a step back in terms of hyper-productivity, but the team still stood under head coach Don Brown.

That is, until Brown shocked the nation and announced he would be pivoting to become the head coach of Maryland. He now finishes his second stint with UMass after a controversial end lost him Coach Xavier. Many remember the audio leak of Brown disparaging Xavier during the media day that led to an uncomfortable situation between the former mentor and mentee.

Members of the UMass coaching staff are in shock. "He's a [expletive] snake," a member of the staff commented under the promise of anonymity. "He snaked [Coach] Xavier when he was here because he was jealous he took his team and made them into a contender, and now when he wouldn't take a lesser role to keep him around, he dips as soon as someone flashes him a check."

Allegedly, the athletic director at UMass presented Xavier with a final offer of becoming a co-head coach with Brown last season, with more control over recruiting and complete control over the offense. Xavier declined, citing that it would have to be Brown or him. The team ultimately chose Coach Brown and Xavier moved on to an immensely successful season with Virginia, seeing them gearing up for a second round matchup in the CFP against ACC foe Clemson.

UMass, now without a head coach, is reportedly interested in bringing Xavier back as their new head coach. It is widely expected that he will be sticking with Charlottesville for a while longer to build with the Cavaliers. But, with the immense love Xavier showed UMass upon leaving, it is something to watch.

Nebraska and Wisconsin, both with opening at head coach, are also reportedly interested in talking with Xavier.

[Captain Canada]

College Playoff Round 2 Preview: at #6 Clemson


Record: 11-2, 7-1 ACC
Head Coach: Dabo Swinney
Offensive Scheme: Air Raid
Defensive Scheme: Base 4-3

Injuries
No injuries

Clemson Projected Starters
QB #15 Alonza Barnett III, Rs Sr | 6'0", 207 lbs | 92 overall
HB #29 Kane McNally, So | 6'1", 191 lbs | 89 overall
WR #0 Antonio Williams, Rs Sr | 5'11", 190 lbs | 92 overall
WR #1 T.J. Moore, Jr | 6'3", 200 lbs | 90 overall
WR #6 Tyler Brown, Sr | 5'11", 180 lbs | 89 overall
TE #87 Christian Bentancur, Jr | 6'4", 245 lbs | 83 overall
LT #54 Ian Reed, Rs Jr | 6'6", 305 lbs | 87 overall
LG #75 Jordan Knox, Sr | 6'2", 326 lbs | 86 overall
C #55 Harris Sewell, Rs Jr | 6'4", 310 lbs | 90 overall
RG #62 Curtis Peagler, Rs Sr | 6'4", 337 lbs | 75 overall
RT #52 Elyjah Thurmon, Rs So | 6'4", 310 lbs | 86 overall
---------------
DE #97 Dylan Stewart, Jr | 6'6", 248 lbs | 86 overall
DE #11 Peter Woods, Sr | 6'3", 315 lbs | 93 overall
DT #90 Stephiylan Green, Rs Jr | 6'4"., 290 lbs | 84 overall
DT #56 Champ Thomspon, Rs So | 6'3", 290 lbs | 84 overall
WILL #21 Kobe McCloud, Rs Sr | 5'11", 225 lbs | 85 overall
MIKE #47 Sammy Brown, Jr | 6'2", 235 lbs | 95 overall
SAM #13 Drew Woodaz, Jr | 6'2", 215 lbs | 91 overall
CB #20 Avieon Terrell, Sr | 5'11", 180 lbs | 89 overall
CB #2 Shelton Lewis, Sr | 5'11", 185 lbs | 88 overall
FS #7 Khalil Barnes, Sr | 6'0", 195 lbs | 86 overall
SS #25 Ricardo Jones, Rs So | 6'2", 195 lbs | 86 overall
K #81 Nolan Hauser, Jr | 6'1", 190 lbs | 83 overall
P #89 Jack Smith, Rs Sr | 6'5", 245 lbs | 74 overall
KR #6 Tyler Brown, Sr | 5'11", 180 lbs | 96 overall

---

Coach James Xavier's Gameplan

"I think, in a way, we always knew that if we wanted our season to go the way we expected, we would end up playing Clemson at some point. This is a team that is coached by the best coach in the nation. Dabo [Swinney] is a genius and he demands excellence from every facet of his organization. If we can give that "Nick Saban" effect to someone in current day football, it would be him. Alonza Barnett III was a Heisman nominee. We know we're going to have our hands full with him. He's smart, he's calm under pressure. He won't flinch to our dynamic duo [Jewett Hayes and Chase Morrison]. They have a stout receiver core and a workhorse in the back field, and they are extremely inventive when it comes to play-calling.

Their defense is full of gamers; future Sunday players. We can't slip up against them. They know we like our slow, meticulous drives. That won't affect them like it did against Ohio State. They can roll deep with their depth and they have a relentless engine at MIKE linebacker in Sammy Brown. He's a game-breaker. We need to meet their challenge and produce. Limit our mistakes. They will crucify us if we don't take advantage of all of our opportunities."

[Chillcavern]

The true battle for the ACC is upon us. Take it to the Tigers

[Google[Bot]]

if u can keep them in check, at least the special teams unit looks dicey

[Agent]

Man going back to UMASS with full control?

[redsox907]

Tell UMass:




You moved on to bigger and better things. I say schedule UMass next year and drop 100 on em

ALSO

Huge win over Ohio State!!!!! Got to keep the Cinderella momentum going against the Tigers now

[Captain Canada]

The true battle for the ACC is upon us. Take it to the Tigers

if u can keep them in check, at least the special teams unit looks dicey

Honestly, they don't feel as threatening as Ohio State. We're not going to underestimate them, but we ready for war.

Man going back to UMASS with full control?

[Captain Canada]

Tell UMass:




You moved on to bigger and better things. I say schedule UMass next year and drop 100 on em

ALSO

Huge win over Ohio State!!!!! Got to keep the Cinderella momentum going against the Tigers now

We moving onto bigger and better things. Getting UMass next year purely for the smoke ain't a bad idea.