MOBILE, Ala. -- The Senior Bowl isn't just about scouting top college prospects. It also serves as an unofficial coaches convention and a place where unemployed coaches come to find work.
The news of Greg Schiano becoming head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers not only surprised many of the coaches I spoke with today, but it downright depressed a few seasoned NFL men waiting in line for their chance to become a head coach.
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Here are some of the statements I gathered from coaches in the hotel lobby, on the condition of anonymity:
» "Good for Greg, but what does it say about the Bucs' vision for the future? A college guy with a .500 record and no real NFL experience ..."
» "If Tampa thinks they're getting another Jim Harbaugh, think again. Greg is a good coach, but Harbaugh played QB in the NFL for 15 years, worked under Norv Turner in Oakland and his brother is an NFL coach."
» A third coach just shook his head and said: "Here we go again thinking a college guy who relates to 18-year-olds can handle the 30-year-old guys, understand the salary cap and go toe-to-toe with the likes of [Bill] Belichick, [Tom] Coughlin and [Mike] McCarthy."
» Finally one coach added: "He better get two NFL coordinators with former head-coaching experience if he wants to compete with New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina."
Schiano has a fine general manager to work with in Mark Dominik and a terrific young quarterback in Josh Freeman. I just hope he can make a quick transition from the Big East to the NFL.
