Is "Stoops to The U" really dead?

Yeah, we all hear big brother Mike Stoops and his ‘blood is thick’ speech regarding Mark Stoops returning to Miami as defensive coordinator – but what does that mean? If this is a dead deal, how come Mark hasn’t spoken? How come the former Canes secondary coach hasn’t denied interest in the position? How come Arizona hasn’t come out and offered little Stoops a long-term deal or a pay increase to secure his sticking around?

We’ll know more in the coming days. Maybe it happens, maybe it doesn’t – but I’m being lead to believe “Stoops to Miami” isn’t as dead as big brother is making it. There’s more to this story that we’re all hearing and with the coaching conference coming to a close, we should know more by early next week.

As mentioned a few days ago, this should be a no brainer move for Mark. DC at Miami versus DC at Arizona? No contest. The U is on the mend and the talent is returning to Coral Gables. Especially on that defensive side of the ball. Arizona? Already sucking hind teet to USC and Cal the past few years, now they’re dealing with Dennis Erickson in Tempe and battling the desert state power for local and national recruits.

Oh yeah, and don’t look now but Rick Neuheisel just headed over to UCLA – planting Arizona firmly in the middle of the pack regarding the rest of the Pac-10 programs.

Stoops could still choose family over the U Family – and it’d be tough to blame him. Family is a big deal, but in the coaching profession making moves and trying to climb that ladder is all part of the game. The Stoops clan knows that.

Especially Mike, who spent a few years on the Kansas State staff with Bob Stoops. Bob left for Florida and Mike hung around Manhattan until Bob came calling and brought him to Oklahoma in 1999. Four years later Mike bailed Bob for the Arizona gig and offered Mark a spot on the roster, bringing him to Tucson from Coral Gables.

Mike made the necessary career jumps to further his career and needs to get the hell out of little brother’s way if he’s looking to do the same. I guess ‘blood is thick’ only refers to skipping out for coordinator positions. If we’re talking head coaching material, THEN it’s OK to move on to greener pastures, eh Mike?

If this doesn’t play out, here’s hoping Randy Shannon hangs on to the gig for 2008 and finds ‘the guy’ in 2009. No need to bring someone aboard for the sake of bringing someone aboard.

More to come….

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