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Major Applewhite introduced as assistant head coach and running backs coach. Press conference notes and video.

As has been rumored for days, former Longhorn quarterback [tag]Major Applewhite[/tag] is officially coming back to Texas as a assistant head coach and running backs coach. He replaces Ken Rucker on the staff, who moved into a position in the athletic department this week. There will be a press conference tomorrow morning at 10 am.

Some quotes from [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] from the official release:

“We’re really excited to have Major back,” Brown said. “He was a great player for us and we saw him growing into a terrific coach as a graduate assistant here for two years. He’s had a chance to go work at a few other places, gain some great experience and will be a tremendous addition to our staff. Having your coaches become head coaches and your ex-players join your current staff are two of the best feelings a head coach can have, so this is a very rewarding day for our staff.”

“We always knew when Major was playing that he was a student of the game and would be a terrific coach one day. He’s living up to that. Major’s an energetic, enthusiastic and intelligent young coach who has always been a tremendous leader. We think he can have a great impact on our guys, our program and in recruiting.”

And from Major…

“It’s exciting to be a Longhorn again,” Applewhite said. “The opportunity to come back to my alma mater, working with Coach Brown, Coach Davis and all the great coaches, many that I know and have worked with before, is special. Having the chance to be with all of them the last couple of days, to see their passion, to be a part of the expectations they’ve built and see how they’re all on the same page and heading in the same direction is really exciting to be a part of. It’s not just about being back in Austin, which is great because I love everything about this place, but the challenge Texas football presents, the familiarity I have with the program and Coach Brown’s philosophy that I believe so strongly in. That’s ultimately why this was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.”

“I had the chance to play and start my coaching career here. I was fortunate enough to be a part of the group that helped build the foundation of what Coach Brown has developed into the winningest program in the nation over the last 10 years. The back-to-back BCS wins, the National Championship and seven straight 10-win seasons make Texas a really special place to be right now.”

“Coach Brown’s program is built on great coaching, great players and championship football. To be able to come back and contribute to that and try to accomplish the goals that we have for ourselves now is a challenge that really excites me.”

Welcome back Major.

Major’s got his major reasons. Didn’t have enough input over scheme and working for Nick Saban sucks.

It’s not officially a done deal yet but there is a lot of smoke that former Texas QB [tag]Major Applewhite[/tag] will soon rejoin the Longhorn family as a member of the coaching staff. The rumor that the two sides shared a mutual interest has actually been pretty persistent since the middle of week but things really heated up today.

First came the word around lunch time from Orangebloods that despite Applewhite’s denials last week, he was very much still in the picture to join the Texas coaching staff. Then the big news this afternoon out of Alabama, not only was he a candidate but Major was coming in for an interview with [tag]Mack Brown[/tag] on Tuesday. The interview has since been confirmed by several sources.

I’ve got no inside sources but I think Tuesday’s meeting is more of a contract negotiation than a job interview. It’s not like Mack and Major need to get to know each other. This is a discussion about what Major’s role on this staff will be, his future opportunities, and of course money. Applewhite has been an offensive coordinator for the last two seasons and he wouldn’t be moving on, even to Texas, without at least the co-coordinator title and likely a succession plan in place to take over the job completely. By the 2010 season [tag]Greg Davis[/tag] will have retired and Applewhite will be the Texas offensive coordinator.

The people at the AAS apparently agree that only formalities, they’re calling it a “done deal.” I think and hope they’re right. This would be the second huge hire that Mack has made in the last two weeks that not only reinvigorates this team and coaching staff, but possibly sets up the of the program for years to come.

Major is one of the brightest young coaches in college football and a fantastic recruiter, Longhorn fans should be very excited about 2008 and beyond.

Major Applewhite is quickly moving up coaching ranks. I hope he doesn’t get any slime on him from standing too close to Nick Saban.

Overachieving nothing new for Major Applewhite. Good article on Major’s rise to offensive coordinator at Alabama.

Rice has actually played pretty decent this year. All because of Major?

Joe Schad interviews with the new Rice offensive coordinator and former Longhorn legend [tag]Major Applewhite[/tag] on his Insider blog. Seems to have his head on straight about expectations for the Owls, but still has his goals and a plan to achieve them. He also talks about Vince Young and text messaging recruits. He also covers the Longhorns’ two-headed (or maybe three?) quarterback situation, a subject he may know something about:

As a coach now, my opinion is that when you have two quarterbacks, it’s because you haven’t found one. In Texas’ situation, it’s because of inexperience. Make no mistake, Texas has one, it’s just a question of them not knowing which one because neither has taken a snap. My whole deal is, if you’re asking your quarterback to be a leader of the team, it’s difficult with two guys doing that. With 18-, 19-, and 20-year-old kids, the maturity level just isn’t there. You lose sight of the big picture and agendas and selfish ideas get in the way. You have to have one guy. You have to make him earn it and you have to trust him. Then, if he struggles, you can always try the other guy. The problem at a place like Texas is, you’d better find the right guy fast. You’d really like to come out of spring ball and say, hey, you have one starter. That’s not easy, though.

Read link. (ESPN Insiders only!)

Huge promotion for [tag]Major Applewhite[/tag] as he was named as the next offensive coordinator at Rice University. After just a couple of years as a Graduate Assistant at Texas and one year as QB’s coach at Syracuse, the 27-year old former Horn will be taking over an offense that has been running the option for the last 12 years under former coach Ken Hatfield and will be asked to bring the Owl offense into this century.

Pretty tough job ahead for Major but it’s a great opportunity for him. I’ll defninitely be paying closer attention to [tag]Rice[/tag] games next season.

Hey look, a Major Applewhite and Chris Simms post in the same day. I hope this doesn’t create an ex-QB controversy.