Applewhite credits Saban for success at Texas
AUSTIN, Texas | Despite rumblings that he left the University of Alabama because he didn’t agree with Nick Saban’s coaching philosophy, Texas running backs coach Major Applewhite said his one season as offensive coordinator of the Crimson Tide was a positive experience.
‘My year at Alabama was a great year,’ Applewhite said in statements provided by the Texas sports information department. ‘I learned a lot about the game of football and how to run a program with Coach Saban. I had the chance to work with a great offensive staff that had years of experience.’
Applewhite quarterbacked Texas to four straight bowl games and posted a 22-8 record as a starter during the 1998-2001 seasons. He quickly ascended in the college coaching ranks and in 2006 became the youngest offensive coordinator in NCAA Division I at Rice at the age of 28.
Applewhite, a Baton Rouge, La., native who was named after former Alabama running back Major Ogilvie, was hired by Saban as the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2007. After Alabama lost its final four games of the regular season, Applewhite withdrew his name from a short list for the vacant Houston head-coaching job. Weeks later, he accepted the assistant head coach/running backs coach position at Texas.
TideSports.com
12/23/9
